North Shore Beach Parking Info

Here at Atlantic Vacation Homes, we know that nothing beats a trip to the beach on a hot summer day, but planning ahead of time is a good idea if you are bringing a car. Each of the local cities and towns have distinct parking policies and prices that can vary depending on residency and day of the week. If you wish to take your car to the beach, below is a handy guide to local beach parking information for Cape Ann and surrounding towns. 

Gloucester Beaches

Good Harbor Beach

Public Parking Rates:

  • Starting in late May of 2022, there will be a new parking policy at Gloucester’s Good Harbor and Wingaersheek Beaches. Visitors to Gloucester (all non-residents) will need to book a beach parking space online, in advance. Note that cash payments will not be accepted onsite. Digital passes are to be sold via Gloucester’s online beach pass portal. Beach pass purchases may be made up to 10 days in advance.
  • Weekdays – $30 per vehicle
  • Weekends & Holidays – $35 per vehicle
  • Gates are open 8:00 am – 9:00 pm.
  • One lower-cost option is parking at Stage Fort Park and taking the Stage Fort Park Trolley to Good Harbor. The Stage Fort Park Trolley costs $1 one way or $3 for an all day pass and runs from the Stage Fort Park Visitor’s Center to many popular locations in town, including Good Harbor Beach. View the Trolley schedule.

Wingaersheek Beach

Public Parking Rates:

  • Starting in late May of 2022, there will be a new parking policy at Gloucester’s Good Harbor and Wingaersheek Beaches. Visitors to Gloucester (all non-residents) will need to book a beach parking space online, in advance. Note that cash payments will not be accepted onsite. Digital passes are to be sold via a self-service pass application called Yodel (access link TBD) and online beach pass purchases may be made up to 10 days in advance.
  • Weekdays – $30 per vehicle
  • Weekends & Holidays – $35 per vehicle
  • Gates are open 8:00 am – 9:00 pm.

Stage Fort Park / Half Moon Beach / Cressy’s Beach  

Public Parking Rates:
•    Weekdays – $15 per vehicle
•    Weekends & Holidays – $20 per vehicle

Niles Beach

Parking is limited and restricted to vehicles with a current City of Gloucester beach sticker.

Pavilion Beach

Parking is limited. Area street parking available (metered).

Plum Cove Beach

Parking is limited and restricted to vehicles with a current City of Gloucester beach sticker.

Non-Resident Gloucester Beach Parking Sticker Rates 

(Free Parking with sticker)

  • Seasonal renter (60 or more days) $100
  • Essex & Rockport Residents $250
  • Other non-residents (200 available) $300 

Gloucester Resident Beach Parking Sticker Rates 

(Free Parking with sticker)

  • Full-Time Residents: $20 
  • Non-Resident Property Owners: $20
  • Non-Resident Senior Property Owners: $20
  • Stationed AF Servicemember: $20
  • Full-Time Senior Citizens Residents: $5 (valid for 5 years)

For Gloucester, Beach Sticker inquiries:

Rockport Beaches

Long Beach & Cape Hedge Beach

  • Non-Resident beach stickers allow parking at Seaview Street Parking lot. 
  • There is also limited parking on South Street.    

Old Garden Beach

  • Very limited parking

Front Beach

  • Limited street (meter) parking & private lot
  • Alternate option: Drive your car to the Park & Ride lot on Route 127 near the Rockport Information Booth, pay to park, and ride the trolley to the beach.

Back Beach

  • Limited street (meter) parking

Pebble Beach

  • Very limited parking

Non-Resident Rockport Beach Sticker Rates  

  • Non-Resident Beach Sticker – $150
  • Access Cape Hedge Beach and Long Beach only

Resident Rockport General Parking Sticker Rates  

  • Resident Parking Sticker – $35
  • Resident Senior Parking Sticker – $25

Manchester-by-the-Sea Beaches

Singing Beach

  • Non-Resident Parking is $25.  
  • Non-Resident Parking available Mon-Fri (excludes holiday weekends), June 18th until Labor Day.
  • Non-Resident Parking is at Masconomo Park (0.5mi away from the beach) 
  • Yellow spaces are designated non-resident.  
  • Additional parking is located in downtown Manchester near the train station in the 2-hour spaces. 
  • The Boy Scouts sells parking spaces behind the train station for $25 on weekends during the summer.

Walk on fee $7 (per person over age 12). A seasonal walk-on pass is $20.00 and is good for the whole summer.

  • 9:00 am – 5:00 pm every day when staff is on duty through Labor Day.

Essex / Hamilton Waterfront

Chebacco Lake

While not a beach, Chebacco Lake is an amazing boating/kayaking spot that you won’t want to miss.

  • There is a public access boat ramp near 340 Chebacco Road, close to the Manchester-by-the-Sea town line
  • There is no charge to use the ramp.
  • The parking lot can hold about 17 vehicles with boat trailers
    • Any overflow of vehicles is sent to the old closed town beach area, just down the road on Chebacco Road, to park.
    • Alternate parking located at Centennial Grove, located at the end of Centennial Grove Road on the Essex-Hamilton line. 

Ipswich Beaches

Crane Beach

Summer Season Non-Member Prices

  • Car: $30 weekend, $25 weekdays
  • Motorcycle: $5
  • Bike/Foot: $2
  • Bus: $75
  • In order to purchase a Crane Beach Parking Sticker, a Trustees Membership is required. For more Information, visit the Crane Beach website.