Singing Beach

Beautiful beach. Clean and gorgeous landscape. Parking is a little steep, but we will be back for sure.

My family and I have gone here many times and since we got a puppy we were here a few times while dogs were still allowed on the beach and it was nice. It was probably the only time to come to this beach really. Let me explain. we were able to park in the Resident only parking lot right at the beach and not be charged to walk on the beach. The beach is not overly crowded with people like they are allowing it to be now during the summer. It is not so overly cluttered with trash from beach-​goers and we were able to finally find some sand dollars before the beach gets well picked over by the hundreds of people that will gather here shortly. Now to discuss when the weather is finally warm enough to swim and stay for the day. It is now a State owned beach no longer owned by Manchester and believe me it will look like it soon enough. The hoards of people will be back, you will no longer be able to park right at the beach but will have to wait your turn way down the street for a parking space. That’s right it is a State beach now but still Resident only parking in that lot. Also, the kids from all the camps in and around Boston will be bused in to that beach so look out as it gets very crowded and noisy and you will not be able to use the showers or the snack bar as they take over everything so get there and enjoy your down time or swim time before end of June. There will be graffiti back on the rocks and litter all over the beach again. I always feel unwelcome or uncomfortable there when the locals come after 5 pm and set up their dining rooms and grills for their large family cookouts and have to smell their food cooking and see them boozing away and getting loud so make sure if you do find a spot to leave before then. I am just forewarning you folks that Singing Beach will no longer be serene or peaceful soon as it will be jam packed with people and buses. Also it will cost you a pretty penny to use it unless you find a hidden beach to get to by boat as that is pretty much what is leftover in this State in terms of being able to freely use a beach. Many years ago when it was just a Town beach it was always on the private side and there was a private man made pool to the right of the beach that not too many people about and you had to climb over some rocks to get to it but it was nice and the water was always warm. That whole rock formation has changed over the years and it is no more. So get there while you can now and enjoy as going later is just not worth it!

Beautiful. Not too crowded. Parking was kind of annoying, they didn’t let non-​residents into the parking lot on the day we went, so we had to find street parking and totally lucked out on a spot. If we hadn’t then we probably would’ve had to drive around forever. I’d suggest getting there really early.

Beautiful. Worth the $ 5 for a day or $ 12.50 for a season pass. Yes, it’s small, but walk a bit down and it won’t seem any worse than any other beach in MA in the summer.
If you drove and don’t want to pay $ 25 for parking you can park at the school which is about a mile away.

Beautiful beach but not so great parking experience.
We visited on a busy Saturday and ended up parking at a middle school miles away. Thankfully the fair that was going on nearby had shuttles running to and from a convenient location not too far from the beach (about a mile).

Came during labor day weekend. Overall good trip for the following reasons:
— soft and warm sand
— warm (ish) water
— alcohol friendly (yup)
— not super crowded
— bathrooms available and fairly clean for a public beach bathroom
Like everyone else says, parking fee of $ 25 is even more ridiculous on the weekends for non-​residents. Non-​residents pay $ 25 and still have to park 0.5 mi from the beach across from the Dunkin Donuts. PLUS there is a $ 5 walk-​in fee. If you have a lot of stuff with you, you can go through their rotary to do a quick drop off.

I’m a Manchester resident and I grew up going to this beach. I wouldn’t go anyplace else! I am totally spoiled by always going to this beach, I’ve never enjoyed going to any other beaches! Always clean-​the beach house, the sand, the water. I love it here and go any time I have a chance to in the summer. If you live out of town it could get pricey and the weekends get packed, but it’s worth the money, especially if you try to go on a week day when it’s not so crowded. And someone said the sand is too hot, yes… it’s hot. But it’s sand with sun beating down on it! Of course it’s hot! Just wear sandals!

The stars are not for the beach — the beach itself is beautiful. My husband and I drove up here on Labor Day weekend and assumed we’d be able to secure parking at the beach for $ 20 or so. We got down to the beach entrance and the lot was only for residents. We were told we could park «in town». The in town parking lot is actually the commuter rail station parking lot, which is made into a private lot on the weekends and you are charged $ 25 to park. Not only is it $ 25 to park, but you then have to walk ½ mile or so with all your stuff to the beach. Okay… fine. The icing on the cake was when we got close to the beach entrance, there were two kids at a table at the entrance to the resident only lot. We were asked if we had already paid our «walk on» fee. I thought he was kidding. Nope. Each person who walks onto the beach has to pay the town $ 5. We only had $ 8 between us after paying for the parking, and luckily the kid took some sympathy on us and let us in with just a $ 5 fee. Maybe the fact I am pregnant helped. I get the exclusiveness of some of the beaches in MA, but this was beyond ridiculous. I expect to pay $ 20 to park — but I don’t expect to have to walk that far, and I certainly don’t expect to then have to pay another $ 5 on top of that to walk on the beach. Needless to say, I won’t be going back here.

Not a good beach for non residents on weekends. Almost got ticketed because staff did not give proper information when we called to inquire prior to the trip. We arrived early on a sunday before 9am. Parked and enjoyed the beach until about 1. Upon returning to our vehicle there was a man very rude wanted to know when we arrived. Said we were 20 minutes away from getting ticketed because the area we parked in was for residence only. I explained we tried to inquire about the parking fee prior to our trip and waa told simply if someone was there to collect the fee then it was collected if not enjoy the beach. The beach itself was very nice and clean. Had a snack shavk we did not use. Bathrooms were dirty and overcrowded. Staff not very friendly nor informative with the exception of the lifeguards.

Boston lacks a good selection of «real» beaches close by but Singing Beach is by far the exception. The water is clear blue, clean and has a sandy bottom. I was very happy with the waves, not too big or small.
We went on a Saturday and were able to snag a spot at the park up the street (there were only 6 public spots left when we got there at 7:45AM). This lot is free and you can park there all day. The half mile walk to the beach is pretty accurate. Getting there so early also saved us the $ 5 walk on fee — SCORE!
Pretty much had the place to ourselves at first but we’re not surprised to see how busy it got by noon. Nice crowd of people though. Everyone having a good time — no punks or obnoxious people.
We will definitely be back — 35 minutes from Boston and a world away.
Early bird gets the free parking space!

In July I spent 2 weeks visiting a friend who lives in Manchester-​by-​the-​Sea! We made almost daily trips to Singing Beach on the Atlantic Ocean. True to it’s name, the fine, clean sand «sang» to us as we walked the beach near the water’s edge! It adds to the magical charm of this wonderful beach.
It’s evident that this beach is well cared for. The women’s dressing room is kept clean and even the seaweed is periodically collected and cleared from the beach! People are careful
to pick up their trash. The young people working at the concession are polite and helpful, one day even providing ice in a cup to refresh my warm water brought from home. I hope to return next summer to this delightful New England town and it’s special beach, Singing Beach.

We went on Saturday 8÷8÷15. Parking lot at the beach is resident only on the weekends. We were directed to the commuter rail lot a half mile from the beach. Paid $ 25 to park and walked back. This was a drag. The beach itself is beautiful. Nice snack shack and restrooms. Water is crystal clear but chilly. I would recommend not eating on this beach. For what ever reason the seagulls are super aggressive! A group next to us had 2 sub sandwiches literally plucked from their hands by the gulls. Otherwise this is a very nice beach.

I had my first adventure to Singing Beach on a hot weekday when I had the morning off. It was great! I arrived around 9am and there were only a few non-​resident spots remaining at the Park, a ½ mile from the beach. (Thank you other Unilocalers — great advice). I walked onto the beach for $ 5 but reconsidered and bought a season pass for $ 12 for a beach tag which beats many of the other, perhaps more coveted area beaches. It also reminds me of NJ– where the beaching system is much more friendly and you just buy a pass instead of paying so much for parking like you do for all the MA beaches. If you do miss out on free parking the commuter rail nearby has 2 hour spots. Parking at the beach itself will cost $ 25
It was peaceful and blissful until around 10 am when a school group came and people set up their radios. I prefer to listen to the crash of the ocean waves so I just moved my spot and was happy to do it for some quiet. I’ll return to take advantage of my season pass. It is beautiful with the rocks bordering the sandy area. The sand on the beach is hot and so I didn’t walk around bare foot but, that’s summer.
The bathhouse is nearby and easy to use the toilet. I filled up a water bottle and they do have a snack stand. It’s a lovely community beach and I’m glad I found it.
I’ve been going to Crane Beach for years but this is easier to get to off the highway and less pricey. Perhaps not as charming because it lacks the dunes, but I was satisfied and will return as much as I can before it gets cold!

Awesome beach for little kids! Sooooo shallow, sandy and small waves! Good snack shack that takes credit cards too.
The SUPER SUCK part is the parking! $ 25 for the lot right by the beach. Otherwise you can try the park’s parking lot that is a HALF MILE away :-(. Boooooooo!!!

I took the commuter rail to Singing Beach yesterday from North Station based on reading other Unilocal Reviews. The reviews don’t lie … Singing Beach is an amazing beach that is SO easy to get to from the city w/​o even using a car or worrying about parking. The walk from the commuter rail (Manchester Stop) to the beach is picturesque, and takes about ten minutes. The beach itself is busy but not too crowded, and the water was clear, and perfect for swimming (albeit, a little chilly). There was no seaweed or rocks like a lot of beaches around Boston, which is a huge plus! This is a definite must go to beach for anyone looking for a great beach that is not terribly far from Boston AND accessible by public transportation!

My favorite beach. Nice sand, nice water, and great clubhouse/​snack shack. The fee is worth it and kids are free. Watch out for the super aggressive sea gulls but other than that no complaints!

This beach is absolutely AMAZING! Parking is $ 25.00 in their lot, but if you are smart, you will get there early (I arrived around 9:30am) and park at Masconomo Park, which is about a ½ mile walk from the beach. Parking there is free and there is no time limit. There are only about 25 spots, so arriving early is key if you want to save $ 20. You will have to pay a $ 5 walk on fee, but trust me it is worth every penny! Keep in mind that I went on a Wednesday. I’m sure weekends get busy much earlier.
Pros:
This beach is picture perfect. The islands and surrounding rocks make it feel like a tropical ocean. The water was a little chilly, but I went in and went under 5 times. Nice, clear water. Bathrooms available, snack stand, italian ice.
Cons:
VERY HOT SAND. Basically burned the bottom of my feet leaving. On very hot days I would suggest setting your site close to an exit. OUCH! Also — hide your food… seagulls are on the PROWL. The couple next to me went in the water, and 5 minutes later they came back to an empty bag of chips…
Overall — GREAT FUCKING BEACH!
Please note — I visited this beach on a Wednesday. I could foresee weekends being very packed here. Arrive early :)

Great beach, nice view. Hard to find a parking. It s 5 $ per person to get access to the beach, and brach parking is only for locals.

This beach is one of my favorites. I always think that the Inferno, One Eyed Willy’s ship from The Goonies, is going to emerge from behind the rocks on the left. The $ 5 entrance fee is totally worth it. I try to roll in early to grab a spot at Masconomo Park. The water is gorgeous, there have been big waves a few of the times I have been there. The people watching is always intriguing a mix of locals, people from the city, and the rando tourists that was brave enough to take the commuter rail up. I do wish the snack stand was a bit less healthy. What does a dude have to do to get a chili dog with onion rings?

I haven’t been to Singing Beach in awhile, but it used to be my go-​to beach. I always went with someone who belonged to the private club, so I never dealt with the parking/​paying thing.
It’s a pretty beach, definitely. There was still trash in the water every time I visited. Welcome to New England beaches, where the water is trashy and cold. Waves are non-​existent.
If you want a true beach, you need to head south. When you can’t get that, you head to Singing Beach because, hey at least its beautiful!

I found Singing Beach on a list of the best beaches in New England and after visiting this weekend, I can see why it made the cut. The water was so clear and beautiful that it reminded me of a beach in Malibu; it was hard to believe I was still in Massachusetts. The sand was incredibly soft and I loved the squeaky noises it made. I was really surprised that it wasn’t more crowded. Maybe it’s not as busy in September? The water at Singing Beach is COLD! I enjoyed wading in the ocean though. The only downside was having to take 3 trains from Cambridge to get to the beach; I wish they had some parking for non-​residents on weekends but at least the beach is close to the train station. I am so glad I found Singing Beach and can’t wait to go back next summer!
Update: I found out there is some parking for non-​residents at Masconomo Park, which is about a half mile away from the beach. Be sure to park in the middle of the lot or in one of the yellow spaces. White spaces are for residents only so you would be ticketed and towed if you parked there as a non-​resident.
Update on 7÷7÷15: There is $ 5 walk-​in fee so bring cash. Well worth it!

It really does make a noise but it is great to go here!!! If you drive then you will pay $ 25 to park unless of course you live there or know someone who does. You can take the train from Boston to here as well and just walk from the station for about 15 minutes or so through the quaint neighborhood (who are rumored to not be terribly fond of people walking to the beach)
This is a you bring it in you take it out beach. If you didn’t bring it with you then you will either go without or pay a big arm and leg to get it (at the beach they told us a beach towel would cost $ 50 — WTH! !!) oh and you pay $ 5 to enter the beach unless you buy a yearly pass (forgot that price) There are restrooms and changing areas there and lifeguards and one snack place — that’s about it. But once on the beach it is bliss!
Soft squeaky sand, plenty of room, beautiful ocean, rocks to sit or climb on and the view of all the killer houses up on the rocks above the beach. Even with a lot of people there it did not feel crowded. The water was beautiful and clear and a bit rocky but freaking cold!!!
I salute the people who were actually out there swimming. It is a beautiful beach and lovely town.

I can definitely see why people love this beach. It’s clean, it’s gorgeous, and it’s very easy to get to if you don’t have a car (just a ten-​minute walk from the Manchester stop off the Rockport commuter rail line). This is how a beach should be! I didn’t realize how perfectly cerulean and beautiful the water was until I went home and uploaded pictures onto my computer… wow. There are also picturesque rocky cliffs and boulders that border the beach that add to the ambiance.
The bathhouse facilities are well-​maintained and clean, and I couldn’t help but notice that they actually smelled GOOD – really good, like weather-​aged wood. There was also a very cool stand sponsored by the local library of paperbacks to borrow in case you forgot your «beach read». So clever! More beaches should do that.
HOWEVER, unless you are a resident of Manchester, it will cost you a wee bit to spend your day at Singing Beach. Commuter rail from Boston is a cool $ 17.50 round trip, and then you’ll tack on the additional $ 5 beach walk-​on fee. If you choose to drive, parking is $ 25 and according to the sign at the beach, is only a non-​resident option Monday-​Thursday during the summer season. So, despite the cost, I would tend to utilize commuter rail. It’s a beautiful ride and it really couldn’t be easier to access the beach from the station.
Definitely check this place out if you’re on a «Beaches of MA» tour like I am this summer!