If you want to find out about some of the best dog friendly beaches in New England, then this article is for you.
Six US states make up New England. In no particular order, they are Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island and Vermont.
With hundreds of miles of coastline, there are some truly beautiful dog beaches to be found in this fabulous region of the USA.
The beaches mentioned in this article are just a taster to whet your appetite. We’ve got in-depth articles on dog-friendly beaches in all six New England states.
Plus one on the best beaches for dogs in Cape Cod.
For more information on each of the individual states, or on Cape Cod, simply click one of the main headlines in the article.
So let’s jump right in and explore some of the best New England beaches that allow dogs!
Table of contents
- Dog Friendly Beaches in Connecticut
- Dog Friendly Beaches in Massachusetts
- Dog Friendly Beaches in New Hampshire
- Dog Friendly Beaches in Maine
- Dog Friendly Beaches in Rhode Island
- Dog Friendly Beaches in Vermont
- Dog Friendly Beaches in Cape Cod
- Conclusion About Dog Friendly Beaches in New England
- Related Articles
Dog Friendly Beaches in Connecticut
The state of Connecticut has over 300 miles of coastline.
Here are some of the best beaches for dogs in Connecticut:
Compo Beach
Compo Beach is in the pretty town of Westport. It’s a fabulous dog-friendly beach in CT that lies just 53 miles from New York City.
Dogs are permitted on Compo Beach in designated areas from October 1 through March 30.
Penfield Beach
Penfield Beach in Fairfield is a long stretch of gorgeous sandy beach. It’s the perfect place for a brisk walk with your pup.
Dogs are permitted on Penfield Beach during the off season, from October 1 through March 31. Dogs must be on a leash at all times.
Esker Point Beach
Esker Point Beach is in the town of Groton. It lies just 12 miles from the border with Rhode Island.
Dogs are welcome here all year round. It’s also one of the few dog beaches in Connecticut where your pup can roam free without a leash!
Dog Friendly Beaches in Massachusetts
Incredibly, the state of Massachusetts has around 1,500 miles of coastline.
Here are some of the best beaches for dogs in Massachusetts:
Corn Hill Beach
Corn Hill Beach is in the small town of Truro. From June through Labor Day, dogs are allowed on Corn Hill Beach before 9am and after 6pm.
During the off season, leashed dogs are welcome on Corn Hill Beach throughout the day.
Herring Cove Beach
Herring Cove Beach is in Provincetown and covers a huge stretch of coastline. There is tons of space here for your pup to run around in and enjoy the cool, calm, clear water!
With good facilities, plenty of parking and stunning sunsets, this is easily one of the best dog friendly beaches in New England!
Plymouth Long Beach
Plymouth Long Beach is in Plymouth, an hour south of Boston. The beach is divided into two sections.
Dogs are allowed on-leash at any time of the day, all year round, in the southern section. In the northern section, leashed dogs are permitted in the quiet season, from October 1st through March 31st.
Dog Friendly Beaches in New Hampshire
The state of New Hampshire has a total of 131 miles of coastline.
Here are some of the best beaches for dogs in New Hampshire:
Foss Beach
Foss Beach is in Rye. It’s a long stretch of rocky beach that runs from the Rye Harbor State Park.
Dogs are allowed to run off-leash along the entire stretch of Foss Beach, at certain times. You can bring your dog to Foss Beach at any time during the off season.
Jenness Beach
Jenness Beach is in Rye. The beach boasts over a mile of fine golden sand.
Dogs are allowed to run off-leash at Jenness Beach during the summer months, before 9am and after 7pm. During the off season, you can bring your dog to the beach at any time.
Harborside Park
Harborside Park is in Seabrook. And it’s a real dog-friendly gem of a place!
Leashed dogs are allowed at Harborside Park all year round – there are no seasonal restrictions.
With free parking, crystal clear water and a beautiful sandy beach, Harborside Park is definitely one of the best dog-friendly beaches in New England!
Dog Friendly Beaches in Maine
The state of Maine has a massive 3,478 miles of coastline.
Here are some of the best beaches for dogs in Maine:
Old Orchard Beach
Old Orchard Beach is in York County and is less than 30 minutes south of Portland.
During the busy summer months, from May 15th to Labor Day, dogs are allowed to be off leash on the beach in the early morning hours, from dawn until 9am. Leashed dogs are permitted on the beach from 5pm to dusk.
In the off season, from the day after Labor Day to May 14th, dogs are allowed on the beach all day. And the best thing is, that they can be off leash!
Ogunquit Beach
Ogunquit Beach in Maine is known for its pristine white sand and its cleanliness.
Dogs are not permitted on Ogunquit Beach in the summer months. Leashed dogs are permitted on Ogunquit Beach in the off season, from September 9, 2023, through March 31, 2024.
Gooch’s Beach
Gooch’s Beach, also known as Long Beach, is in Kennebunk. It’s a beautiful, long, sandy beach.
Dogs are permitted on Gooch’s Beach all year round. And if your dog responds well to voice control, then they don’t even need to be on a leash!
From June 15 through Labor Day, dogs are only allowed on the beach before 9am and after 5pm. From the day after Labor Day to June 14, dogs are allowed on the beach all day long!
Dog Friendly Beaches in Rhode Island
Despite being the smallest state in the US, Rhode Island has an impressive 384 miles of coastline.
Here are some of the best beaches for dogs in Rhode Island:
Compass Rose Beach
Compass Rose Beach is in North Kingstown. It is just 30 minutes south of the Rhode Island state capital, Providence.
This lovely sandy beach welcomes leashed dogs all year round. Unlike many beaches, Compass Rose Beach is also open to the public 24 hours a day.
This truly is one of the great dog friendly beaches in New England!
Mohegan Bluffs
The Mohegan Bluffs are large clay cliffs, located on the southern shore of Block Island. It’s a one-hour ferry ride from downtown Newport.
There’s no cost to visit the Mohegan Bluffs and they’re open 24 hours a day, all year round.
Leashed dogs are welcome all year round at the Mohegan Bluffs in Rhode Island.
Napatree Point Conservation Area
Napatree Point in Rhode Island is a long sandy spit of land, nestled in the very far southwest corner of the state.
Leashed dogs are permitted at Napatree Point Conservation Area all year round. However, from May 2 through Labor Day, dogs are prohibited between the hours of 8am and 6pm.
Dog Friendly Beaches in Vermont
Vermont is a landlocked state, so it doesn’t have any ocean coastline. But it’s got some fabulous lakes, with plenty of shoreline for your pup to enjoy.
Here are some of the best beaches for dogs in Vermont:
Texaco Beach
Texaco Beach is in the northern part of Burlington. It is Burlington’s only dedicated dog beach.
Dogs are allowed off-leash all year round at Texaco Beach. This makes it a must-visit New England dog beach!
Mary Crest Beach
Mary Crest Beach is on Pearl Bay on Grand Isle. It enjoys a serene, peaceful location on the banks of Lake Champlain.
Dogs are allowed off-leash all year round at Mary Crest Beach. So it’s a great beach to bring your pup to at any time of year!
Lake Paran
Lake Paran is in North Bennington, just a few miles from the state border with New York.
You can bring your dog to Lake Paran for a walk or a swim in the quieter months of the year.
Dog Friendly Beaches in Cape Cod
Cape Cod is a hook-shaped peninsula in the state of Massachusetts.
We’ve included it here as we’ve got an in-depth article all about Cape Cod dog beaches. Just click on the headline link above for more information.
Note that this is a separate article to our in-depth article about the best beaches for dogs in Massachusetts. The two articles complement each other.
Chapoquoit Beach
Chapoquoit Beach is in Falmouth. The sand at Chapoquoit Beach is very soft and the water here is usually warmer than in other parts of Cape Cod.
Dogs are not allowed on Chapoquoit Beach in the summer months, from May 1 through October 1.
But come here in the off season, and you will enjoy a fantastically dog-friendly New England beach!
Mayflower Beach
Mayflower Beach is in Dennis. This beach enjoys a wonderful location, great facilities and plenty of parking.
Mayflower Beach has pristine sand and clear, shallow water. If you’re traveling to Cape Cod with dogs, then this beach is a must!
Dogs are not allowed on Mayflower Beach from the Friday prior to Memorial Day through Labor Day. But it’s a great place to bring your dog in the off season.
Crosby Landing Beach
Crosby Landing Beach is in Brewster. It’s a beautiful bay beach, located just off the Old King’s Highway.
Dogs are not allowed on Crosby Landing Beach in the busy season, from May 15th through September 15th. But come here in the off season, and you and your furball are bound to have a wonderful time.
Conclusion About Dog Friendly Beaches in New England
There are lots of wonderful dog-friendly beaches in the gorgeous New England region of the United States.
In this article, we’ve shone the spotlight on just some of them.
We sincerely hope that you find the information in this article useful and helpful. And remember to let us know YOUR favorite New England dog beach.
Now go out there with your pup and enjoy!
If you’ve enjoyed finding out all about the best dog friendly beaches in New England, then take a look at our comprehensive round-up of some of the best dog beaches in the US
So what do YOU think? Which is YOUR favorite dog beach in New England? Let us know by leaving a comment – we’d love to hear from you.
Things change all the time, so if any of the information in this article is incorrect or out-of-date, please let us know – just leave us a comment below. Many thanks!
