A 3.8-mile barrier beach at the mouth of the Merrimack River, wide enough for a real walk at low tide and pinched by jetties where the river meets the Atlantic. The DCR side runs bathhouses and boardwalks over the dune; the town side threads past the Salisbury Beach arcade strip before the sand opens back up.
What to expect
Parking
Paid lot $14/day MA resident; $40/day non-MA resident, May 15-Oct 31, credit/debit only
Free until May 15Swimming
Water not monitored off-season
Hours
Sunrise to sunset generally; the day-use area is separately posted 8am-8pm from late May through Columbus Day (sources vary slightly on exact wording).
From late MaySeason
Beach open year-round, sunrise to sunset. Day-use vehicle entrance fee charged mid-May through October only.
Accessibility
20 sunbathing (beach) wheelchairs and 3 floating wheelchairs available on loan; accessible restrooms, an accessible swimming area, beach mats over the dune at the W Street comfort station, and accessible nature-center programming.
Lifeguard
DCR lifeguards on duty Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, roughly 9am-5pm.
Dogs
No dogs or other pets on the beach April 1-September 15 (service animals excepted).
Allowed now · ban starts April 1Managed by
DCR - Salisbury Beach State Reservation
978-462-4481 · WebsiteGetting in
Parking
Paid lot
Cost$14/day MA resident; $40/day non-MA resident, May 15-Oct 31, credit/debit onlyStickerMA state parks annual parking pass accepted
Cable Ave / State Beach Rd DCR day-use lots
Cable Ave / State Beach Rd DCR day-use lots
Cost$14/day MA resident; $40/day non-MA resident, May 15-Oct 31, credit/debit only
James Hunt Memorial Parking Lot (town-run, 228 Beach Rd)
Cost$3 for 0-3 hours, $35 for 3+ hours; pay-by-plate kioskSpaces~672, including 15 handicapped spaces
Separate from the DCR reservation lots; enforced May 1-Oct 15, 8am-midnight daily.
Town on-street zones (Broadway, Driftway/Central Ave/Shea St, Railroad Ave, Oceanfront South/Ocean St)
Cost$3/hr (3-hr max) most streets; $7/hr on Oceanfront South and Ocean St
Pay-by-plate kiosks, May 1-Oct 15, 8am-midnight daily; this is the beach's overflow answer when the town and DCR lots are full.
Access points along this beach
Main day-use entrance
Off Cable Ave / State Beach Rd (Route 1A)
W Street comfort station and dune boardwalk
Accessible comfort station with a boardwalk crossing over the dune to the sand
Beachfront comfort-station boardwalks
Two more dune-crossing boardwalks at the other beachfront comfort stations
What's here
Facilities
Restrooms
Three additional comfort stations spaced along the beach, each reached by a boardwalk over the dune; the W Street comfort station is accessible
Changing rooms
Changing rooms included in the bathhouse buildings
Tides & weather
Tide and sun: NOAA astronomy · forecast: NWS, up to 7 days
Common questions
Is Salisbury Beach in Salisbury open today?
Salisbury Beach 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 it wheelchair accessible?
The reservation lends 20 sunbathing (beach) wheelchairs and 3 floating wheelchairs, and has accessible restrooms, an accessible swimming area, beach mats over the dune at the W Street comfort station, and accessible nature-center programming.
Can I bring my dog, and when?
Dogs are banned from the beach April 1 through September 15 (service animals excepted); the reservation's general leashed-dog policy applies the rest of the year.
Where do I park, and what does it cost?
The DCR day-use lots off Cable Ave / State Beach Rd run $14/day for MA residents and $40/day for non-residents May 15-Oct 31, credit/debit only. When those fill, the town's James Hunt Memorial Lot at 228 Beach Rd (672 spaces) and metered on-street zones are the backup, both pay-by-plate.
Are there restrooms at Salisbury Beach?
Public restrooms are listed near the beach. Seasonal hours are common, so they may be closed off-season.
What rules should I know at Salisbury Beach?
Swim only in the lifeguarded area/season; jetties at the Merrimack River mouth carry currents and boat traffic. No dogs or other pets on the beach April 1-September 15 (service animals excepted).
Can you swim at Salisbury Beach?
There is no MA DPH swim status for Salisbury Beach 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.