Crane Beach

A long sandy beach on Ipswich Bay with dunes and trails through a pitch pine forest on the Castle Neck peninsula.

310 Argilla Rd · Ipswich, MA

About Crane Beach

Crane Beach is a four-mile stretch of white sand on the Crane Estate, cared for by The Trustees. Beyond swimming and sunbathing, 5.5 miles of trails cross soft dunes and maritime forest on both the Ipswich Bay and Essex River sides of Castle Neck. The beach is a key nesting site for threatened piping plovers, so you will see fenced areas to steer around. Lifeguards and the bathhouse snack stand operate from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

#beach
#sand dunes
#hiking trails
#birdwatching
#north shore

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What's around here?

The closest stops to Crane Beach, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

Sightseeing
Local Gem
Cape Ann
No admission fee
A rocky Massachusetts peninsula of working fishing harbors and artist colonies, anchored by Gloucester and Rockport.
5.1 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing
Sports & Outdoors
Outdoor Adventure
Halibut Point State Park
Check prices
Walk around a flooded granite quarry to the rocky tip of Cape Ann, where you can scramble on ledges and look into tide pools.
Transit: reachable by public transit
7.0 mi awayMore like this
Sports & Outdoors
Local Gem
Myopia Polo Club
Under $25
Storied polo club on Boston's North Shore hosting Sunday matches open to spectators.
7.1 mi awayMore like this
Sightseeing
Local Gem
Gloucester
No admission fee
America's oldest seaport, a working Massachusetts fishing town with beaches and a historic harbor.
Transit: reachable by public transit
7.1 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing
Sightseeing
Local Gem
Rocky Neck Art Colony
No admission fee
Historic waterfront art colony in Gloucester with galleries, studios, and harbor views.
Transit: reachable by public transit
7.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing
Sports & Outdoors
Salem Willows Park
Check prices
A seaside park on Salem's shoreline offering arcades, food stands, open grounds, and waterfront views.
12 mi awayMore like this