Horseneck Beach

Horseneck's two miles of barrier beach face Rhode Island Sound at the western end of Buzzards Bay, backed by dunes and marsh, with Gooseberry Neck at the eastern end. DCR lifeguards cover it daily in midsummer, and out-of-state plates pay $40 to park. Patches of cobblestones line the waterline, so water shoes help.

Directions

Photo: LEONARDO DASILVA · CC BY 3.0

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Latest reading · SwimScore 69/100 (Good swim) for a typical swimmer: air 17°C, wind 30 km/h, waves 1.6 m, UV 1. Updated 23 Sept, 22:00 UTC.

Know before you go

Getting in: DCR state reservation at the end of Route 88 in Westport; beach hours 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; entry through toll-gated lots.
Parking & transport: Daily fee May 23-Oct. 12: $14 for MA plates, $40 for out-of-state; mobile payment via the YODEL app.
Lifeguards: DCR lifeguards on weekends and holidays from May 23, then daily June 13-Sept. 7 in 2026.
Water quality: Massachusetts rules require marine beaches to be sampled for enterococci within 5 days of opening and at least weekly in season; beaches are posted when results exceed state standards, and some are posted preemptively after heavy rain.
Season: Designated swimming season May 23-Sept. 7 in 2026; parking fees through Oct. 12.
Watch for: Cobblestones at the waterline
Surf: lifeguards may bar floating beach wheelchairs when conditions are risky
Facilities: Restrooms and showers · Concessions · Picnic areas and playground · Beach mat and beach wheelchairs · Campground (early May-Columbus Day)