A state park beach on Buzzards Bay with an 1,800-foot calm, shallow saltwater shoreline backed by grassy dunes and picnic sites, plus a marsh view of the Slocum River on its east side. It is a walk of roughly half a mile from the gated entrance to the beach itself.
What to expect
Parking
Paid lot $12/day MA plates in-season (approx $20-40 non-MA reported)
Swimming
Water not monitored off-season
Hours
Sunday 8am-6pm, Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, Saturday 8am-6pm (seasonal); gate closed off-season
Season
Year-round, sunrise to sunset; gated/staffed parking season is Memorial Day-Labor Day
Entry fee
Parking fee charged 9am-5:30pm daily, roughly Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day: $12/day MA-plated vehicles, higher for out-of-state (reported as $20-$40 depending on source); paid via YODEL app/portal checked Jul 16, 2026
Accessibility
ADA accessible; beach access mats and a floating beach wheelchair available on request, though cobblestones near the waterline can limit reach
Dogs
Prohibited on the beach April 1-Sept 15 (service animals excepted); allowed leashed (6ft) on the trail system year-round
Fishing
Allowed year-round
Birdwatching
Allowed year-round
Managed by
Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
WebsiteGetting in
Parking
Paid lot
Cost$12/day MA plates in-season (approx $20-40 non-MA reported)StickerDCR annual pass ($60/yr MA resident) or Senior Pass ($10 lifetime, 62+) accepted
Main DCR lot
Details unconfirmed
Main DCR lot
Cost$12/day MA plates in-season (approx $20-40 non-MA reported)
Gate closes access off-season
What's here
Facilities
Restrooms
Bathhouse near beach
Showers
outdoor rinse showers
Not here
No drinking water
not confirmed present
Tides & weather
Tide and sun: NOAA astronomy · forecast: NWS, up to 7 days
Common questions
Is Demarest Lloyd State Park in Dartmouth open today?
Demarest Lloyd State Park is not monitored right now. MA DPH samples beach water Memorial Day to Labor Day and posts no advisories or all-clears off-season, so there is no swim status to report. Swimming off-season is at your own risk.
Is the beach wheelchair accessible?
Yes, DCR provides beach access mats and a floating beach wheelchair on request, but cobblestones near the water can still make the last stretch difficult.
Not onto the beach between April 1 and September 15, but leashed dogs are welcome on the park's trails year-round.
Is there parking at Demarest Lloyd State Park, and what does it cost?
Paid lot ($12/day MA plates in-season (approx $20-40 non-MA reported)). Main DCR lot
Are there restrooms at Demarest Lloyd State Park?
Public restrooms are listed near the beach. Seasonal hours are common, so they may be closed off-season.
What rules should I know at Demarest Lloyd State Park?
Dogs banned on beach Apr 1-Sep 15.
Can you swim at Demarest Lloyd State Park?
There is no MA DPH swim status for Demarest Lloyd State Park off-season: the state samples beach water Memorial Day to Labor Day. Swimming off-season is at your own risk; check conditions posted at the beach.
Is there an entry fee at Demarest Lloyd State Park?
Yes, Parking fee charged 9am-5:30pm daily, roughly Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day: $12/day MA-plated vehicles, higher for out-of-state (reported as $20-$40 depending on source); paid via YODEL app/portal