Town Beaches

The public has two municipal beaches to enjoy in Bristol. Avery-Crouse Beach is located off Shore Drive at the “foot of the lake,” while Cummings Beach offers a more rustic option located off West Shore Road. There is no lifeguard on duty at either beach at any time. Beach Attendants staff the beaches Memorial Day to Labor Day Weekend. Parking during this time is for beach patrons only in designated spaces only. Beach hours are 7:00 am to 11:00 pm. No parking 11:00 pm to 7:00 am.

Town Beaches will be open for the start of the season beginning Memorial Day Weekend and will be staffed by attendants as usual. However, annual permits will be sold at the Town Office, and the Board has continued the decision to not allow day passes. This means that parking is limited to Bristol taxpayers, residents and guests (guests and family members of property owners).

Purchasing your passes: This year, you can only purchase beach passes at the Town Office at the Town Clerk/Tax Collector's office located at 5 School Street during business hours. There will be no transactions at the Town beaches. If you do not have a pass when you arrive at the beaches, you will be asked to go to the Town Office and get a pass. 

Chemical toilets are located at each beach, but will not be cleaned daily, so use at your own risk.

Parking:  There are parking spaces on Shore Drive for Avery-Crouse Beach and in a parking lot along Cummings Beach. No parking is allowed on unmarked areas of Shore Drive and no parking is allowed on West Shore Road. Parking rules will be strictly enforced through ticketing and towing. Fines start at $80.00.

Furniture or other personal property left unattended will be removed and brought to the Police Department. If furniture or other personal property is left overnight, it will be removed from the beach and can be claimed at the Police Department.

All other rules of the Town Beach Ordinance apply.

This only works if we all work together by being courteous, patient, and respectful. Personal responsibility is the name of the game. Please treat Beach Attendants and fellow beach goers with respect. If the beaches come to the point where people are continually unruly and pose a danger to themselves and others, the Select Board will revisit the opening of the beaches. Lastly, a reminder that the beaches are pack in and pack out. That means bring back with you what you took in. No trash of any kind should be left on the grounds. As a community, we can set an example for the rest of the State of how to do this right. We're counting on you!

Thank you!

Staff Contacts

Name Title
Deb Tivey Beach Supervisor