14 parks, an interactive map, and 5 day-itineraries for families exploring the Newburyport-to-Amesbury corridor — researched and written by a Realtor who has been sending clients to these spots for years.
Best parks near Newburyport and Amesbury: The corridor between these two towns holds some of the most varied family outdoor space on the North Shore — state parks, wildlife refuges, freshwater beaches, splash pads, wooded conservation trails, and old New England farm grounds. This guide covers 14 locations with GPS, costs, age ranges, and insider tips, plus five itineraries that families can use as-is. Written by Steven Wallace, Realtor — Lisa Sevajian Group, eXp Realty. Updated May 2026.
When families reach out to me about moving to the Newburyport or Amesbury area, the conversation almost always comes around to the same thing before long: what does daily life actually look like here?
Not the listing photos. Not the commute time in Google Maps. The actual, Tuesday-at-four-o'clock version of life — where do the kids go, what does Saturday morning feel like, is there somewhere to walk when the house gets loud.
This part of Massachusetts has a genuinely rare answer to those questions. The Newburyport-to-Amesbury corridor sits at the intersection of the Merrimack River, the Great Marsh, the Atlantic coast, and a ring of working farms and conservation land that has stayed largely intact for a long time. The result is a density of outdoor space that most suburban communities north of Boston simply cannot match.
I have been serving buyers and sellers in this market for over twenty years. I know which parks fill by nine on a summer Saturday, which trails hold mud in May, which playgrounds genuinely wear out a five-year-old, and which beach is actually manageable with a parking situation when the temperature hits ninety. That is the knowledge I want to give you here — not a list copied from a travel site, but the real version from someone who has been sending clients to these places for decades.
One thing I always tell families considering this corridor: the outdoor life here is not a bonus. For a lot of people who end up in Newburyport or Amesbury, it is the reason. They do not move here despite the parks. They move here because of the pattern of life those parks make possible — the Saturday at Maudslay that becomes a family tradition, the July mornings at Lake Gardner that define the summer, the weekly walk at Old Town Hill that no one ever quite outgrows.
If that kind of life appeals to you, read on. The fourteen places below represent the best of what this corridor has to offer for families. Every entry has an address, a GPS coordinate, a cost breakdown, an honest age-range assessment, and an insider note that the official websites will not tell you.
There is also a map below that pins all fourteen, so you can see how they sit relative to each other, plan a logical loop, or find something you have never visited. After the park entries, five ready-to-use family itineraries give you a full day's plan for different moods, ages, and seasons.
The corridor is waiting. Here is how to use it.
Click any marker for the park name and address. Zoom to explore the corridor.
74 Curzon Mill Road, Newburyport · mass.gov
Maudslay is the kind of place that feels like stepping into a different century — former estate grounds along the Merrimack River, with stone bridges, reflection ponds, and sweeping meadows that seem designed for picnics and long, unhurried afternoons. The 16 miles of wide carriage roads mean strollers roll along without fuss, and older children disappear into the pine groves finding old foundations and garden walls from the Moseley family estate. In May and June, the mountain laurel and rhododendrons bloom in masses of color that make the whole park feel dreamlike.
6 Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport · fws.gov
There is something genuinely magical about driving this long, winding barrier island road, salt marsh stretching in every direction, egrets stepping through the shallows, and the open Atlantic appearing at the end like a reward. The Hellcat Boardwalk is a gem for families with younger children — flat, fully accessible, with an observation tower delivering a 360-degree view of the Great Marsh. Older kids become fascinated by the bird life, especially during fall migration when thousands of swallows and shorebirds move through in clouds overhead.
388 High Street, Newburyport (Upper) · cityofnewburyport.com
Atkinson Common is Newburyport's grande dame of parks — a 21-acre gateway to the city with a long-standing role in community athletics and civic life. The lily pond at Upper Atkinson draws families for quiet mornings, while the ball fields below come alive on spring and summer evenings with little league and the kind of neighbourhood energy that feels both timeless and reassuring.
202 Merrimac Street, Newburyport · portparksalliance.com
On a warm afternoon, Cashman Park is the kind of place where everyone shows up at once — babies in carriers, kids on scooters, grandparents on the benches, and dogs circling the perimeter. The pirate ship playground sits just close enough to the Merrimack River that kids can watch fishing boats and kayakers between turns on the slides, and the paved path along the water is smooth enough for the smallest tricycles. Being a short walk from downtown Newburyport means an ice cream stop is always within reach.
151 High Street, Newburyport · newburyport.com
Bartlett Mall is the kind of urban park that punches well above its square footage — a historic green in the heart of Newburyport, anchored by a serene pond ringed with mature trees and a footpath that practically asks you to slow down. Children love watching the ducks and geese from the path's edge, and in winter the pond becomes one of the best sledding spots in the city when the hill on its western side gets a good snowfall.
15 Spofford Street, Newburyport
Moseley Woods is Newburyport's tucked-away treasure — a 16-acre wooded park just off the Merrimac Street circle, overlooking the Merrimack River. The pavilion hosts a beloved summer concert series that draws families spreading blankets on the grass while children run between the trees, and the trail system through the woods is short enough to hold a four-year-old's attention but interesting enough to feel like a real adventure.
5 Highland Street, Amesbury · amesburyma.gov
Amesbury Town Park is what happens when a town puts everything in one place and does it right — the playground, the splash pad, the sports fields, the skate park, and the pavilion all wrap around a creek with footbridges and woodlands behind them, giving the whole campus a camp-like feeling that children find irresistible. On a July afternoon, the splash pad draws families from across the Merrimack Valley, and it is not unusual to find three generations of the same family here at once.
79 High Street, Amesbury · amesburyma.gov
Lake Gardner is the freshwater antidote to the crowded ocean beaches — a long, narrow lake formed by a dam on the Powow River, with calm water and no powerboats kicking up waves, making it genuinely ideal for young and tentative swimmers. The sandy beach is small but sweet; paddling here is a pleasure with kayakers and stand-up paddleboarders gliding up the lake toward the New Hampshire border.
State Reservation Road, Salisbury · mass.gov
Salisbury Beach is where the Merrimack River meets the Atlantic, and standing on that 3.8-mile stretch of coastline you feel the full scale of both. The wide, clean beach gives children room to run and build and dig, and the ocean swimming is lifeguarded during the summer season. For families who want to extend the day, the campground is one of the most accessible on the North Shore — 484 sites with water and electric hookups, hot showers, and a camp store.
Newman Road, Newbury · thetrustees.org
Old Town Hill is the kind of hike that earns its views — a 531-acre Trustees of Reservations property where the Ridge Trail climbs a 168-foot coastal promontory and delivers panoramic views of the Great Marsh, the Parker River, and on clear days, New Hampshire's Isles of Shoals. The River Trail, shorter and largely flat, wanders past old pasture along the marsh's edge and through oak forest — precisely the right length and terrain for families with children who are still building their trail legs.
5 Little's Lane, Newbury · historicnewengland.org
Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm is one of those places that reminds you why people choose to live in this part of Massachusetts — 231 acres of open farmland bordering the Merrimack River and Plum Island Sound, anchored by a 1690 stone manor house that is a National Historic Landmark. Families come for the grounds more than the tours: children run through meadows, spot the resident farm animals, and discover that crossing a pastoral New England landscape on foot feels genuinely different from anywhere else.
15 Bachelor Street, West Newbury · wnewbury.org
Action Cove has earned a devoted following among families across the corridor because it simply does what a community playground should do — it gives children of genuinely different ages interesting things to do at the same time. The main wooden structure is imaginative and layered enough that a ten-year-old and a three-year-old can both be thoroughly occupied within sight of each other. Being tucked into a quiet West Newbury neighborhood away from busy roads adds a sense of freedom that some of the larger urban parks cannot quite replicate.
Indian Hill Road, West Newbury · ecga.org
Pikes Bridge Road is a quiet woods road connecting Garden Street to Turkey Hill Road in West Newbury, and it has changed little since colonial times — which is exactly its charm. The half-mile walk past the Artichoke River is shaded, unhurried, and genuinely beautiful in every season. Stone walls from the mid-1800s emerge from the forest, the river can be heard before it is seen, and the whole experience feels appropriately old and unhurried.
89 Center Street, Groveland, MA 01834
Washington Park is Groveland's community anchor — a park that works well precisely because it has thought about the full range of ages a family actually contains. The dual playground structures (one for ages 2–5, one for ages 5–12) mean a parent with a toddler and a grade-schooler can genuinely give both children what they need in the same visit. On summer evenings when the little league games are running, the whole park has a cheerful, small-town energy very specific to this corner of Massachusetts.
If you are considering a move to Newburyport, Amesbury, or anywhere along this corridor, I can show you how close the parks you care about are to the homes that fit your budget.
These itineraries are designed around real driving distances, typical family pacing, and the honest rhythm of children's energy and hunger.
Best for: families with children of mixed ages; first-time visitors to the area
Best for: families with young children on hot summer days; splash pad seekers
Best for: families with children 5 and older who are comfortable walking; bird enthusiasts
Best for: families who want a quieter, less-traveled experience; older children who appreciate trails
Best for: families ready for a full beach day or overnight adventure
Newburyport, Amesbury, Salisbury, Newbury, West Newbury — different price points, different commutes, different daily rhythms. I can walk you through the real numbers for each.
Cashman Park (202 Merrimac Street, Newburyport) is one of the strongest options for children under ten — a pirate ship playground, paved river path, and views of the Merrimack from the benches. It is free, well-maintained, and just a short walk from downtown Newburyport ice cream. In Amesbury, Amesbury Town Park is the top choice, with a large renovated playground and a summer splash pad.
Yes. Amesbury Town Park (5 Highland Street, Amesbury) has a splash pad active from approximately June through August. It is free, open to all ages, and part of a larger park complex with playground equipment, sports fields, a skate park, and a pavilion.
Yes, with an important seasonal note: the beach at Parker River National Wildlife Refuge on Plum Island is closed from April 1 to mid-July each year for piping plover nesting. The Hellcat Boardwalk trail and observation platforms remain open year-round. After mid-July, the beach opens for ocean swimming. The $5 per car entry fee applies; annual America the Beautiful passes are accepted.
Lake Gardner Beach in Amesbury (79 High Street) is an excellent free freshwater option — a calm, no-powerboat lake with a sandy beach, lifeguards during summer season, and a kayak launch. It is particularly good for young and tentative swimmers because there are no breaking waves or strong currents.
Salisbury Beach State Reservation charges parking fees from May 23 through October 12: $14 per day for Massachusetts residents, $40 per day for non-residents. Credit and debit cards are accepted; cash is not taken at the gate. There is no separate admission fee beyond parking. An annual DCR pass covers Salisbury Beach parking.
Maudslay State Park has 16 miles of carriage roads and footpaths. Old Town Hill in Newbury has 3-plus miles of trails including a ridgeline hike with panoramic views of the Great Marsh. Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm has pastoral paths through 231 acres. Parker River NWR has the Hellcat Boardwalk loop and several marsh-edge trails. Pikes Bridge Road and the Atherton Trail in West Newbury offer a gentle half-mile riverside conservation walk.
Most parks in the corridor allow dogs on-leash. Maudslay State Park, Bartlett Mall, Moseley Woods, Atkinson Common, Cashman Park, Action Cove, Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm, and Old Town Hill all welcome leashed dogs. Parker River NWR does not permit dogs anywhere on the refuge. Salisbury Beach does not allow dogs on the beach from April 1 through September 15. Lake Gardner Beach prohibits dogs on the beach during the summer season.
Lisa Sevajian is the founder of the Lisa Sevajian Group at eXp Realty — a North Andover native with over 20 years of experience, approaching 2,000 successful sales, and nearly 1,500 closed transactions across Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire. She is ranked in the top 1.5 percent of over 1.5 million Realtors nationally and has been featured in Forbes, USA Today, and HGTV.
Newburyport, Amesbury, Andover, North Andover, Haverhill, Methuen, Georgetown, Boxford, and the broader Merrimack Valley and North Shore in Massachusetts — plus Salem, Windham, Portsmouth, and Seacoast communities in Southern New Hampshire. Licensed in both MA and NH.
Call or text 978-457-3406 · Email lisa.sevajian@exprealty.com
Book a private consultation →This guide was written by Lisa Sevajian, a licensed Massachusetts and New Hampshire Realtor with over 20 years of experience in the Seacoast and North Shore markets. Park details were verified against official government and conservation organization websites in May 2026. Seasonal dates, hours, and fees are subject to change; verify current conditions before visiting.
Park hours, fees, and seasonal rules change. Always verify directly with the park or conservation authority before visiting. This guide is intended as a general reference, not a guarantee of current conditions.
I have been serving buyers and sellers in the Newburyport, Amesbury, and Seacoast corridor for over 20 years. I can show you exactly how close the parks that matter to you are to the homes that fit your budget.