Nova Scotia Beaches

If you’re in Nova Scotia, you’re never more than 67 kilometres away from the ocean. How amazing is that?! We have compiled a huge list of some of the best beaches in Nova Scotia and Cape Breton. This ultimate list of Nova Scotia beaches is categorized by region to make your summer beach trip planning a breeze. This is all content, no fluff!

It’s not uncommon to find beach round-ups with loads of details but with Google Maps we figured you just needed the hard facts.

NOTE: This article is still growing. We will be adding further details & more beaches. If you know of a beach that should be added to the list, please submit that here.

With 7500 km of coastline there are a lot of beaches in Nova Scotia. If you’re looking for a beach in a specific region, just use this handy table of contents:

Yarmouth & Acadian Shores (7 beaches)

South Shore Beaches

Halifax & HRM Beaches

Eastern Shore Beaches

North Shore Beaches

Cape Breton Beaches

Bay of Fundy Beaches

Yarmouth & Acadian Shore Beaches

Pembroke Beach

[985 Pembroke Road, Yarmouth, NS]

Great beach for a walk, and searching for sea glass

Sunday Point Beach

[Located in Kelly’s Cove, Yarmouth area]

Sandy beach that is in a relatively hidden cove, surrounded by salt marshes

False Harbour Beach

[2-340 Highway 304, Yarmouth, NS]

Gorgeous beach that faces open ocean

Stanwoods Beach

[Highway 304, Overton, NS]

Located 2kms from Yarmouth, Standwoods beach is a great place to fish!

Port Maitland Beach

[3297 Main Shore Road, Port Maitland]

This is a Provincial park with a 1-km long beach and pebble beach (supervised swimming in July and August) with green space and picnic area

Mavillette Beach

[124 John Doucette Rd, Mavillette, NS]

Gorgeous beaches with sand dunes, supervised swimming, and boardwalks. There are no picnic tables at this location.

Johns Cove

[70 Lobster Pound Rd., John’s Cove NS]

Sand beach near Yarmouth and Cape Forchu Light Station

South Shore Beaches

Hawk Beach

[Hawk Rd., Cape Sable Island, NS]

White sand beaches, and with a 1500 year old drowned forest.

Roseway Beach

[Beach Rd, Shelburne, NS]

A critical habitat for the endangered piping plover, Roseway Beach is a quiet sandy beach in Shelburne NS

Roseway Beach, Shelburne NS

South Side (Daniel’s Head) Beach

[GPS: Lat 43.513249 Lon -65.608507]

Long white sandy beaches, great spot for bird watching, and sea glass collecting. There are changerooms, washrooms, and picnic facilities.

Crow Neck Beach

[Baccaro Rd, Baccaro, NS]

A hidden gem in Shelburne County! There is limited parking, so you may need to park on the shoulder of the road.

Sandhills Provincial Park

[28 Sand Hills Beach Road, Villagedale, NS]

2.5 white sand beaches, dunes and large grassy areas with picnic tables!

Crescent Beach

[Crescent Beach Rd., Hwy 331, Crescent Beach, NS]

Very popular with locals and tourists alike! Sandy beach, and you can actually drive your vehicle onto the beach for an easy picnic spot!

Hirtle’s Beach

[318 Hirtle Beach Rd., Kingsburg, NS]

Ocean swimming or lake swimming? No need to choose here! There are 2 small lakes with beaches to swim at, dunes to climb, and white sandy beaches to roam that follow the ocean’s edge.

Queensland Beach Provincial Park

[9600 Highway 3, Queensland, NS]

Though it’s smaller in size, it is a highly popular beach! It is supervised in July and August, features picnic areas and playgrounds, change rooms and toilets. Be sure to arrive early on a hot day as parking can be challenging due to the amount of visitors.

Cleveland Beach Provincial Park

[8878 St. Margaret’s Bay Road, Queensland, NS]

This beach, unlike its sister beach, Queensland Beach Provincial Park, is unsupervised. It has beautiful sandy beaches and a nice picnic area as well.

Sand Dollar Beach

[3327 Highway 332 Rose Bay, NS]

A hidden gem, the sand on this beach is exposed during low tide. It’s a great spot to look for sand dollars and other crustaceans. You can park along the side of the road.

Bachman’s Beach

[Bachman’s Beach, 2 Peninsula Rd NS]

This beach is located near Lunenburg, NS and features a combination of sand, rock, grass and silt. You may find all kinds of sea creatures like lobster, crabs, micro shrimp, minnows, etc. There are two boat moorings, as well as a picnic area.

Spindler Beach

[Feltzen South Rd, Lunenburg, NS]

Another great spot to visit, Spindler Beach is located right near Lunenburg! This spot provides a view of the Lunenburg Harbour as well as Blue Rocks. Parking is along a dead-end road, and is a great spot to find a small sandy beach that is sheltered.

Bayswater Beach Provincial Park

[4015 Highway 329, Bayswater, NS]

Gorgeous white sand beaches, rock formations, change rooms and toilets, views of the open ocean, and BBQ area! You can find this spot in Lunenburg County.

Hubbards Beach

[226 Shore Club Road, Hubbards, NS]

This is a private white sand beach that is available for a small per-car charge, or free if you choose to camp at their campground. They have 35 campsites as well as 5 cabins available. The beach is stunning, with warm water, making it great for swimming.

Rissers Beach Provincial Park

[5366 Highway 33, Crescent Beach, NS]

The beach itself is gorgeous, at 1.5kms long, white sand and sheltered. There are also boardwalks through the marsh, interpretive displays, supervised swimming (in July and August), and two campgrounds.

Summerville Beach Provincial Park

[7533 Highway 3, Summerville Centre, NS]

Summerville has some of the finest sand in all the Nova Scotia beaches! There is about 1km of sandy beach, backed with sand dunes (these are a home to piping plovers, an endangered bird. Please keep to the designated paths), as well as an open salt marsh. There are picnic tables with great views as well!

Kingsburg Beach

[Mosher Rd, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia]

A relatively quiet beach, this is popular with locals. On windy days, it’s known to be great for body surfing. There is a hike at one end of the sandy beach (known as Graft’s Point), and there are two small lakes behind the beach with sand bottoms and warmer water. Note: there is parking here, but no cell service.

Westhaver’s Beach

[256 Maders Cove Rd, Mahone Bay, NS]

Just minutes away from Mahone Bay, this Nova Scotia beach is made up of sand and small rock. A great spot to have a picnic and enjoy the water, or find some seashore treasures. Note: there is no cell service here

Oxner’s Beach

[Lower Lahave Rd, Lower Lahave, NS]

This is a private beach (63 acres of beach and marsh) owned by the surrounding landowners. Personal recreational use is permitted (it’s great for swimming, walking, bird watching, etc). Users are asked to not drive, park or walk on the grasses and dunes as it is a nesting spot for many birds and animals. No commercial vehicles are allowed, or vehicles over a ½ ton.

Beach Meadows Park Beach

[50 Beach Meadows Beach Rd, Brooklyn, NS]

Long, quiet beach near Liverpool, NS. This is located in a small park with washroom facilities, parking, and a boardwalk to the beach! Not super well known, you can safely assume you’ll have your peace and quiet when visiting!

Cunard’s Beach

[326 Ovens Rd, Riverport, NS]

This spot is closed seasonally due to being located in a private park (Ovens Natural Park). The beach is a rocky beach and was used over 100 years ago in finding gold! A great spot to check out (as well as the rest of the Oven’s park)!

Mushamush Beach Park

[15 Aulenback Point Rd, Blockhouse, NS]

This sandy beach is on a lake, located in Lunenburg County. It has a slow grade, and is open May through October, 9am till Dusk. This lake is also where the Municipality of Lunenburg offers swimming lessons!

Hunts Point Beach

[6783 Highway 3, Hunts Point, NS]

A small, sandy beach that is family friendly! It’s nestled in a protective cove and forms a crescent shape. At one end, you’ll find lobster boats and shacks with traps.

Kejimkujik Seaside National Park

[1188 St Catherine’s River Road, Port Joli, NS]

A personal favourite of mine, this park is absolutely gorgeous. Easy walking trails lead through the brush (where sometimes you can spot wildlife, including bears!) to the sandy beach. The silver sand beach goes on for kilometres, and there are neat rock formations with viewing points and interpretive signs. Often you’ll see seals just off shore lounging in the sun. The park is partially wheelchair accessible, and there are benches located throughout the area. There are also flush toilets, as well as outhouses.

Second Peninsula Provincial Park

[781 Second Peninsula Rd, Second Peninsula, NS]

This is located in the Lunenburg area. This beach is made up of mostly rocks and cobblestone. It’s a decent sized park with plenty of picnic areas throughout the trees.

Halifax & HRM Beaches

Conrads Beach

[Conrad Road, Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia]

This gem of a beach is located not too far from Lawrencetown Beach, a very popular spot for surfing. There is a long sand beach, and a boardwalk from the end of the road to the beach, through the dunes. There is no official parking here, and is located at the end of a dead-end road. It can be quite popular, so be sure to bring some walking shoes to walk from your car to the beach!

McCormack’s Beach Provincial Park

[1641 Shore Rd, Eastern Passage, NS]

This beach in Eastern Passage, and located adjacent to the ever popular Fisherman’s Cove. There is a great boardwalk system, and offers views of McNabs Island, Devil’s Island, Eastern Passage, and more.

Lawrencetown Beach Provincial Park

[4348 Lawrencetown Rd, East Lawrencetown, NS]

This highly popular beach is located just a few minutes outside of Cole Harbour & Dartmouth. During low tide, there is some sandy beach that is exposed, but it is primarily rocky. It’s a hotspot for surfers due to the great waves that the wind creates. There are toilet and change room facilities on site, as well as plenty of parking. Often, you will find surf school pop ups with rentals available if you want to try your hand at surfing the waves!

Rainbow Haven Provincial Park

[2248 Cow Bay Road, Cow Bay, NS]

Probably one of the most visited beaches in the Halifax region, Rainbow Haven is a sandy beach with supervised swimming in July and August. There are toilets, picnic areas, and kite flying.

Crystal Crescent Beach Provincial Park

[223 Sambro Creek Rd, Sambro Creek, NS]

This park features 3 crescent shaped white sand beaches. There are toilet facilities and boardwalks to the first two beaches. There is also a long (10km each way) hiking trail to Pennant Point which is a great trail to see some wildlife and do some bird watching.

Eastern Shore

Martinique Beach Provincial Park

[2389 East Petpeswick Road, East Petpeswick, NS]

Another huge, sandy beach (with ample parking), this hotspot is located a little ways out from Halifax. Of all the Nova Scotia beaches, it is known for being the longest , with 5 kilometres crescent of white sand. There is also a wooded area, picnic tables, boardwalks, and hard packed trails.

Clam Harbour Beach Provincial Park

[158 Beach Rd, Lake Charlotte, NS]

This spot is known for its long, wide sandy beach, and is most notable for its annual Clam Harbour Sand Castle competition! The beach is supervised during the summer weekends in July and August, and is very family friendly due to the warm and shallow tidal stream. Other amenities include toilets, boardwalks and hiking trails.

Taylor Head Provincial Park

[20140 Hwy 7, Spry Bay, NS]

This park is full of hiking trails, geological features, wildlife, and a 1km long sand beach. It is located on a peninsula that juts out 6kms into the Atlantic ocean.

Tor Bay Provincial Park

[650 Tor Bay Branch Rd, Larrys River, NS]

There’s a small picnic area on an outcrop, gorgeous beaches, and boardwalks.

Port Shoreham Provincial Park

[1720 Highway 344 Port Shoreham, NS]

A sand and cobble beach, this park is located near Guysborough. There are picnic areas, change rooms and toilet facilities at this park as well.

Cape Breton

Dingwall Beach

[Dingwall Nova Scotia, Quarry Road]

Dingwall beach is spectacular but unmarked! The beach is located in Dingwall, off the Cabot Trail. We were tipped off about this beach and made a point to find it. You’ll see a dirt road (quarry road), just drive all the way to the end (past the wharf). There’s a small area to park so you can explore the beach.

Pondville Sandy Beach Provincial Park

[219 Pondville North Rd, Arichat, NS]

This park has picnic areas, a 1km long sandy beach that is backed by gentle dunes, and a salt marsh and large lagoon. There are toilet facilities, as well as a change house.

Point Michaud Beach Provincial Park

[3796 Point Michaud Rd, Lower L’Ardoise, NS]

If you’re looking to surf in Cape Breton, check out this park. The beach is 3kms of sand, backed by dunes and cranberry bogs. There are also boardwalks, toilets, picnic facilities and more.

Battery Provincial Park

[10110 Grenville St, St. Peter’s, NS]

Along with a small, unsupervised beach, this park is a great spot to enjoy hiking trails or pitch a tent. There are camping facilities, as well as bathroom facilities on site.

Lennox Passage Provincial Park

[2313 Highway 320 Martinique, NS]

This lovely park is located on the North Shore of Isle Madame on Cape Breton Island. Here, you can swim, kayak, hike or tour the operational lighthouse! This park is also open in the winter months, and is a great spot to go skiing or snowshoeing.

Marache Point Lighthouse

[Cape Auguet Road, Arichat, Nova Scotia]

While the lighthouse is the main feature of this area, there is a lovely rocky beach that makes for great sunset watching, photos and relaxing by the sea.

East Bay Sandbar

[7.5 miles from Boisdale, in Cape Breton County]

Another local favourite, this spot is known for its diversity. The beach is both rocky in spots, and sandy in others. There is a road that goes through the middle of the sandbar that is quiet and perfect for walking on.

Morrison’s Beach

[174 Pig Point Rd #98, Framboise, NS]

While this beach is not well-known or well-frequented, it’s certainly worth checking out. There is a lovely sandy beach here, plenty of bird life, and is a great spot for a nice walk. Note: there is no cell reception here.

Mira River Provincial Park

[439 Brickyard Road, Albert Bridge, NS]

This is a popular provincial park located on the freshwater Mira River. There are many facilities here, including camping, accessible features, outhouses as well as bath houses, firewood, boat launch, playground and more.

Dominion Beach Provincial Park

[48 Lower Mitchell Ave, Dominion, NS]

This sandy beach is supervised during the summer months, and offers 1.5 kms of beach, as well as boardwalks, salt rinse showers, and more!

Indian Beach

[445 Purves St, North Sydney, NS]

Occasionally, this location has live music and events happening as it is a hotspot for locals and visitors alike! Sand and pebbles, playground, and gorgeous views!

Broad Cove Beach

[251 Broad Cove Campground Rd]

A hidden gem, this lovely sandy beach is located at the foot of Broad Cove Campground in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park. There is unsupervised swimming, as well as a freshwater creek wade into as well.

Ingonish Beach Campground – Cape Breton Highlands National Park

[37437 Cabot Trail Rd, Ingonish Beach, NS]

This campground can only be accessed with a Canadian Parks Pass (which you can get at the entrance of the Cape Breton Highlands National Park). There are several different types of camping sites, amenities and activity areas. The beaches are lovely, and include both fresh water swimming areas, as well as salt water!

Black Brook Beach Cove

[33637 Cabot Trail Rd, Neils Harbour, NS]

This is a popular sandy beach in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park. The beach is backed by a waterfall, and you can also enjoy hiking trails and campfire/picnic areas as well. There are toilets and change houses, as well as a paved parking lot.

Cabots Landing Provincial Park

[1904 Bay St Lawrence Rd, Dingwall, NS]

A lovely beach and picnic area that is located just 10km north of the Cabot Trail. This spot also features a national historic site monument that marks where John Cabot made landfall.

Cheticamp Beach

[Cheticamp Island Rd, Cheticamp, NS]

While this beach isn’t the easiest to find parking at, it’s well loved by locals. It offers great views of Cheticamp, and is known for its sandy, paradise-like beach. When you first arrive, be aware that you will need to cross a rocky area before finding the sand.

Margaree Harbour Beach

[Margaree Harbour, NS]

A hidden gem, this beach has grassy dunes, cliffs, and a working harbour! A lovely sandy beach just inside of Margaree Harbour.

Whale Cove

[3316 Shore Road, Margaree Harbour, NS]

This easy-to-find spot is a great spot to stretch your legs and enjoy stunning views on the bluff that is above the beach.

Chimney Corner Beach

[Chimney Corner Rd., Margaree, NS]

It’s easy to see why this place is a favourite among locals. It’s off the road, well protected from open water, and has a clean, sandy beach. The water is clear and shallow, making it attractive for everyone in all walks of life.

Inverness Beach

[158 Beach No 1 Rd, Mabou, NS]

Shallow waters, warm and soft sand, and a boardwalk are all here at Inverness Beach. It’s a municipal beach, and they have done a lot in the last few years to make it welcoming and accessible for everyone.

West Mabou Beach Provincial Park

[1757 Little Mabou Rd, Inverness, Subd. B, NS]

West Mabou Beach Provincial Park is known as a natural environmental park. It features large sandy beaches, large dunes, old farm fields, marshes and more.

Port Hood Beach

[40 Court St, Port Hood, NS]

This is a very well-protected beach that is ideal for spending a summer’s day at. The water is calm and shallow, allowing it to reach warm temperatures. It is a supervised beach during the summer months, and has washrooms, showers and a canteen.

Northern Shore

Bayfield Beach Provincial Park

[151 Bayfield Beach Rd, Afton Station, NS]

A popular spot, this small sand & pebble beach has supervised swimming during the summer months. There are also change rooms and toilet facilities.

Pomquet Beach Provincial Park

[432 Pomquet Beach Road, Monks Head]

A lovely spot with 3kms of beach, there are many sand dunes, sandbars, and is well frequented by locals. There is a lovely tea house located near the entrance to the park, and often festivals are held here throughout the summer.

Crystal Cliffs Beach

[Crystal Cliffs Farm Rd, Antigonish, Subd. A, NS]

Another popular swimming spot with the locals, this beach is a sand and pebble beach.

Arisaig Provincial Park

[5704 Highway 245 Arisaig]

Located right near Antigonish, this provincial park is a local favorite. This beach overlooks some of the warmest waters in Nova Scotia! With plenty of history and walking trails, there is truly something for everyone!

Melmerby Beach Provincial Park

[Melmerby Beach Provincial Park, 6280 Little Harbour Rd, New Glasgow]

This sandy beach is approximately 2km long and features boardwalks and warm waters. The beaches are supervised during the summer months, and there are picnic areas, toilets, and change rooms.

Caribou-Munroes Island Provincial Park

[2119 Three Brooks Rd, Pictou, NS]

Near the PEI ferry terminal, this warm salt water beach is nearly a mile long. This is a great spot to go bird watching, canoeing and kayaking.

Waterside Beach Provincial Park

[649 R Grant Rd, Pictou, NS]

There is a long sandy beach, salt marshes, and farm fields. A great spot to picnic along the water!

Rushton’s Beach Provincial Park

[723 Highway 6 Marshville]

The beach is exposed during low tide, with many sandbars in the area. There’s also a lengthy boardwalk through the marsh, and sheltered picnic areas.

Blue Sea Beach Provincial Park

[651 Blue Sea Rd, Malagash, NS]

Featuring a wide sandy beach, warm waters, and a short boardwalk to the beach, this is a great beach for people in all walks of life. There are picnic areas, toilets, and change houses.

Fox Harbour Provincial Park

[865 Fox Harbour S Rd, Wallace, NS]

Small but sweet, this sandy beach and picnic area is certainly a must-see if in the Wallace area.

Gulf Shore Provincial Park

[1033 Gulf Shore Rd, Pugwash, NS]

If you haven’t checked out Pugwash, NS, you have to make the trip! This park is stunning. There is a large, grassy picnic area, with a sandy beach with warm water.

Heather Beach Provincial Park

[Heather Beach Rd, Cumberland, Subd. C, NS]

This is a largely popular beach, with warm waters and sandy shores. The beach is supervised during the summer months, and there are toilets and change rooms.

Northport Beach Provincial Park

[7722 Highway 366 Northport]

Red sand beaches, accessible by wooden staircase, gentle tides, and warm water from the Northumberland Strait make this a great spot for swimming and sunbathing.

Tidnish Dock Provincial Park

[919 Tidnish Head Rd, Amherst, NS]

This beach is the closest beach to Amherst. With plenty of walking trails, informative signs and lookouts, this is a great spot to check out if you’re near Amherst.

Bay of Fundy Shore

Thomas Cove Coastal Reserve

[Economy Point Rd, Economy, NS]

There are two long trails here that are easily hiked, with views of the basin and more!

Five Island Provincial Park

[618 Bentley Branch Rd, Five Islands, NS]

As one of Nova Scotia’s top outdoor destinations, it’s a must-see! With 90 meter high cliffs, campground, places to hike, picnic and sightsee, there’s something for everyone.

Burntcoat Head Park

[45 Faulkner Lane, Noel, NS]

Another amazing location, with a tidal beach. The beach is red clay, and is full of tidal pools teeming with living creatures. There are many things to do in the area (including some things on the list from this blog post)

Kingsport Beach

[NS-221, Canning, NS]

A popular spot with the locals, this beach is exposed during low tide. There are no facilities, but there is a small boardwalk, canteen and great views. The beach is red clay.

Blomidon Provincial Park

[3138 Pereau Rd, Canning, NS]

Blomidon (or Blow-Me-Down) is aptly named. This is a great park that includes camping facilities. There are huge cliffs that offer great views, and is located near Cape Split (a great hiking trail). There is also a nearby beach, day use area, and picnic facilities.

Hall’s Harbour Sea Cave

[1157 W Halls Harbour Rd, Centreville, NS]

This address will bring you to the lobster pound in Hall’s Harbour, but the area is small. You can easily walk to the rocky beach, and check out the sea caves. Just be sure to mind the tide!

Harbourville Beach

[3281 Long Point Rd, Berwick, NS]

Again, this is another tiny village along the Bay of Fundy. Take a drive to the water, park, and walk along the rocky shore. This is also a great spot to enjoy a sunset!

French Cross

[287-831 French Cross Rd, Morden, NS]

Morden is a lovely little village. There are two beaches that can be accessed here, but the main one is located at French Cross. A lovely stone cross perched on a grassy look off. Enjoy picnic benches, a nice fenced off area and (rickety) wooden steps down to the shore. Again, it’s rocky here, and offers a great beach to walk along.

Margaretville Beach Waterfalls

[103 Seaman St, Margaretsville, NS]

Another local favourite, this is another working wharf. The beach is long and rocky, and you can often find locals having campfires on the beach. Walk a ways down, and you’ll come across a waterfall. The opposite direction of the falls is the small lighthouse that is easily accessible.

Cottage Cove Provincial Park

[11935 Shore Rd E, Middleton, NS]

This spot is a favourite for watching stunning sunsets, spying sunning seals, and having a good campfire on the beach. There are toilets and picnic tables here.

Savary Beach Provincial Park

[7401 Highway 1 Plympton]

A lovely picnic area with a rocky tidal beach. At low tide, this is a great spot for beach combing.

Brier Island Lighthouse

[720 Lighthouse Rd, Digby, NS]

If you find yourself on Brier Island (hello, whale watching!), check out this lighthouse. It’s got great views! If you find yourself in the bird sanctuary, you’ll also find a rocky beach. Take some time to explore the island – there are plenty of hidden beaches!

There are many, many, more beaches throughout Nova Scotia. Sand, rock, clay – you name it! We are so incredibly lucky to live in such a beautiful province. If you love beaches as much as we do, we highly encourage you to pick a handful you haven’t visited before! Try to visit them over the year, and mark down your favourites!