Swimming is always a fun activity, especially when you bring your kids. Swimming enables the entire family to beat the summer heat and bond together on some of the best beaches on the East Coast.
With the number of beaches available to East Coast residents, narrowing your summer beach bucket list can be challenging. Do you stick with a known watering hole? Or venture out and try a new spot?
If you’re planning a day at the lake or beach, start by examining this list of best beaches on the East Coast. We asked East Coast locals to rate their favourite beaches to create this list. The result is a long list of refreshing places to dip your toes in every Atlantic province.
So don’t waste any time. Get your beach towels and sunscreen and head out early for fun in the sea, sun, and sand!
Top 10 Best Beaches on the East Coast
Atlantic Canada is a geographic place — made up of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland & Labrador and Prince Edward Island — but it’s also a culture—a place where residents and visitors alike feel at home because of the friendly locals, slower pace, and abundance of outdoor activities.
While the Atlantic provinces are expansive–it would take days of driving to visit each one, each region has a distinct set of beautiful beaches, from pristine lakes to unique beach attractions like the 30-foot tides of Fundy Bay to the red sands of Prince Edward Island.
To help find the best beaches, we examined lakes and oceanfront beaches across all four provinces and then asked locals to rate their quality. More than 400 individuals responded, helping us create the top 10 best beaches on the east coast. But to keep it local, we also broke out the must-visit swimming holes in each province.
- Parlee Beach (Shediac, NB)
- Cavendish Beach (North Rustico, PEI)
- Northern Bay Sands (Northern Bay, NL)
- New River Beach (Lepreau, NB)
- Inverness Beach (Inverness, NS)
- Ingonish Beach (Ingonish, NS)
- Sandy Cove Beach (Catalina, NL)
- Lake Banook (Dartmouth, NS)
- Crystal Crescent Beach (Sambro, NS)
- Lawrencetown Beach (Lawrencetown, NS)
Best Beaches & Swimming Spots in PEI
Prince Edward Island (or PEI) is a large island in the eastern section of Canada’s Maritime Provinces. Because of its fertile farmlands, lighthouses, and red-sand beaches, Prince Edward Island has become a popular destination for locals and tourists.
Brackley Beach is one of the most stunning beaches on Prince Edward Island. This beach features majestic dunes and miles of pristine sandy beaches. This spot is also ideal for kids because lifeguards oversee the area.
Cavendish Beach is another swimming spot on Prince Edward Island that you should visit soon. With its sandstone cliffs, barrier islands, and unspoiled beachfront, every family member will have a good time. The family can also participate in interpretative programs on wildlife, geology, and ecology at Cavendish Beach.
While some folks love to spend time in crowded areas, others prefer peace. If your family belongs to the latter, visit Greenwich Beach on Prince Edward Island first. Greenwich Beach is the region’s least visited beach, with giant dunes, boardwalks, and trails. Greenwich Beach offers breathtaking views like something out of a storybook.
If your family is looking for other activities besides swimming, take them to the Prince Edward Island National Park. All the beaches accessible through the park are supervised, so you don’t have to worry about your kids’ safety when they’re in the water. Other activities available in the park are golf, bird watching, cycling, and camping.
- Brackley Beach/ Cavendish Beach/ Greenwich Beach (PEI National Park, near Cavendish)
- Cabot Beach Provincial Park (Malpeque)
- Basin Head Provincial Park (Kingsboro)
- Argyle Shore Provincial Park (DeSable)
- Kings Castle National Park (Murray River)
Best Beaches & Swimming Spots in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is famous for its high tides, blueberries, and apples. This province is also world-famous for its lobster, so order one when you visit the area!
Ingonish Beach in Ingonish, Cape Breton, is unique because you can swim in the salty Atlantic Ocean and the aptly named Freshwater Lake just steps from each other.
Not only can you swim, but you can also hike the Freshwater Lake trail and use the tennis court, soccer field, playground or picnic area.
- Ingonish Beach (Ingonish)
- Long Pond Beach (Herring Cove)
- Birch Cove Beach (Bedford)
- Lake Milo Beach (Yarmouth)
- Aylesford Lake Beach (Aylesford)
Highest Ranked Beaches & Swimming Spots in New Brunswick
Another province to visit when you’re in the Maritimes is New Brunswick.
Aside from being the home to the largest ocean tidal whirlpool in the western hemisphere, New Brunswick is the largest province in the Maritimes which means that you’ll have plenty of beaches to choose from when you visit!
Visiting Moosehorn Falls in Fundy National Park should be on your to-do list in New Brunswick.
To swim at Moosehorn Falls, prepare for a 6.8km looped hike. Although it’s a moderately strenuous hike, the plentiful swimming spots and amazing waterfall views are worth the effort.
- Moosehorn Falls (Fundy National Park, near Alma)
- Alma Beach (Alma)
- Mount Carleton Beach (Saint-Quentin)
- Anchorage Beach (Grand Manan Island)
- Bas-Caraquet Municipal Park (Bas-Caraquet)
Best Swimming Spots in Newfoundland & Labrador
Also abbreviated as NFLD, Newfoundland and Labrador is located in the country’s Atlantic region and has a reputation for friendly locals. Expect to come across warm and welcoming residents when you visit this province.
Our top beach is Sandy Cove Beach, about halfway between Gander and Clarenville. The beach is steps from Sandy Cove Beach Cabins, perfect for a weekend getaway on the Atlantic Ocean. There are also several hiking trails in the area to explore.
- Sandy Cove Beach (Catalina)
- Bellevue Beach (Trinity Bay)
- Salmon Cove Sands (Salmon Cove)
- Happy Valley Goose Bay (Happy Valley Goose Bay)
- Sandbanks Provincial Park (Burgeo)
Kid-Friendly Beaches on the East Coast
You’ll have a lot of fun visiting different beaches around Atlantic Canada, but you should pick the locations wisely. Not all beaches in the province are ideal and safe for kids; taking them to these locations could result in injuries and accidents.
How can you have fun if the swimming spot is too deep for your tots? It can be hard to relax in the sand if you’re constantly worrying about the safety of your kids when they’re in the water.
Ensure that everyone in your family has fun under the sun by taking them to these kid-friendly beaches.
1. Northern Bay Sands, Northern Bay, NL
Northern Bay Sands is one of Newfoundland’s most popular beaches – for good reason! Not only can you swim in the Atlantic Ocean, but you can also splash around in two freshwater pools as well.
Book one of their campsites if you’re looking for a weekend getaway! Northern Bay Sands also offers two bars, a laundromat, a café and a take-out restaurant within walking distance of the beach.
2. Parlee Beach Provincial Park, Shediac, New Brunswick
Parlee Beach has been a local favourite for decades and is regarded as one of North America’s best beaches. The water is the warmest saltwater swimming in Canada, making it great for kids (and adults too)!
The beach is supervised, and the water quality is monitored for safety. You and your kids can enjoy daily scheduled sports activities, sand castle competitions, and more. You can camp at Parlee Beach Provincial Park, serviced and unserviced lots are available.
3. Cavendish Beach, Prince Edward Island
There are many beautiful beaches on Prince Edward Island, and many of them are kid friendly!
The beaches in PEI National Park are supervised by lifeguards. The park also offers many other things to do besides beaches, like camping, hiking, birdwatching, canoeing, fishing and more. Keep in mind there is an entrance fee to PEI National Park.
4. New River Beach, Lepreau, NB
You’ll find an expansive sandy beach at New River Beach at low tide. However, at high tide, it will be much narrower! The beach is unsupervised, but there is still a lot to explore. You and your kids can wade in the tidal pools, searching for crabs, periwinkles, and starfish (just make sure to leave them where they are). You’ll also enjoy two hiking trails, a playground, and volleyball courts. There is also a family-friendly take-out restaurant right in the park!
Are you feeling creative? Check out the annual Sand Sculpture Competition in July.
5. Melmerby Beach Provincial Park, Little Harbour NS
Melmerby Beach is known as one of Nova Scotia’s warmest beaches – the water temperature averages more than 19 degrees Celsius in the Summer! Enjoy the warm waters, walk the boardwalks, and enjoy the stunning coastal views.
Melmerby Beach is supervised in July and August and includes facilities such as washrooms, salt-rinse showers, picnic tables, and plenty of parking.
Methodology
The Beach Report: Best Swimming Spots in Ontario survey was conducted by Zolo between June 1st to 13th, 2023. A sample of 400 Canadians aged 18 and over were interviewed. Each respondent was asked to rate a popular swimming destination. The survey is accurate to within ±5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
