Dog-Friendly Beaches in Massachusetts
Massachusetts has a number of dog-friendly beaches.
Boston
South Boston - Dogs are allowed on Carson Beach in Southie on leash and only during the off-season.
Deer Island/Nut Island - Dogs can take a water taxi to both of these Boston Harbor Islands. See Doggie Destinations.
North Shore
Beverly - Dogs are allowed on Dane Beach from 7:30PM to 7:30 AM from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Gloucester - Gloucester has complex rules so follow the link for specifics.
Ipswich - Dogs are allowed on Crane's Beach only below the high tide line and on-leash from October 1 to March 31.
Manchester - October 15 to April 15 are the dates that dogs are allowed on Singing Beach.
Nahant - May 1 - September 30 there is a doggie beach ban. We've been told by people in the know that there is access to a year-round dog beach which is really cool but we haven't been able to verify from an official site so use your judgement.
Plum Island - Dogs are allowed from October 15 to May 15. Please note that dogs are never allowed on the Plum Island Refuge (see Mufasa for details!). The locals know there is a patch of the beach by the lighthouse where dogs can run off leash by the Captain's Lady. They charge $10 for parking.
Salisbury - Dogs are allowed all year on leash on the riverside of the Salisbury Beach State Reservation but not on the oceanside.
Swampscott - Dogs are only allowed on Swampscott beaches from October 1 to May 20. They must be on-leash though they may romp off-leash between the high tide line and the water under voice control.
South Shore
Duxbury - Dogs are allowed on Duxbury beaches on leash all year from 8 am to sunset with the exception of April 1-September 15 on Resident Beach and the back beach north of Powder Point Bridge. The caveat? You need a permit from town hall.
Hull - Nastasket Beach allows dogs on leash from November to April.
Marshfield - Dogs are allowed at Rexhame Beach on leash all year!
Plymouth - Dogs are allowed on leash all year!
Cape Cod and the Islands
Barnstable - Dogs are allowed on leash all year on the Sandy Neck hiking trails and off-road beach only. They are allowed on all other Barnstable beaches only in the off-season from September 16 to May 15.
Brewster - Once again, our friends are consigned to the off-season - November 1 to June 1.
Cape Cod National Seashore - Dogs are allowed at many National Seashore locations (such as to the left at Coast Guard Beach) but check carefully as there are numerous restrictions. Dogs are allowed on all beaches on-leash all year except where there is a lifeguard in the summer (You may walk through to reach unguarded areas). Dogs are never allowed near posted nesting areas and have restricted access to other parts of the Seashore (some trails and lakes) from May 15 to October 15.
Chatham - The usual - on-leash, off-season only which in Chatham is defined as September 16 to March 31.
Dennis - Dogs are allowed off-season only - Labor Day to Memorial Day though Chapin Beach has a dog-friendly section.
Eastham - Dogs are allowed at Dyer Prince Road Beach in season before 9 am and after 4 pm. All other beaches are off-limits between June 15 and Labor Day.
Falmouth - On-leash dogs are only allowed from October 1 to April 30.
Harwich - Sorry doggies! No beach for you from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Martha's Vineyard - From May 15 - September 15, dogs are only allowed before 9 am and after 5 pm. Beware of other restrictions on nesting areas as posted.
Nantucket - Dogs are welcome before 9 am and after 5 pm during the summer months.
Orleans - It's a bit confusing so look for signs. Dogs are allowed on Nauset Beach but only south of trail one (on-leash unless below the tide line) from May 15 to Labor Day.
Provincetown - Not surprisingly, P-town has the most liberal dog rules of any beach area in Massachusetts! Dogs are allowed in-season (Memorial Day to November 1) off-leash from 6-9 am and from 6pm-6am (3 am dog walk anyone?). They are allowed on-leash all the time!
Sandwich - On-leash only during the off-season - October to March.
Wellfleet - Dogs are allowed at some Wellfleet Beaches (Duck Harbor, Maguire Landing, Cahoon Hollow, White Crest, Newcomb Hollow) before 9 am and after 5 pm in season and any time off-season.
Did we miss your favorite beach? Let us know! Also, send us pictures of you and your pooch on the beach in Massachusetts!
Boston
South Boston - Dogs are allowed on Carson Beach in Southie on leash and only during the off-season.
Deer Island/Nut Island - Dogs can take a water taxi to both of these Boston Harbor Islands. See Doggie Destinations.
North Shore
Beverly - Dogs are allowed on Dane Beach from 7:30PM to 7:30 AM from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Gloucester - Gloucester has complex rules so follow the link for specifics.
Ipswich - Dogs are allowed on Crane's Beach only below the high tide line and on-leash from October 1 to March 31.
Manchester - October 15 to April 15 are the dates that dogs are allowed on Singing Beach.
Nahant - May 1 - September 30 there is a doggie beach ban. We've been told by people in the know that there is access to a year-round dog beach which is really cool but we haven't been able to verify from an official site so use your judgement.
Plum Island - Dogs are allowed from October 15 to May 15. Please note that dogs are never allowed on the Plum Island Refuge (see Mufasa for details!). The locals know there is a patch of the beach by the lighthouse where dogs can run off leash by the Captain's Lady. They charge $10 for parking.
Salisbury - Dogs are allowed all year on leash on the riverside of the Salisbury Beach State Reservation but not on the oceanside.
Swampscott - Dogs are only allowed on Swampscott beaches from October 1 to May 20. They must be on-leash though they may romp off-leash between the high tide line and the water under voice control.
South Shore
Duxbury - Dogs are allowed on Duxbury beaches on leash all year from 8 am to sunset with the exception of April 1-September 15 on Resident Beach and the back beach north of Powder Point Bridge. The caveat? You need a permit from town hall.
Hull - Nastasket Beach allows dogs on leash from November to April.
Marshfield - Dogs are allowed at Rexhame Beach on leash all year!
Plymouth - Dogs are allowed on leash all year!
Cape Cod and the Islands
Barnstable - Dogs are allowed on leash all year on the Sandy Neck hiking trails and off-road beach only. They are allowed on all other Barnstable beaches only in the off-season from September 16 to May 15.
Brewster - Once again, our friends are consigned to the off-season - November 1 to June 1.
Cape Cod National Seashore - Dogs are allowed at many National Seashore locations (such as to the left at Coast Guard Beach) but check carefully as there are numerous restrictions. Dogs are allowed on all beaches on-leash all year except where there is a lifeguard in the summer (You may walk through to reach unguarded areas). Dogs are never allowed near posted nesting areas and have restricted access to other parts of the Seashore (some trails and lakes) from May 15 to October 15.
Chatham - The usual - on-leash, off-season only which in Chatham is defined as September 16 to March 31.
Dennis - Dogs are allowed off-season only - Labor Day to Memorial Day though Chapin Beach has a dog-friendly section.
Eastham - Dogs are allowed at Dyer Prince Road Beach in season before 9 am and after 4 pm. All other beaches are off-limits between June 15 and Labor Day.
Falmouth - On-leash dogs are only allowed from October 1 to April 30.
Harwich - Sorry doggies! No beach for you from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Martha's Vineyard - From May 15 - September 15, dogs are only allowed before 9 am and after 5 pm. Beware of other restrictions on nesting areas as posted.
Nantucket - Dogs are welcome before 9 am and after 5 pm during the summer months.
Orleans - It's a bit confusing so look for signs. Dogs are allowed on Nauset Beach but only south of trail one (on-leash unless below the tide line) from May 15 to Labor Day.
Provincetown - Not surprisingly, P-town has the most liberal dog rules of any beach area in Massachusetts! Dogs are allowed in-season (Memorial Day to November 1) off-leash from 6-9 am and from 6pm-6am (3 am dog walk anyone?). They are allowed on-leash all the time!
Sandwich - On-leash only during the off-season - October to March.
Wellfleet - Dogs are allowed at some Wellfleet Beaches (Duck Harbor, Maguire Landing, Cahoon Hollow, White Crest, Newcomb Hollow) before 9 am and after 5 pm in season and any time off-season.
Did we miss your favorite beach? Let us know! Also, send us pictures of you and your pooch on the beach in Massachusetts!