Lighthouses & Lobster Rolls: New England’s Most Charming Beach Towns

When you think of a New England beach town, your mind probably conjures up a specific aesthetic. Dramatic, rocky coastlines. Rough Atlantic waters. Little towns that are equal parts cozy, charming, and historic. Lobster rolls for days. Lighthouses and summer crowds that trickle down in the fall months, when these waters turn too cold for swimming.

However, not all New England beach towns are the same, and if you’re planning a New England beach getaway, you’ll want to choose your destination with care. Here are 11 favorite charming beach towns throughout the six-state region to consider for your next vacay.

Cape Cod offers New England charm in spades, plus plenty of history, great food, and the picturesque Cape Cod National Seashore. Provincetown is easily the favorited little city on this peninsula, with its lively atmosphere, nearby beaches, lighthouses, and more.

You have two choices for getting to Provincetown, and both come with their pros. If you want to take the ferry from Boston to Provincetown, you can most certainly do so (I won’t begrudge anyone a scenic ferry ride). If, though, you want to make the longer drive, you can drive all along the entirety of Cape Cod until you get to Provincetown, as the city lies at the very tip of the cape. The drive isn’t quite so scenic, as the main highway goes right through the middle of the peninsula, so your view’s going to be more trees and local businesses than ocean, but you’ll have plenty of opportunity to stop off and see the sights along the way, if that’s of interest.

Once you’re in Provincetown, check out Commercial Street, Race Point Beach, and the Pilgrim Monument.

Maine offers charming little beach towns aplenty, and Ogunquit is one of the many that keeps travelers coming back summer after summer. Beyond just hanging out on the beach, you have plenty to do and see otherwise. Restaurants, shops, art galleries, and more await. You’ll also want to make a point to walk along the Marginal Way, a short little scenic jaunt that’s worth the minimal time it takes to traverse.

Just keep in mind that Ogunquit can get busy in the height of summer (like just about every charming beach town in New England).

In southern New England, Newport, Rhode Island, is an absolute can’t-miss if you love a good tour of a historic home, as the Gilded Age mansions awe.

The beach isn’t necessarily front and center in Newport, and you’ll likely spend more time exploring the historic attractions, shopping, and dining around the area (be sure to spend some time at Bowen’s Wharf!) than you will lying on the sand. However, that’s typical for a lot of New England seaside locales. 

If you do, though, want to make sure you spend some time on the beach, you have a few options, including First Beach, Gooseberry Beach, and the Fort Adams State Park beach. For water views without the sand, make sure you stroll the Cliff Walk.

Speaking of charming New England beach towns where the beach isn’t really the star of the show, Bar Harbor, Maine, is an amazing pick for those travelers who like a blend of outdoor adventure and historic appeal.

Acadia National Park is just minutes away from downtown, walkable Bar Harbor, and so you have ample opportunity for hiking and similar outdoor activities throughout the summer. Additionally, this national park isn’t as crowded in the summer as many of the others throughout the country that I’ve visited during peak June-July. You can even find some hiking trails where you’ll be on your own for a good portion of the trek!

Meanwhile, when you’re not outdoor adventuring, you can shop, dine, and drink your way through the small town, pretty much all the while enjoying views of the water. Stroll along the waterfront and visit some of the historic homes (maybe take a ghost tour?). One of my favorite places to stay in Bar Harbor is the Harborside Hotel, Spa & Marina, where you can book a spacious room overlooking the water, with a hot tub-outfitted balcony perfect for watching the boats go in and out.

You simply won’t find a list of the best coastal towns in New England that doesn’t mention Kennebunkport, and who am I to stray from tradition? This Maine vacation hub delights with its colonial history, abundance of local businesses and fresh, local dining.

You have a handful of beaches in the vicinity to choose from, including Gooch’s Beach, Mother’s Beach, and Colony Beach. Check out the Goat Island Lighthouse and Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge for some sightseeing.

If you’re looking at a map of New England, you can just about draw a straight, horizontal line between Provincetown, Massachusetts, on the cape and Plymouth, Massachusetts on the mainland. Of course, you know why you’re going to Plymouth. Pilgrims? Plymouth Rock? Plymouth Plantation?

This coastal town’s historic connections and wealth of educational experiences make it ideal for traveling families, but also anyone of any age who has a zest for learning something new.

There is a beach, of course, in addition to the abundant historic sites.

New Hampshire doesn’t exactly have a ton of coastline. However, what it does have is Portsmouth, located right near the New Hampshire-Maine border and offering loads of charm in its walkable downtown (Market Square is of particular interest). Roam the tight streets and dip into shops and restaurants, as well as museums like the Strawberry Banke Museum.

When you’re ready to see the shore, you can head to nearby beaches including Wallis Sands and Jenness State Beach.

Salem is a hands-down, top destination during the fall months. The town’s history, combined with its current day witchy vibes, make it ideal for any fall-lovin’, spooky-leanin’ traveler. 

However, this coastal town is somewhat sadly overlooked the rest of the year (at least by the broader traveling public). You should change that, and consider heading to Salem during beach-going season, so you can enjoy the charm without all the Halloween crowds.

You can still see the top historic and notable sites, like The Witch House and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s House of the Seven Gables, of course. As for the beach, you have a few options. Dead Horse Beach is aptly named for such a spooky spot, but other nearby beaches include Deveroux Beach and the beaches in Nahant.

At less than 10 square miles, Block Island might as well just be a town all on its own. (Fun fact: Block Island is part of a region known as “the Outer Lands,” which also encompasses Long Island, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, Cape Cod, and the Elizabeth Islands, which is an archipelago between Martha’s Vineyard and the Massachusetts mainland).

During the summer, you can get to Block Island via numerous ferries departing from Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York. Once there, you can enjoy the multiple beaches, outdoor adventure, arts scene, and more.

Check out the Mohegan Bluffs, as well as the Clayhead Trail, before visiting the 19^th century Southeast Lighthouse. Sneak in a tour at the Block Island Maritime Institute and enjoy the island’s history and fresh, local, waterfront dining.

Lubec, Maine, doesn’t get as much love as some of the other coastal towns on this list, and that’s possibly because it’s a little more remote. It’s literally right across the border from Canada, and considered the most eastern coastal town in the entire country. It sits on the Bay of Fundy, where you can also see another “most”—the largest tides in not just the United States, but the entire world.

So, you might not be battling the same tourist crowds in Lubec that you might in, say, Bar Harbor. Check out the lighthouses. Go hiking and whale watching. Head out on a lobster boat. Popular hiking spots include the Hamilton Cove Preserve Trailhead and the Boot Head Preserve Trailhead.

When you’re ready to go to the beach, try the Mowry Beach Preserve. You’ll also find shoreline at both Boot Head and Hamilton Cove.

Unlike Block Island, Martha’s Vineyard is large enough to contain multiple small communities, one of which is Oak Bluffs. The quintessential little town offers Instagram-worthy architecture, multiple beaches (try Long Point Beach or Katama Beach), and both historic accommodation options and dining.

If you have the guts for it, consider visiting Jaws Bridge and jumping off into the water. Technically, this is the American Legion Memorial bridge, but it’s become known as Jaws Bridge thanks to its appearance in the movie. Yes, there are signs saying not to jump or dive from the bridge—but that doesn’t stop a whole lot of people.