Paid for by The Trustees

Visit Crane Beach this summer

This post was paid for and produced by our sponsor, The Trustees, in collaboration with WBUR’s Business Partnerships team. WBUR’s editorial teams are independent of business teams and were not involved in the production of this post. For more information about The Trustees, click here.

With weather forecasters calling for warmer than average temperatures this summer, grab a towel and sunscreen and head to Crane Beach in Ipswich, MA, for an unparalleled beach experience. Whether you want to take a refreshing plunge, play in the sand or hike the trails, this seaside escape has provided fun and lasting memories for generations.

Visited by more than 350,000 people annually, Crane is celebrated as one of the most spectacular beaches in the Northeast. Boasting an impressive stretch of white sand along the Atlantic Coast, the beach is perfect for relaxing, swimming, walking and more.

Crane Beach is also a national model for balancing conservation of diverse natural habitats and wildlife. It is among the world’s most important nesting sites for piping plovers and has been nationally recognized for its successful shorebird protection program. To protect threatened shorebirds during your visit, avoid the fenced nesting areas and the wrack–the line of washed-up organic debris where the birds feed and hide.

Using public transportation

“The public transit option is a great value for visitors who are coming from Boston or other communities not on the North Shore,” said Chris Moore, property director for Crane Estate. “It also reduces traffic congestion along Argilla Road in Ipswich, and beachgoers don’t need to worry about parking a vehicle or making an advanced reservation. It’s easy and convenient.”

If you’re located outside Ipswich, hop on the Newburyport/Rockport line of the Commuter Rail and disembark at the Ipswich station. From there, The Ipswich-Essex Explorer, a service of Cape Ann Transport Authority (CATA) will shuttle you to the beach. The service operates from the third weekend in June through Labor Day weekend.

Admission to the beach via CATA is just $5 for nonmembers and is free for Members of The Trustees. There’s plenty of storage for your cooler, beach bag and chairs aboard the shuttle, and as a bonus, you will get a beachfront drop off.

Accessibility for all

The ability for everyone to access the beach is important. Crane Beach has 25 accessible parking spaces available on a first come first served basis for ticket holders. Visitors may use a waterproof beach wheelchair, available by inquiry at the beach store. If you have mobility challenges, the Trustees will give you a ride from the parking lot to the main beach front and back. Restrooms and the bath house are wheelchair accessible.

There is a new and exciting experience waiting for you at Crane the next time you visit Ipswich.

While swimming and sunbathing are the main draws, Crane Beach is a four-season, rain-or-shine playground where walkers, hikers, birdwatchers, citizen scientists, students and others come to enjoy the great outdoors.

About Trustees: As a steward of distinctive and dynamic places of both historic and cultural value, the Trustees is the nation’s first and Massachusetts’ largest preservation and conservation nonprofit, and its landscapes and landmarks continue to inspire discussion, innovation, and action today as they did in the past. Supported by Members, friends and donors, the Trustees’ more than 100 reservations are destinations for residents, members, and visitors alike, welcoming millions of guests annually.