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Beach Information
Gloucester Beach Information & Regulations
The City of Gloucester welcomes you to our beautiful, award-winning beaches and wants your visit to be memorable. Gloucester is a premier spot for beachgoers visiting from near and far.
Before visiting our beautiful beaches, please familiarize yourself with our rules, regulations, and amenities (which vary by beach).
For the safety and enjoyment of others, the City’s regulations prohibit alcohol, flotation devices of any type, and dogs. Certified service dogs are welcome to accompany their owner. A list of items prohibited from our beaches for health and safety purposes can be found in the Beach Regulations.
For beach updates, visit our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/gloubeaches/
Resident Beach Parking Stickers
If you have a resident beach sticker, you can park at the public beaches without paying the daily rate. Resident beach stickers allow parking in the lots at Good Harbor Beach, Wingaersheek Beach, and Stage Fort Park. They also allow Gloucester residents to use the composting facility and other city beaches where it is posted "Resident Sticker Parking".
Residents can purchase resident beach stickers in advance by completing the application online, through the mail, or in person at City Hall.
Non-Resident Online Beach Parking Reservation System
Our beaches fill up very quickly in the summertime as Gloucester is a world-renowned vacation destination and a popular day-trip spot. The City will be utilizing Yodel, a new online beach parking reservation system for non-resident beachgoers. Reservations can be made up to 10 days in advance and are required for non-resident parking at Good Harbor Beach, Wingaersheek Beach, and Stage Fort Park.
Reservations are non-refundable, and cash will no longer be accepted at the gate for parking.
Thank you for another great beach season! Reservations are not required and fees will not be collected after Labor Day for Good Harbor Beach, Wingaersheek Beach, and Stage Fort Park. We appreciate your patience and understanding during our first season with the new online reservations system and look forward to seeing you next summer!
- How do I reserve a parking space at Good Harbor Beach, Wingaersheek Beach, or Stage Fort Park?
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Non-residents are required to reserve a parking space on the City of Gloucester’s Yodel website for parking at Good Harbor Beach, Wingaersheek Beach, or Stage Fort Park. You can book your parking space up to 10 days in advance [Available starting 5/19/2022]
Once on the Yodel website, you will be prompted to create an account or log in with Yodel. You will then select the date, category, automobile type, and beach for your visit from the listed options.
You will need to enter the following vehicle information:- License Plate Number
- State
Then you will head to checkout and enter your payment information.
- How will I know I have completed my reservation?
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You will receive a confirmation email once your reservation is complete. If you do not receive this email, please check your junk/spam folder many of these emails tend to end up there.
You can download the Yodel app on your phone and log into your Yodel account; this app will sync with your reservation and serve as a digital wallet. You will need to create an account to link your passes, please ensure you enter a cell phone number when creating the account - if you check out as a guest the following will not work. To link your pass:
- Download the Yodel application from the Google Play (Android/Samsung/etc.) or App Store (iPhone).
- Tap Account in the bottom right-hand corner and tap the yellow Login button to enter the phone number you used when creating an account.
- You will receive a activation code via text message that will link your account to the app.
- Once linked, you will be returned to the Account screen with your information present, tap the menu item labeled Linked Accounts and choose GLOUCESTER.
- You will be prompted to enter a 6-character code. This code can be found in a green box on the website version when you are logged into your account.
- Once entered, your account will be linked, and passes will show up in the middle section labeled Wallet.
- Can I print my reservation to check in at the gate?
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You can also print the confirmation email for your reservation to present at the beach parking gate for entry, although the fastest and most reliable methods for check-in are via the Yodel App or license plate.
- How will parking attendants check me in at the gate?
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The parking attendants will scan your license plate, QR code from the Yodel app, or your printed reservation for entry into the parking lot. For fastest processing, we suggest using the Yodel App or the license plate method, as printed reservations with an incorrect license plate may take additional time to process. If you need to use a printed confirmation, please be sure to have it ready at the gate.
- Can I pay cash at the gate?
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Cash will no longer be accepted at the gate to pay for parking, all reservations must be purchased with a credit or debit card. Reservations will be required to enter the parking lot.
* Some special events may accept cash at the gate for parking
- What if I arrive without a reservation? What is the day-of policy?
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Non-residents are required to have a reservation to enter the parking lot. You can check the Yodel website upon arrival and try to make a reservation if a parking space is available. If a parking space is not available, you will be turned away at the gate.
Cash will no longer be accepted at the gate to pay for parking.
- Are reservations able to be refunded, transferred, or canceled?
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Reservations are non-refundable, transferrable, or cancellable under any circumstances, so visitors are encouraged to plan accordingly for weather or other unforeseen events.
- What if I have a rental car, am using a different car, or don’t know my license plate number?
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You are required to complete the license plate field to finish your reservation. You can enter any characters to fill the field so that your purchase can be completed.
To ensure the simplest entry on the day of your reservation, please link your reservation with the Yodel app and present the reservation QR code at the gate to check-in. You will not need any license plate scan if you have the QR code in the app.
- Are parking spaces guaranteed for non-resident beachgoers?
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Yes, parking spaces are guaranteed for non-residents with beach reservations.
Non-residents with reservations can arrive at any time between 8:00am and 5:00pm. They can also leave and return to the beach parking lot on the day of their reservation; this has been an existing policy.
- What are the parking prices for Good Harbor, Wingaersheek, and Stage Fort Park?
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Below are the parking rates for Stage Fort Park, Good Harbor Beach, and Wingaersheek Beach:
Stage Fort Park
- Passenger car, SW, minivan, SUV
- $20.00 weekdays
- $25.00 weekends, holidays
- Motorcycle
- $5.00 each, weekdays
- $10.00 weekends, holidays
Good Harbor Beach/Wingaersheek
- Passenger car, SW, minivan, SUV
- 8:00am to 5:00pm:
- $30.00 weekdays
- $35.00 weekends, holidays
- 3:00pm to 5:00pm [Partial-Day Rate, only available day-of]:
- $20.00 weekdays
- $25.00 weekends, holidays
- 8:00am to 5:00pm:
- Motorcycle
- $5.00 each, weekdays
- $10.00 weekends, holidays
- Passenger car, SW, minivan, SUV
- Is there a discounted rate for parking later in the day?
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After 3:00pm there may be a discounted parking rate for Good Harbor and Wingaersheek Beaches at the discretion of our staff. Please check the Yodel website after 12:00pm for available afternoon parking spaces [only available day-of].
Good Harbor Beach/Wingaersheek
- Passenger car, SW, minivan, SUV
- 3:00pm to 5:00pm:
- $20.00 weekdays
- $25.00 weekends, holiday
- 3:00pm to 5:00pm:
- Passenger car, SW, minivan, SUV
- Will spaces become available as the day goes by?
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Yes, beach parking attendants will closely monitor space availability throughout the day and update the number of spaces available for purchase. As spaces become available, they will be released, and the Yodel website will be updated.
- Will the tides impact the number of parking spaces available?
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The Department of Public Works closely monitors the tides schedule and releases the appropriate number of spaces relative to the expected space on the beach. Please check the Yodel website regularly for updated availability of parking spaces.
- How do I know if any parking spots are available on a given day?
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The Yodel website updates availability in real time. If a beach displays a green “Available” on its pass, this means that parking is available. If it displays “Not Available” or "Sold Out", there is no parking currently available. Please refer solely to the Yodel website for this information, and do not call, email, or message the Department of Public Works, Facebook Pages, or other City personnel to ask about parking availability.
- When are parking reservations required?
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Reservations will be required from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. The City of Gloucester’s Yodel website is scheduled to launch on May 19th, which will allow visitors to make reservations starting Memorial Day Weekend.
- What if I am a resident without a beach sticker?
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Gloucester residents without a beach sticker will be required to make a reservation through the Yodel website.