Long Beach, off Thatcher Road, is another long, protected stretch of ocean and sand, backed by a cement retaining wall and lined with summer cottages. From Long Beach you can easily view the twin lighthouses on Thacher’s Island. The Rockport side of this beautiful beach has lifeguards on duty.

Directions:

From Gloucester you drive by Good Harbor Beach and when you get to Rockport Road you’ll see a fork with an ice cream stand. In this area there are a few small private paid parking lots a short walk from the beach. There is no public parking on the Gloucester end.

To approach from Rockport, keep going on Route 127A to Seaview Street, where there is a parking lot.

Non-resident beach parking stickers are available but the price is $150 per vehicle and are only available online through the Town of Rockport. Here is a link to the page on the town’s website.

Be aware that there are two types of parking, “Resident” parking, which the sticker doesn’t qualify for, and “Sticker” parking, which it does qualify for. Read the signs. Parking is limited so get there early on hot days.

The Rockport end of the beach has its own lifeguards. Gloucester lifeguards patrol the Gloucester end. You can walk from Long Beach and pass a large rocky outcropping onto Cape Hedge Beach. This is a long, beautiful beach walk from either direction.