Freshwater Swimming in Central Massachusetts
Central Massachusetts has more swimmable fresh water than anywhere else in the state, and almost none of it is written up. Here are the lake and pond beaches around Worcester County, sorted by what it costs to get in.
Free, lifeguarded in season
Worcester runs four city beaches with free parking. All four are on the city's biweekly bacteria and cyanobacteria testing, and closures get posted mid-season, so check status the morning you go.
- Coes Pond BeachFree lot at 72 Coes Street, bathhouse, and summer kayak and paddleboard rentals. Noon to 7pm daily, June 30 to August 22, 2026.
- Shore Park BeachThe larger of the two Indian Lake beaches, with a renovated bathhouse and snack bar. Free lot at 85 Shore Drive, noon to 7pm, June 30 to August 22, 2026.
- Bell Pond BeachSmall city beach in Bell Hill Park. Free lot, noon to 7pm daily, June 30 to August 22, 2026.
- Indian Lake Public BeachA 1.8-acre neighborhood beach on the east side of Indian Lake. Free lot on Sherburne Avenue, noon to 7pm in the lifeguarded season.
State parks, pay per car
DCR sites charge by the vehicle, not the person, and anyone can go. Rates are lower for Massachusetts plates.
- Wallum Lake BeachThe Douglas State Forest day-use beach. About $9 a day for MA plates and $30 out of state; gates open at 9am and the park stops taking cars once the lot fills.
- Lake Park BeachDCR beach on the west shore of Lake Quinsigamond, with picnic area and tennis courts. $8 MA resident, $10 non-resident, park open 8am to 8pm.
- Regatta Point BeachThe other Quinsigamond day-use area, on the international rowing course. $8 for MA plates, with year-round accessible restrooms and a beach wheelchair on request.
- Dunn State ParkDunn Pond's sandy beach, lifeguarded mid-June to early September, with paved accessible paths and accessible fishing piers. Off those dates and hours, swimming is unsupervised.
- Leominster State ForestCrow Hill Pond has the supervised beach and bathhouse. Day-use area open 9am to 6pm, Memorial Day through Labor Day, lifeguarded from mid-June.
Town beaches with a pass or a gate fee
Run by the town, usually with a resident rate and a higher day rate for everyone else.
- Memorial BeachWebster's town beach on Webster Lake, with a double boat ramp and a playground. Parking runs $7 to $15 for residents and $12 to $30 for non-residents depending on the day; free for disabled visitors and active-duty military. Staffed to the end of August.
- Silver Lake BeachLifeguarded June 13 to August 9, 11am to 6pm most days. Swimming is prohibited once the beach closes for the year, though the conservation trails past the fence stay open on foot.
- Lake ChauncyLifeguarded town beach on the north shore, mid-June to mid-August, with a MassWildlife ramp on the south shore. Water clarity drops during algae blooms.
- Eagle Lake Town BeachBathing is only allowed while a lifeguard is on duty, and never between dusk and dawn. The Mass Audubon trails on the far shore are a separate thing.
The lakes behind the beaches
Same water, wider page: boating, fishing, and what the lake actually is when the swim area is closed.
- Webster LakeLake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg, 1,297 acres and 17 miles of shoreline. Swimming is at Memorial Beach; the rest of the lake is boating, fishing and winter ice.
- Quinsigamond State ParkBoth developed swim sites, Regatta Point and Lake Park, sit on the Worcester shore rather than the Shrewsbury side, even though the park name covers the whole lake.