7 best New England beaches to explore this fall
Autumn is a fine time to visit the beaches in Ogunquit, Maine — Photo courtesy of Maine Office of Tourism
Fall hits differently at New England’s best beaches when a muted maritime palette of amber-colored dune grass, seaside goldenrod, and ruby-tinged sumac shrubs enhance the coastal landscape. While less bold than the explosion of crimson, yellow, and orange that dominates leaf-peeping season inland, the subtle shoreline beauty is no less alluring.
I’ve been visiting New England’s great beaches for years. Dotted with lighthouses and wooden boardwalks, I look forward to autumn’s bright days and crisp nights, perfect for invigorating seaside strolls and stargazing with plenty of room to roam. Prices drop at New England’s best beach resorts as temperatures cool, a bonus for budget-conscious travelers.
From the soft sand of Hampton Beach, New Hampshire, to the breathtaking islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, pack your sweater and explore the best beaches in New England this fall.
Hampton Beach, Hampton, New Hampshire
Hampton Beach is one of the best New England beaches — Photo courtesy of Visit New Hampshire
Hampton Beach is one of New England’s best beaches. As a child, I loved walking the vibrant boardwalk, eating saltwater taffy, and playing arcade games in summer. As an adult, I embrace fall’s low-key pleasures, from kite-flying to building sandcastles. When water temperatures dive, the tide pools teem with marine life searching for nourishment before the long winter ahead. I’ve observed starfish, crabs, and other coastal creatures up close.
Hole up at Ashworth by the Sea, a beach resort with a large deck overlooking the Atlantic. It’s pet-friendly, so bring the pooch.
Hammonasset Beach State Park, Madison, Connecticut
Hammonasset Beach on Connecticut’s Long Island Sound is often empty in fall — Photo courtesy of Connecticut Office of Tourism
Hammonasset Beach State Park frames the Long Island Sound along two miles of Connecticut shoreline. This relatively shallow body of water is often as gentle as bathwater and warm enough for a quick dip past Halloween. A maze of wooden boardwalks fringed with dark blue juniper berries and bayberry bushes attract autumn hikers, while peaceful natural paths are a magnet for cyclists.
The village of Madison oozes coastal charm. After the beach, I sip a soothing cup of tea at Savvy Tea Gourmet before getting lost in a book at R.J. Julia, one of New England’s best independent bookstores.
Stay at The Homestead, an upscale bed and breakfast with luxurious guest rooms and a fabulous morning meal. In autumn, the gardens are filled with migratory birds, who stop by to snack at the birdfeeders before heading south for winter.
Old Silver Beach, Falmouth, Massachusetts
Old Silver Beach on Cape Cod is home to one of New England’s best beach resorts — Photo courtesy of Sea Crest Beach Resort
Cape Cod is beautiful in the fall, and Falmouth is one of its most picturesque towns. With late-season wild beach roses still in bloom and shallow bay water remaining temperate well into autumn, Old Silver Beach is an excellent beach by day and a prime spot to watch the sunset at night.
Cyclists come here to pedal the Shining Sea Bikeway, a rail trail that hugs the coast for 10.7 miles and is lined with native tree species that provide a canopy of autumn color. The Sea Crest Beach Resort has private access to Old Silver Beach. Fall programming includes evening stargazing and s’mores in the sand.
Main Beach, Ogunquit, Maine
Main Beach is one of the best beaches in New England — Photo courtesy of Maine Office of Tourism
Ogunquit’s scenic harbor and tranquil coves are textbook Maine. After Labor Day, there’s ample room to savor the town’s 3.5 miles of pristine beach. Main Beach is a seasonal winner thanks to its swath of empty sand and seemingly endless sky.
Don’t miss Marginal Way, a 1.25-mile paved cliffside footpath that winds along a craggy peninsula with expansive views of the vast Atlantic and a soundtrack of crashing waves. Oceanfront Beachmere Inn has spotless rooms and direct access to Marginal Way.
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Moshup Beach, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts
Martha’s Vineyard’s Moshup Beach is the picture of autumn serenity — Photo courtesy of Martha’s Vineyard Chamber
Venerable lighthouses and shingled cottages are part of Martha’s Vineyard’s island charm. Getting here is part of the fun, as most visitors arrive from the mainland via windswept ferry connections.
The Gulf Stream often keeps things temperate until November, when the deserted beaches look lifted from a nautical fairytale. Aquinnah’s public beaches are on the island’s western tip, none more secluded than the fine sand and smooth rocks at Moshup Beach. Considered one of New England’s best beaches, a dramatic tableau of clay cliffs cascading towards the ocean is worthy of a thousand Instagram posts.
Reputable hotels on this remote part of the island close after summer. Lambert’s Cove Inn, a restored farmhouse tucked away in the woods, is one of the closest. It remains open until mid-November.
Easton’s Beach, Newport, Rhode Island
Newport’s Easton’s Beach is one of New England’s finest beaches — Photo courtesy of The Chanler at Cliff Walk
Once a playground for families with surnames like Vanderbilt and Astor, Newport’s reputation as an affluent summer resort is still justified (and a draw for “Gilded Age” fans). The pace slows in the fall, making it a fine time to enjoy Easton’s Beach.
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I start my autumn afternoons sitting on the sand, watching the tide roll in before strolling Cliff Walk, a 3.5-mile path that overlooks the beach and glimpses into the backyards of Newport’s Gilded Age mansions. Easton’s Beach is just a short distance from sights such as the International Tennis Hall of Fame and Redwood Library, America’s oldest continuous lending library.
The Chanler at Cliff Walk is an oasis of elegance on Cliff Walk. Its luxurious rooms have gas fireplaces for chilly evenings.
Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge, Nantucket, Massachusetts
Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge in Nantucket is home to one of the great New England beaches — Photo courtesy of R.Cheek
Cranberry bogs, bluffs, and 82 miles of unspoiled coastline explain why beachcombers return to postcard-pretty Nantucket annually.
Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge is a rugged barrier beach surrounded by rolling dunes that support beach plums, tall beach grass, and patches of purple heather. I’ve spotted gray and harbor seals as they feed on fish and invertebrates. A neighboring red cedar forest and a mature maritime oak forest are ablaze with colorful fall leaves, while the Great Point Lighthouse is a New England gem.
Stylish Greydon House is a 20-room hotel in the historic downtown district, open year-round.
