Unearth The Voyage
There is something about walking a boardwalk near the ocean that makes a regular afternoon feel like a real getaway, even when you are only a short drive from home. Massachusetts has a surprising number of these wooden and planked walkways, from salt marsh crossings to long beach promenades.
Some lead you over dunes, some hug the harbor, and some end at a lighthouse view you will want to photograph. Here are 11 seaside boardwalks around the state that make an easy, low-cost outing feel a little more special.
1. Sandwich Boardwalk, Sandwich
Stretching about 1,350 feet across a marsh and Mill Creek, this Cape Cod crossing is one of the most beloved walkways in the state. It connects the town side to Town Neck Beach, giving you a front-row view of the wetlands, the creek, and the water beyond.
Many of the planks carry hand-painted messages and names left by visitors and families over the years, which turns the walk itself into something to read as you go. The current boardwalk was rebuilt after storm damage, so the structure you cross today is relatively modern.
At the end you reach a beach with views toward Cape Cod Bay and the Sagamore area. Low tide reveals the creek bed and mud flats, while high tide brings the water right up under your feet.
Parking is available near the entrance, and it fills quickly on warm weekends, so an early start helps.
2. Revere Beach, Revere
Opened in 1896, Revere Beach holds the title of the first public beach in the country, and its long promenade still draws crowds just north of Boston.
The walkway runs for roughly three miles alongside the sand, lined with historic bandstand-style pavilions that give the stretch its old-time character. It is flat, wide, and easy, which makes it friendly for strollers, casual walkers, and anyone who just wants ocean air without a hike.
Each summer the beach hosts a large international sand sculpting festival, drawing artists and big crowds to see the detailed sculptures up close.
Reaching it without a car is simple thanks to the Blue Line stop nearby, a rare perk for a beach outing. Food stands and casual seafood spots sit across the road, so you can turn a walk into a meal.
3. Nauset Marsh Trail Area, Eastham
Part of the Cape Cod National Seashore, the trails around the Salt Pond Visitor Center in Eastham include wooden boardwalk sections that carry you over marsh and wetland without muddy feet.
The Nauset Marsh area gives you sweeping views of the salt marsh, tidal ponds, and the distant barrier beach. Birdwatchers do well here, since the marsh attracts herons, egrets, and shorebirds throughout the warmer months.
Start at the visitor center, where you can grab maps and learn about the seashore before heading out. The boardwalk portions make the walking gentle, and interpretive signs explain the landscape as you go.
Admission to the visitor center is free, and the setting feels wild and open in a way that the busier beach boardwalks do not. Bring a camera for the marsh views, especially in early morning or late afternoon.
4. Ellisville Harbor State Park, Plymouth
Quieter than the big beach promenades, this Plymouth state park offers a peaceful walk through meadows and along a barrier beach on Cape Cod Bay.
The trails lead past a salt marsh and open fields down to a stony shoreline where the water stretches out toward the bay. It is a good pick when you want coastal scenery without the crowds of a busy beach town.
Seals sometimes gather offshore in the cooler months, giving watchful visitors a reason to slow down and scan the water.
The park is a state property, so parking may carry a small seasonal fee, and facilities are limited, which keeps things calm. Pack water and comfortable shoes, since the walking surface shifts between path, meadow, and beach stone.
5. Hampton Beach Style Boardwalk at Salisbury Beach, Salisbury
Up near the New Hampshire line, Salisbury Beach delivers the classic amusement-and-arcade boardwalk feel that many people picture when they think of the shore.
The center strip is packed with arcades, casual food counters, and a long sandy beach right across the way. Families come for the games and the wide beach, making it one of the more active spots on this list.
Salisbury Beach State Reservation sits nearby with camping and beach access, so the area works for both a quick stop and a longer stay.
Summer weekends bring events and live music to the beachfront stage, adding a festival mood to an ordinary walk. Parking lots serve the beach directly, though they fill fast on hot days, so arriving early pays off.
6. Duxbury Beach Crossover Boardwalks, Duxbury
Wooden crossover walkways at Duxbury Beach carry you up and over protected dunes before dropping you onto a long stretch of Atlantic sand.
The dune walkways exist to protect the fragile beach grass, and they give you a raised view of the ocean as you approach. Duxbury Beach is known for being large and open, connected to the mainland by the historic Powder Point Bridge, a long wooden bridge that is a sight on its own.
The bridge is one of the longest wooden bridges of its kind in the region and makes for a scenic approach.
Beach access typically requires a parking fee in season, and the sand runs for miles, so there is room to spread out. This is a spot for people who want quiet dunes and open water rather than arcades and crowds.
7. Craigville Beach Area, Centerville
Warm, calm water makes Craigville Beach on Cape Cod a favorite for families, and wooden access paths lead you gently from the lot down to the sand.
Sitting on the southern side of the Cape, the beach tends to have milder surf than the ocean-facing shores, which is welcome for younger swimmers. The access walkways keep the dune grass protected while giving an easy route to the water.
The beach has a long history as a popular Cape gathering spot, and the surrounding village keeps a low-key, residential feel.
Parking fees apply in the summer season, and the lot can reach capacity midday. Come for the calm swimming and stay for a slow walk along one of the Cape’s more relaxed beaches.
8. Gloucester Boulevard Walkway, Gloucester
Along Stacy Boulevard in Gloucester, a seaside walkway follows the harbor and passes the well-known Fishermen’s Memorial statue that honors the city’s fishing heritage.
The path gives you steady views of the working harbor, boats coming and going, and the open water beyond. Gloucester is one of the oldest fishing ports in the country, so the setting carries real maritime history.
Nearby you will find the Gloucester Fishermen’s Wives Memorial as well, adding to the sense of place along the route.
The walkway is flat and open, easy for a casual stroll with harbor scenery the whole way. Downtown Gloucester and its seafood restaurants sit close by, making it simple to pair the walk with a meal at the shore.
9. Provincetown MacMillan Pier and Waterfront, Provincetown
At the very tip of Cape Cod, Provincetown’s MacMillan Pier and the harborfront give you a lively planked walk surrounded by boats, whale-watch departures, and open bay views.
The pier juts into the harbor where fishing boats and tour vessels dock, and it is a launch point for whale-watching trips out to the feeding grounds. Walking the waterfront puts you steps from shops, galleries, and the town’s famous Commercial Street energy.
Provincetown sits where the Pilgrims first landed in 1620 before moving on to Plymouth, a fact many visitors do not realize.
Parking in town is tight and metered, so many people take the seasonal fast ferry from Boston instead. Come for the harbor bustle, the art scene, and one of the most colorful waterfront strolls in the state.
10. Nantasket Beach, Hull
Just south of Boston, Nantasket Beach in Hull pairs a long oceanfront promenade with a stretch of history from its amusement-park past.
The paved walkway runs beside a wide sandy beach, giving easy ocean views along the whole route. Nearby stands the historic Paragon Carousel, a restored 1928 carousel that is one of the last remnants of the old Paragon Park amusement grounds.
The carousel still operates seasonally, letting families add a nostalgic ride to the walk.
Nantasket is reachable from Boston by seasonal ferry as well as by car, and there is a state reservation with parking along the beach. This one earns its spot by blending a classic seaside stroll with a genuine piece of local amusement history.
11. Plum Island and Parker River Refuge Boardwalks, Newburyport
Wild and windswept, Plum Island holds the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, where wooden boardwalks lead over the dunes to a remote Atlantic beach.
The refuge protects a barrier island of marsh, dune, and shoreline that draws serious birdwatchers throughout the year. Boardwalk crossovers connect the parking areas to the beach while keeping the sensitive dunes intact.
The refuge is a major stopover for migrating birds, and its observation areas and trails make it one of the top wildlife-watching spots in New England.
There is an entrance fee for the refuge, and parts of the beach close seasonally to protect nesting birds, so check before you go. For a boardwalk that feels genuinely remote and natural, this northern coast stop closes out the list on a quiet note.
