Like many dogs, Mandy and Lexi love visiting the beach year round. Living in New England, we are an hour and a half away or less from many beaches. In fact, we've actually visited beaches in seven different states! Rules related to bringing your dog to the beach can be complicated. Hopefully this guide will help make sense of it all.

Overall Beach Guidelines

Blue Shutters Beach in Charlestown, RI

The rules regarding dogs vary from beach to beach. Many beaches do not allow dogs at all, some will allow them during the off-season, or after core hours. Keep in mind, the rules can change, so always do your own research first before traveling to a beach with your dog. Not all of the beaches we have visited are in included this guide. I've only included beaches that I am relatively confident of the rules regarding dogs. Feel free to browse the rest of the site with detailed write-ups for each place we've visited, including some beaches not listed here.

When traveling to any beach, keep in mind that many of these beaches have different parking rules for residents and non-residents, especially in the summer months. The dogs may be allowed, but you may not be! Links to our write-ups for the beaches are provided, so please click through for more detailed information on each beach.

Also remember, always pick up your dog waste, and be prepared to carry it out with you as many of these beaches do not have waste recepticles.

Connecticut Beaches

Esker Point Beach in Groton, CT

Overall, Connecticut is not the most dog friendly state when it comes to its beaches. So much of the shoreline is private property, and the few public beaches aren't all that great when compared to beaches in neighboring states. Most beaches in Connecticut do not allow dogs at all. Only one beach, Esker Point Beach in Groton, officially allows leashed dogs in the summer months. There are two others listed below that seem to allow dogs year round.

Groton:	Esker Point Beach (not allowed on nights of concerts)
Stonington:	Barn Island Management Area (short path to small beachy area)
Waterford:	Seaside State Park

Rocky Neck State Park in East Lyme, CT

Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison, CT

Most state beaches (except for Silver Sands in Milford), allow leashed dogs in the off-season.

East Lyme:	Rocky Neck State Park (Oct 1 - Mar 31)
Groton:	Bluff Point State Park (Oct 1 - Mar 31)
Madison:	Hammonasset Beach State Park (Oct 1 - Mar 31)
Waterford:	Harkness Memorial State Park (Oct 1 - Mar 31)
Westport:	Sherwood Island State Park (Oct 1 - Apr 14)

Jennings Beach in Fairfield, CT

Town beaches that allow dogs in the off-season have different dates, so you should check with the beach's website first. Some town beaches that allow dogs in the off-season (Dogs must remain on a leash unless otherwise specified):

Darien:	Weed Beach (Nov 1 - Mar 31. Only in designated section. Animal Control strictly enforces this. Can be unleashed)
East Lyme:	McCook Point Park (Day after Labor Day until Saturday before Memorial Day)
Fairfield:	All Fairfield Town Beaches (Oct 1 to Mar 31. Can be unleashed at Jennings Beach)
Greenwich:	Greenwich Point Park (Dec 1 to Mar 31)
Norwalk:	Bayley Beach Park (Nov 1 to Mar 31. Dogs were unleashed when we visited, might not be "official")
Stratford:	Long Beach and Short Beach (Dec 1 to Mar 31)
Waterford:	Waterford Beach Park (Sep 16 to day before Memorial Day)
Westport:	Compo Beach (Oct 1 to Mar 31. Designated unleashed section)

Rhode Island Beaches

East Beach in Charlestown, RI

Rhode Island is more dog-friendly when it comes to beaches. The beaches in Rhode Island are much nicer than the Connecticut beaches, and worth the trip. Also, a law passed in 2022 designates the shore line, up to 10 feet past the high tide line as public property. While the right-of-ways may be private, if you can get to the shore, you're allowed to be there. It is not clear how that law applies to dogs.

All of the state beaches allow leashed dogs in the off-season only, October 1st through March 31, though you may see "No Dogs" signs at the beach. More information here.

Charlestown:	East Beach (Oct 1 to Mar 31)
Narragansett:	Salty Brine & Roger Wheeler State Beaches (Oct 1 to Mar 31)
	Scarborough North State Beach (Oct 1 to Mar 31)
	Scarborough South State Beach (Oct 1 to Mar 31)
South Kingstown:	East Matunuck State Beach (Oct 1 to Mar 31)
Westerly:	Misquamicut State Beach (Oct 1 to Mar 31)

Fort Wetherill State Park in Jamestown, RI

Punk Rock Beach in Narragansett, RI

I've found quite a few beaches in Rhode Island that allow leashed dogs year round. Some of them have specific times of the day when they are allowed.

Charlestown:	Charlestown Beach (after 5PM and before 9AM between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and any time outside of those dates)
	Blue Shutters Beach (after 5PM and before 9AM between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and any time outside of those dates)
Jamestown:	Fort Wetherill State Park
	Fort Getty (always allowed, can be off-leash from 7-11AM, and 3-7PM from May 16 to Sep 30, and any time outside of those dates)
	Potter's Cove (only from 6-10AM & 5:30PM to sunset May 16 to Sep 30, and any time outside of those days. Can be unleashed.)
	Park Dock (only from 6-10AM & 5:30PM to sunset May 16 to Sep 30, and any time outside of those days. Can be unleashed.)
	Head's Beach (only from 6-10AM & 5:30PM to sunset May 16 to Sep 30 north of middle jetty, any time on the entire beach outside of those days. Can be unleashed.)
	Hull Cove
Middletown:	Pebble Beach
Narragansett:	Camp Cronin Fishing Area
	Punk Rock Beach
New Shoreham:	Dogs are allowed on most (if not all) Block Island Beaches
Newport:	Fort Adams State Park
	King's Beach
North Kingstown:	Compass Rose Beach
	Blue Beach
	Spink Neck Beach
	Calf Pasture Point Recreation Area
	John H. Chafee Rome Point Preserve
South Kingstown:	Deep Hole
	Dog Beach (allowed off-leash)
Warwick:	Rocky Point Park
	Conimicut Point Park
	Oakland Beach
	Goddard Memorial State Park ("unofficial" dog area to the west of regular beach)
	Chepiwanoxet Point
	Sandy Point Beach
Westerly:	Napatree Point Conservation Area (after 6PM and before 8AM May 1st through the day after Labor Day, and anytime other than those dates)
	East Beach (after 6PM and before 8AM May 1st through the day after Labor Day, and anytime other than those dates)
	Westerly Town Beach (after 6PM and before 8AM May 1st through the day after Labor Day, and anytime other than those dates)

South Kingstown Town Beach in South Kingstown, RI

In addition, there are many beaches in Rhode Island that allow leashed dogs in the offseason.

Jamestown:	Mackerel Cove (Oct 1 to May 15)
Little Compton:	South Shore Beach (Sep 2 to Mar 31)
Middletown:	Sachuest Beach (Oct 1 to Apr 30)
	Third Beach (Oct 1 to Apr 30)
Narragansett:	Narragansett Town Beach (Sep 16 to May 15)
Newport:	Easton's Beach (Day after Labor Day to day before Memorial Day)
South Kingstown:	South Kingstown Town Beach (day after Labor Day until day before Memorial Day.)
Tiverton:	Grinnell's Beach (Oct 1 to Apr 30)

Massachusetts Beaches

Plymouth Long Beach in Plymouth, MA

I hate to say it, but Massachusetts has some nice beaches. Not quite as nice as Rhode Island, but nicer than Connecticut. We're still exploring beaches in this state. We've found some great dog friendly ones already. If you know of other ones we've missed, feel free to contact me via the email link on the bottom of the home page.

Squaw Rock Park in Quincy, MA

There are actually some nice beaches where you can take your dog on a leash year round. Some even allow off-leash dogs (see below for details)

Boston:	Deer Island
Cohasset:	Black Rock Beach
Fairhaven:	West Island State Reservation
Gloucester:	Crab Beach (allowed off-leash)
Hingham:	World's End
	Stodder's Neck Park (allowed off-leash)
Marion:	Brainard Marsh
Marshfield:	Rexhame Beach
Mattapoisett:	Nasketucket State Reservation
	Munn Preserve
New Bedford:	Fort Taber Park
Newbury:	Newbury Beach (allowed only before 8:30 AM and after 5:30 pm May 15 to Sep 15, allowed rest of year)
Plymouth:	Center Hill Preserve
	Plymouth Long Beach (always allowed in the southern half, allowed in northern half Oct 1 to Mar 31)
	Nelson Memorial Park
Quincy:	Squantum Point Park (off-leash dog area)
	Squaw Rock Park & Nickerson Beach (off-leash dog area)
Westport:	Gooseberry Neck
Weymouth:	Webb Memorial State Park

Singing Beach in Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA

In addition, there are many beaches in Massachusetts that allow leashed dogs in the off-season.

Barnstable/Hyannis:	Kalmus Beach (Sep 16 to May 14)
	Veterans Memorial Park Beach (Sep 16 to May 14)
Beverly:	Dane Street Beach (Day after Labor Day to Day before Memorial Day)
	Independence Park (Day after Labor Day to Day before Memorial Day)
Boston:	Old Harbor State Reservation (Sep 16 to Apr 30)
Dartmouth:	Demarest Lloyd State Park (Sep 16 to Mar 31)
Duxbury:	Duxbury Beach (Sep 16 to Mar 31 without permit from town, other dates - dog walking permit required)
Fairhaven:	Fort Phoenix State Reservation (Sep 16 to Apr 30)
Gloucester:	Half Moon Beach & Cressy Beach at Stage Fort Park (Oct 1 to Apr 30)
Hull:	Nantasket Beach State Reservation (Sep 16 to Apr 30)
	North Nantasket Beach (Sep 16 to May 31)
Lynn:	Lynn Shore Reservation (Sep 16 to Mar 31)
Manchester-by-the-Sea:	Singing Beach (Oct 15 to Apr 15. can be off-leash)
Mashpee:	South Cape Beach State Park (Sep 16 to Mar 31)
Nahant:	Nahant Beach Reservation (Sep 16 to Mar 31)
Newburyport:	Plum Island Point Beach (Oct 15 to May 15, can be off leash)
Plymouth:	Ellisville Harbor State Park (Sep 16 to Apr 30)
Quincy:	Quincy Shore Reservation - Wollaston Beach (Sep 16 to Apr 30)
Revere:	Revere Beach (Sep 16 to Mar 31)
Salem	Salem Willows Park (Sep 4 to Apr 30)
Salisbury	Salisbury Beach (Sep 16 to Apr 30)
Scituate	Minot Beach (Sep 16 to June 14)
	Peggotty Beach (Sep 16 to June 14)
Westport:	Horseneck Beach State Reservation (Sep 16 to Mar 31)

New York Beaches

Coney Island Beach & Boardwalk in Brooklyn, NY

Outside of Long Island, New York isn't particularly well known for it's beaches. We've been to a few in New York City and Westchester County that allow leashed dogs.

The Bronx:	Orchard Beach (only officially allowed Oct 1 to May 19)
Brooklyn:	Coney Island Beach & Boardwalk & Brighton Beach (dogs allowed on boardwalk any time, officially only allowed on beach from Oct 1 to Apr 30)
Brooklyn:	Plum Beach (access only via rest area on East Bound Belt Parkway, dogs allowed year round)
Rye:	Playland Park (early Oct, through late April - dates vary by year, enclosed off-leash area)
Staten Island:	Mount Loretto Unique Area (allowed year round)

New Jersey Beaches

Bayshore Waterfront Park in Middletown, NJ

New Jersey is quite a commute for us. Yet, we've still visited some dog friendly beaches around Raritan Bay.

Atlantic Highlands:	Popamora Point Beach (allowed year round)
	Atlantic Highlands Yacht Harbor (allowed year round)
Middletown:	Bayshore Waterfront Park (allowed year round)
Old Bridge:	Old Bridge Waterfront Park (allowed year round)
Sayreville:	Raritan Bay Waterfront Park (allowed year round)
South Amboy:	South Amboy Beach (allowed year round)

New Hampshire Beaches

Hampton Beach in Hampton, NH

New Hampshire doesn't have a large shore line, and it doesn't seem to be particularly dog friendly. So far, we've only visited a couple beaches in the state. Both only allow dogs in the off-season.

Hampton:	Hampton Beach (Oct 1 to Apr 30)
Seabrook:	Seabrook Beach (Day after Labor Day to Day before Memorial Day. Resident only parking until Sep 16)

Maine Beaches

Fort Foster in Kittery, ME

We've only been to a few beaches in Maine so far.

Kittery:	Fort Foster (Dogs are allowed year round, except for a small section near the pier where they are prohibited.)
York:	York Beaches (allowed only before 8:00 AM and after 6:00 PM May 20 to Sep 20, allowed any time rest of year)