Duxbury Beach is quite long with portions reserved for town residents, overland four-wheel-drive vehicles with the necessary permit, and a portion that is open to the public regardless of residency. As I write this (July 2024), the cost per vehicle is $25 for the public portion of the beach. I'm only familiar with this public portion of the beach, but it's a mixture of rocky sections and sandy sections mixed together. It was pretty busy when I was there, so I didn't want to make anyone feel uncomfortable by snapping pictures. I did capture a picture of the walk up over the sand dune, as well as some pictures from the awesome wooden bridge that leads to the entrance. There's an old-fashioned snack bar/ seafood joint near the parking lot entrance. Bonus: Very close by is Island Creek Oysters! read more

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Great Massachusetts beach park for the upper crust in life... Frank enjoyed my beach day experience and didn't even get devoured by a Great White Shark while swimming so I have that going for me... Hopefully your experience is as wonderful as mine was in Duxbury. read more

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I would like to say that things have improved with the beach. I came in a late afternoon on a weekday and it was low tide so they were nice soft sand to walk over the beach and it was absolutely lovely. Rocks and pebbles are still there, but this was not uncomfortable, they seem to have not as much trash this time and I will say that I actually had a good time there temperature water was nice and I think you should check it out and enjoy! Changing room is still small and cramped but because it's part of the historic 1920s charm. read more

Duxbury Beach Park - Beaches Near Me - Duxbury, Massachusetts

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Great Beach , better to come in the off season they are very strict in the summer, nice area for a walk and lots of great restaurants nearby read more

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The beach was fun but SO MANY FLIES!!!!! it was horrible! We went on June 24th 2025. I wasn't able to eat the food I brought because the flies were all over it. I also couldn't drink my water bottle because the flies kept going into the straw part and I almost drank it. Very gross, they should do something about the fly issue. read more

Very nice beach that happens to be infested with hardo parking lot staff. I was meeting up with some family and wanted to drop off my wife and my 2 year old before I parked. The guy watching the residents only lot was cool about it and said no problem. I get in my car and pull back up to the booth where the staff are gathered. I say hey I'm not from here, can you point me to the public parking lot. If you type "Duxbury Beach" into your GPS it brings you to the resident lot. Another staff member interrupts with "No way, he's not parking here!" I asked him wtf he's talking about and he starts yammering on about I "already parked there once" (referring to the 5 minutes I spent dropping off a baby) and putting on this tough guy display accusing me of trying to pull a fast one. I told him, buddy I'm literally asking where the pay lot is. He doubles down with more tough guy "I'm just saying..." nonsense. I told him I didn't ask what he was saying, I asked where the parking lot was. The guy throws a tantrum and storms off, and the other actually competent guy comes back over and points me to the pay lot which, after all that, was a 2 minute drive away and was FREE because they'd stopped charging for the day. This idiot got involved in a conversation that had nothing to do with him for no reason and had a full diaper melt to protect exactly $0.00 in revenue. Just be a person. Talk to people like human beings instead of broadcasting that your family and friends don't respect you and a parking lot is all you have. read more

Really enjoyed our beach day. Beautiful rocky landscape with plenty of sand. Note that parking fees and snack bar are CASH ONLY. read more

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Nice beach but years ago I remember you could actually park before Memorial Day and after Labor Day. This year I tried going on days before and after the holiday when it was still very warm out and they closed off the public parking lot. They do check for resident stickers on the other side. There's a small area across from the large public lot where maybe 5 cars without stickers can fit but of course that gets full and the parking before the bridge fills too, it's very obviously a way to keep people they deem as lesser off "their" beach if you are only welcome when someone is there to collect $20. Read about how beach access isn't as limited in every other state except Maine, which is just as bad with privatizing beaches & limiting the parking and access on the few public beaches. It's rooted in classism and racism. Other public beaches nearby Duxbury now have their signs up that you need a pass, making it confusing for people to know if they can park there off season too. It's not cute or welcoming. So "progressive" of MA to privatize most of the coastline for the wealthiest white folks & make effort to subtly keep others away from the ocean. read more

Not the hippie guy who can walk over hot coals, nor the chick that parades around in four inch stilettos everyday, nor a wee kiddie who runs barefoot over hot concrete all summer, no one has soles tough enough to walk these rocks. (Except maybe the Taiwanese who have parks with stone paths to stimulate reflexology but even then.) And still this beach is glorious! With a level six mile span, you're sure to find a place to plop pleasantly on the oh-so-lovely sand, soft and multi-colored. It absorbs falls from those hazardous beach sports. Or if you're a klutz like me and trip over your own feet, well, you'll land swimmingly. There's also long stretches of both the hard packed wet variety, and the grainy. Perfect for paddleball, frisbee, etc. Logistically easy. 45 minutes from Boston, $10 parking. Bring cash. Maybe eats as seafood isn't served until dinner time. Annoyances include one sink for eight stalls, separate hot and cold food concessions so you have to wait in line twice, 50 degree water (which means a dip, no actual swimming for me) and greenheads (horseflies, f*ckers!). Overall just a grand place to appreciate the halcyon days of sunshine and rolling waves. read more

Duxbury Beach Park - By jackarpie on flickr.com - Beaches Near Me - Duxbury, Massachusetts

Duxbury is one of my favorite towns in southeastern Massachusetts. This beach is the picture perfect beach of New England. White powdery sand, blue calm ocean, tall green grass near the wooden fencing, and the nice wooden bridge that crosses over to the beach. It's a great place to grab some beers, soak up the sun and go for a dip in the summer. If you come in the spring it's still nice to breathe in that fresh New England salt water filled fresh air while taking a walk, even though it's a bit chilly. The only drawback are the rocks near the shore. Be careful not to slip or injure your feet while going into the water. read more

Duxbury Beach Park - Beaches Near Me - Duxbury, Massachusetts

I feel obligated to let everyone know about the parking situation. I drove here from Boston only to be told on arrival parking is for duxbury residents only. I couldn't even pay for a day pass. They informed me I could park on the other side of the bridge in a small lot for free, about 30 spots, and walk across the bridge to gain access to the beach. That's a joke. See the picture of the bridge. I stayed on a tiny beach near the free parking lot but won't be returning read more

Duxbury Beach Park - Beaches Near Me - Duxbury, Massachusetts

The beach here is quite lovely and spacious enough that you don't have to be near people if you walk down a bit. Sure it's rocky in areas but you're in Massachusetts, tell me one beach that isn't rocky?! There are still plenty of sandy areas to set up for the day. My poor rating is for the $20 mid week parking rate. This would not be so bad if they had nice facilities, but they don't. The restrooms are severely outdated and dilapidated. Some stalls missing locks, paint falling off walls, the stench was horrendous, I've seen much cleaner and nicer rest areas facilities than here(and they don't receive the type of cash flow this place does.) No lids on the trash cans in the stalls so you will see bloody napkins and tampons. This place looks like it hasn't been cleaned or updated in years.... So if you don't mind all that, sure come bring the family here, but make it worth it by carpooling. read more

A lovely beach to spend the day with some fun loving SBSers. However, I wouldn't go out of my way to come down mainly because of all the rocks on the beach. If I'm going to drive an hour I'd rather go someplace with nicer sand along the coast. The beach is still rather nice and spacious. With plenty of room to set up several different games including volleyball, bocce, and a few others. The concession stand was convenient esp. for those that don't like to pack lunch for the beach, but don't count on it being healthy for you. The boneless buffalo wings are loaded with buffalo sauce and can be quite messy to eat. The fries were much better than I had expected. However they can be inconsistent; meaning the guys I was with, they apparently got some really skinny dinky fries, while I got the bigger more potato-ey fries which they ended up digging into. Also, don't forget your forks/knives - they charge you $1 for utensils. Not that I needed it, but just an FYI. I'm actually quite surprised that the water wasn't as cold as I was expecting it to be. I'm a wimp when it comes to cold water. On your way out, be sure to stop by their cold concession - they have ice cream and slushies (Ronnie Slush to be exact!). read more

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Sand in my PB&J, horseflies and sunburns...sign me up! OK, I'm not the biggest beach lover. I go to the beach a few times a year, but when I do it would be nice to have the option to drive on the beach. Perhaps they should offer a drive-on daily pass (first come, first serve) for $25 or something. People would pay it! Yesterday, there were no flies and I realized I like the beach better in the afternoon when it starts to cool down. Polish horseshoes is a fun game. If your friends have an over-sand pass, pack a gourmet Deluxbury dinner. You can ask the other Grand Cherokee owners: Pardon me, would you have any Grey Poupon? My favorite thing to do here is bring my mountain bike and ride out to Gurnet Light and then Saquish. You don't need permission to walk or ride a bike to these areas (just no vehicle access without an invitation) read more

This beach is disgusting. After reading all of the mixed reviews we decided to give it a try while on vacation. This is by far the worst beach I've ever visited. There was barely anywhere that wasn't covered in rocks and seaweed. There are seagulls all around and horse flys literally all over the place. We paid $20 to park and stayed for fifteen minutes. It also smells terrible. I tried to think of something positive about this beach and could not...find another beach. Trust me, you'll thank me. read more

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Sorry, this beach has gone WAY downhill. The one plus is that they finally paved the road leading in, but that's literally it. The beach is almost nonexistent now. It's completely rocky and the water is ALL gross seaweed. I loved this beach up until this year. Not going to be returning! Also: they raised the price to park to $20 for a day. Noooo thank you! read more

Duxbury Beach Park - Beaches Near Me - Duxbury, Massachusetts

This was my first time at this beach and I have a mixed opinion. The parking is $20 to park, but was very close to the beach. The restrooms were not very clean which is a deterrent for me when I think of returning to a beach. I know they are beach bathrooms so I don't expect them to be pristine, but these were gross with the smell of cigarettes and cigarette butts everywhere. The beach is small and rocky. However, the water was clean and didn't have a ton of seaweed the day we visited. In my opinion, this beach may work in a pinch, but I'm definitely not going to make this a beach destination. read more

This is ridiculous we pay over $300 for a pass to use it not be turned away. You close the 2nd cross over due to the birds which isn't fair at all this is a complete scam . All you guys want is money it used to be nice beach to enjoy with family. i'm done buying a beach pass and if you are moving here or coming here don't buy one it isn't worth it! scam scam scam!!!! read more

$20 to park! Was here the day before July 4th. The beach was semi pack but not overcrowded. Very clean and the water is actually clear... although cold. That's New England for ya! Would love to come back again. read more

I love the drive on at Duxbury and we are so lucky to have something so wonderful to use. Too bad it's never open. $300 for a resident pass for the drive on and it's been used 1 time this summer. I understand that the endangered plover needs to be protected but I'm sure it can be done in a more manageable way. read more

This beach suck.better beaches around the area like scusset beach.horseflies everywhere. Loved this place when I was little.not anymore.expensive parking. read more

Woah, five stars! I went to this beach on the recommendation of a friend and I was pleasantly surprised! It only took 40 min from Newton to Duxbury and we were there on a hot humid Sunday morning. We arrived around 11am and there was still plenty of parking ($10) and plenty of beach space! Yes, the beach has some rocks in it and I will warn you to get a spot up at the top of the beach area as when high tide comes in, people who parked lower will be moving up as the tide comes in. It's a very long beach and by 1pm it was definitely crowded but we had our own little nook of sand surrounded by rocks, so no other people were near us! The water is a bit cold but when it's 90 out, you don't mind quite so much! My kids had a blast splashing in the water - it's great when the tide is out, you can go pretty far out and still only get water up to your knees! We didn't eat anything from the snack bar - we brought our own food and drinks, but it's nice that they had it and the bathrooms too. All in all, we would definitely go back!!! read more

It's important to note: when Googling this place you want to go to the Duxbury Public beach. Not the uber-uppity private beach with a similar name (Duxbury Beach). Google maps will lead you right into yuppy hell so make sure you direct yourself to the public beach near Canal Street. Getting to this beach was very easy once we figured out our previously mentioned navigation issues. It's only about 45 minutes from Boston! There were plenty of parking spots but it is expensive at $15.00 per vehicle. I've definitely been to better beaches. This place was very rocky and the water seemed to have unusually large clumps of algae all over the place. Nonetheless, the sun was out and during low tide you're able to walk out pretty far and set out some chairs on the sand flats. One aspect that really makes this beach a family friendly place is that they have bathrooms and a snack bar. Nothing shuts up a whiny kid like an ice cream. read more

As my 200th review, and coming off the very last summer at our cherished, and now sold, Duxbury Beach House I must give the Duxbury Beach five stars. Such a beautiful, beautiful beach. Lovely Rangers, spotless picnic areas and the most amazing memories a girl could ask for. A must-do for any Duxbury visitor and, as someone who has been fortunate to visit many beaches across the country (and world) one of the greatest beaches I've ever been too. read more

Duxbury Beach Park is a beautiful New England beach that allows on sand access and parking for all wheel drive vehicles. The beach is very relaxing and family friendly. The expensive parking permit keeps large crowds away. On the downside, there are some vulnerable species that inhabit the beach (i.e. last year's piping plover controversy) that may keep the beach closed for long periods of time. I just talked to the town hall and for 2014 the non resident beach permits are available beginning February 18 for $295 until June 1. The permit is valid from April 1 to March 31. The price rises to $325 after June 1. If you get a shellfish permit, you can go clamming and oystering on the harbor side. The permit is $110 for a nonresident and is again valid from April 1 to March 31. read more

My hometown had a beach, but it was filled with trash and jellyfish. Living in Duxbury these days, it's pretty sick to have this beach in my backyard. The sand is soft, the water just right..the only thing that stinks is the greenhead flies that bite the crap out of you. My advice is to grab a few buddies, brews (and solo cups cause drinking is a no-no), music and just enjoy a perfect day at the beach. $15 to park on the weekends, but it couldn't be more worth it! read more

I grew up on this beach. Having said that, the greenhead flies are pretty relentless, there are rocks, and the ocean side water is pretty cold. There are bathrooms within walking distance, and usually an ice cream truck in the afternoon. It's a beautiful New England beach. You don't need a sticker for parking if you don't mind parking on the far side of the bridge for free and walking across. Bring bug spray for the flies (bullfrog mosquito coast sunscreen works well) and water shoes for the rocks, and you're all set. Waves are small ... It's not a surfing beach. There are a few sandbars which are fun to walk or swim out to. On the bay side, the water is much warmer, and you can hear the cars gently crossing the bridge. The sand is muckier and there is more seaweed, but it's pretty shallow and perfect for little kids. read more

Duxbury Beach Park - A view from the beach cabana we bought. - Beaches Near Me - Duxbury, Massachusetts

Fun spot to visit and great place to go on walks or hikes. Not sure why the others only gave it 3 stars. The price is right and air is fresh read more

$15 parking- still not sure if its worth $15 but oh well, MA beaches are RIDICULOUS in that you have to PAY to visit. Since this beach is on the other side of the Cape, there aren't any real waves. Womp womp. But the water is so blue, and for the most part it is see-thru. Its really cold, and that is still hard to get use to- but its refreshing nonetheless. The thing about this beach is that there isn't alot of 'beach' space between the fence and the water. There is also an enormous amount of rocks between the sand 'beach' space and the water. Overall, its the closest decent beach worth checking out if you live in Boston. read more

Duxbury beach is my favorite beach ever, probably because I spent my whole child/young adult-hood frequenting it in the summertime. It's often crowded down by the snack shack/public parking lot, but if you find a spot down near the bridge (there are places to park on that end, trust me) there is no one around and you can chill without a million people around you. The water is icy, but that's to be expected-- it's super refreshing on a humid day. And you won't find powdery white sand here-- there are lots of rocks, but also lots of shells and pretty driftwood. The best thing about this beach is that it's out on a strip of sand away from any businesses, roads, or residential areas. To me it has this wonderful, calming, natural vibe. I get there as much as I can during the summer. read more

I love Duxbury Beach. Great place to go for a walk with the dogs during the off season, and great spot to hit the beach during the summer. There are a lot of rocks on the beach and in the water, so if you plan on splashing around, water shoes would be a good thing to bring! Parking is $15, and a great feature of the beach is that it is never at capacity. They will always find a space for you, which I thought was awesome! read more

Duxbury Beach Park - Beaches Near Me - Duxbury, Massachusetts

Nice big beach that is good for kids b/c super shallow. There are rocks right when you first walk in the ocean, but then it turns to soft sand. Would've given 5 stars expect for those DARN flies that BITE!!! That kind of ruined it for me. Boooooooo!!! $15 to park. read more

Really, I've been to better beaches. There are way too many rocks at this beach and ow, it hurts your feet as you're trying to get into the water to swim. The water was fine for Massachusetts temperatures, but it was very rocky and very difficult to swim. Parking was $15. They changing facilities were not the greatest and not very well cleaned. Mainly, I really just didn't like all the rocks. Go to Crane Beach in Ipswich instead. read more

This beach DEFINITELY deserved 5 stars by MA (well, really Boston) standards. Too bad it costs $15 to park. Just lost a star, DB. But its the best beach you'll find without driving from the city to the Cape or North Shore beaches, which is nothing short of miraculous. Yeah, the sand is rocky, but spend a few minutes clearing a spot before you lay your towel out and you'll be fine. The beach and water are clean, the sand is soft, and the water is turquoise- I kid you not, TURQUOISE- on some days, there are bathrooms. Plus its surprisingly undercrowded for a beach this great. Also, there ARE waves (Monica R. needs to update her review- I was with her last time we were there 2 days ago, and we were riding them back to the shore!) Love this beach : ) For living in Boston, anyways! read more

Not my first option but we have been here a lot. When entering we noticed management have done a terrific job with the road and in the parking lot but when we saw the "beach" what a trash can! Dead Sea weed that have not been pick up since who knows when, atracting all kinds of bugs. Rocks been thrown everywhere. Couldn't find the sand. Overheard somenone said "Duxbury should be ashamed of charging 20 bucks to get in" I agreed. Some money should have been spent in the beach too. Pretty sure they did a ton of money today, Never been in a beach where people were leaving in a 94° degree perfect day. There should have been a sign saying "there is not beach". read more

Being from R.I. where you can't go wrong at almost any beach south of North Kingstown, it's been difficult finding a beach with nice sand and swimmable water. We heard good things about Duxbury Beach, so we figured we'd take the 40 minute drive from the city and check it out. We got to the beach at 8:30 and were told the main two lots were for permit & resident only. Fine. We were then told to drive down the "dirt path" to the parking lot you can pay ($15, which isn't bad at all). We start to drive down this pathway which is littered with huge holes filled with water. There is a sign that says *4 wheel drive only*. That would have been a nice thing to be told. We finally make it down the quarter mile path only for there to be no one in sight. No cars in the visitors parking lot, no people collecting money. Long story short, that lot doesn't open until 9 or 9:30. The sand was nice but had a lot of big rocks, which isn't a big deal once you clear them away and make yourself a spot. The water was very rocky though, and freezing as well (which comes after a week of temperatures from 80-90 degrees). I find cold water to be a common theme among MA beaches though. There were a lot of flies that stung too. It wasn't the best beach experience, but it also wasn't M Street beach in Southie. Maybe I've been spoiled with the beaches in Southern Rhode Island, but this beach wasn't my favorite. read more

Not a good beach at all. Rocks everywhere in the beach, even in water that can hurt your feet. $20 Parking fee with stinky restroom area..Unfortunate to see so many dead crabs in the shore.. read more

Ouch! Ouch!! Too many rocks on this otherwise 5 star beach! I went here today with some awesome people and we had a blast! Their snack bar is typical beach fare (the requisite hamburgers, hot dogs, tuna sandwich, grilled cheese, onion ring, fries, etc). My grilled cheese was delicious, the fries, well, they were reminiscent of the Waltham Public Schools cafeteria fries, so they were not good. The water is clean, almost pristine, I'd say. There is a lot of space for everyone, so come down and check it out. They have parking too. But, I'd recommend taking the Bustonian (see review)! read more

Possibly my favourite beach in MA! You can walk for miles on this beach collecting sea glass - if you go at low tide! Somedays you can get free parking. If not, its still worth it! read more

Beautiful beach and barely a crowd... Nice cold water and ... A lot of horseflies!!!! It was nearly unbearable to sit still - I was swatting at a fly every 2 seconds. Luckily a nearby beachgoer lent me some bug spray (more important than sunscreen that day), but unfortunately the flies bit up my sandy feet and I was itching non-stop for 3days afterward. Tip: Parking is free if you get there before 9am and park in the little lot just before the bridge to head over to the main lots. read more