Front Beach & Back Beach

Front Beach used to be clean yet small. Now it is dirty and small. As a Rockport lover for 30+ years who learned to swim in part at Front Beach, I am sad to say that it has become rather icky. The beach is covered in dried up seaweed with flies everywhere — not to mention seaweed all throughout the water. I am not sure if the local authorities are aware, yet to me the beach has come down over the years and should be a point of focus to be restored. While the town and shops are great, the beach is not. Something to be said for change over time in a bad way. I hope it can be restored.

Front Beach does not stack up against really any of the other beaches on the cape, but it betters them all on one key thing and that is location. You can walk into town from the beach and have unlimited things to do. It’s a great beach for families where some people aren’t beach bodies or swimmers, but maybe walkers and shoppers. Get there early or depending on tides, because it is a small beach when the tide is in. There is a lot across the street that frankly is worth the money to park all day in. Can’t forget about the raft either. Swim out at high tide if you can or wait for the tide to go out for the rookies to make it.

Small beach, but it is close to the shops and bearskin neck. The water is really clean and clear FREEZING and it’s August. Most beaches in New England are cold but I think this one is a little colder because it’s in a cove. Lots of hermit crabs! It was fun to watch them.

small beach, hard to find parking… but so close to the city center! the water is really clear, when you walk in you can see your feet! Good for skim boarding… at first i was like eh… such a small beach, what a disappointment but after going in the water it was pretty nice. i enjoyed my time here!

Front Beach is small but beautiful, and it really packs a lot into its minimal square footage. Not far from downtown, Front Beach is sunk down from the street for some seclusion. The sand is soft and clean, and the water is calm and clear. There is a lifeguard on duty — who, on the day I visited, kept alerting us when a sneaky, little shark kept swimming into our waters. The beach is actually a small cove, and there is a swim platform about 30 feet out from the shore.
There are public restrooms, and they are the cleanest beach facilities I have ever been in. There are no concession stands, but you’re a short walk from all the adorable downtown eateries if you get hungry, or just pack a lunch. The only drawback I could find was the parking challenge; there is no parking lot, and most street spaces are either metered or short-​term.

This review is primarily for Back Beach. I did a refresher Scuba Diving course here, and it was excellent. If you arrive early, you can find parking relatively easy. The beach is a great design for prepping for diving, and perfect for a shore dive. I would recommend this for any beginner scuba divers.

Small beach but right by the shops. Parking is hard but there are changing facilities.