Nahant Beach

My new favorite beach within 20 minutes of my house. This beach is great at low tide especially since the water is really low for a long time and there is more space. At high tide, you lose a lot of the sand.
We only go late in the afternoon, so we’ve never had issues parking but it does fill up easily it seems. For only $ 5, it is totally worth a try on a hot day like today.

I’ve never been, it’s so NICE!!! I just wanted to find a beach to take some quick jewelry pics at, and Im so happy I ended up here. I can’t wait to go back.

This beach would get five stars except for being shut out of parking. It happened twice to me this summer and only attempted to go here three times. I guess they used to have a lot more spaces (like thousands more) according to a regular. The beach is nice, the sand is soft and I really like it, when the high tide comes though you really lose almost the whole beach and people leave since there is no place to sit. I know there is a restaurant down the end of the beach but haven’t gone, I just bring snacks, I think a snack bar would be a great idea here as I’d rather grab a burger from a snack bar then walk to a restaurant in my bathing suit!
I do realllllly like this beach though. A OK!

I must say Nahant beach is a lot better now than it used to be. Parking is not bad, $ 5. A really convenient location if you don’t feel like driving too far out of the area. I must say there are way nicer and more attractive beaches in the area, but if you don’t feel like driving all around MA or shelling out $ 20 for parking Nahant beach is just fine.

For $ 5 to park right by the beach, it’s hard to imagine a better deal. This beach is somewhat narrow but it’s really long and parking is deceptively plentiful. You will easily find a place to layout here. Definitely worth checking out.
The one downside though is that there isn’t any food or stands that you can walk to.

Dear Nahant Beach Ranger/​Manager/​Whathaveyou:
I have an insane and novel idea. Post the open/​closed status of your parking lot online somewhere. Anywhere. Do a twitter feed for god’s sake. You will save hundreds of Bostonians each day from driving a half hour just to find a ‘lot closed’ sign, which I’m sure equates to thousands of gallons of gasoline each season.
Save the planet, and save our collective sanities. Pretty please?

This beach is so easy to get to from Boston. Straight up 1A. Usually very little traffic, especially when you hit the causeway into Nahant. Lots of parking which is just steps to the large sandy beach. Parking is cheap, like five or seven bucks. Free parking after 5pm, that’s when I come to walk. Great place to bring dogs in the off months. Also, if you like sightseeing, a little ride around Nahant won’t take you long. Lynn and swampscott beaches adjacent, but they disappear with high tide. They are fun to check out once in a while though. On street parking up that way. Lots of views and lots of wide walkways throughout.

Clean. Soft sand. Large beach. Peaceful. Parking is super cheap. I love it here. I’m from out of state and recently moved to ma. This is my go to beach.

Nahant Beach isn’t the Cape, or the Vineyard, or even Gloucester. But it’s a lot easier to get to than any of those places, and for a beach near enough to Boston for an impromptu trip you won’t do better. Wide white sands, a gentle slope from shore so that even little kids can enjoy the water, no rocks, lots of $ 5.00 parking (but get here early on peak days or be prepared to wait for someone to leave), a walking path above the beach, port-​a-​johns in multiple locations, a bath house to change in, and a Dunkin Donuts at the far end of the beach for your iced coffee fix. What more could you want from a day at the beach?

One of the main reasons I frequent Nahant is because of the convenience factor. As a Bostonian, it is so easy to get to, and a step up from Revere Beach which is not too far.
Pros: There is a lovely path along the beach with markers which makes it very easy to remember where you’ve sat, or to meet up with friends. The beach itself is very spacious with soft, fine sand which feels somewhat vacation-​like. Lastly this beach has great restroom facilities, and various wash areas outside where you can rinse the sand off. Overall this is a a great little oasis right outside of Boston that should be checked out if you’re looking for something close by.
Cons: Upon arrival I always know parking is going to be brutal. Unless I get there by 830am or after 4pm the parking lots will almost always be full. There is a cheap parking lot along the beach and some free surrounding lots, but on a hot day, it will fill up fast. There are very few food options within walking distance, but there are a couple including Dunkin Donuts.

Best, cheap, easy to get to beach around if you are from the northshore or live in Boston. Parking is only $ 5 and they have a very clean outhouse which is typically hard to find. They have outdoor showers which is also pretty awesome therefore you can wash off the sand and tanning oil before you get in your car!!! Definitely check this beach out if you don’t feel like driving too far and need a quick beach fix.

Who would’ve thought? People complain about beaches! Especially considering how clean it is & cheap to park!

I think Nahant Beach is as good as it gets for a Boston-​area beach, particularly when you’re too lazy or last minute to go father out to RI and the Cape. Took us 30 min without traffic.
I love Nahant Beach because it’s a wide beach so there’s lots of space — you’re not right up in your neighbors’ grill. Sand is silky and nice. Very clean. Water is very calm and clear.
There are clean restrooms, but the facilities could be a bit better (i.e., showers, changing rooms, etc.). Not a major issue, but not the most outstanding public facilities I’ve ever seen. There are restaurants nearby, but I’d definitely bring a cooler and snacks since the amenities aren’t super convenient. Parking was $ 5 for the day, which I thought was reasonable.
Overall, probably your best bet for a quick beach day.

Beautiful clean beach, kid friendly ! The new parking lot is nice but gets full very fast. Not that far from Boston.

Beautiful beach and a short drive from the city. It’s not super crowded so you can spread out and throw the football around. Beach is a little rocky but once you get deeper into the water the sea floor is very smooth. Absolutely a place a place to come with the fam and relax for the day.

Yes came down for a looksie for I was told to come see the changes they made, yes it’s much cleaner, new sand, walk ways, paths and flowers !
Thinking I was not going to be impressed but got to hand it to Nahant great job ! With the clean up ‚
Let’s hope the people whom visit keep it this way, may just keep coming down to walk,

I’ve been living in the area for over two decades now and have never once come here. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m spoiled from Revere Beach or Winthrop beach. but i did not like Nahant Beach. First. you had to pay?!? Really? I couldn’t believe it. it was mind boggling for me to pay for a public beach. As I stated earlier, it’s most likely the fact that I am spoiled by Revere and Winthrop beach (both 5 stars by the way) that I was so flabbergasted by the charge. Also, the parking situation is horrible. I was stuck in a long line to get out of the parking area. I’m talking 20 minutes stuck in the lot because it was so congested.
There are so many other places to go to, Revere Beach, Winthrop Beach, Yirrel Beach or even Deer Island. ALL FREE and equally as beautiful. This place is highly overrated.

I’m giving this beach five stars for being about a 30 minute drive from my Somerville apartment, while retaining the quality and coziness of a small seaside town.
I grew up in Jersey, about 5 minutes from the beach (Asbury Park area, not Seaside aka «The Jersey Shore»). I’m used to beautiful, sandy beaches with nice waves and plenty of room to toss a football or frisbee around with friends.
I’ve checked out a few beaches since moving up to Massachusetts last summer, but most of the ones in a «short» drive from my apartment have tended to have more of an urban vibe, and have been more like a harbor/​bay beach rather than an ocean beach. AKA — rocky shores and tiny waves.
Nahant Beach was quite the surprise. The sand was gorgeous and soft, the water was perfectly cool, the beach was clean and not overcrowded. It was a very family oriented beach setting, with plenty of room to space out from other beach-​goers and relax.
After spending the day on the beach, my boyfriend and I biked around Nahant Island to check out some other gems of the area. We enjoyed subs at Seaside Pizza, lemon Italian Ice from Tides, swam by the huge rocks at 40 Steps Beach, and finished the night off with the sunset over the wharf.
All-​in-​all, it was a perfectly relaxing day at the beach. Exactly what I am used to and absolutely my new go-​to beach.

Please, please don’t bring your entire extended family of 100 here.
Please, please don’t throw your coffee cups and empty six packs here.
Please, please don’t blast obnoxious music out from your radio here.
I’m almost afraid to write a review, because I want to keep this secret all to myself.
Nahant Beach is like the smarter, better looking and infinitely more successful sibling to Revere Beach.
This place is such a hidden gem, because it never gets super crowded, the water is actually clear, and the beach is extremely clean.
Oh, and $ 3 parking? Hell yeah!
One of the best places to be on a hot, summer day.

General point I have noticed with beaches in the northeast: these things are not really all sandy — they have some sandy parts but then there is hard packed mud for like 200 ft and then you have water. Very New England-​ish so if you are from California or Miami don’t get your hopes us.
For the rest of the people in New England — not a bad beach. Parking is fairly easy (need to drive a loop out east and then back down west to park) and priced @ $ 3.
Beach itself is a bit calmer than other areas closer to Boston and also fairly clean. We had enough space to play Frisbee on a nice Saturday afternoon. The homes on the bay seem to wrap this beach into a small bay and the water was quite calm.
I did see some people kite-​surfing so I guess its an option here.
Overall — a nice option as far as New England beaches go.