For Tufts students staying over the summer for jobs, internships or classes, be sure to check out some of the best beaches near the university. Don’t have a car? No worries — all of the beaches on this list are easily accessible without one. New England beaches have their own special charm, so if you’re from out of town, take the chance to visit them all and find your favorite.
On the T: Constitution Beach and Revere Beach
These East Boston beaches are the most accessible ocean beaches on the list. While they don’t quite compare to the more scenic spots farther from the city (which are worth making the trek to when you can), they earn points for pure convenience — and there’s plenty to do right by the water. It’s easy to hop on the Blue Line and be there in minutes, which makes them perfect for a spontaneous summer visit.
Constitution Beach, also known as “Shay’s Beach,” is in Orient Heights and offers a front-row view of planes taking off from Logan International Airport. The beach sits on a protected inlet, so the water is always calm with minimal waves. It’s also well-equipped with bathrooms, a snack bar, a playground and courts for tennis, handball, baseball and basketball.
Revere Beach, a bit further up the Blue Line, was the first public beach in the United States. In addition to being located at the MBTA stop with the best name, Wonderland, it’s also known for its annual international sand sculpting competition. I’d usually choose Constitution for a quieter vibe, located at the Orient Heights stop, but both are worth checking out since they’re so close together.
To get there: Take the Green Line from Tufts to Government Center (about 20 minutes), transfer to the Blue Line toward Wonderland and hop off at the beach of your choice. You’ll be on the sand in under an hour.
Other beaches accessible by the T: Castle Island, Pleasure Bay and M Street Beach (take the Red Line and a bus for each).
Commuter Rail: Singing Beach and Rockport’s Front Beach and Back Beach
Singing Beach, one of the gems of the North Shore, is open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. It’s named for the unique “singing” sound the sand makes when you walk on it, and as the sun sets, the sand glows with a beautiful iridescence — stay for sunset if you can! The beach is small (about a half-mile wide) and can get busy in summer, but it’s absolutely worth the trip. There’s a charming bathhouse from the ‘20s with bathrooms, showers, changing rooms and a snack canteen. Plus, it’s just a short walk from downtown Manchester-by-the-Sea, so you’ve got more food options nearby.
Walk-on admission is $10 per person or $35 for a season pass.
To get there: Take the Green Line to North Station, hop on the Newburyport/Rockport Line of the commuter rail and get off at the Manchester stop (just under an hour). From there, it’s a half-mile walk up Beach Street to Singing Beach.
If you stay on the Newburyport/Rockport Line past Manchester-by-the-Sea to the end, you’ll land in one of my favorite places in Massachusetts: Rockport. It’s full of artists, fresh New England seafood and coastal charm. Be sure to stroll over to Motif No.1, a picturesque red fishing shack surrounded by lobster traps, famously painted by generations of artists.
As for beaches, Front Beach is just a half-mile walk from the train station and super easy to reach. Back Beach, slightly larger, is right next door across the rocks. Between them sits a stunning lookout point with a stone tower and sweeping ocean views. I much prefer the North Shore beaches over those of Cape Cod or on the South Shore — but fair warning, the water here is much colder, so brace yourself if you plan to swim!
To get there: Take the Green Line to North Station, then hop on the Newburyport/Rockport Line to the last stop — about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Other beaches accessible via commuter rail: Pavilion Beach and Half Moon Beach at the Gloucester stop. Be sure to take advantage of the $10 round-trip commuter rail pass offered on the weekends!
Ferry: Spectacle Island and Nantasket Beach
People often forget to consider the Boston Harbor Islands when thinking of beaches — but you can swim on Spectacle Island! I used to visit the Harbor Islands on elementary school field trips, and a visit to one of them is still the best way to see Boston from a whole new angle.
The 114-acre Spectacle Island has a marina, visitor center, snack cart, five miles of walking trails and a beach. Sometimes there are even jazz concerts and other fun events. Note: While you can’t camp on Spectacle, other Harbor Islands do have campgrounds if you’re up for an overnight adventure.
To get there: Take the Green Line to Haymarket and walk to Long Wharf. The ferry ride is a quick, scenic 30 minutes — worth it for the views alone.
As someone who usually prefers North Shore beaches, I make an exception for Nantasket Beach on the South Shore. The ferry ride itself is a fun part of the experience — it’s under an hour and offers scenic views. The beach is known for its fine gray sand and warmer bay water. Along the mile-long stretch, you can often spot the piping plover birds and sometimes harbor seals.
“Nantasket” means “where tides meet” in Wampanoag, referring to its history as a tidal island. For history buffs, Nantasket was settled shortly after Plymouth and notably before the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
The ferry from Long Wharf costs $9.75 each way. Once in Hull, take the Route 714 bus directly to the beach or enjoy a scenic waterfront walk.
Other beaches accessible by ferry: any beach in Provincetown (at the tip of Cape Cod — it’s an about 90-minute ferry ride but also very expensive at $128 for a round trip).
Amtrak: Old Orchard Beach
Don’t forget about the Amtrak Downeaster! It’s a quick and easy way to reach Old Orchard Beach in Maine, making it a great day trip. Though it’s farther than other beaches, it offers a completely different Maine vibe. The best part? The Amtrak station, called Old Orchard Beach, is right by the beach — no walking needed, just step off the train and onto the sand. The beach stretches seven miles into Saco and Scarborough, and the nearby pier has restaurants and souvenir shops. You’ll also find a variety of beach attractions, including a small amusement park.
What makes Old Orchard Beach really unique is the huge number of Canadian tourists, mostly from Quebec, who vacation here. You’ll hear plenty of French on the beach and in the restaurants, adding to the lively atmosphere. (A note: This may not hold true this summer as fewer Canadian tourists come to the United States due to the political situation.)
To get there: Take the Green Line to North Station, and then hop on the Amtrak Downeaster to the Old Orchard Beach stop for a little over two hours. Tickets are about $20 each way but get more expensive the closer to the date you book, so be sure to plan in advance for this beach (students get 15% off with the code V814).
Rideshare: Walden Pond
While I’m not a fan of Henry David Thoreau’s writing, I’ll give him credit on one thing — Walden Pond is a great place to swim. Famous for being where Thoreau wrote “Walden” while living in a small cabin on its shores, it’s a popular spot for both wading near the shore and long-distance swimming at just a half-mile across. Some people even swim here during the colder months in wetsuits. The pond’s small size also makes it a warm place to swim in Massachusetts — it sometimes even borders on being too warm for me, as someone used to the Atlantic Ocean. This means you can start swimming much earlier in the season, usually by April or May.
I usually try to avoid recommending rideshare as an option, but getting there by public transit is a hassle (you would need to take the commuter rail from Porter to Concord and then walk for 30 minutes), and rideshare is truly the best choice overall. Walden Pond is only about a 20-minute drive from Tufts, so it’s a time- and cost-efficient option, especially if you split an Uber with friends (usually between $20–50). Walden Pond is famous enough that every Tufts student should check it out at least once!
