Revere Beach is the oldest public beach in the United States, a three-mile stretch of sand along Revere Beach Boulevard just north of Boston, Massachusetts. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport and parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.
This guide was updated in July 2026. Lifeguards aren’t on duty every day of the summer, as some guides imply: coverage runs weekends only from 28 May through 18 June, then daily from 19 June through Labor Day. Sections of the beach may also be fenced off during the piping plover nesting season.
Quick facts
| Opening hours | Dawn to dusk, daily, year-round |
| Ticket prices | Free; no entrance or general parking fee |
| Address | Revere Beach Boulevard, Revere, MA 02151 |
| Nearest transport/parking | MBTA Blue Line to Revere Beach or Wonderland; metered street parking |
| Typical time needed | 1–3 hours |
Revere Beach opening hours
Revere Beach is open daily, year-round, from dawn to dusk.
Lifeguards are on duty on weekends from 28 May through 18 June, then every day from 19 June through Labor Day. The ICY Reinstein Bathhouse is open daily, 7am to 2:30pm.
The Massachusetts Legislature designated Revere Beach a public reservation in 1896, predating every other state or federal public beach in the country, and the Metropolitan Park Commission, a precursor to today’s DCR, laid out the boulevard, bathhouses, and original pavilions as a single planned composition.
5 great Boston experiences to book
- ⚾ See why Boston has America’s most beloved baseball ground on a Fenway Park tour.
- 🚶 Get a history crash course on a small group walking tour along the Freedom Trail.
- 🌅 See the skyline from the water on a sunset harbour cruise.
- 🎓 Hear the stories behind America’s oldest university on a campus walking tour of Harvard University.
- 🍩 Indulge in Boston’s best donuts on a sweet treats walking tour.
Revere Beach ticket prices
There is no entrance fee to visit Revere Beach.
Parking is metered along Revere Beach Boulevard, with a four-hour limit; there’s no parking between 9am and 10am on the boulevard between Eliot Circle and Revere Street, and no parking overnight, from 10pm to 7am, on the ocean side between Revere Street and Carey Circle. Parking on Ocean Avenue and the inland side of the boulevard between Revere Street and Carey Circle is resident permit only.
Opening hours and rules were checked on the official Revere Beach Reservation page and last updated in July 2026.
Why book the Go City Boston Pass?
- 🏛️ 45+ Top Attractions: Enjoy admission to Boston’s most iconic sites, including the Museum of Science, New England Aquarium, and the View Boston observation deck.
- 🚌 CityView Trolley Tour: Get your bearings and travel between major landmarks with an included hop-on hop-off trolley ticket that covers the city’s historic districts.
- 👣 Freedom Trail & History: Step back into the American Revolution with guided walking tours of the Freedom Trail and entry to the Paul Revere House and Old State House.
- 💰 Exceptional Value: Save up to 50% compared to purchasing individual gate tickets, making it the most cost-effective way to see the city’s premier highlights.
- 📱 Total Digital Convenience: Simply scan your pass from your smartphone for entry and use the included digital guidebook to plan your custom itinerary on the go.
How to get to Revere Beach
Revere Beach is directly on the MBTA Blue Line, which runs along the inland side of Revere Beach Boulevard. Take the Blue Line to either Revere Beach or Wonderland station, both a short walk from the sand.
By car from Boston, Revere Beach is about 15 to 20 minutes north via Route 1A or the Blue Line’s parallel surface roads, depending on traffic.
Parking at Revere Beach
Metered on-street parking runs the length of Revere Beach Boulevard, subject to the four-hour limit and time restrictions described above. Given the direct Blue Line access, many visitors find the subway more convenient than driving.
Why book the Boston Hop-on Hop-off Trolley Tour?
- 🚋 18 Strategic Stops: Explore the city at your own pace with a route that covers over 100 points of interest, including Faneuil Hall, the North End, and the Back Bay.
- 🎤 Entertaining Live Narration: Enjoy “transportainment” from expert conductors who bring Boston’s history to life with fascinating stories of the American Revolution and local lore.
- ⛪ Old North Church Admission: Your ticket includes entry to this iconic landmark, famous for the “one if by land, two if by sea” signal that launched Paul Revere’s midnight ride.
- 🚢 USS Constitution & Navy Yard: Get easy access to the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat and the historic Charlestown Navy Yard without worrying about city parking.
- 🕒 Total Sightseeing Flexibility: Save your feet and your time by hopping off to explore specific neighborhoods, then simply catch the next trolley whenever you’re ready to move on.
How long to spend at Revere Beach
Most visitors spend one to three hours at Revere Beach, whether swimming, sunbathing, or walking the boulevard.
Visitors timing a trip around the Revere Beach International Sand Sculpting Festival, held for about a week each July, should check the current year’s exact dates before travelling, since the festival draws much larger crowds than a typical visit.
Accessibility at Revere Beach
Revere Beach is listed by the state as a wheelchair-accessible, transit-friendly location, with paved paths along the boulevard suiting wheelchair users and visitors with limited mobility.
Inside Revere Beach: what to see
The three-mile crescent of sand faces directly into Massachusetts Bay and has been a public reservation since 1896, making it the oldest public beach in the country.
The bandstand and pavilion, remnants of the boulevard’s amusement-park era, host summer concerts and events today.
Piping plovers, an endangered shorebird, nest on about 15% of the beach; fenced-off sections protect them during nesting season.
The former Wonderland amusement park site, which operated from 1906 to 1969, is now a shopping centre, though the neighbouring Wonderland MBTA station still carries its name.
The Revere Beach International Sand Sculpting Festival, held for about a week each July, draws elaborate large-scale sand sculptures to the central beach.
The beach also includes athletic fields, a first-aid station, and an information booth, and is a popular spot for weddings and other events held along the boulevard.
Practical visitor tips
| Topic | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | Visit on a weekday for a quieter beach, especially outside the sand sculpting festival week. |
| Crowds | Summer weekends, especially during the festival, draw the largest crowds and fullest parking. |
| Layout | Arrive via the Wonderland or Revere Beach Blue Line stations to skip the search for parking. |
| Entry process | There’s no gate or ticket; just find a spot along the boulevard or arrive by train. |
| On-site logistics | Bring cash or a parking app for the meters, and check posted signs for time restrictions. |
Frequently asked questions about Revere Beach
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Revere Beach free to visit? | Yes, there’s no entrance fee; only street parking is metered. |
| Are lifeguards on duty every day in summer? | Not always: weekends only until 19 June, then daily through Labor Day. |
| Is Revere Beach open year-round? | Yes, it’s open daily, dawn to dusk, throughout the year. |
| Are dogs allowed at Revere Beach? | No, dogs aren’t permitted from April through mid-September. |
| Can you get to Revere Beach by subway? | Yes, the MBTA Blue Line stops directly at Revere Beach and Wonderland stations. |
Things to do near Revere Beach
Winthrop Beach, another historic DCR beach on the Massachusetts Bay, is about 10 minutes away.
Belle Isle Marsh Reservation, the largest remaining salt marsh in the Boston area, is about 10 minutes away.
Downtown Revere, with local shops and restaurants, is a short walk away.
Suffolk Downs, the site of a former racetrack now being redeveloped, is about 10 minutes away.
Deer Island, with harbor walking trails, is about 15 minutes away.
What to visit tomorrow
Nantasket Beach in Hull, another historic Massachusetts Bay beach, is about 40 minutes away.
Good Harbor Beach in Gloucester is about 45 minutes away.
Crane Beach in Ipswich, known for its dunes and wildlife refuge, is about 1 hour away.
Salisbury Beach State Reservation, near the New Hampshire border, is about 1 hour away.
Hampton Beach State Park in New Hampshire is about 1 hour 15 minutes away.
More Boston travel
Other Boston travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Go back in time at the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum.
- What you need to know about the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston.
- Exploring the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site, JFK Birthplace and Olmsted Park in Brookline.
- Boston’s coastal parks and beaches: Castle Island.
- Plan your visit to the Boston Public Garden.
