Summer Beach Spotlight: Horseneck Beach in Westport, Massachusetts
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Horseneck Beach State Reservation is a large public beach located on Buzzards Bay in Southeastern Massachusetts. According to my sister who has lived in the region for many years, this popular beach is always crowded during the summer months. This beach faces the Southwest, which enables it to maintain cooler temperatures. It’s a nice escape when the weather is too hot to do much else outside.
We decided to plan a beach day during a recent heat wave. Our apartment is on the old side so there is no air conditioning which is usually fine outside of a rare warm front. On our trip, the weather was absolutely perfect: warm, breezy, and not too sunny. This is the beach to visit to escape the New England heat waves; I think the temperature dropped from almost 100 to a comfortable mid 80’s. Those of you who like waves will love this beach. The waves here are much larger than I expected out of a New England beach. In addition to swimming and windsurfing, the estuary is a great place to birdwatch.
If you are looking for a more peaceful experience, I recommend skipping this beach. However, this is a great beach for those looking to swim and enjoy the waves. After seeing all the crowds, we were not surprised to hear that it is frequently rated among the 10 best beaches in New England. The only downside to this beach is the rocky layer you have to cross before entering the water – my feet hurt really bad after just a few hours walking around. However, the beach is very scenic and we took plenty of beautiful photographs.
Take a look at the photos below to get a glimpse of the vibe. As you can tell in the photos, this is the perfect “summer fun beach.” You will see lots of people playing beach sports, building sandcastles, listening to music, and sunbathing.
Lifeguards are on duty from July 1st to labor day.
This is a great birdwatching destination. You can check out this handy bird guide which features the most frequently sighted birds in the last few months.
Check out the size of these waves! It was really fun swimming here with the gigantic waves. At most of the beaches we have visited around this state and neighboring Rhode Island, the waters have been pretty calm. It was a nice change of pace.
On a side note, we really enjoyed watching the sunset here. I recommend timing your visit just right for a romantic date night – maybe bring with a picnic. There are several tables available.
Horseneck State Beach Reservation is located in Westport, a small town in Southeast Massachusetts. Westport is located about an hour from Boston and 30 minutes from Providence, RI. So, it’s a great daytrip for city dwellers when the temps get just too hot for the usual activities.
Additional Details
Address: 5 John Reed Road Westport, MA 02791. Hours: 8am-8pm
Parking Fees: $15 for Massachusetts residents, $40 for non-residents (Fee in effect from May 24- Oct. 13th). Pricing is current as of the summer 2025 season. Please check for updates.
Amenities: Showers, restrooms, picnic tables, and concessions. Camping runs from May-Columbus day. Also, there is a boat ramp, trails, and fishing at Gooseberry Island.
Accessibility: Beach wheelchairs available. Also, accessible picnic areas, restrooms, camping sites provided, plus a beach mat.
While you are in the vicinity, I recommend checking out Battleship Cove and the Lizzie Borden house, both located about 20 min away in Fall River.
