Officially, dogs in Massachusetts are not supposed to go to the beach during the summer, and even during the off season they should be on a leash. In the summer, even on a leash, dogs should stay away from areas with lifeguards where most people hang out with kids, but since the beaches in Massachusetts are often very long, there is enough space for the dogs to stretch their legs as long as they are under the control of their owners and are well behaved. Check the municipal regulations before taking your dog to any beach as the rules often change and are confusing even to the locals.
Explore Brant Rock beaches with your dog
Brant Rock is a small coastal village in Marshfield, Massachusetts that is very popular for its abundance of sandy ocean beaches. Dog owners love it as dogs are allowed year round on the leash. There are even poop bags at the entrance to the beach. Owners should promptly clean up after their pets.
Find it at this Address: Ocean Street/H 139, Marshfield,Massachusetts 2050, Phone: 781-834-0268
Splash in the water on Carson Beach
Dogs are allowed on Carson Beach out of season, from Labor Day to Memorial Day, as long as they are on a leash. The beach is large and wide, and dogs and their owners enjoy running on the hard packed sand and occasionally splashing in the water.
Find it at this Address: 2010 Day Blvd., Boston, MA 02127, Phone: 617-727-5290
Visit Castle Island Beach
Pleasure Bay Beach, south and west of Castle Island, has nice protected areas for swimming on the edge of the lagoon. Beaches along Day Boulevard have wonderful white sand and have lifeguards. Dogs are allowed as long as they are on a leash and the owners clean up after them.
Find it at this Address: 2010 William J Day Blvd, Boston, MA 02127, Phone: 617-727-5290
Enjoy Coast Guard Beach
Located in Eastham, Coast Guard Beach is part of the Cape Cod National Seashore, and it is a wonderful beach for hiking, relaxing, and swimming during the summer. Dogs are allowed as long as they are on a six-foot leash and stay off the portion of the beach guarded by lifeguards during the summer.
Find it at this Address: Nauset & Doane Rds, Eastham, MA
Corn Hill Beach
Located on Cape Cod Bay just north of Pamet Harbor, Corn Hill Beach is a long and narrow sandy beach edged with low sand dunes covered in crabgrass. The beach is dog friendly before 9am or after 6pm during the summer, or throughout the whole day in the off-season, but they have to be on leash.
Find it at this Address: Old Pilgrim Library Bldg., 36 Shore Road, Rt. 6A, North Truro, MA 02652, Phone: 508-487-6983
Plan a day trip during the off season to Craigville Beach
The beach has showers and restrooms. Dogs are allowed on Craigville Beach only during the off season, from September 15 to May 15.
Find it at this Address: 997 Craigville Beach Rd, Centerville, MA 02632-3544, Phone: 508-775-9695
Relax on the sand at Crowe’s Pasture Conservation Area and Beach
Crowe’s Pasture Conservation Area and Beach is wild and natural with no amenities, and dogs love it but have to be on a leash. It does not really matter since the walk to the beach will tire them out enough that they’ll enjoy simply relaxing on the sand once they get there.
Find it at this Address: Rte 134, South Dennis, MA 02641, Phone: 508-760-6123
Spend a relaxing weekend off season at Fort Phoenix State Reservation
Dogs are allowed on Fort Phoenix State Reservation only off-season between September and April and have to be on leash.
Find it at this Address: Green Street, Fairhaven, MA 02719, Phone: 508-992-4524
Leash your dog and stroll on Francis Street Beach
The views of the harbor and Nantucket Sound are wonderful from Francis Street Beach. You can bring your dog but must keep him or her on a leash. Stay away from Brant Point as the current is very strong.
Find it at this Address: Washington St & Lafayette St, Nantucket, MA, 02554-0000, Phone: 508-325-5395
Hike along Hatches Harbor Trails
Hatches Harbor salt marsh near Provincetown is part of the Cape Cod National Seashore. There are miles of hiking and biking trails throughout this huge marsh between Hatches Harbor and the Provincetown Airport. Please do not forget that dogs have to be leashed anywhere in the Cape Cod National Seashore.
Find it at this Address: Route 6, Provincetown, MA
Walk your dog before 9 am at Head of the Meadows
Pets are welcome at Head of the Meadows before 9am and after 6pm in summer or the whole day long in the off-season but have to be on a leash.
Find it at this Address: Old Pilgrim Library Bldg., 36 Shore Road, Rt. 6A, North Truro, MA 02652, Phone: 508-487-6983
Access parts of Herring Cove with your pet
Dogs are allowed on the parts of the Herring Cove beach not guarded by lifeguards but have to be on a leash. Owners are responsible for cleaning up after their pets.
Find it at this Address: Race Point Road, Provincetown, MA 02657, Phone: 508-487-1256
Visit Horseneck Beach
Horseneck Beach is popular with dog owners who can bring their pooches during the off-season between October and March, but they have to keep them on a leash.
Find it at this Address: 5 John Reed Road, Westport, MA 02791, Phone: 508-636-8816
Relax on Jetties Beach
Dogs are welcome at the parts of Jetties Beach that are not guarded by lifeguards but have to be on a leash.
Find it at this Address: 2 Bathing Beach Rd, Nantucket, MA, 02554-0000, Phone: 508-228-2279
Look for shells on Kalmus Beach
Take a stroll along Kalmus Beach and look for colorful shells – there are plenty of them. Dogs are free to run around on or off leash from September 15 to May 15.
Find it at this Address: 670 Ocean St, Hyannis, MA 02601, Phone: 508-775-2201
Walk your dog on Long Beach but keep them away from bird nests
Dogs are allowed on Long Beach but should be kept away from the dunes and bird nests.
Find it at this Address: 1 Ryder Way, Plymouth, MA 02360, Phone: 508-747-1620
Marconi Beach
As at all Cape Cod National Seashore beaches, dogs are allowed year around on a leash on Marconi Beach but in the summer should stay away from the parts of the beach with lifeguards.
Find it at this Address: Wellfleet, MA 02667
Play on Nahant Doggie Beach
Dog owners are expected to clean up after their dogs and also to make sure the dogs do not disturb other beach-goers. Nahant Doggie Beach is very popular for kiteboarding and windsurfing, and there are plenty of people without dogs enjoying the fine sandy shore.
Find it at this Address: 1 Nahant Rd, Nahant, MA 01908, Phone: 781-485-2803
Visit Nauset Beach
Dogs are allowed in the parts of Nauset Beach not guarded, and there are local regulations detailing the areas where they can play year round and where they are allowed only during the off season, but the rules are fairly confusing even for locals, so just in case keep your dog on a leash and away from lifeguards and both your dog and you will have fun.
Find it at this Address: Beach Road, Orleans, MA, Phone: 508-240-3775
Enjoy the views from Race Point Beach
The views from Race Point Beach are beautiful – there are often sailboats gliding across the water in the distance. As in other Cape Cod National Seashore beaches, dogs are allowed on a leash in the areas not protected by lifeguards.
Find it at this Address: Race Point Road, Provincetown, MA 02657, Phone: 508-771-2144
Play in the water on Red River Beach
Dogs are allowed with or without a leash on Red River Beach during the off season.
Find it at this Address: Uncle Venie’s Road, Harwich Port, MA 02645, Phone: 508-430-7553
Enjoy the dunes on Rexhame Beach
Rexhame Beach in Marshfield is a typical barrier beach with a narrow, low-lying strip of sand edged by massive dunes covered with sparse vegetation. Dogs are allowed on Rexhame Beach year round, but keep them on a leash during the summer season. Keep them out of the dunes where shore birds nest.
Find it at this Address: Standish St, Marshfield, MA 02050, Phone: 781-536-2500
Visit Sandy Neck Beach during the off season
Sandy Neck Beach is divided into a public, guarded beach and an off-road beach. Dogs are allowed year round on the off-road beach and on the trails but can only visit the public beach during the off season.
Find it at this Address: Sandy Neck Road, West Barnstable, MA 02668, Phone: 508-362-8300
Run and play in Squantum Point Park
Officially, dogs should be on a leash at Squantum Point Park , but as the beach is always deserted and there are no lifeguards or any facilities, nobody is enforcing the leash rule. Nevertheless, make sure you clean up after your dog.
Find it at this Address: 1 Victory Rd, Quincy, MA 02171
