Good Harbor Beach Reviews

Took a day trip from western MA, on a Saturday in July. Got to the parking lot aprox 40 min before it opened and was the 3rd car in line. The attendant did tell us the lot would be full by 10. Would suggest getting there early though people continued to arrive throughout the day.

Beach itself was great, water was cold but clean and kids loved the waves for boarding.

Tide goes out which really opens the beach. You can walk out to Salt Island but was warned to stay away from bushes as there is poison ivy.

Bathrooms were clean and located at the 2nd boardwalk to access the beach.

We really enjoyed visiting and will be back!

We really enjoyed this beach. We found it clean, picturesque, the epitome of a northern beach in our humble opinions. We would return in a heart beat.

White, soft, clean sand. The water is clean and have and some strong awesome waves... Bring boogie boards and have fun in the surf. The side by the bridge is where the bigger waves are or If you're interested in surfing this is the spot to test it out.
There's a snack bar and they have pizza burgers drinks etc.
There are locker room, and there are showers to rinse off.
It's trash in, trash out, so be prepared for that.
Parking is $20/car on popular days--the lot fills up and there are lifeguards.

Fantastic beach whether at high tide or low tide. Lifeguards on duty from about 9:30 to ? Watch surfers early morning and see the baby Piping Plovers. No dogs allowed on the beach during the summer. And for parking, yes the price is high. Tip is to go early in the morning as soon as gates open. Once the parking lot is at a certain point, it is closed to tourists to make sure that residents have parking. Yes some may think this stinks but it's only fair to the residents that live here. (and yes, they have to pay for a sticker in order to get in too). Oh and there is a snack stand, outdoor showers, and bathrooms!

Expect to get there early as parking is limited and you'll pay $30. Once on the beach you can expect to find it clean. The water is clear and not as cold as other beaches I have found. A snack shack is there but it is expensive. There are rocks and tide pools along the sides where the kids had fun searching for various shells,crabs etc. When the tide goes out you can actually walk to Thatcher Island. If you choose to walk to the top of the island you can see miles of blue. The kids said they enjoyed it more than Hampton which says a lot given its not touristy with a park, arcades etc.

Good Harbor is right in Gloucester, brimming with energy! If you plan it right, at the top of the tide, you can catch the current right out to the sand bar!

A unique beach for New England. It's not full of the huge rocks most of our beaches have. You can see where you are walking in the water. For those of us not crazy about tripping over the sea bed this is great. You can walk out forever and still be up to your waist. At times this beach does get some nice big waves, fun to play in. There is a snack bar and bathroom facilities. Our favorite beach.

Clean, soft sand, easily accessible, snack shack. Parking was $30. Snack shack and parking are cash only. We spend about 5 hours here. Beautiful views, no sudden drop offs or restricted areas. Low tide you can walk over to the island and lagoon. Kids ranged from ages 6-16. Our vacation was to Boston, but ended up spending more time in Gloucester. We will definitely be back.

This beach is truly one of the most beautiful beaches! Bring chairs, picnic stay all day into the sunset! The tidal pool at height tide is amazing! Nice body surfing waves! Excellent sand for creating sand castles! I Love this location!!

Fabulous waves, Go after 5 for free parking. Be aware of the dive bombing seagulls who will steal your food. Check out the shorebird nesting grounds. Watch the tide if you are heading out to the island. Watch for poison ivy once on the island.

This is one of the most beautiful beaches I've been to and the sand is soft and white. The price to park is high, but there's a charge for most of the beaches.

This is a nice wide beach with pretty and soft sand. The waves are good and there is plenty of space to get the family settled in for the day. There is a little snack shack too. There is a parking fee but if you go after (I think) 4pm then there is no fee. The last two weeks in July you might encounter biting flies (I've heard) I went for Labor Day weekend and its beautiful and bug free.

We plan a trip to Gloucester ma at the last minute. and we found that beach first we think on a road trip but when you see that beach you fall in love with that view. the water its so clean and nice this beach its a paradise

We just arrived in Gloucester and were referred to Good Harbor Beach. We took two wonderful swims as we only had a one night stay. Around 5:30 p.m. it was foggy and the surfers were out. We went swimming away from them and loved the wonderful ambiance as we body surfed! The next day we arrived to a sunny beach just as they opened. It was hot outside and cool in the ocean. The life guards were most impressive too as one could tell they were very professional in their training and vigilance! Now back in hot Houston, we like to recall the wonderful, cool ocean and the tremendous body surfing enjoyment!

We enjoyed walking up and down the beach. It was off season but got to see some surfers and sailboards. Met some nice people to chat with. Nice beach and across from our motel. Plan on returning same time next year.

One of the best beaches in the north east area. Clean white sand with a view of ten pound island and the twin light lighthouses. There is always a surf on Good Harbor. Water is usually a bit cold, but warms up in August. There are no pebbles under your feet or much seaweed in the water either. If you are visiting the area don’t pass up a trip to this absolutely beautiful beach!

Great beach. Boogie boards allowed but not skimmer boards. The bathrooms were clean. But sadly, garbage is obviously a huge issue from the snack bar. Garbage was everywhere around it. The snack bar was expensive and not tasty at all. Cesar salad was all romaine, no croutons w/ Italian dressing. Don't bother.

This is our go to North Shore Beach. The sand is soft, the dunes are pretty, covered in beach roses in season. There is a snack bar and bathrooms. While the parking is a bit expensive, I usually have a carload so it is very reasonable per person. The coolest thing about this beach, what makes it stand out for us, is that there is a very long expanse of fairly flat sand. That makes the tides pretty extreme. When we were there on Friday we arrived as the tide was just starting to come in, we set up our stuff at what appeared to be the edge of the high tide line and the surf was quite a distance away. I went up to get something we forgot from the car and hit the bathrooms and when I got back maybe 15-20 minutes later the water's edge had come in at least 30+ feet. Over the course of the next hour or so we ended up having to pull back our stuff twice lol. While just watching the surf climb so quickly is cool, this also makes it a great kid beach because that whole area that had been dry when we arrived was only about mid calf deep and you could walk quite a ways out and still be only waist deep. The waves were fun without being scary or overwhelming. Lots of people had boogie boards.

I highly recommend Good Harbor Beach for anyone passing through Gloucester. It is small, quiet, and easy to get to. Not to mention parking on the street is free! There are many wonderful opportunities for picture taking and the view of the harbor is beautiful! Loved smelling the sea air and walking through the sand.

Good Harbor has limited parking which means the beach doesn't get overcrowded. The sand is nice, you can dig your feet in the sand and feel the stress go away. Nice waves and a full service snack bar! Come early or you won't get parking!

The beach itself is pristine, couldn't be better or cleaner. The bathrooms and parking area need updating, and you'd at $25 a car to park they'd be in great condition!

We visited during the week and paid $25 for non-resident parking admission. The sand is soft and mostly clean other than some litter from previous beach goers. Waves are larger at high tide than the northern shore beaches. Very scenic view. Bathrooms are available and some basic concessions which we did not have. Seagulls are very aggressive. Not as many biting flies as northern beaches. At low tide, shoreline lengthens and water becomes shallow. Close to Gloucester Main Street area. We would go here again.

We arrived at this beach on accident. It was off season and there were few people on the beach. It was a calm day and so beautiful. I highly recommend this beach. I would love to go in peak season!

Good Harbor Beach is a small clean little beach in Gloucester. Go early or you won’t get parking. When tide is in the beach Shrinks....

We always go to Good Harbor Beach. Access is easy and parking is plentiful, said with the caveat that it can get crowded and that you have to get there before 11 am on weekends or you might not get into the parking area. Weekday parking is $25 and rises to $30 on the weekend. There is a concession stand and bathrooms. Like most beaches, it is carry in/carry out.

Beautiful beach. Sometimes with waves. Large parking lot, quite expensive (20-25$) free after 5PM. Facilities available.

This is a beautiful beach located just outside of downtown Gloucester. A large parking lot is on site as well as restrooms and snack bar. A foot bridge connects to local streets. The tides are fun to watch as fresh water backs up and floods a large salt marsh. Great place for families to play.

We walked over (expensive to park) during low tide to check out the tide pools. Gorgeous views of granite and island that you could walk to during low tide.

Has all the amenities- restrooms, outdoor shower, food. The beach is kept clean. Lifeguards on duty. Only downside is the parking fee of $30 which we didn't have to pay on a cool cloudy day

Extraordinary beach! Beach is extremely deep at low tide, with several little tidal pools that the kids love to play in. I found a naturally made "bench" allowing me to sit, read a book and put my feet in the water while some kids dug for shrimp and little clams nearby. Water is a bit cold, but pretty easy to adjust to temperature, and there are restrooms and a snack bar on beach.

We are fortunate to live across the street from good harbor beach. June through August are backed with families, friends, and couples from all walks off live here to cherish the sand, sun, surf, and tranquility of the beach.

Best to get here before 9:30 if you are not a resident on those best beach days or you won't get a parking spot.

This truely is the best beach on the north shore - but don't tell anyone so we can keep it our secret!

I visted this beach after Labor day , my first trip up this way. For the past 14 years I go to Cape Cod twice a year in the off season.
Good harbor is beautiful but all they have off season is gross and that is with a capital G , port a pottie. I nearly lost my lunch upon entering.
A very kind lady shared her toilet paper with me. The people up here of course are the nicest.
It was my first day so I will give it a chance.
So far, I miss the solitude of Provincetown, I will spend 4 nights there when I leave here.

Good Harbor is the most beautiful beach in Massachusetts if not in all of New England. In the height of the summer season especially on weekends parking is limited for non-residents...but there is parking at nearby Stage Fort Park with a shuttle to the beach! At low tide you can walk out to the island and the "creek" side is ideal if you have young kids.

Do not waste your time, money, health. The place is loaded with trash both on the beach and exiting the place. The parking is outrageous and used to dump city snow full of debrie. The slobs using this bury their trash in the sand such as baby diapers, trash, tin cans, needles, who knows what else. Save yourself and go to singing beach in Manchester instead.

We visit this area every year...both summer and fall...it is a lot of fun...Good Harbor beach has a view of Thatcher Island twin light houses which we love...

Easy to get to and clean. There is a snack shack for food and drinks. Nice waves and location. 1st visit....wish we came sooner.

We were dropped off because that was easier to us than parking and walking. That water is FREEZING! I've been going to Maine my whole life, but we're lake people. I was the only one of our group of four NOT to go in past my knees. Lovely beach, big and beautiful!

Beautiful soft sandy beach. Not very busy in late August. The views of the island and the twin lighthouses were wonderful. Enjoyed visiting the beach both morning and evening. Very clean and there is a lifeguard, bathrooms, changing rooms.

We had a beautiful day on the beach! The sand is soft and clean. The water was clear and cold, but so refreshing on a hot day! I was surprised at how crowded it was on a Monday, but I guess everyone wanted relief from weather in the 90s! The tide was extremely low so we walked out to the small island.

I was very impressed with the many options for lunch and snacks at the concession stand. Plenty of choices and excellent prices! I can’t vouch for the quality but you don’t usually see so many choices.

one of the best beaches ever.....the wave, the temperature, the low tide and high tide. The sea creature life at low tide offers many many lessons.

I am giving this an average vote only because my family had fun. I didn't like this beach at all. It was crowded, dirty, and difficult to get to. I would never go there again.

Love Good harbor or long beach! Gets a little crowded at high tide, especially considering the rain this summer!

Good Harbor is a beautiful beach! I went with a friend in late August after 4pm to avoid the parking fees. It was clean and family friendly. They provide public restrooms and a concession stand. We did not purchase any food but saw many families consuming hot dogs so they must of been good. Then again...most food tastes good after a long day in the ocean and hanging out on the beach. Note: some of the local hotel/motels have a discount pass of $10 to the beach.

Sure, it's a nice beach, but I maybe expected more. We had to pay $35 for parking and then saw that we probably could have found street parking and walked. If you plan to swim and use the beach, it's probably good for that, but not worth the parking cost it if just passing through.

Good Harbor Beach is a stunningly beautiful beach that is perfect for 'children' of all ages. There is loads of gorgeous soft sand, playful waves and incredible views. Our grandchildren spent hours playing in the sand and running in the waves. And the outdoor shower connected to the bathhouse helped to keep our car clean.

We stopped at Good Harbor Beach while exploring on the North Shore. Good Harbor is a beautiful beach! Since we visited in the off season, there were 3 cars in the parking lot, having no trouble finding a spot. It was a cool day with some wind, but that didn't stop us from walking along the water. It was SO peaceful and beautiful. We have been to Good Harbor in the summer so it was fun to see the beach when it was so empty!

Be sure you go at low tide and explore the island. It is a large sandy beach with great views on both sides. Bring a cooler or buy something at the snackbar.

For prices u pay Keep bathrooms open till eight not five disgusting ports potties beautiful beach though

Best beach in the area for safe swimming, no seaweed, and good facilities. Tip, arrive after 5 pm & parking is free

We were staying in Beverly while one our sons was attending a tennis camp at Endicott College, and we decided to to go to the beach on a Tuesday. It says closed on Trip Advisor but we went to their website and it was opened. You need to make reservation to be sure you get a parking spot- $40, these days you just have to understand the cost helps with keeping the beach pristine. There are bathrooms, food and a gift shop. It was an easy to walk on in- they have really cool mats to walk your beach cart out over the sand- something I’ve never seen in either NJ or FL. We arrived around 11:30am and the tide is going out - so it’s a walk away from the water - water is cold- but refreshing on a warm day. The view is beautiful in somewhat of a large cove with mansions to the right sitting on top of a grand mountain overlook. There were no green flies at all - and didn’t find out about them until I looked up Crane Beach. They did have several traps set up along the marshes well before you drove into the beach. This is a beautiful spot to relax and enjoy nature. Many tide pools for the little ones to enjoy the water without being worried about currents or riptides.

This beach....amazing and clean! The surf was very mild and perfect for casual swims and families with small children.

Beautiful year round. Crowded with summer fun- sometimes parking lot is full and traffic can be backed up so get there early. Dogs are allowed of season and it is a wonderful beach to walk - complete with wooden foot bridge, lighthouses in view and an island you can walk out to when the tide is out. Snack bar, restrooms and showers in summer. What you carry in you must carry out!

We were blessed with temps in the fifties in late December and took advantage to visit Good Harbor Beach. It's a gorgeous beach for walking and picture taking. When you're ready for a change of scenery take a stroll from the beach along Atlantic Rd. The rocky coast and beautiful homes will reward each step you take!

This was a wonderful recommendation I received from a Boston local. It's a beautiful beach with a beautiful view. The only down side was having to pay $25 for the day. It's a clean, family-friendly beach and it's well taken care of, but I think the fee for the day should be a little less.

We loved this beach! So much to do here for families w/kids of any age. Nice clean sand and clean (but very cold!) water, nice area with an inlet with lots of hermit crabs and crabs, fun to walk the length of this inlet and watch kids catching crabs. Great place for small kiddos to swim. We could spend a whole day just in this area alone. Nice clean wide beach, fun for hopping waves. We walked across the sandbar to the little island... cool experience! This beach has resort type padded loungers for rent in case you are a tourist (like us) without beach chairs ($18 for the day) and umbrellas as well. There are concessions and also various things to purchase if needed (sunscreen, sand toys, etc). We arrived on a Sunday during 4th of July weekend at 8:30 am and got a parking spot but there was a long line of cars and the lot was probably full by 9:00-9:30.
A wonderful day at the beach even with cold water! We will never forget Good Harbor beach.

A nice family friendly beach. The waves are pretty calm. We saw a few guys surfing, but the waves weren't very big. Loved the peacefulness.

you are unable to view the beach unless you are willing to pay $25.00..otherwise it is not accessible...I asked and the parking attendent told me no.

Weekends get very busy and parking is at a premium. If you are coming from out of town on a weekend you need to arrive early or wait until late afternoon. Mid day it is nearly impossible to find a spot.
Whatever you carry in you must carry out- TRASH INCLUDED! There are no trash cans! Also, you must stay off the dunes as they are protected.
At low tide you can easily walk out to Salt Island and explore with older children. There are also tide pools for the real young ones at low tide.
There are lifeguards but it’s a big beach and waves can get big so you need to be with your children in the water.
This is a beautiful beach with fine sand and great for families. There are bathrooms, showers and a snack bar.

Good harbor beach is truly a spectacular place! Family friendly people. In the off season dogs can run on the beach! Beautiful rocks, great body surfing. Wonderful any time of the year!

Good Harbor Beach is my favorite beach in mass. The water is is clear, it has amazing waves, a little canal type thing that you can jump into from the bridge, and their snack shack actually has amazing food! Low tide is amazing there because there is this super shallow part a little separate from everyone and after an hour or so it gets warmer than the regular water and it is perfect for kids! Also there is a little island that you walk out to climb at low tide although to the top is it a hike, but like any beach there are sooo many seagulls and they are very daring. I have lost many sandwiches by a seagull diving down and taking it of my hand. pro tip: keep your food either closed or very close
to you. If you are in Gloucester or near it I really recommend this beach.

The beach was nice and had public facilities. It isn't a walking beach. Mostly just for swimmers or surfing. The neighbors whose houses line the beach are not friendly to tourists. There are a number of signs telling people to keep off their rocks or that you can't walk on the beach in front of their homes.

My Nugent ancestors owned all of Good Harbor Beach as a part of my Great Uncle George's pig farm. After decades of litigation it was bought for under $30,000 from Charles Nugent in the 1920s. It is one of the spectacular New England beaches. We like to visit off season and avoid the hefty parking fee.

Writing this at the end of September. Being from out of state, I wanted to check out this beach. Lovely beach, pretty, fine white sand, at low tide the beach is amazing long. This beach has terrific waves unlike a lot of other "beaches " in the area. Could see that this parking lot would get filled very quickly during the summer months. Being off season, I only stopped for a short visit. Didn't see any snack bar open. Didn't see any bathrooms - maybe they are some? I don't know. Waves were good enough for surfing and I did see people surfing.

A beautiful spot! We arrived at around 5pm on a July afternoon. There was plenty of parking, a very pretty boardwalk extending over the dunes and a wide New England beach. The beach was immaculate and there were all kinds of activities going on. This would be a great spot for a relaxing picnic. Picturesque and very quintessential New England

In Texas, we have lousy beaches. This beach was actually extremely nice and clean. First of all, there is plenty of parking. Once we were parked, it was an easy walk to the beach. There were hardly any people out because the time of year in which we were there. Nevertheless, we were still able to roll up our pants and walk down the beach, although the water was cold! The views were very pretty in the air was fresh. Due to the tide being out we were able to walk across to this little Island. The water was cold, but we had an amazing time. People on the beach also seem very nice.

Since our hotel was nearby, we explored this beautiful beach on foot.
It is a large beach that is good for running even outside of summer time.
The beach is well maintained and at the end by the parking lot there are showers for the feet.
A walk worthwhile.

Good Harbor is a big, beautiful beach with free outdoor showers (I really love to wash the salt off before dressing.) a concession stand and clean bathrooms. There is a fee to park. There are fabulous waves here, which is a must for me. I love it here.

Was staying in the area and took a walk from the motel onto the beach from the walkway and left through the parking area and new walkway on Thatcher Rd.

We visited Good Harbor Beach in the late afternoon/early evening during the late Spring. The beach was smooth and clean, and there were few people visiting at that time. We hoped to be there during low tide, so that we could walk out to the island and climb among the rocks and boulders and explore the tide pools. We loved looking at the nearby homes and the view of the Thatcher Island lighthouses in the distance. Great fun! Would definitely visit again!

Nobody there in the mornings gigantic Beach at low tide. Dog friendly after the first of October beautiful scenery I say nice sand

We had a great time at the beach. The water was clear, the beach was clean, though crowded. The only knock(s) I would have is that the bathrooms and parking are so far away.

Beautiful in any season . Clean soft sand & great breakers. Can see Twin Lights, light house & Salt Island from here. There's a sand bar & lots of poison ivy on Salt Island & be aware of the tides , you can get trapped by them if you try to go on the island. Arrive early, parking lot fills quickly especially on a summer day . Great place to take a walk at anytime . I have spent many hours here.

I am a local and this is my favorite beach. It has a parking lot and locals can park there with a beach sticker. It might be expensive for visitors to park here. There is a concession stand (2) and food is what you would expect for a beach concession. The water is usually cold and the waves are manageable. Would recommend visitors arrive early in the morning to park because visitor parking is limited. Head down to the footbridge if you want to swim without waves. You'll love it! The views are nice too.

this is a beautiful beach . sand is great! changing rooms available and a parking lot. The beach is big enough to walk and the tide goes WAY out.

A pristine beach perfect for sunning, swimming, body surfing and sand castles. There's a pond area for children and a walking bridge leads you over this to the main beach area.

A simple, uncluttered beach, surrounded by craggy rocks and very expensive, but picturesque homes perched on the rocks above. The tides are huge, so be aware of that.

Had a nice swim here even in April, Yes the water was cold but no problem parking this time of year!

Love this beach b/c it is clean and no rocks to step on in the water. Family-friendly. Don't feed the seagulls b /c they won't ever leave you alone. We saw a few people get almost attacked by huge flocks after feeding one.

Very very expensive. We all split the cost so it was ok. Great beach and lots of sightseeing in the area. Went to Causeway restaurant afterward. Took in tho old man and the sea. Lots of history in Gloucester

this is one of the best beaches i have ever been to, and i have been to a lot of beaches.It has two places to eat and rest rooms.

First, the bad. $35 for weekend parking. We knew it going in, so it's our choice to bite that bullet.

That's it for the bad.

The good: it's big enough to accommodate large groups. Plenty of room for beach games. The low tide exposes a yuuuuuge area of packed sand which almost doubles the size of the beach (of course, you have to walk a bit more to get to water). The river that ebbs and wanes with the tides offers fun for all ages.

All in all, a lot of fun to be had here. We always park at the far end of the lot, closer to the river.

This is my favorite beach to visit on the North Shore. I tend to come here more off season, as parking is too expensive and beach gets too crowded in the summer. Good Harbor beach has soft sand, and is always extremely clean. In the summer they have a place to buy food and bathrooms.

Family beach due to shallow water canals and huge beach when Tide is out. Parking expensive: $25 /weekdays and $30/weekends......about the same as other Gloucester beaches.

Gorgeous views and a fabulous place to relax for a few hours.If you enjoy a day at the beach then this is the place for you!

We biked to the beach and got there as the tide was heading out. There's so much room to walk around without running into other people. This was on Sunday afternoon of Labor Day weekend and it was gorgeous weather. What a pleasant experience!

I have been coming to this beach my entire life and it is my favorite summer destination! The beach is clean and there is always a place to sit. There are waves in the water, which isn't the case with most beaches in the area. In the summer months, they sell slush by the concession stand which is just the best slush in the world. The one negative aspect of the beach is the number of seagulls. My kids take turns with seagull duty when we're eating. They run around us chasing the gulls away so we can eat in peace. You have to be careful eating because they've been known to snatch food right out of people's hands. Tourists who don't know better can be seen feeding these birds. Please don't do that! It only contributes to the problem. Parking for non-residents is expensive ($30 I think) but totally worth it!

By far one of the best Boston (North Shore) Beaches
Clean, food, bathrooms...all good!
Get their early to get parking

Good Harbor beach is one of my favorite beaches worldwide. Been going there for the past 12 years. Big stretch of sand, nice waves, great place for kids to play in the ocean. The only problem (and its a big one) is parking. Hot summer weekend days the gigantic lot fills up before 10am so get there early. Or go late in the afternoon. Current pricing is $30 weekend, $25 weekday.

The most beautiful, relaxing, peaceful beach!! The sunrises are breathtaking. The beach is clean... unpolluted. Just a wonderful place to be!!

Nice clean beach with great waves. Parking is $25 any day which sucks but it's worth it. I couldn't really find anything bad about it.

I absolutely love this beach. My husband and I always visit this beach when we travel to Gloucester. It is clean and gorgeous. Even though the beach was crowded when we went,no one was obnoxious . In fact the people were really friendly.
One very convenient thing about this beach is that they have a shack to buy things that you may have forgotten to bring,and you can get food. But my husband and I usually just stop at the nearby Stop and Shop and pack a picnic. One tip,get there early in the day because the parking lot fills up fast.
I think that Good Harbor Beach is the perfect destination for a glorious day at the beach .

We drove 75 miles from MetroWest to experience this beach. We were told to get there early because parking fills quick. We got there at 8:30A on Sunday morning and the parking lot was 1/2-3/4 filled. Parking at the beach lot is $30 so be prepared,. There is restrooms and food concession available. The beach fills quick so if planning a full day bring umbrella and chairs, etc. The beach is clean. Plenty of life guards. No shark sitings. Water is getting warm for early August. We spent 10 hours on the beach and loved every minute of it. Well worth the trip. We would go back again.

This beach has sugary soft sand and is expansive. It is beautiful!
There are bathroom and snack facilities available. The parking lot is huge and costs about $15.00 Monday- Friday to park. The gate is free later in the afternoon around 4:30. This beach is perfect for families with children. As we looked around, every age group was represented and totally enjoying themselves. Floatation devices were allowed and saw many boogie boards being used. It is also a great beach to take a walk along the water's edge.

Love to go to Good Harbor beach when I am in Gloucester. Still has a huge amount of sand to sit on at high tide and even better at low tide, which is ny favorite. I enjoy putting my chair in the water near the creek. The kids have such a good time exploring the critters in the sand.
Even at low tide you can get a little surf to ride on your own or with a boogie board. No other types of floats or surfboards are allowed

Only bad thing is the price of admission. Beginning to wonder if it's worth the price for the day. On my last trip, I was only there about 2 hours when it began to thunder and the lifeguards blew their whistles and began to clear out the water. On that Day, after being told at Wingaersheek that I could not use my father in law's beach sticker, I parked at Bass Rocks Golf Club, where he is a member and has a sticker to park. If you aren't a member and don't have a ticket, don't park there. You will get towed.

Unless you’re staying within walking distance, access to the beach is restricted to a paid parking lot at the rate of $25 on weekdays / $30 on weekends. Apparently the lots fill to capacity quickly too. As a recent visitor to the area who really only wanted to spend an hour or so walking on the beach, the only option we could find was a drive by, which included the lousy feeling of being stuck traffic. Disappointing.

Very clean, family oriented beach. The walk from the parking lot to the beach is short. Parking is a little high but our lodging had discount vouchers for $10 which helped. Free parking before 8am and after 5pm.

Best beach in the Northeast by all accounts. Zero boat traffic. Friendly islanders. Rest facilities and Snack Bar plus pushcart vendors. More beach at low tide. Arrive early to park or take shuttle bus from Stage Fort Park. (East on 133 at exit 14)

Very nice beach, great location, but.....be prepared to pay up to $30 to park to visit unless you have a beach permit, and be prepared to deal with crowds of people. We like to go for a walk on the beach for an hour or so and waited until evening after 7:00. Fee collectors gone and crowd dies down a bit. Unless you want to spend the day, I suggest you wait. Not very tourist friendly.

Spectacular sunset and the widest defined beach north of Rio de Janeiro. Long low angled shelf gives shallow water a long way out.

Clean, beautiful water. High tide shortens the beach but at low tide you can walk out to the island on the left! No trash cans around...carry on and carry off.

Good Harbor Beach has always been one of my favorite North Shore beaches. I love it that there is a small inlet that is shallow and calm - perfect for smaller children to wade in.

Hard to give it a proper review. Family has been there in the past and say it’s amazing. Unfortunately, we tried but it was restricted to residents only. Understandable with the Virus. Next time.
Cranes is just as bad. They require a pass in advance.
One needs to do their homework to figure beach time.

We visited on a cooler day, and so we didn't have to pay to park, or fight the crowds. Beautiful spot, great for a walk.

I have been here nearly every summer of my life (over 60 years) and I never tire of the view. Although the beach has been eroded over the years, it is still magnificent with such soft sand. Be prepared for the cold water--no Gulf Stream here!

this is a wonderful beach the locals love it . but we hate fighting the traffic
on weekends . too many out of towners. many abuse the beach with drinking
and rowdyness. wish they would patronize their own beaches .wish they would do more enforcing of the drinking. and then they leave all their trash. which us taxpayers have to pay to clean up

I visited Gloucester, MA, on vacation earlier this month. I went to good harbor beach and the water was so clean and clear. There are also some good sized waves

We love this beach. It has a tidal pool, nice white sand, a pretty view and friendly people. We walked back and forth and so did not deal with the parking fee. We have been coming for years and expect to come many more.

This beach was absolutely stunning and shockingly pristine. Not a spec of trash to be found and we were here off season!

A must visit when at Bass Rocks Inn.
A nice healthy walk from hotel, quiet and somewhat secluded. Beautiful scenery

We were staying in town and visiting Salem and happened to come across this beach. The weather was perfect and it was pretty empty so it was great to relax and take some pictures. There were a couple people walking around and we watched as an artist set up and painted the scenery. We were so happy to visit in October, and know this must be the perfect spot to visit year round.

We love visting this beach, one of our local favorites. It is big enough so even on crowded days it feels like you have your own spot. You do have to book early for a parking spot.

Favorite place in Gloucester. The views and scenery are fantastic. White sandy beaches; fun boogie-boarding waves. Everything you'd want in a beach. Can walk out quite a ways without the water being over your head - the waves can hit hard though if you're not ready for them. Low tide provides the opportunity to walk to the island for more great views and a little adventure. At the opposite end, high tide provides a nice little creek to float into and enjoy.

Was able to catch the sun coming up over the Atlantic from GHB the other morning. Highly recommend, good for the soul, good for the mind. Beautiful expanse of soft sand and infinite views to the horizon. Early morning off season, perfect, plenty of parking and just a few hearty souls out for a stroll or jog. Just the ticket to start the day, bring a cup of joe and enjoy.

This was a short walk/bike/drive from our hotel. It was really crowded and if you drive there - you will get hit with a $30 parking fee. For us Jersey peeps - paying for the beach is ok and this one is worth it. A very good tide river/pool fills up at high tide - it is cold but warmer than the ocean. when the tide is outgoing - the tide pool is warm. The ocean is super clean and calm as it is sheltered. there is a sand bar. We especially like d this area with all the Cape Cod Shark Buzz - this place I would think is super safe no kelp farms or seals nearby. anyway I am not an expert - only that it seemed safer than swimming on the Cape. Low tide was also nice but the tide pool was empty and not as interesting . Best beach in Gloucester. there is a small bike rack so you can drop your team off via Beach Street then one lucky person parks the car at your hotel and bikes back. $30 adds up over a few days.

Good harbor is great but you have to get there early on a summer weekend. Sometimes before 9am they will close parking except for residence stickers. Once there they have have shower and changing areas. Also have a lunch/snack shack where you can get burgers, dogs and fries among other beach treats. Beach has nice sand and waves are of pretty good size so little kids need to be careful. If you go after 4pm the parking lot attendants are gone but the lot doesn't close till dusk so you can get a few hours in with free parking! Good Harbor is an enjoyable place to Be!!

Beauty on the Atlantic coast. The bridge end is extra good for families with children, with supervision.

Has a very gradual slope and the difference in the tides is several hundred yards. Lots of shallow pools for tots. Need to watch the kids but not as much worry they will step off into deep water. At low tide Adults can walk to Sand Island. Great fishing in the morning before the swimmers arrive at lower tide.

I went there couples of days back, in sheer cold, but at this time also this beach is a wonderful experience. the clean water, sound of waves hitting at each other, the frozen waterwall - what a wonderful experience

The beach is nice and very clean with a pretty scenery. The only reason it did not get 5 stars was because the restrooms were out of order and the porta-johns were nasty. 1 did not have toilet paper the other had the roll on the floor in a puddle of urine. If you don't need the restroom, 5 stars.

I always enjoy my trips to Good Harbor Beach! There are really only two good beaches in Gloucester, Long Beach and Good Harbor Beach. Always fairly clean and they have restrooms and a snack bar.

I love this beach because of the views and the size.
Perfect for a day away from the city.
I found the Bass Rocks Inn, where I often stay, after driving around this location.

We were very fortunate in that our visit to the beach included a gloriously hot sunny day for mid-April. Our grandkids had a blast playing in the sand and running back and forth to the ocean. We enjoyed watching the scenery, watching people and their dogs and even playing catch with a friendly Lab. According to a local lady, dogs are not allowed on the beach after May 1st. Facilities (bathroom and snack bar apparently do not open till May 1st as well, so be prepared.
Nonetheless, a fantastic beach and easy to get to.

Great beach!kids loved it! Not over crowded and liked how they have outdoor showers and a concession stand!

Great beach parking fee $30 a car on weekend... great if you know a local to go with. When marsh empties out just after high tide you can ride the river current all the way out to the beach and it’s warmer from being in the marsh

Good Harbor Beach is a local favorite. The beach is expansive, gorgeous and clean. The water is cold. Be sure to get there early as it does fill up. There are bathrooms, outdoor showers, a snack car and a small outdoor shop. Parking is limited and quite pricey.....$25 +.

Since I was there in September the beach was not crowded so all the more for me! There were paddling surfboarders coming in on the waves which were interesting to watch as I had never seen them before. The beach is beautiful and sandy. It's a great place to sit or swim!

We spent a couple of days here, beautiful views and not too crowded. Nice place to walk along, especially out to the island when the tide is low.

Our favorite beach for 30 years even before we had kids and we have spent many a quiet relaxing day on its white sands. Clean, quiet, peaceful even with a crowd which disperses in the late afternoon. Now they've instituted a parking reservation system for reasons I know not. I've never , ever seen cars lined up down the road to get in. If its full we simply rode into Rockport for clams or ice cream then return to the beach when space was available. We are now less inclined to deal with computerized reservations and apps and QR codes whihc have killed the spontaneity of a day at the beach.

Good Harbor Beach is an absolutely beautiful place to visit. Stunning vista and lots to see on the beach - tidal pools, etc. Fun place to bring little, curious kids to also.

Awesome afternoon
The Beautiful Atlantic ocean
Chilly but incredible
Bring a cooler with drinks
It's so Beautiful to stay

Best Beach around - Clean water - soft sand - and beach is cleaned by the city each day - so it is picture perfect each time.

My wife and I enjoyed a short walk along the water's edge on Good Harbor Beach. The beach is scheduled to close 1 Nov 21, so we were glad to have the opportunity to visit it. Despite an invigorating breeze off the water, there were quite a few people on the beach, as well as more than a dozen folks surfing. We can see that this would be an extremely busy venue during the warmer summer months.

We come to good harbor beach every summer ! It is a beautiful beach with lots of room, never too crazy and crowded . My son loves to hunt crabs and boogie board for hours.

Good Harbor beach is a decent size beach with more than ample parking. Some good waves for body surfing.

Wonderful place to swim and sun. Long strand, great views. Lots of surfers, families and dogs (seasonally).

Good Harbor Beach has an amazing view of the twin lighthouses on Thatcher Island. It is in a slight cove which makes the water a tad bit warmer. It has good waves for body surfing or boarding.

My favorite is right after high tide; there is a swimming channel where you get in at one end and you ride the current out towards the ocean. The channel is over 6' deep in some spots but you can still see the bottom, ride it out towards the ocean and you end up in ankle deep water. Lots of kids ride it out.

Our 18 mo daughter had so much fun here because when the tide is out there are a lot of small pools for kids to play in - also the water heats up in those pools so it is nice and warm. Parking is hard around here (at least on the day we were there - it was expensive and full....so come by bike!).

We will drive from Beverly in the evening to enjoy dinner on the beach. Very expensive if not a sticker holder to get a sticker for the day but great to go for late day swim and pack a picnic .

This is a beautiful beach - and rather quiet, even in the mid-summer, if you go in the morning. At low tide you can walk and walk. It's a must on Cape Ann.

Some perspective is needed.... when you are asked to pay $30 (!) for parking on Saturday, you expect NOT to regret the money. That wasn't the case with Good Harbor Beach. This beach cannot justify the ridiculously high parking rate! The water is extremely cold for August (that means you cannot swim, unless you have the body temperature of a penguin); the beach itself is not clean (garbage bags are flying around when there is wind, or sit there so you can smell them), and the facilities are not really so superb! Simply stated...be aware. It does not worth the money!

Great place to discover hermit crabs, crashing waves, tidal pools, sand bar, snack bar is good as well

Went to Good Harbor beach for a day trip from Boston with a friend. You have to reserve parking in advance online. We went at low tide and the tide went out so far - the beach was beautiful. Great for walking, swimming, and body surfing. They have a snack shack and bathrooms that are easily accessible.

Nice beach that’s not to crowded. However , they close the bathrooms super early even after paying for parking. The snack bar is terrible- bring your own food!

We really enjoyed this beach. Nice waves and plenty of room. Kids had a blast in the water. Will go again.....if you’re looking for calmer waters for kids try Wingearsheek in Gloucester.

Yesterday was the second time I've been to Good Harbor Beach. We were two adults and two kids--14 & 10 years old. I knew the parking lot fills up quickly and we arrived about 10:15 & the lot was about 1/2 full. Parking is $25 during the week but that is what it costs at all the beaches in Cape Ann except for a few with metered parking.
Yes, this beach is crowded but it is fairly large. The sea gulls are very aggressive and you must protect your food & trash. Water can be chilly....but keep in mind your in Cape Ann. We got cheeseburgers for the kids and they loved them.
It was low tide around noon yesterday so there was plenty of real estate to set up camp for the day. As the tide came in the kids used the bogie boards and had a blast!

Definitely the most busy beach in the region. At weekend come early like around 8 and 9 am or late around 4 and 5 pm also be prepare for spend $30 parking. During the week the price is $25 and not crowd. The beach is beautiful and big, there is also a island not far that you can go walking. Enjoy.

Excellent beach except for the seaweed. There was so much seaweed, I couldn't go all the way in the water. Hopefully it's not like this all the time. Otherwise I would definitely return.

Near the city of Gloucester (MA), you will find this nice beach hidden from the road but still very accessible. A parking is available, but at 25$, you want to make the best out of your stay!
With amenities like WC, a small store and some vendors on the beach, it is a very nice experience to live at just over 1 hour drive from Boston.
The sand is fine but could be cleaner. Some visitors have probably forgotten to take away their cigarettes butts...
At low tide, you can "walk" though the water towards a small island that will give you an amazing view of the beach from the ocean. Take your sandals, shoes, boots with you as the climb will take its toll if you go bare feet!
All in all, a destination to recommend on these beautiful summer days. Will go back without a doubt!

Beautiful and relaxing can best describe this place. Just watching the ship and the is relaxing. We generally stop by after eating a meal and just looking at the beautiful view.

We have been to Good Harbor Beach often. Really nice sand and the view and water are wonderful. I do have to worn you that at high tide the beach gets small for so meany people.

Very crowded and $ to park in summer (free after 5) but a wonderful place to spend the day. Go early for parking. There are bathrooms and showers. Snack bar. Low tide provides lots of spaces to explore. Nice for birding too. Off season this is a wonderful place to visit. (Best time!!) as there are a lot less people. Perfect beach for kids.

This beach is perfect year round...With a view of the twin towers, and a protected 'cove-like' area by the road, the ocean is accessible to people of all ages. Young children love the more shallow tributary by the cove. This is my favorite beach in MA. Many have made the far end of the beach their summer home location. This is a beach that draws everyone, but feels very local.

This place is nothing like the sandy beaches of Florida with all the drunk co-eds. It's a family beach. They charge $30 for parking and have several guys working the parking lot gate, yet there are only two lifeguard chairs. Funny how that works... hmm.. Money is king. But we enjoyed it, nevertheless. I like the simpleness of it. No frills, just a small beach with a rocky shore lined with beautiful houses.

What a wonderful place to relax and enjoy the sun rise, bring your lounge chair and sit and relax while the cool breeze takes you back in time. You can easily walk along the water at low tide. Always being my favorite beach when in Gloucester. May is perfect you feel like you own the beach as they are very few people on it.

A favorite beach for us - very sandy and flat. There are sometimes good waves for body surfing and boogie boarding. Great for kids. $30/day for parking. Free after 4:00 or 5:00.

Visit Long Beach ice cream after!

We were on this beach at sunset. There were hardly any people and while it was a little bit chilly, it was beautiful and inviting. We saw the most spectacular sunset I've ever seen at that beach. It brought tears to my eyes. We live in such an amazing world with so many beautiful gifts to enjoy.

We did not visit the beach because we were told we had to download an app and make a make a reservation. We felt it was costly and did not want to lock ourselves into a certain time as we wanted to explore the small towns neighboring Gloucester in the morning. We did not want to have to hurry back for a reservation. We rode by the beach and it did look very pretty but not worth the money. We did not have any children with us so we decided the cost of the beach was not worth the price and just used the pool at our hotel with included a view of the ocean.

Not many people but has restrooms and picnic area above the huge beach. Watched a cruise ship anchored in the bay getting shuttled to with ferries. Found seashell treasures and watched the gulls. Picture perfect beachy chill spot.

Visited Good Harbor Beach on a sunny but very cold December day. Despite the temperature we had a pleasant walk on firm sand. Very enjoyable & peaceful.

The iconic New England beach. Rocky coast and beautiful view of Thatcher Island with the Twin Lights!

Hello, Beach Goers !!

I am happy to report that I live in Gloucester and, have the fortunate opportunity to have some of the best beaches in New England - not to mention Seafood.

When my kids were young, I would take them to another beautiful beach in Gloucester, Wingarsheak Beach. It is really an incredible beach for little and big ones alike. There are no waves and, for some reason, the water is warmer than Good Harbor. There is a sandbar that you can walk on when the tide is low. It seems to stretch on for miles. To the right of this pristine and beautiful, soft sand beach, there are rocks for the kids to climb on at low tide with tide pools that have starfish and crabs! I still love going to this beach, however, my kids are older and love going to Good Harbor Beach. The big difference is Wingarsheak beach does not allow boogie or surfboards.

Good Harbor is a stunning beach and, it has a creek. At low tide, the creek seems to smell a bit. In the summertime, the waves can be HUGE !!! It is awesome!!! A lot of people prefer Good Harbor Beach to Wingarsheak for the use of boogie and surfboards and, the enormous waves.

Although both beaches are so beautiful, it depends on what your agenda is - little kids ( I suggest Wingarsheak) or big kids and/or no kids, I suggest Good Harbor !

Be warned! I think that Wingarsheak is a bigger beach or, it seems bigger to me because I have have been to both beaches when it is packed and I feel like a sardine at Good Harbor! If you do not get there early, especially on a perfect beach day, you are not getting in. If by some odd stroke of luck you get in, be prepared to feel smushed especially at High Tide.

Another thing that may shock people is the price to get into these beautiful beaches. $25.00 for a day in the summer during the week and $30.00 on the weekends. If you only plan to stay for two to four hours, I would not suggest that if you are not a resident.

Get their super early, I repeat get their super early!! Tried Wingaersheek was already full at 9 by the time we got to GHB it was 9:30 and was full. Luckily we were able to unload and there was a Parkin Lot 0.70 miles up the road same price to park $35. The beach was beautiful, sand very soft like Florida's. No rocks at all! Water was chilly but super clear that you could see Stripers here and there. The tide was low and way out there when we arrived. Walked over to Salt Island. By the end of the day the tide was all the way back up. Grabbed a delicious cheeseburger and some fries from the snack shack. $10 minimum for CC so have cash handy. The beach wasn't too packed. Look out for the seagulls. They are not your friend. They will walk all over your blankets and towels and steal your food so beware. I would definitely go back.

Amazing Cape Ann beach! This was our favorite beach out of several in the area. My kids loved the waves. Very clean abc family-friendly. Arrive early in order to park ($30 weekday and $35 weekends). Only downsides - LOTS of seagulls who literally steal food out of your hands, and a parking lot that could use some attention.

walked the beach early morning in October... the locals thought I was crazy putting my feet in the water but it was fantastic. beautiful views, quiet and serene! great beach and very clean

This beach has everything! Two snack shacks, showers, bathrooms, an island to hike during low tide, plenty of life guards and views of twin lighthouses. Go early if you are from out of town, because public parking will close to residents only before noon if it is crowded.

Enough "surf" for surfers to show up (but not between 9 a.m. & 5 p.m. usually!), but gentle enough for tots to play in the surf. Lots of room for playing ball--often volleyball games happening.

The beach faces Southeast, which makes it a great place to watch sunrise directly, as it comes up over the far lefthand end of the beach. Sunsets are enjoyable here, too, as the glow from the west fills the sky behind you.

At low tide the waterline goes way out--fun to walk out to Salt Island then. There's a tidal creek to play in, where the water can be warmer than the ocean, and when the tide's right you can ride in or out on the tide.

Amenities: Snackbar (reasonably priced), showers, and potties--during 9-5 hours. Parking can be expensive if you're from out of town. Might want to investigate parking on the street somewhere in town and taking a taxi to & from the beach.

This is a wonderful small safe beach. Showers , clean bathrooms , snack bar. Lifeguards.
The only drawback is high price parking. The parking fills up early.

This is Gloucester 's sandiest, most beautiful beach and we love it. Unfortunately, the Mayor had to reserve it for residents only last weekend due to overcrowding. But get there if you can and be safe, maintaining social distance. The water is clear and inviting, Warner than some summers.

Great walk from our Inn, beautiful sand and water. I believe parking is $30, however when you walk it’s free.

The pregnant wifey wanted to go somewhere with a nice beach for pregnancy photos and Cape Cod was a bit out of our way however we found this on Tripadvisor and checked it out. Got there and saw an expansive beach with an island in the distance with people walking IN THE WATER from the beach to it. Parking was a bit excessive @ $20 from at 4:30 but definitely worth the price.

Positives: Clean beach, great snack bar..lobster rolls, salmon rolls...great pizza

Middle of the Road: Restrooms

Negatives: Expensive to park but hey they have to clean up the beach
Lots and lots of seagulls but hey they have to keep the beach clean
Cold water. Just went there today and the water is colder than where I was in Maine last week

I have never been on a weekend, avoid it since it is so crowded during the week.

Came here in the fall just to walk around and enjoy the view and I loved it! The waves were pretty big for the Atlantic Ocean and I saw people surfing. The view was amazing. The sand was white and pristine. My only complaint is that the sign before the beach explicitly said no animals, but tons of people had dogs who were defecating on the beach and not picking it up :( but overall would visit again!

Very nice, large beach. Beautiful scenery and love that you can walk to Salt Island! Something for everyone!

I love Good Harbor, but in order to enjoy the day, you must get up very early in the morning and get into the parking lot or you can just forget it. It's very popular and a great beach. It's big, not a lot of privacy but if you bring lots of umbrellas, good chairs and an ice packed cooler you will be all set for the day. Great sand.

Although we were not able to enjoy beach activities due to high winds and cool temps, we still enjoyed walking the large beach. Seemed pretty well kept.

Our beach is carry in and carry out for your trash. There is a showers and bathrooms. A concession stand. Parking for a fee for non residents with limited parking. Clean beach. Beautiful views. Waves for body surfing.

This is a great beach. Go early to get a parking spot as the lot fills up quickly. Easy access to the beach. Food and drinks available but pricey so you may want to bring your own. At low tide, you can walk out to an island and climb and explore. Really cool views out to sea and back toward the beach. Just plan to get back to shore before the tide comes in!

Good Harbor beach is one of the best beaches of North Shore in Massachusetts. Deepest and cleanest send. A little island near by with easy access in low tide, just be careful of poison ivy. Parking lot is not very big and filled very quickly in the hot Summer days. Be there before 9am to guarantee the spot. Enjoy it

Love this beach! Parking is the only problem....if you are going to go get there really early. Weekdays are less crowded. When tide is high not much space on beach. Friendly Glosta folks. They do have bathrooms, a few outdoor showers to rinse off, & a concessions stand. Not sure how the food is there but I'd recommend going to one of the fabulous Gloucester restaurants after a day @ beach or at least grabbing a beer after day at Good Harbor.

Autumn here is a marvel. Cool nights and warm sunny days. Great place to start a day of whale watching and touring. Just outside of the bustle of downtown with a comfy stay at The Vista

Good Harbor Beach is known for its white sandy beach and clean waters. Best to get there before 9 am in the summer because they will close it to non residents once it gets full. Complete with outside showers and snack bar. Good family/ kid friendly environment. View of Thatcher island in nearby Rockport. Gotta go, surfs up!

You can't beat Good Harbor beach for an overall summer experience. The water is pristine clean with waves great for boogie boarding. At low tide you can walk the beach from end to end, even out to a small island. Lots of room for frisbee throwing. Kids love the tide pools at low tide. I wait all year long for special days at Good Harbor.

Very large and clean beach. Boys had a wonderful time. Would rate 5 stars had it not been $25 for parking!!

One of the best beaches on the north shore to enjoy summer at.....Great atmosphere, parking and very safe for young children. Highly recommend it.

This is a nice wide open beach, but it can get very crowded (and parking can get crazy ridiculous) during hot weekends in the summer, at least in early August. Best bet may be to park some ways a way and walk from surrounding area.

My daughter and I arrived on a Sunday morning---the tide was out, and this beach has a beautiful little tidal pool for young kids. Nice hard-packed sand when the tide was out. The beach fills up quickly, so arrive early! There is a snack bar and bathroom facilities (typical beach quality).

My son loved this beach...his favorite of the trip! There were lots of kids and families...the parking fills up early so consider the hotel shuttle or Uber...or go early.

I am a local. I've lived here for years but I was born and raised in So Cal and have been to beaches all over the country and Good Harbor beach is hands down the best, most beautiful beach I have ever been to. I've been to Hawaii and gorgeous beaches in California but there is just something about this beautiful beach that keeps me, all my family and all my friends coming back year after year. This is a place where I spend fun times and also seek out this space for peace and solace. It is truly my peace and "home" in a crazy world.

Come prepared for the beaches to be closed to only locals during peak times. Once the lots fill up, the city will close the beaches and limit them to locals only. There is usually a traffic alert sign in the first rotary coming off 128 that will tell you if Good Harbor is closed and what time it will re-open. Be careful parking in lots or on the street around this or other beaches. Most require a resident sticker. Towing is enforced.

As a local I ask that you drive in our beautiful neighborhoods like your children live here. Cape Ann is considered an island and the communities here are old and tight knit. Gloucester is America's oldest seaport and like me, most of the locals are very proud to live in this beautiful community.

We love good harbor! And so do many others! You have to get up early to get parking. If you don't you might not get a spot and the beach is well worth it. Going on a weekday around 2-3pm might get you a spot. They sell food and beach toys at the beach but the Shaws has all the same beach toys for half the price and it's located a half mile from the beach. The water is cold but refreshing on a hot day! Sand is so soft!
We love good harbor!

Great beach. Wide,clean and relaxing. Parking charge $25.00 a bit much for going to the beach. Must get there early as it can get very busy.

Good Harbor - should be called REALLY Good Harbor!!!
The Staff and Beach were ridiculously awesome. Clean beach, great water and the amenities were great to have Food trucks and changing / restroom areas!!!
I highly recommend Good Harbor for a Fantastic Family experience.

I had come here a lot with my kids when they were little. Last night, my husband and I were on a couples getaway in Rockport and we ended up here about 4pm on a Saturday when the temperature was about 100 degrees. The parking was $25 and worth every penny (and we only stayed for 1.5 hours). We plopped our chairs at the waters edge, took in the sunrays, read a book and watched the families enjoy the beach. This place is one of my favorites!

Low tide on a warm late September mid-week day was a great time to visit this beach. We walked in from a nearby motel, along the seafront hugging road, and dropped down on an elegantly humped footbridge over the creek that flows along along the back of the beach before then turning to join the sea at its southern end. The sands were very fine-grained, pristine, hard and glinting with mica crystals. The tidal flow at the creek mouth was strong and it must be great for kids floating on tubes in summer to ride upstream on the surge. The beach has rocky headlands at either end, sporting interesting old houses. Loads of room and attractive views. Certainly worth a return visit.

great clean beach but parking is horrendous and expensive at $30. go early. sand was soft. public restrooms around. great scenery

I love the beach to explore, walk the shore see the sunrise and tip toe into the surf. Parking is soooo high, $25 0n the weekday , $35 on weekends. Best to know someoneinorder to save on this expense.

The day we went to the beach was a beautiful, sunny day! There were a lot of people on the beach and in the water- yet there was still room for many other families to settle in. There was a lot of space. There was a beach house, which I believe had changing rooms. There were 2 outdoor showers to remove sand. The sand was fine and comfortable. Coolers are allowed, although it is posted that no alcohol is permitted. It is posted, but I didn't see enforcement. You would need to contain food if you leave your area unattended. Good Harbor has very intelligent seagulls that help themselves to unattended bags. It seemed as though everyone was having fun! There was no charge to use the beach. Parking, however, could be an issue. We were dropped off. The parking lot charged $25 for the day, but was closed with no available parking by noon . The beach is accessible by foot by most areas, however. I saw a lot of people having a great day!!

We moved to Boston suburbs last year and our young teen kiddos absolutely find this their fave beach - in low tide you can easily, safely walk to the island on a band bar - waves collide at your feet from both sides! During higher tides the lagoon fills up for warmer swimming, jumping and exploring. Beautiful beach waves for boogie boarding - parking is $30-35 but it's worth it (think of it as a day pass), bring a football or spike ball.

In October, dogs are allowed on the beach. It is so much fun to watch them play. It is clean and easily reached from the Atlantis Oceanfront Inn.

This beach is long and wide so even if it fills up, people are not on top of each other. They have bathrooms and snackbar. Also, little pools form back by some dunes that are shallow and perfect for young kids to play in. Only drawback is the parking, non-resident is $25-$30. Many of the local motels offer discount passes(still cost $15) so either walk or wait till 3pm(goes to 15) or 5pm, free.

Good harbor has great waves, perfect for boogie boards. The water may be a little rough for younger children but if you go to the bridge where the river flows in, it is better for small children.

Beautiful beach. Free parking from October-May
We were the only ones there on October 15 which was wonderful!

This is one of 2 terrific Gloucester beaches. Take a walk, smell the fresh air and relax. In the winter months this beach is dog friendly (off leash) on even days. So if you have a nice dog who need some exercise, this is a great place to take your dog to.But please only if your dog is SUPER dog friendly because there could be a lot of varied size dogs there. And also be sure to bring your own doggie poop bags because clean up is required and enforced.

While the rain was present every day of my visit the beach was very busy with activities and swimming.

Great beach if you can get a parking space, fills up early. Facilities including a snack shop. Island swimming area to the left at low tide.

Good Harbor Beach is a jewel. Nice sandy beach that has beautiful vistas. It's a great spot for families.

the beach is very clean and nice. It was very crowded when we were there and not a lot of parking. It costs $30 to park in the lot, which is often full

Clean and great amenities. Very kid friendly. Get there early to park or plan to walk. Carry in- carry out so bring a bag.

Nice beach with a smaller parking lot. We visited on a day that was not super warm, it appeared to have a lot of locals visiting. It is clean and has lifeguards. There is also a snack shack with bathrooms (port a potties) and showers to rinse off the sand. The showers and snack shack were closed when we left at 5:30, so it must close up at 5 maybe. Enjoyed the view and at low tide there is a land bridge to Salt Island.

Walk to the beach, parking is expensive. Lots of families. Shallow areas separate from the ocean perfect for the little ones. Beautiful scenic location.

Hubby brought me a lobster roll with pickles from the beach grille at Good Harbor Beach; deliciciously seasoned, fresh and tasty!

We only had a quick overnight trip, but Good Harbor Beach was really nice on a sunny day. For supper Seaport Grille was amazing great food and drinks with good service. We stayed at the Captains Lodge which was clean and comfortable with a great organic market across the street. Next time want to try the walking tour...

This is a great beach that has a lot of room and easy to access. Paid parking for non-resident ticket holders.

Soft sand, swimmable creek, long and wide. Water can be so cold but great waves and beautiful vista. Enjoy!

We were able to see Good Harbor Beach and stay for a few hours. It is a great spot. Ample parking but expensive! $35 to park! That is a bit rediculous. There are restroom facilities and the beach is expansive.

We were blessed to be in the vicinity at the end of September. It was a clean beach with a spectacular view.

i sure hope the city council will pass a ordinance as they are talking about
to charge a walk on fee to good harbor to non residents. this would be a great revenue
generator to the city

Dogs are allowed off leash on even numbered days in the off season.
It's a great place to get some socializing and exercise.

This is a fantastic beach in Gloucester. The sand is clean and shell-free. Beach is very wide, even more so when the tide is out - so you don't feel crowded. Most of the time there is a nice breeze which prevents one from overbaking or oversweating, There are bathroom and shower facilities, along with a food counter serving items beyond the typical hamburger or hotdog; there were salmon burgers and lobster rolls! Umbrellas ($15) and lounge chairs with cushions ($18) can be rented - well worth it if you want to spend 6-8 hrs here. Rentals are due back by 5 pm and lifeguards end their watch at that time also. Parking $25. Beware the seagulls though - unsuspecting food purchasers had their food snatched in mid-air and food bags left unhidden on blankets were snatched up as well. Entertaining for those of us not affected by the thievery!

Rockport and Gloucester don't have many beaches where you can spread out on the sand and relax. As beautiful and unique as the rocky beaches are, a sandy beach is still the best...and Good Harbor Beach is by far the best beach in the Rockport / Gloucester area.

Parking can be a challenge at times, as the beach is popular, but the parking is limited. You must buy a ticket to park, while residents can park free with resident permits. This means the parking lot might be full of you come in the afternoon. However, you can remedy that as we have for years. Buy your parking permit early (we usually get ours around 8:00), then come whenever you want to in the day. If you have a ticket, you can re-enter as often as you want that day. Other people may be turned away, but if you have a ticket, you have a spot to park.

Good Harbor Beach has a snack shack and some beach items for purchase. The food is surprisingly good. Beach umbrellas and chairs are available for rent. Lifeguards are on duty.

To the north side of the beach is Salt Island. You can walk to the island at low tide on almost dry sand on the trombolo. If you go, make sure you plan to head back before the tide comes back in...we have seen more than a few people stranded on the island and rescued by lifeguards in kayaks. For those of you that geocache, there is a cache on Salt Island, and a few on the south end of the beach as well.

I strongly encourage you to visit as many of the unique beaches in the area, but make sure you do not pass up Good Harbor Beach.

Nice clean beach, Very relaxing,great views. Beautiful rocks, water is just right just watch out for the tiny flies that pinch.

Unbelievable day at nice hidden gem in Gloucester. The fee is $30 and you receive a trash bag to carry off your refuse. The beach is spotless, lifeguards on duty. Clean bathrooms and snack bar. This is a wonderful beach. Arrive early by 9:00A public are done and only town residents are allowed.

Stop at the beach abut 6PM and could park free since we are not from Gloucester. Went for a stroll along the entire water front. Great exercise... now we can eat more

This is a great beach for the whole family. parking is a bit on the expensive side, but if you're spending the whole day it will be worth it. There is food available. There are restrooms and showers too.

Having to make a reservation online ahead of time, with cumbersome software, from your car is a PITA. We went on a day during the week, hardly anyone at the beach, and the guy at the toll booth acted like we were criminals for asking if we could pull over to the side parking lot WHERE THERE WERE 0 CARS, to make the reservation and then pay. We had to go back out on the street, despite there being about 1,000 parking spots, including right next to him.

The beach is within walking distance to some hotels but it helps to have a "beach buggy" to cart your chairs, umbrellas, coolers, etc. out the long walk to the water. Beautiful sandy/rocky beach - cold water but you can do it!

We drove along Cape Cod a couple days before Cape Ann. Cape Ann is definitely more accessible and scenic than Cape Cod. Beautiful views and great places to get out and walk around every turn.

Many approaches make the wide beach and its dunes such a confluence of bathers/walkers/surfers with best view out to Atlantic Ocean and islands beyond

We spent the day at the beach (low tide) and it was sandy with no rocks; walk on the sandbar to an island located a short distance away had the kids climbing on he rocky ledges and exploring the island. this beach has it all (didn't see lifeguards but there were life guard chairs so I'm assuming they are there but, aside from that, water was wonderful, beach was not crowded and it was great watching the surfers and wind sailors as well. Great Day!

I may be prejudice because I live close by but I've traveled around the world and the only beaches that beat Good Harbor are in Florida and the Caribbean.

The seaside promenade is one reminiscent of the south of France and one could sit and watch the view for ages. The railings are a little rusty which is a pity but the natural view surpasses that

Good Harbor Beach is high quality sandy beach with little or no wave action. That is why it is so popular. On a weekend day in summer, arrive before 10:00 or the lot will be filled.

Not as good as Wingaersheek or Crane Beaches. Facilities second rate in comparison. Free after 5pm. I may be a little biased as l was bitten by something here and it was not by a seagull!

White sandy beach - beautiful view with some rocky coastline and a small "pool" for the little ones. We love to walk this beach in and out of season.

It was alright, a little noisy for my personal liking but you can't have it all. Would go back again if the chance arose . Well done

A great beach for couples or a whole family or several. Great beach for walks especially when the tide is out. There's a lagoon with diving places for teens to test their daring. There are restrooms, rentals for items you've forgotten and a dairy bar for snacks.

this is such a beautiful beach in the summer, i say summer because from oct thru
april dogs are allowed and on the even numbered days they are allowed to be off leash
and some owners turn a blind eye as the dogs do their duty in the sand and it is left there.it is disgusting to walk the beach and have to dodge dog poop.
think about that when you sit on the beach in the summer and you and your kids play in the sand !!! how disgusting

We actually stumbled upon this beach since it's hard to see from the road because of the dunes. We walked it while the tide was out and the homes surrounding it are unbelievable!

Loved the beach - we got there at low tide and the view and beach were stunning. Not very crowded and the waves and spray were classic England coast. A bit cold for swimming but the surfers were enjoying the water. Great place to stop and enjoy the ocean.

We had a lovely visit with my kids to this nice beach. Nice fine sand, and great snack shack with tons of lunch options. Wait time for lunch was long (maybe 30-40 minutes) because of all the ongoing orders. So order your food early or really late avoid the long wait. Tide goes out really far at low tide.

What a great beach. For years we've been going to Wingaersheek beach (which is amazing) but decided to try Good Harbor today. The parking lot is huge, the beach is beautiful with nice houses and rocky cliffs, the high/low tide makes for a very deep beach great for frisbee and games, and the sand is perfect. Lots to look at it, with a nice concession stand for food, beach requirements and toys, and bathrooms. Will definitely come back. Parking was $35 for the weekend. Lots of traffic approaching, so be sure to arrive before 930am.

This beach is larger than I expected and very clean. The water is clear and fairly warm compared to some other New England beaches I've been to. When the tide is low there is a spot at the end of the beach that is shallow enough to walk out to a rocky island. If you're up for climbing some rocks, the view from the top is worth it. We got there around 11am on a Monday and there was plenty of parking ($25 per day) and space on the beach. It did fill up quickly though so the earlier you get there the better.

Good Harbor Beach is by far the best beach on the north shore. Plenty of room to spread out and relax while listening to the waves coming in. Great Beach to walk up and down and on a perfect day, it's a little piece of heaven.

Pretty New England beach that was picturesque with boats coming-going though the harbor beside the beach (but no way impacting swimming or beach area). The beach is sandy but has large outcrops of rocks for climbing. The water was clear and beautiful--no seaweed! At low tide, the water was warm (mid-July!). Very chill vibe on the beach and mostly families. $35 for parking.

Good Harbor is a Good time - the beach is long, great for walking. The is a stream on the end of the beach with a strong current, great for floating on.
Overs great views.
Parking can be a difficult during the summer.

My favorite beach anywhere. Going to Good Harbor Beach is like returning home. An easy place to get to. Parking on site.

We found this beach by accident, we were lost!! So pleased we did, had a picnic by the bridge which crosses over onto the beach, the sand is lovely and fine and the views across the bay are amazing. A visit is definitely recommended.

A friend of mine insisted we go to Good Harbor since she hates rocks. Either naturally, or someone collected them all, there really are no rocks on this beach. All nice white sand. It feels like you're in a cove surrounded by private homes on either side but it's still is a large area. The only drawback is the $25 parking fee (on a Wednesday!) but consider it money well spent for the nice beach. The water was actually quite warm (unusual for a northern Mass. beach) since we've had so many 90+ days this summer. There's also a snack shack, showers and facilities.

Beautiful beach for a not too long walk at the end of the day. Have to watch out for occasional broken glass (not beach glass).

Great beach but the parking has become a big problem. Before, you would pay the $20 and be able to park in their lot. However, now they have made it a resident parking lot only. There is no other place to park besides this lot. Rude.

Long, deep, and beautiful. Great because you walk from one end to the other. At the southern end is a great wading area, esp. for little kids.

Good Harbor Beach is one of the prettiest beaches in New England. We asked a local lady in Rockport where to spend the day and are so happy she told about this great find. It was a beautiful sunny late-April day; we packed a picnic lunch and enjoyed the day watching dogs frolicking and surfers catching great waves. We can't wait to return this summer.

This is a beautiful beach, but very crowded during peak hours in the summer season. If you prefer to avoid the crowds, I would recommended visiting late in the day or off season.

Decided to drive to Gloucester while we were visiting Salem. Found this Beach and spent a few hours here. I think this is one of the most beautiful beaches I've seen. 👍

Visited in May and there were lots of surfers braving the cold water! There is lots of parking, but it probably fills up very quickly on summer weekends. When we visited it was very quiet - primarily used by surfers and dog walkers.

Boardwalks to the beach from the parking lot must have been renovated just before we visited. One consideration - the beach and the parking lot have no shade whatsoever - don't forget an umbrella and a shade for your windshield.

At the time of our visit the foot bridge from Nautilus Rd. to the west side of the beach was closed and partially demolished. Not sure if the situation has changed.

Went on a rainy day. Nice beach with lots of parking. Cozy walk on an overcast rainy day watching surfers trying to pick up waves. There are lots of dog walkers there.

Good Harbor Beach is and always has been a favorite place of mine. It's quite picturesque with prominent rocky promontories, Salt Island just seemingly a stone's throw out to sea and the Twin Lights off in the far distance. The sand is high quality, and what really makes the place special is the vast expanse of dark sand at low tide. Good Harbor has a pretty extreme tide difference between high and low, so when the tide is out, this vast expanse of hard dark sand allows for all manner of fun and games - frisbee, kadima, touch football, horseshoes, whiffle ball games - you name it. During the week, it's a fairly low-key place with lots of room to expand. There is also a creek along one side of the beach that is a great place for younger kids to play and as the tide comes in, that creek goes from inches deep to over six feet deep (to give you a sense of the tide difference). It's great fun to ride the current as the tide is coming in or going out along the creek.

The downsides to Good Harbor Beach: first, the water can be cold, very cold. It's impossible to predict. Sometimes it's downright pleasant; other times you wouldn't go in above your ankles no matter what. Check likely water temperatures ahead of time if that's of concern. The wave action: unpredictable. If you love to body surf, sometimes the waves can be absolutely fantastic, and sometimes there's no surf at all. A bit of a crapshoot. You can be sure that the sunny day or two after a big storm will have awesome surf. The crowds - while Good Harbor Beach is really pleasant and pretty sparsely populated during the week, on the weekends you could 100s and 100s of day-trippers from the greater Boston area flocking to this beach and it is jammed with people. Hardly a spot to sit down, so get there EARLY on a sunny weekend day. Parking - Gloucester is really tough on parking enforcement, and a major source of revenue is beach parking fees or parking tickets for people foolish enough to think they can park anywhere near a beach illegally and not get a BIG fine. The parking lot for Good Harbor fills early on the weekends and as of 2016 it costs $30 to park there, so prepare for some sticker shock, and again arrive early if you want a spot. During the week it's $25.

So, all in all, I do love this beach, but it's definitely best visited during the week on a day when the water temperature is going to be o the warmer side.

Gloucester does a great job maintaining Good Harbor. Its so clean, water is beautiful and very low on sea weed (if that matters). NO TRASH! Thats the part that is so great. They view is great. We went on a Tuesday (95°) and there were a million people. But still beautiful. Not rocky, and easy to stand around in shallows or swim.

When we arrived we were surprised that they charge $30 just to park for this beach, but we are from the south so maybe this is normal in the northeast. The water was way too cold for us southerners, but it did not stop our 8-year-old granddaughter from going in and having fun. The water is shallow for a long way out and there were lifeguards and a fairly good crowd for a weekday in July. There are showers and a concession stand. Beware of the seagulls - they are aggressive and would swoop in and take food out of your hand. We watched them destroy a beach bag to get to chip bags while the owners were in the water. Don't leave any food unattended!

Good Harbor is a clean sandy beach which is well-maintained and large enough to accommodate many visitors without the feeling of being crowded. The waves are stern but not overpowering. The water is cold but approachable. The experience is serene and calls for a return. Likely, one of the nicest beaches on the north shore. Cape Ann is a great alternative to Maine or Cape Cod.

This is the best of the large public beaches on the North Shore. The gem is "Salt Island". You can take your honey there, go on the other side, dive in and lay out in relative privacy. Girls love this place and I love girls!

It was a dismal day but we still decided to stop it was nice. The best part was when my wife got her sandwich taken by a seagull

A beautiful family oriented beach. Very gradual slope with life guard supervision. Beach concession. There is no charge for walking onto the beach, but a charge for parking.

This is the one of the most gorgeous Beach sites I've seen worldwide. I have not been to Greece so I know that those beaches are spectacular but this spot is the most picturesque New England beach. It's a Cove it's incredibly dog friendly in the offseason surrounded by craggy Rock Island's Grand mansions and small Cottages with a Vista of two lighthouses. Public parking was a breeze in October I imagine it's not quite so in the summertime.

Lovely beach! Great for little ones at low tide to dig in the sand. Waves not that high. Our 3 year old Granddaughter could go in the water. The parking is expensive but the beaches are free. Fortunately we walked there! Little food kiosk to purchase lunch or snacks if desired. Lovely view!

Loved that we could reserve a parking spot for the day. Easy todo and worth it for the day. Parking lot is a short walk to the beach. The beach is clean, not rocky either. Easy to walk end to end. One end of the beach has facilities and netting for beach volleyball. We stayed on the other end, quiet and perfect for lounging in the sun, reading a book or taking a nap!
Some waves but not huge,easy to swim in. Not a lot of seaweed either. Lifeguards on duty. Would definitely go back for a day.

This is great beach located in Gloucester. Parking is bit expensive , $30 on weekends and $25 on weekdays but it is worth it.

Great beach in New England. Very clean, water is clear and cool perfect for a hot summer day, fine white sand, the place is big enough to keep distance from people, nice place to have a long walk or run.
Plenty of space for parking- parking fee is a rip off $30; no place to shower or rinse; watch out for the gulls they’ll attack your food‼️

The older I get the more I appreciate the beach and being able to go down to the water, no matter the season and just take it all in. This is my favorite non-summer beach. I love it in every other season when it's not crowded and you can take your dog and just have a nice walk. It's always lovely for photos too. I usually avoid it in the summer or go in the evening. In the off season, there is plenty of parking along the street. The lot is usually closed. You can really have a nice stroll, never crowded, and it's actually great for socializing your dog as you're bound to run into other dog owners.

We went later in the day, after 5. Nobody was at the parking booth so we parked for free. Lots of people out surfing or paddle boarding. Not a great beach for looking for shells, or at least not at that time of the day. Sand was incredibly soft. There were quite a few lifeguard towers, but at that time of day/during the week they were unmanned. Lots of signs posted stated no dogs allowed. Port-a-potties on site if you need to use facilities.

Unlike many of the other lovely beaches on Cape Ann, Good Harbor has waves! As well as a beautiful curve of sand, snack bar and bath house. There is a non-resident charge for parking.

Amazing beach. Found shells and sea glass. Very clean. The waves were great in September and the water warm. We stay at good harbor inn. Nothing like waking up and hearing the waves and walking the gorgeous beach.

This beach was absolutely stunning. I came on a weekday in the late afternoon/evening. The parking lot has convenient access to the beach and seems to be free after 5 pm (or maybe I just got lucky). The water is the perfect temperature and depth, you can walk out for about 300 feet or so. The beach is absolutely stunning, one of the most beautiful in New England. It was busy even in the evening on a Wednesday so I imagine it's pretty packed during the weekends but it is definitely worth it.

Stunninly beautiful, spacious beach goes on for miles, with great surf, a calmer kiddie pondish area and bathrooms and showers. Close to beach food and ice cream if the food stand is closed. Parking can fill early in the day. A fantastic beach day slounge or an active beach walk/run anytime

I can see why this beach was highly recommended to me. It is very expensive to park $30 weekends and $20 after 4pm . I was told a season pass is $250. Horseshoe shaped inlet with beautiful homes on top the outer rock formations and a view of the twin lighthouses at Thatcher Island. Sugary soft sand that does get very hot and very clean water. At low tide you can walk far out and also walk across the sandbar to Salt Island. (wear water shoes to climb it). At low tide there are tidal pools where little ones happily played. There are bathrooms,showers and a snack bar. Thanks to a local who told us about the sandbar walk to Salt Island and another local who told us where to eat in downtown Gloucester.

This is one of my favorite spots in the Cape Ann region. This beach is gorgeous and perfect for families/couples/friends, anyone! The rocky island off the shore just adds to the beauty and the length of the beach is perfect for taking a stroll or looking for shells with your kids/friends. Good Harbor is also gorgeous any time of year!

Cape Ann Beaches are for the most part, not tourist and visitor friendly!

I am choosing to review Good Harbor Beach as simply the prime example of what we faced at almost each and every turn along the Cape Ann Coast when we saw a beach...Resident Parking Permits Only...little or no indication where tourists/visitors could park and extremely "steep" parking or beach access fees where there was parking available.

The following excerpt from Cape Ann Beaches Dot Com regarding Good Harbor Beach says it All!

"Parking (buses prohibited) is available during the week at a rate of $25 per vehicle, and on the weekends and holidays at $30 per vehicle. Non-resident parking is limited so arrive early in order to get a parking space, especially during the summer months. Gates open at 8:00 am and are locked at 9:00 pm."

Whilst the New England and Cape Ann Architecture is lovely with some picturesque maritime views and venues, it really boils down to a very crowded and mostly inaccessible coast line if one doesn't own a bit of it.

My retrospective apologies to the Nova Scotia Government for being critical about the limited facilities on what are otherwise magnificent completely free pet friendly up to 5 km long Provincial Park Beaches open 8:00 am to 11:00 pm!

This is the beach the locals go to. It is on the southern side of the Cape, so it has an ocean current. The beach is VERY wide at low tide, and there is plenty of room. The restrooms are clean, and the lifeguards are attentive. If you look east, you have a view of the Thatcher Island Lighthouses.
HOWEVER.... There is a heavy parking fee per day, which we didn't know about.
Check their website before you go here so you aren't surprised like we were.

Absolutely beautiful beach! However, the parking was very expensive (even on a Tuesday) and now you have to reserve parking ahead of time through an account with Good Harbor. I’m assuming this is a leftover Covid policy which now makes no sense. It was off putting. Won’t want to return this summer.

regular visitor a local, but the out of towners come in and think they own the place n beach manners at all
a group of about 40 came in a few at a time and just crowded everyone very rude
i think new york people maybe even some from quebec

This beach is big and known for good surf. Often you can see surfers here. Great view and location for walking and picking.

This year was our thirty seventh year visiting Gloucester, everyone on Good Harbor Beach. With some off season visits also. Our children spent one or two weeks every summer on this beach. The beach is clean, you take your garbage with you which cuts down on seagull visits. And you can walk out to Salt Island during low tide in search of treasures. The sand and the dunes are just beautiful. I can remember the damage from the Perfect Storm, it came back better than ever thanks to the effort of the City of Gloucester. They rake the public beach early in the morning.

You can't beat the views and the beautiful white sand, facilities and food available. The beach is large but very popular and so if you are not a resident, get there to wait in line by 8 am to get in as they only let a certain number of non residents right now.

I spent at least two hours wandering the beach. Able to walk out to the island and enjoy the waves. Sunset is just spectacular

Loved this beach. Beautiful views of gorgeous houses along the shoreline. You can walk out quite a ways before hitting deep water. Plenty of parking is available.

Someone please explain to me why the rangers “hanging out” at the walkway aren’t masked?? One approached my family today (we were wearing them). Then he proceeded to walk past my daughter still talking (unmasked). Model better. Do better. Be safer. Enforce healthy beach numbers or guidelines.

It's the beach where the locals go,
I'm a Gloucester native, spent every summer on GOOD harbor beach, since teenager, that's a long long time!
We expect all visitors to carry out their trash and leave our beach clean!
Come,enjoy!!

I walked on the beach on a warm spring afternoon. This was before the summer crowds appeared. The beach is beautiful with flat Sandy Beach and panaramic views!!

Great for your morning walk/run and great to play in the waves. plenty of space for beach games and a nice restaurant/store for anything you may have forgotten.

Three of us went to the beach yesterday after not having been there in several years. We usually go to Crane Beach, which is more beautiful, natural, and long, but the greenhead flies preclude a day there for the last 2 weeks or so in July. Good Harbor was a fun and very pretty alternative, and the water was warm enough to enjoy (warmer than Crane's). The tidal river is fun to explore, as is the walk out to the island at low tide. HOWEVER, the bath facilities are abysmal. There are no changing facilities. And the bathrooms have not been improved in the decades we've been visiting this beach. The concrete floor bathroom has just a few toilets and closes at 5 o'clock. There was a line of tired, sad-looking people waiting to use the 2 port-a-potties. Crane Beach, by the way, has a lovely bathroom/changing facility. For a $30 weekday and $35 weekend parking charge, come on, Gloucester, it's time to build changing rooms and update the bathrooms at popular Good Harbor Beach.

V. disappointed that bathrooms & showers were closed before 3pm today!! Paying $31.60 to park, should pay to keep bathrooms open! There were a couple porta potties, both of which had No Hand Sanitizer!! Yuck!! Do better, Gloucester!! There are many other great beaches in New England. I would recommend York Long Sands beach in Maine. Also, I’ve been to a lot of beaches and the seagulls at Good Harbor were the most aggressive I’ve ever seen!

The beach is very good, if you are go on low tide time, you can walk to island next to the beach. But parking is costly.

The beach offers bathroom and shower which is good facility, but its closed in the evening.

What a beautiful, white sand beach, with plenty of room on beach. The waves are good enough to have fun on and not be too scared.

Popular Good Harbor Beach offers gentle surf and plenty of shallow water for inexperienced swimmers. The view from the beach is lovely. Get there early to claim a parking spot and place on the beach.

Great views.beach clean.great waves.lots of room a great experience so close to many attractions surf was good.

Lovely, clean, lots of beach, even at high tide. The sand is so fine that, when it's windy, you get a fine layer of sand all over you and your stuff. Try to get a spot closer to the main concession as that is the only one with bathrooms.

Clean, no rocks, decent restrooms. Good for walking and swimming and for kids. I would definitely suggest staying away from the bridge side near the creek if the creek remains closed. The creek area is not adequately identified so that unfamiliar beachgoers know where not to go, The lifeguard was repeatedly using his bullhorn to ask people to stay out of the creek because there was raw sewage in it. A clear sign warning of dangerous levels of bacteria might have helped

Good Harbor Beach is everything. The water is clear and clean. The sand is soft and white. It's picturesque as all hell. There's decent bathrooms and a snack bar.

You can spend everyday here and never get tired of it. Float down the creek at high tide, walk out to the island at low tide. Watch the local kids jump off the bridge right over the sign that says 'no jumping'. Collect crabs and sand dollars..etc etc etc.. this place is magical.

In the winter months this beach is still great! I bring my dog and she plays with all the other dogs in town! Please clean up after your dog!

We stop for walk while in the area during a mid - October visit .. Just plan beautiful . it was low tide so there was plenty of wide open space . Very few others on the beach while we were there. small island just off the beach area added to the view . Plenty of parking on site ... I assume it would be crowded during the summer months

We didn't visit to go swimming (it was a bit chilly), so I can't comment on the quality of that experience; but it was nonetheless geographically interesting. A wide, flat beach that must allow for a very fast tidal advance once it comes in (we were there at low tide.) Certainly not like the beaches of the mid-Atlantic or Outer Banks, but it looked like a fun place.

I'm particular about beaches, and Good Harbor is one of my favorites. I have not been on the weekend, which I understand is pretty crowded, but weekdays are great. For some area beaches, you need to arrive very early to get a parking space, but I have not had a problem at Good Harbor arriving at noon or 1:00. One drawback is that parking is expensive ($25 on weekdays). The rest rooms are clean and the concession stand sells everything from soft serve to burgers to boogie boards (although you can wait in line for awhile). You can also rent an umbrella ($15) or a nice lounge chair ($18), so you don't have to drag a lot of equipment to the beach.