Carson Beach is Boston’s most accessible oceanfront escape, offering sandy shores, calm waters, and skyline views just minutes from downtown. Part of a three-mile stretch of South Boston beaches, it connects seamlessly to M Street Beach and Castle Island via a scenic waterfront walkway.

Originally known as L Street Beach, Carson Beach was named after a 1900s swimming competition winner. Once a local summer hotspot, its popularity declined in the 20th century as pollution and urban expansion took their toll. By the 1990s, the water quality was so poor that swimming was banned. However, a massive state-funded cleanup effort transformed the area, and today it is one of the cleanest urban beaches in the country.

The Edward J. McCormack Bathhouse, originally built in 1925 and restored in 1998, offers changing rooms, restrooms, and shaded pavilions, making it easy for visitors to enjoy a full beach day. The beach is also a hub for recreation, with volleyball courts, jogging and biking trails along the Harborwalk, and easy access to the JFK/UMass MBTA station.

Carson Beach has also been a backdrop for historic moments, from racial justice protests in the 1970s to major public events. Whether you’re taking a dip, enjoying a walk along the harbor, or catching the ocean breeze, Carson Beach is a reminder of Boston’s ability to reclaim and reinvent its waterfront.