i adore this place! I've been going for years and it has always been perfect. the water is beautiful and perfect for boogie boarding or surfing. love it! read more

Kid-friendly, beautiful, clean and ample parking. The waves are gentle yet great for surfing and splashing around for kids. There is a snack shack and restrooms nearby and these are located just by the beach. We had a great day there and this will be our go-to beach this summer with our 2.5 year old. read more

The best new beach I've visited in quite some time! Plan to arrive early to beat the lines and stay late because it's so lovely. They have all things that are good: an island you can swim/walk out to, snack bar, italian ice, restrooms, lots of wide open beach, clear water. There are a ton of people but you never feel crowded because the beach is just so large. It's a bit pricey but you get what you paid for! read more

The parking was very expensive, but it was definitely worth it. At the beach, they have lots of rental items, i.e. boogie boards, sunscreen, balls. They also had a small "restaurant". About the beach, the beach is very clean and looks beautiful. The beach is small at high tide, but good sized at low tide. At low tide, you can get to a small island. There was exeptionally large waves, some of the largest I've ever seen. read more

I LOVE Good Harbor Beach. It's my favorite beach in Mass and always the first beach I think of when friends suggest a beach day. Everyone I have taken there falls in love with it as well. Whenever I mention to my mom (not a beach fan) that I'm going she always says the same thing, "Oh, I just love that beach, remember when we went there when you were young?" Why is it so great? 1. Beautiful. 2. The sand is soft and generally well raked. No annoying rocks. 3. It's big. Even on 95 degree days of holiday weekends with copious amounts of people, you never have to worry about having someones toes in your face. Gross. 4. Along the "it's big" lines... Except maybe at high tide on a busy day there is plenty of room to "play" - throw a disc around, kick a soccer ball, play ladder golf, or even set up a volleyball net as a lot of ppl do 4. Bathrooms with running water 5. Snack shop - I have never actually gotten anything from here, but apparently they also sell suntan lotion, tubes and other toys 6. Always a kid selling Italian ice (separately from the snack shop) for like $2...watermelon or lemon - both fantastically refreshing on the beach 7. Waves can get moderately large which makes for fun times in the water 8. At low tide you can walk out to a small island and walk around (just watch out for bird poop if you climb on the rocks!) 9. Houses near the water that you can pretend you live in 10. Water is fairly clear (no rocks!), usually just a very small amount of seaweed 11. During high tide you can jump into the ocean runoff on the far side of the bridge and the current pulls you around into the ocean (near the shore). Of course, make sure it's deep enough and be careful of rocks b/c there are a lot in that area. A couple things worth noting: 1. Yes, parking is expensive, but you can park in a lot of areas in town and just walk a few minutes to the beach for free. I do this every time I go, and half the time as we are walking we pass people in their cars waiting in traffic to get into the beach parking. [The only times I have parked in the beach parking lot was when I was little with my family, during the early spring when it was free and basically empty, and when my friend lived in Gloucester and had a summer pass] 2. Yes, the water is cold, but it's the North Shore, not Florida. It is pretty chilly in June ("It doesn't hurt anymore....but I can't feel my legs"), but by August it's usually warm enough to allow me to go in with only a brief hesitation. Definitely worth the 45 minute drive from Boston! read more

From the gloucester-ma.gov website (because no other reviews here had the time the gates open, which BTW is 8 AM!) Located on Thatcher Road, Rte 127A, Good Harbor is a beautiful beach with lovely, white sand facing the Atlantic. At low tide, one can walk out to Salt Island while at high tide one can enjoy body surfing or boogie boards. Lifeguards are on duty Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day from 9:00am to 5:00pm daily. Surfing, inflatable objects and all floatation devices with the exception of Styrofoam boogie boards are prohibited during the hours lifeguards are on duty. Alcohol is also prohibited. Gloucester has adopted a Carry In - Carry Out Policy for Good Harbor and Wingaersheek beaches so please be prepared to carry out any trash with you when you leave. Food, drinks, beach toys, and other beach necessities are available at the concession. Restrooms and showers are available as well from 9:00am to 6:00pm daily. During periods of inclement weather, all facilities may close early. Parking is available during the week at a rate of $20 per vehicle, and on the weekends and holidays at $25 per vehicle. (After Labor Day, beaches may be open with reduced rates charged, weather permitting.) Space is limited so you will need to arrive early on a nice day in order to get a parking space. The gates open at 8:00am and are locked at 9:00pm. The beach is handicapped accessible with approximately 16 handicapped spaces in the lot and a drop off space near the footbridge. A beach wheelchair is available - ask at the collection booth upon arrival or ask the lifeguards. Buses are prohibited from the parking lot and any large groups must receive a permit ($25 per permit). Directions: - take Rte 128 North into Gloucester. Follow the signs for East Gloucester/Rockport. Go through the two rotaries. At the first traffic light you have two options. First option is to take a left onto Eastern Ave. Follow Eastern Ave for approximately 1 to 1 1/2 miles and Shaws Plaza will be on your right. Turn right onto Barn Lane at the end of the plaza. At the end of Barn Lane turn left onto Thatcher Rd and the beach lot will be on your right. If you go straight through the first light, you will then take a left onto Bass Ave at the next light. Follow Bass Ave to Thatcher Road and turn left onto Thatcher Road. The parking lot will be up on your right. read more

I want to come here every weekend in the summer! 1. It gets really crowded, so you need to go early and it's $25 to park but it's easy to get on and off the beach since the parking is right there. 2. The bathrooms are pretty clean and the snack bar has a ton of selections and reasonably priced! I've actually never eaten at it but the food looks decent. 3. They rent and sell lots of items - umbrellas, paddle ball, rafts, and NEW! this year is cornhole. 4. Water is cold but it's to be expected. Sand is nice a soft and none of those nasty bugs flying around like I've experienced at Crane's. This is my top pick for a beach north of Boston. read more

Nice, clean, appealing beach. Better pricing and cleaner sand than Wingaersheek on the other side of Gloucester. On the flip-side it's far busier than Wingaersheek, which is usually a little more mellow. A point for tanners: The beach faces East, which means you can orient yourself facing the water and the sun will pass nearly directly over you length-wise. This keeps you having to reposition as much, comparing to Wingaersheek which faces North. There, the sun only hits you evenly around noon-1pm. Will go back again. read more

OMGoshhhhh! This beach is sooooooo beautiful In love my goal is to visit 10 beaches in New England this summer I am at #4 and by far #1 on my list. Water is delicious and the beach is clean and the bathroom really clean read more

A great beach. I have a helpful hint for you. None of the locals (including me) actually pay the $25 on weekends for parking. On the side of the beach (nearest to the highway), there are all streets really close. All of these streets have free street parking. Some people do this. You drop whoever your with and the beach stuff off, at the side by the river and bridge, and one person goes to park the car. Trust me, I've done this so many times, you CAN NOT get a ticket. Best beach on the Northshore, HANDS DOWN! I'm NOT talking about right next to the bridge. There you get both a ticket, and your car gets towed. On the side streets near the bridge such as Mount Pleasant. It just isn't summer without a few trips to Good Harbor and jumping off of the bridge into the water. read more

Where did the beach go? I've been coming here almost over 30+ years. At high tide, the beach is about 1/2 the size it was last year. The smallest I've ever seen it. Hopefully it rebuilds over the summer. My favorite beach. One year I started at Salisbury and headed south to the Cape, checking each beach to see how it compared to Good Harbor. Good Harbor won, for me. Great for body surfing, especially around a good storm. Nice soft sand. As others have mentioned, no nasty green flies. I remember when parking was $4 on the weekend, no collection booth, just a guy with an old Dodge Dart for a desk collecting the money and giving tickets. read more

Good Harbor is my all time favorite beach and it is worth the $25 parking. The waves are great, especially right before and after a storm. It can get super busy so recommend getting here early. Bring your cash because they have Italian ice stands and you can buy food here as well. read more

Good Harbor is great- especially the little tidal lagoon area. BUT, if you get there after a long drive and are surprised to find it closed to non- residents- do NOT follow the signs to Long Beach up the road. That's a totally different beach experience. It still cost $20 to park, but was a lot less nice than Good Harbor. First of all: no lifeguards and no signs warning parents that there aren't any lifeguards- so you pay the $20 and then find out. The water was really nice, but the beach was super crowded and really unpleasant. It was really like hanging out in an ashtray all day. Tons of second hand smoke coming from all directions, cigarette butts all over the beach. No restrooms, no snack bar- just a pink ice cream truck where the driver smokes while he gets your sno- cone. Pretty gross. read more

This beach is pretty big. It's a ton of fun. They have bathrooms and a stand to get food. They have pizza burgers drinks etc. Parking was $25 a car little pricey for parking. They do have lifeguards on duty. The beach was pretty clean and gas beautiful views. read more

If you are from out of town, you'd better pack up the car the night before and put your kids to bed early. By 9:30 a.m. high season weekend, you are going to sit in a long line and probably not make it into the parking lot. Luckily, there is Long Beach, just up the street. While high tide takes most of the beach away, this is just a gem of a beach, even better than GH. There are no trash cans so please take your trash away. It's really gross to see the amount of trash that gets "combed" off the beach each day. read more

A beach -- near Boston -- with a parking lot! This beach is clean, has sand, minimal seweed and rocks. The water is perfect. The clientele ranges from families with toddlers to tweens trying not to sit with said family. High Schoolers and probably a slew of college kids. I like this place! read more

Good Harbor Beach was a place I've been going to since I was a wee lass. It is a small beach, and that is where the one star docked comes from. Otherwise, it is well maintained and busy as HELL during the summer. Parking is stupidly expensive but then again so are most of the beaches within a 30 or so mile radius. After 5pm, parking is free. Also, dogs are allowed on the beach before May 15th and after September 15th. In fact, if you go here before and after these dates it seems like the residents are just WAITING for this time of year so they can bring their dogs and let them off leash and go crazy. It's awesome! Everyone, humans and dogs, are having fun and getting along and talking to each other. In the summer, you have Italian Ice stands and a two snack bars. When I was a kid, I remember the grilled cheese being so buttery and nommy that it melted in my mouth. I have no idea what it's like now as I am a non-eater-of-bread these days. But for beach food the prices are ok and there are some showers and changing rooms as well. There are plenty of places to stay in the area if you want to walk to the beach, and not too far down the road is a fantastic ice cream place with both hard and soft serve. Tons of flavors, good portions, and a big selection of toppings and ways of serving the ice cream. Good Harbor, I will always have a place in the sandy part of my heart for thee. read more

With the exception of the Cape, this is by far my favorite beach in MA. The sand is soft, the beach is impecably clean, there is a food stand, clean restrooms, and showers. The water is a bit chilly, but clean & refreshing! The only drawbacks are the $20 fee to park (get there early, sometimes the lot fills up), and like others have said this beach has become very popular & draws quite a crowd, so expect to have a lot of company nearby. read more

Good Harbor beach is one of the best beaches you'll ever go to. Beautiful soft sand, nice waves, food, bathrooms, and a gorgeous view. I love to go to this beach, especially when it's a weekday, and less crowded. read more

Get there early for parking? Well how early is early right? Most days you are ok to get there before 11am, so really not too bad, you can leave the city by 10 and be ok. Now, on a really perfect beach day in August it may need to be earlier so keep that in mind! Yes, it is $25 for parking, but most of the time split between your friends this isn't all that bad. And the parking is literally right at the beach so it is so convenient, I think the price is totally worth it. This is one of the best beaches around as you can tell by the reviews. The only thing I will add is that there are bathrooms and they are good enough, nothing special by any means. I highly recommend the water ice! read more

This place was great...visited today for the first time and can't wait to come back! My friends and I arrived close to 1 and we didn't have trouble finding a spot on the parking lot. It did cost us $25 to park (-.5 star) but the beach was pretty big and we didn't have any problems find a location to lay our towels. There was a little food stand that takes credit cards (10 minimum: -.5 star) and sells decently priced beach fares.... Good Harbor is located in a great location where the scene is beautiful, the water is clear, and the sand is white and soft!!! I definitely recommend this beach for anyone looking for a nice beach. read more

I really can't say enough good things about this beach. My boyfriend and I are Gloucester residents and come here almost every day in the spring, summer, and fall. It's by far the best beach in the area! read more

The beach is beautiful if you compare to the others in MA. Compared to beaches in Brazil, for example, forget it. I was utterly disappointed because in my mind beaches are meant for the public to get their feet wet, enjoy the sun, the nature that God made FOR FREE. After going to five different beaches using the GPS and asking locals for directions, I realized everything is ABOUT THE MONEY in this place and the rocks by the sea can only be seen by a distance since they are private property. Yes!!! The rocks by the sea are also sold. So, when I was giving up and decided to eat a huge icecream to subside my frustation I asked an elderly gentle lady for more directions and told her the story. She drove me to a street where I was also not allowed to park but she told me a secret: the new stickers for residents (the only ones allowed to park) would not be effective until May the 31st, so I should park there and enjoy the beach without being seen by the locals!!! Ridiculous, but feeling like a criminal, that's what I did because I did not want to completely waste my 40 mile driving and my one hour wandering trying to find a spot to enjoy the nature. PS Not mentioning an Inn in one of the beaches that had 15 spots for parking and had onloy 3 taken. The lady in charge said we could not park there because she was full on a Friday afternoon LOL. Surely I will not go there again. read more

Good Harbor Beach is my all-time favorite beach. I can't explain why I'm so drawn there, but there's something special about about the expansive ocean, the sound of the waves crashing and the smell of the salt water that lifts my spirits every time!!! This is the beach that I brought my kids to every summer and now the one I'm bringing my grandkids to as well!! Such wonderful memories to last a lifetime!! Check it out... you'll get hooked, too. read more

How about some house envy? Aggressive gulls that will def peck your eyes out. Legit frozen water (don't worry, after you can't feel your ankles, you'll be just fine), but miles of sandy sunny beach. These things make Good Harbor Beach one of my favorite places. Although parking is Fucking Expensive ($20 on a weekday, $25 on the weekend), a day trip to this beach is worth it on a truly hot day. The drive into Gloucester is a pain, but easy (like, three turns, seriously) and the views on the way are awesome. You feel like you're at the Cape without having to go to the Cape! YAY! The snack stand has tons of options, but a stocked cooler is a must. A walk to the far right side of the beach will bring you to a shallow series of pools much warmer than the ocean at large. Bring your Banana Boat and do some people watching. And on the way home, stop at Richardson's for an ice cream. read more

This is my favorite beach of all time next to Crane Beach. White sand, clear water, good waves and clean facilities. The food is good and decently priced as well. The only downfall is parking is difficult especially on weekends, so come early. read more

Good beach. Parking stinks. Super crowded in the Summer.. but it's the North Shore, that is expected. Parking still stinks.

This is a great beach with soft sand, waves, and flowing estuary under a foot bridge. The parking is $20 on weekdays. For that amount, they should have garbage and recycling receptacles. One of the best things is that Rockport is a short drive away (~10 min). We skipped the food shack at the beach to save room for some really good food at the Fish Shack at Rockport. read more

Good Harbor beach is easily one of my favorite beaches in New England (or anywhere for that matter). It has soft sand, incredible scenery and is very clean. The water can be a bit on the chilly side but it's usually pretty comfortable. The surf is pretty decent here - you'll often see surfers in the water. The beach features views of lighthouses and a small 'island' that is easily accessible at low tide via a sand bar. The facilities include showers for de-salting after a long swim. There is a charge for parking ($20 during the week and $25 on weekends/holidays I think) but it is free after 5pm. During the off-season the beach is a great place to take your dog (but I believe the parking lot is closed for part of the year so you'll have to park somewhere then walk to the beach). read more

Great beach in Gloucester. Nice views of ocean and a decent sized rock island that you can get to by foot when the tide is low. I was there in April and the water was already fairly warm-mind you I didn't swim-but just waded in a bit. Seems like it's a very popular place to bring your dog, but maybe that is just in the off-season. In any case, everyone picked up their dog-poop. I will definitely be coming back!!! read more

I like Good Harbor. The beach itself has some great waves for boogie boarding. The beach is clean and sand is soft. There is a nice snack bar in the middle of the beach, so that is pretty convenient. The snack bar isn't too over priced either. The water is safe to go into (unlike the Boston Harbor). The only thing that stinks is its about 40 mins away from Boston and parking here is $25 and you have to get here early before the lot is full. read more

We came after 5pm the other day and what a pleasure it was. Much of the crowd had left, so parking was plentiful. We had plenty of space for throwing a frisbee and other ball games. The best part was being able to ride the beautiful waves on the boogie board unfettered. What's also cool was when we were ready to leave just before 8, more surfers had arrived and were just getting started. read more

The parking seems pretty pricey along with the chair and umbrella rental for what you get but the water was gorgeous and the sand was soft and pretty. The bathrooms were also very clean. read more

This beach is awesome. Gorgeous and very spacious. In the off season this is the place to go. However, as others have mentioned, it is something to avoid during the summer because of the high prices and how many people flock to it. read more

Good Harbor is a beautiful beach. If you are a dog owner visiting the area off-season to enjoy a romp on the beach, please be advised that currently Gloucester only allows dog on a 6 foot leash. This is currently, heavily enforced by animal control and police alike. Anyone in violation will receive a $100 fine. Gloucester is taking steps to confine dog activity to one dog park available at Stage Fort Park and after Sept. 15 it is unlikely dogs will be welcomed on any Gloucester beach. Please check with the City of Gloucester before visiting. read more

Excellent beach, don't even look for another beach!! Great for walking and close to captain Ann's resort marina

I love this beach. And the old cool old houses that surround it. I heard one of them used to belong to Betty Davis and I can see why she would choose to live on a beach like this. read more

Fun and clean family beach. Parking situation could be better. The ocean water flows up a creek next to this beach, warms up the water and makes for a great mix of cool ocean water and a warm stream for the kids. Great time overall. read more

I grew up in Lanesville on the back of Cape Ann...the long way around to Rockport so I didn't get to Good Harbor much till I got my license then moved away late 80,s and came back this year and Good Harbor is still the best beach from here to FL that I have been to. Gloucester should be proud....they do a great job taking care of this beautiful city I can call my "hometown"!! read more

Prettiest and cleanest beach in the North East! I went on a Monday afternoon in September and didn't have to pay for parking.