Crane Beach

Official Website:	Crane Beach
Location:	290 Argilla Road, Ipswich, MA, 01938
Phone:	978-356-4354
Hours:	Hours Vary see below
Ages:	Toddlers, Kids, Teens, Adults
In/Outdoor:	Outdoor
Cost:	$$$ see below
Category:	Water Fun

Other Ideas: Wingaersheek Beach; Nelson Park Splash Pad; Beaver Brook Reservation Spray Deck & Playground; DCR Pools & Spray Decks; Good Harbor Beach

The white sands of Crane Beach stretch for miles along both sides of Castle Neck, forming one of the most picturesque swimming beaches in all of New England.

Crane Beach also provides important habitat for myriad wildlife and is an important natural barrier that protects the Essex River Estuary and its inland communities.

Voted 'Best Beach' of Boston three years running with four miles of white sand and gentle surf. Amenities Include bathhouses, lifeguards, and concession stand onsite.

When to Visit:
Open year-round, daily, 8:00am to sunset. Allow a minimum of 2 hours, 6.5 hours if also visiting Castle Hill (including Great House or landscape tour) and the Crane Wildlife Refuge.

Check current admission fees & permits

Fees
Effective through Labor Day 2007, member admission prices at Crane Beach have been decreased from $11 to $5, per car. After 3 p.m., admission prices decrease by another 50 percent. For non-members, beach admission prices remain at $22 on weekends and $15 on weekdays.

Parking
Designated parking area surfaced for year-round use. 1,400 cars. The Town of Ipswich manages - for Ipswich residents only - a 350-car parking area located next to The Trustees' parking area. Ipswich residents are required to have current beach stickers to park in this area. From October 1 to March 31, horse trailer parking is located in The Trustees' main parking area.

About Crane Beach Conservation:
More than 1,200 acres of beachfront, dunes, and maritime forest are managed for both recreation and conservation. Elevated boardwalks, vegetation management programs, and fencing protect the dunes. More than five miles of designated trails traverse an extensive dune complex featuring swales that support amphibians and invertebrates. Cranberries and insect-eating carnivorous plants, such as sundews, also grow in these interdunal swales. Castle Neck is the site of the North Shore's largest maritime pitch pine forest.

Hours

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Open year-round, daily, 8am to sunset. Allow a minimum of 2 hours, 6.5 hours if also visiting Castle Hill (including Great House or landscape tour) and the Crane Wildlife Refuge.

Cost

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View Rates

Location

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290 Argilla Road, Ipswich, MA, 01938 map

From Route 128 north (towards Gloucester), take exit 20A (Route 1A north) and follow for 8 miles to Ipswich. Turn right onto Route 133 east and follow for 1.5 miles. Turn left onto Northgate Road and follow for .5 mi. Turn right onto Argilla Road and follow for 2.5 miles to Crane Beach gatehouse at end of paved road.

Facebook Comments

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Recent Reviews

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Biting greenhead flies.

We spent a day there last weekend. Beautiful beach, great for kids but we were bitten by green head flies, we applied bug spay but was not helpful. They are relentless and we have welts from them, they are still itchy even with some treatment. Don't know exactly how long their season is. We won't be returning soon.

Munch Munch Munch

Green Heads will get you here from about June through August. They've been known to make grown men run for their lives. Make note of this before bringing your young children. Beautiful, unspoiled beauty best seen before or after the green heads show up.

By Far, A Beautiful Beach

I have been going to Crane's for years. The bathrooms are always clean, the concession stand is a bit pricey, but great if you are dying for a quick bite, and the showers are nice. The water is great to swim in and there are many sandbars to walk out to. Every now and then some of the sea critters will come in to see what is going on. I have seen a few small rays and there are always clams along the shore. I have a great collection of sand dollars that I found during low tide between the sand bars and shore. The greenhead flies are awful, though. They bite and can even draw blood. Make sure to bring baby oil as a repellent for them. I have noticed that there has been a huge increase in the amount of visitors. As long as crowds don't bother you, it is definitely a great beach to bring the family to.

Not Crazy About It

I paid $22 to park in a giant, muddy puddle. I had 3 small kids with me that I had to unload so I asked if I could pull up out of the puddle and was told no. I stepped out of my car into 4 inches of warm, dirty water. It was very, very crowded and just not worth it. I'm going back to Wingaersheek.