Salisbury Beach State Reservation

1 Beach Road, Salisbury, MA 01952

Massachusetts' northernmost state beach: nearly four miles of sand at the mouth of the Merrimack River with one of the largest oceanfront state campgrounds in New England.

Eats & Drinks 5 Stay 2

Great day for photography.

58°F air

Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon

Patchy fog and a slight chance of rain before 3pm, then a chance of rain and patchy fog between 3pm and 5pm, then patchy fog and a slight chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 58. Northwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tonight

Patchy fog and a slight chance of rain before 9pm, then rain and patchy fog. Cloudy, with a low around 45. Northwest wind 7 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Weather

  • 58°F air — chilly for a beach day
  • 30% rain — pop-up showers possible
  • Fog — low visibility — good for moody photos, less for swimming
37 /100
ok
22 Sunbathe
48 Walk
56 Fish
83 Photo

Best for photography today

Air Temp
58°F
Light Rain and Fog/Mist
Wind
10 mph
NW
Rain
30%
This Afternoon
Air Quality
19 Good
Ozone · Essex
UV Peak
1 Low
Peaks 10 AM · burn in ~200m
Burn-free before 09 AM & after 11 AM
Tomorrow
57°F
Chance Light Rain then Partly Sunny
Water Temp
—
Next High Tide
10:00 PM
9.6 ft · in 3.5h
Wave Height
3.3 ft
5s · NNE swell
Sunrise
6:24 AM
Sunset
4:28 PM
Moon · 5%
Waning Crescent
Spring tides — bigger range
Time Type Height
3:13 AM Low 0.6 ft
9:29 AM High 10.4 ft
3:46 PM Low 0.0 ft
10:00 PM High 9.6 ft

High/low predictions from NOAA station 8443970, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.

Today Nov 7
58°

Patchy Fog

30%
37
Sun Nov 8
57°

Chance Light Rain then Partly Sunny

33%
33
Mon Nov 9
56°

Chance Light Rain

32%
37
Tue Nov 10
56°

Mostly Sunny

2%
58
Wed Nov 11
57°

Sunny

3%
57
Thu Nov 12
51°

Mostly Sunny

14%
51
Fri Nov 13
48°

Chance Light Rain

52%
13
  • optional Light cover-up, watch for pop-ups 30% rain chance

Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).

Solunar theory: fish activity peaks at moon transits (major) and moonrise/moonset (minor). All times local.

Major
8:50 PM - 10:50 PM
Minor
4:30 AM - 5:30 AM
Major
9:10 AM - 11:10 AM
Minor
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Parking

Vehicle entry fee Memorial Day weekend – Labor Day. Confirm current rate at the gate.

Dogs

Dogs prohibited on the beach during the open season; leashed dogs allowed in the campground and on trails in the off-season.

Entry Fee

Free

Address

1 Beach Road, Salisbury, MA 01952

lifeguardsrestroomsshowerscampgroundpicnic areafishing
Is it safe to swim at Salisbury Beach State Reservation today?

Salisbury Beach State Reservation shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. Seasonal lifeguards patrol the swim area in summer — follow their flags. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.

Is Salisbury Beach State Reservation dog-friendly?

Dogs prohibited on the beach during the open season; leashed dogs allowed in the campground and on trails in the off-season.

Is there an entry fee at Salisbury Beach State Reservation?

Entry to Salisbury Beach State Reservation is free.

Are there lifeguards at Salisbury Beach State Reservation?

Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Salisbury Beach State Reservation during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.

What amenities are at Salisbury Beach State Reservation?

Amenities at Salisbury Beach State Reservation include lifeguards, restrooms, showers, campground, picnic area, fishing.

When is the water warmest at Salisbury Beach State Reservation?

Atlantic water temperatures peak in August. Northern beaches (ME, NH, MA) run cool — typically 60-68°F at the summer peak. Mid-Atlantic (NJ, DE, MD, VA) hits 74-76°F. The Carolinas and Florida Atlantic warm into the 80s and stay swimmable from May through October.

Where is Salisbury Beach State Reservation located?

Salisbury Beach State Reservation is in Essex County, MA, at 1 Beach Road, Salisbury, MA 01952.

Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS

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