8 Excellent Beaches in Salem, Massachusetts

Welcome to Salem, Massachusetts, a city steeped in history, culture, and beautiful beaches! Whether you’re looking for a relaxing getaway or an exciting adventure, Salem’s got something for every type of traveler. Today we are taking a look at 8 of our favorite beaches in Salem, MA.

Salem is one of the towns that you don’t even have to leave if you are planning on a beach day. There are multiple local beaches from secluded to popular. We’ll explore these choices and then venture out to the surrounding area to find even more amazing beaches you can visit.

As always, you can expect distance and location information along with our tips. We’ll tell you how much driving to expect for each beach in Salem, MA. So, without further ado, let’s jump into our selection and find out where to go for a fun day out during your holiday!

Willows Park Beach

Good for families
Distance: N/A – in town
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/AVHUGzxaWAcEtvSp8

We consider Willows Park Beach as the main beach in Salem, MA. It is not a simple beach but a great park with good amenities. There is an arcade, there are places where you can grab a bite, and the park has beautiful views of the area.

The beach here is a small sandy beach. It’s not big so it can get crowded during summer but luckily this area is not extremely popular so the tourism season doesn’t get that bad. It’s a nice enough beach and with the added amenities around it’s perfect for families.

Parking is available just outside of the Willows Park gates so don’t be surprised that you are not able to take your car all the way to the beach. It’s a nice area, with great food, superb views, and a good beach.

Juniper Beach

Usually not crowded
Distance: N/A – in town
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/zrcZwbZida7tmViK8

Juniper Beach is next to Juniper Point in a quiet residential area. Very limited parking is available at the beach’s entrance.

It’s a pretty basic place. No amenities, no lifeguards, and when the tide is high not a lot of place on the actual beach itself.

What it does offer is a nice secluded and quiet place to swim, sunbathe, and enjoy relaxing. It’s mostly visited by the locals and although the beach area is not big it’s usually not crowded. Best if you want to avoid other people.

Waikiki Beach

Distance: N/A – in town
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/W9hmgef2XdRNZjVv6

You will find Waikiki Beach on the so-called Winter Island of Salem. It is also sometimes referred to as Winter Island Beach. It’s a popular spot during summer as the island makes it disconnected from the main city areas.

It’s also looking towards the open ocean so you have the illusion of being a bit further from civilization than you really are. There are showers and changing rooms available and a limited number of parking spots.

Lifeguards are on duty during the tourist season and there are even camping grounds on the island. It’s a good beach during hot summer days especially if you want something rustic.

In the off-season, there isn’t really swimming here due to the cold water however the park on Winter Island and the beach itself still proves to be a nice place to take a walk, have a picnic, and take in some scenery.

Dead Horse Beach

Uncrowded
Distance: N/A – in town
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/RAKJNHkEXq6YL4UP7

Dead Horse Beach is a great option in Salem, MA for those who would like to totally avoid the crowds. It’s definitely not the most beautiful or the best-equipped beach around but it also has only a few people usually.

The beach is a combination of pebbles and sand and it’s overlooking the Rams Horn Channel. Some people love the view of sailboats and ships rocking in the canal while others prefer the ocean views of the other beaches in Salem.

One thing is sure: it is uncrowded. With prettier beaches around this is usually a 2nd or third choice for the people in Salem so if you are looking for a quiet time, come here.

Collins Cove Beach

Distance: N/A – in town
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/Ry17KKsr26uFhE9q8

Collins Cove Beach is the most central beach in Salem. Unfortunately, the reason we have to mention it on this list is that we would advise against this beach for swimming. If you are looking at beaches on the map this might seem like a tempting option but in reality, all of the picks we mentioned above are so much better.

However, if you are looking for a beauty spot in town where you can sit, relax, and enjoy the views then Collins Cove Beach is definitely great. In fact, it’s one of the easiest access to water in the whole town.

So, this beach is for exploring, and relaxing, but the water is not the highest quality and we would advise you not to swim here.

Devereux Beach

Distance: 4 miles – 10 minutes
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/HUB7wF5rnnm8nESm8

Devereux Beach is the first beach on our list that will require some driving. The last three beaches that we’ve selected are all around Salem, MA. Don’t worry though, all these are easy to access and worth the extra effort.

So, let’s start with Devereux Beach which is a big beach overlooking the ocean. The beach is a mix between sand and pebbles. There is a small patch where it’s sand only but as you expect most people flock to this part. This means if you want to avoid the crowds you should treat it as a non-sand beach.

Other than this it’s pretty well equipped with even restaurants nearby. The views are amazing and the water gets very refreshing during summer. It’s a nice beach and a very short drive. Considering the size is greater than anything you’d find inside Salem, this has more of a beach feel to it.

Nahant Beach

Superb rustic beach!
Distance: 7.5 miles – 15 minutes
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/QFpaz3bBMv81LBUf7

Nahant Beach is one of the best rural beaches near Salem. It’s located on a patch of sand connecting Nahant island to the mainland.

The unique location is a guarantee that you’ll feel like you are on a true beach away from the hustle and bustle of city life. We absolutely love this place for relaxing. Always feels like a mini vacation when we spend a day here.

Even though the beach feels rural and rustic it’s pretty well-equipped. There are changing and shower rooms. There is a restaurant nearby and some parking available. We recommend coming during the morning to make you have parking.

Of course, it gets crowded during summer. Not only it is close to Salem, but close to Boston as well so people from the big city come here too. In peak summer do not attempt to arrive after 10 AM. You won’t have a parking spot.

While the crowds can be a big turn-off for some people we actually prefer it on this beach. It adds to the mini-vacation feeling. Beachgoers everywhere, sunshine, and picturesque views. What else can you ask for?

Revere Beach

THE Beach Experience
Distance: 10 miles – 20 minutes
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/hUZxBXwNF3aJPXBy9

Finally, we have Revere Beach which is the best place to visit if you are looking for a near-perfect beach experience. This place has it all.

First of all, it’s all sand. The beautiful yellow sand makes for nice scenery and with the calm waters, it’s an inviting place.

But that all would not be enough for a true beach experience so what else is there? In short, everything. There’s a beach boardwalk, restaurants, bars, and even a Ferris Wheel during summer.

The beach area is huge but it’s also very close to Boston and people just love coming here. You can even reach it with public transport from Boston quite easily. Parking is readily available and the beach is big but we’d still advise early morning arrival to make sure everything goes smoothly.

Beaches in Salem, Massachusetts – FAQ