5 New England Beaches Only the Locals Know About

Five hidden beaches are waiting for you, vetted by Yankee magazine and its readers.

Are you tired of sharing the sand with dozens of other beachgoers? If you need some alone time with the beach, we’ve got five hidden beaches that you’ll love. (But don’t tell anyone else!) A quiet day at the beach is worth the dirt road, ferry ride, and eagle-eyed sign searching! Pack your sunscreen and head out to one of these beaches for a solitary day of beachcombing, sun worshiping, and body surfing … or just some quiet reading in a beach chair. Some of these beaches are close to town, like Jacob’s Beach in Guilford, Connecticut. Enter on a dead-end street and soak up the brilliance of this 25-acre beach. Claim a spot wherever you want and enjoy the view of Faulkner’s Island, the home of Connecticut’s second-oldest lighthouse. When you’ve worked up an appetite, the Guilford Lobster Pound is right around the corner! Heading to Maine? Check out Parson’s Beach in Kennebunk. The Parsons family and neighboring landowners share their private beach with the public. It’s a half-mile arc of pillowy sand at the mouth of the Mousam River, perfection for fun in the sun and the chilly Maine waters.

If Massachusetts is your destination, don’t miss Bound Brook Island Beach. While you’ll work a little to get there—a dirt road followed by a short dune hike—it’s so worth it when you reach the beach and see Cape Cod Bay with the tip of Provincetown in the distance. At low tide, explore a huge stretch of sand littered with aquatic life. The sunsets can’t be beat! Our top 5 is rounded out with Indian Point Beach on Chebeague Island, Maine, and Camp Cronin in Narragansett, Rhode Island. Plan to visit one of these secret beaches for a day of solitary sand in your toes with our guide to the 5 Best Hidden Beaches of New England! Our guide to the 5 Best Hidden Beaches in New England points the way to a quintuplet of can’t-miss beach trips, full of stunning views and beachcombing bounty, with just a scattering of likeminded folks. With your Yankee All-Access Charter Membership, you get the entire guide, including:

• How to get to Indian Point Beach in Maine, where the sand is sprinkled with sea shells and sand dollars.
• A hard-to-find gem in Narragansett, RI—Camp Cronin—where you’ll delight at the sunsets and views of Point Judith Light.
• The bequest for all beach lovers, Parsons Beach, where you can enjoy a private beach and a view of Mount Agamenticus any time you want.
• Jacobs Beach, just a mile and a half from the town center of Guilford, CT. Enjoy a wide swath of sand and a jetty-protected salt-water pool.
• A long and winding road to Bound Brook Island Beach in Wellfleet, MA, where you’ll find a carpet of waving grasses and wind-sculpted dunes.

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