Best Sea Glass Beaches in Massachusetts – Local Finds, Tips & Stories
From Cape Cod to the North Shore, real sea glass hunters share their Massachusetts beach reports, finds, and tips.
If you’ve walked the Massachusetts shoreline, you know it’s a treasure chest for sea glass. These viewer-submitted reports round up what people actually found at popular spots like Gloucester, Hyannisport, Marion, Cohasset, Nahant, Harwich, Plum Island, and Plymouth.
Pavilion Beach, Gloucester – Lavender glass & a stopper surprise
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Pavilion Beach, Gloucester sea glass can be hot or cold depending on timing. Airon (Concord, MA) pulled ~75 pieces in about two hours at low tide in late May—highlight finds were a good-sized lavender shard (jewelry grade) and a tiny worn bottle stopper. Pro tips from her day: move small rocks, dig gently around the wrack line (skip the seaweed—hello sand flies), and aim for off-season + after a storm. Some locals say parts have changed with nearby hotel work; others still fill a quart bag in the off-season—so expect variability. |
Rocky Neck, Gloucester – Colorful but tricky
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Rocky Neck sea glass offers variety, but many shards can be too sharp. Access is tight and part of the strand is private; still, persistent hunters report anywhere from ~20 to 80 pieces on better days, especially around lower tides. |
Keyes Beach, Hyannisport – Almost-intact frosted bottles
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Sharon’s long-time Cape combing turned up unusually intact frosted bottles at Keyes Beach, including one stamped “Bayer Co.” These ensembles take years; she’s been collecting nearly 40! |
Marion, MA – Pastel sea glass over 50 years
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Melanie’s Marion pastel sea glass collection spans five decades, mostly found in the afternoon and (originally) around a private island shoreline. These days it’s tougher, so check with the town hall for current public beach access. |
Cohasset – The “first marble” moment
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Robert’s milestone: his first sea glass marble in Cohasset. With rocky ledges and small offshore rock fields, expect interesting shapes and thicker glass. |
Nahant (“Small Beach”) – Modest but steady
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Kelly’s report from Small Beach, Nahant: ~15–20 nicely frosted pieces per visit, rounded edges, and enough variety to keep it fun—especially over multiple trips. |
Red River Beach, Harwich – Common colors with soft blues
Red River Beach sea glass tends toward clear, green, and brown, with the occasional soft blue or green. Some visitors strike out; others rate it “good.” Worth a stop if you’re nearby on Cape.
Plum Island, Newburyport – Seasonal and competitive
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Plum Island sea glass seems best in the off-season. Summer crowds make it tougher, and some pieces can be “too new” (not fully frosted). Still, you’ll see seafoam hues—and there’s always great driftwood. |
Plymouth – White Horse Beach & Long Beach thick frosted glass
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Spencer and his daughter found two chunky, heavily frosted keepers in Plymouth—one at White Horse Beach and the other at Long Beach. Thick glass like this often points to older bottles or marine debris that’s been tumbling for decades. |
Quick tips for Massachusetts sea glass hunting
- Go off-season (and weekdays) for less competition and better finds.
- After storms = prime time—new material gets uncovered and rolled.
- Check access rules (dogs, parking, private sections), especially in summer.
- Look twice at “white” glass—wet it on a white cloth to spot amethyst, seafoam, ivory, or cyan tones.
- Be gentle: move small rocks, scan the wrack line, and leave sharp “too new” shards.
Share your Massachusetts sea glass finds
Got a great haul from the Bay State? We’d love to see it. Submit your sea glass report—you might inspire someone’s next beach day.
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