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Bay / SoundSticker or daily feeWareham

Onset Beach

CCC VisitedVerified Oct 5, 2026

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What is Onset Beach like?

Onset Beach is Wareham's popular village beach on the protected waters of Onset Bay (part of Buzzards Bay), in the heart of historic Onset Village near the Onset Bay Pavilion bandshell. Its sandy, gently sloping shore and calm water make it a family favorite, with seasonal lifeguards (late May through Labor Day), restrooms, showers, a concession stand, and a kayak rental center on site. Open dawn to dusk.

Plan your beach day

Onset Beach

Get directions

186 Onset Ave, Wareham (Onset), MA 02558

Rules from Buzzards Bay Coalition; Town of Wareham (opens in a new tab). Check before you go; they change by season.

When should you go?

Best time to go

Checking today’s tides and sun times…

Now51°FClear

Wind18 mphFrom the W

Water64°FWaves 2.1 ft

Tides · next 24 hoursNOAA · Woods Hole

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What’s there?

Faces: West, for sunset
Water: Not noted
Current: Calm, slow
Restrooms: Yes
Food: On site
Lifeguards: In season
Parking: Sticker or daily fee
Dogs: Not allowed
Fishing: Not noted
Kayak / SUP: Not noted

What should you know before you go?

Parking

Large paved lot at Onset Town Pier plus metered street parking ($2/hour). Fees apply May 1 - October 1.

Stickers and fees

Town of Wareham resident beach sticker $15/year ($5 senior) covers South Boulevard / Onset parking; metered street parking $2/hour otherwise. Purchase at Natural Resources, 48 Marion Rd, or online at cityhallsystems.com.

Dogs

Not allowed

Best for

Calm Water, Families, Sunsets, Swimming, Walking

Where is it?

186 Onset Ave, Wareham (Onset), MA 02558.

Get directions

Get directions Open in Google Maps

Where else can you swim in Wareham?

Freshwater Pond
Horseshoe Pond Beach
Resident sticker onlyDogs: not allowed
A small kettle-hole pond in Wareham with a town-maintained beach. Clear, warm freshwater ideal for swimming. Set within a wooded area of South Wareham near Wareham State Forest.
Listed & Verified · Verified 2026-06-25
See details
Bay / Sound
Shell Point Beach
Sticker or daily feeDogs: not allowed
Shell Point Beach sits on a point overlooking the busy Onset Bay to the east and the calmer Shell Point Bay to the west. Its warm, shallow water and sandy shore backed by a grassy park make it especially good for families with small children, while the open western view is a fine sunset spot. A great launch point for kayaks and paddleboards, and you can walk the sand to neighboring Onset Beach.
Listed & Verified · Verified 2026-06-19
See details
Bay / Sound
Little Harbor Beach
Resident sticker onlyDogs: not allowed
Little Harbor Beach is a 22-acre resident beach on the open waters of Buzzards Bay. A sandy shoreline with gentle waves makes it popular with Wareham families for swimming and beachcombing, while a quiet salt marsh on one side invites exploration on foot or by kayak. Wide views of water and sky and good birding (including piping plovers) round out the appeal.
Listed & Verified · Verified 2026-06-19
See details
Bay / Sound
Swifts Neck Beach
Sticker or daily feeDogs: not allowed
Swifts Neck Beach sits on a wide bend of the Wareham River near its mouth at Buzzards Bay. A mix of sand and grass and a network of tidal creeks make it a calm, family-friendly spot good for swimming, wading, kayaking, and saltwater fishing. At low tide the mudflats are full of hermit crabs and clams - great for kids exploring tide pools. A concrete boat ramp and seasonal restrooms are on site; no lifeguards.
Listed & Verified · Verified 2026-06-19
See details
Bay / Sound
Swift Beach
Sticker or daily feeDogs: not allowed
Swift Beach is a neighborhood saltwater beach on the protected Buzzards Bay shoreline in the Swifts Neck area of Wareham. Calm, shallow water makes it a quiet local swimming spot for families. It is one of the few Wareham beaches where non-residents can park with a season sticker.
Listed & Verified · Verified 2026-06-19
See details
Bay / Sound
Tempest Knob
Sticker or daily feeDogs: not allowed
Tempest Knob is a town waterfront access point and boat-ramp area on the Wareham River near Buzzards Bay. Unlike most Wareham beaches, it is open to everyone with no resident restriction - a season pass ($50) or $5 daily fee is paid at a self-serve kiosk - making it the most accessible spot for visitors looking for shoreline and boat access.
Listed & Verified · Verified 2026-06-19
See details

Every Wareham beach Beaches across the Cape

Directions

What is Onset Beach like?

What should you know before you go?

Parking

Large paved lot at Onset Town Pier plus metered street parking ($2/hour). Fees apply May 1 - October 1.

Stickers and fees

Dogs

Not allowed

Best for

Calm Water, Families, Sunsets, Swimming, Walking

Where else can you swim in Wareham?

Freshwater Pond

Horseshoe Pond Beach

Resident sticker onlyDogs: not allowed

A small kettle-hole pond in Wareham with a town-maintained beach. Clear, warm freshwater ideal for swimming. Set within a wooded area of South Wareham near Wareham State Forest.

Listed & Verified · Verified 2026-06-25

See details

Bay / Sound

Shell Point Beach

Sticker or daily feeDogs: not allowed

Shell Point Beach sits on a point overlooking the busy Onset Bay to the east and the calmer Shell Point Bay to the west. Its warm, shallow water and sandy shore backed by a grassy park make it especially good for families with small children, while the open western view is a fine sunset spot. A great launch point for kayaks and paddleboards, and you can walk the sand to neighboring Onset Beach.