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

Ideal for photography.

NWS alert active · 74°F air

Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon

Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. Southeast wind around 8 mph.

Tonight

A chance of rain showers between 7pm and 11pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11pm and 2am, then patchy fog and showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind 8 to 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Weather

  • 74°F air — ideal beach weather
  • Cloud cover — overcast reduces uv exposure but the vibe too

Safety

  • NWS alert active — small craft advisory issued september 9 at 2:18pm edt until september 10 at 8:00pm edt by nws gray me
75 /100
great
71 Sunbathe
79 Walk
44 Fish
85 Photo

Best for photography today

Water level 0.5 ft above predicted

Observed water level is running higher than the astronomical tide prediction. Expect a narrower beach, faster-rising water, and stronger near-shore currents than the tide chart suggests.

NOAA station 8443970 · Observed 2.23 ft · Predicted 1.72 ft

Small Craft Small Craft Advisory

Small Craft Advisory issued September 9 at 2:18PM EDT until September 10 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Gray ME

NWS · In effect through Sep 10, 8:00 PM

Full NWS statement

* WHAT...Southwest winds 15 to 25 kt with gusts up to 30 kt and seas 4 to 7 ft expected. * WHERE...Coastal Waters from Stonington, ME to Port Clyde, ME out 25 NM, Coastal Waters from Port Clyde, ME to Cape Elizabeth, ME out 25 NM and Coastal Waters from Cape Elizabeth, ME to Merrimack River, MA out 25 NM. * WHEN...From 8 PM this evening to 8 PM EDT Thursday. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.

Air Temp
74°F
Cloudy
Wind
8 mph
SE
Rain
7%
This Afternoon
UV Peak
5 Moderate
Peaks 12 PM · burn in ~40m
Burn-free before 10 AM & after 03 PM
Tomorrow
83°F
Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny
Water Temp
Next High Tide
10:38 PM
10.9 ft · in 3.3h
Wave Height
2.6 ft
4s · SE swell
Sunrise
6:16 AM
Sunset
7:05 PM
Moon · 5%
Waning Crescent
Spring tides — bigger range
Time Type Height
4:06 AM Low -0.1 ft
10:22 AM High 9.7 ft
4:21 PM Low 0.3 ft
10:38 PM High 10.9 ft

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

Today Sep 9
74°

Mostly Cloudy

7%
75
Thu Sep 10
83°

Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny

51%
47
Fri Sep 11
73°

Sunny

0%
79
Sat Sep 12
71°

Sunny

0%
80
Sun Sep 13
75°

Chance Rain Showers

43%
56
Mon Sep 14
75°

Mostly Sunny

4%
84
Tue Sep 15
75°

Mostly Sunny

5%
81

Nothing unusual - conditions are unremarkable today.

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
10:10 PM - 12:10 AM
Minor
4:00 AM - 5:00 AM
Major
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Minor
6:00 PM - 7:00 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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