Family Friendly Beaches in Halifax

Drive from Downtown Halifax: 30 minutes
Ample Parking: Yes
On-Site Washrooms/Changerooms: Yes
Seasonal Lifeguards: Yes

Rainbow Heaven is a provincial park that is just a quick 30-minute drive from downtown Halifax. It’s one of the most popular beaches in the province, and for good reason. This sandy spot is a sand spit at the mouth of a coastal lagoon, featuring a long, wide dune. The beach itself is a mix of cobbles and sand. It’s got everything you need for a great family day out, including a long boardwalk over the dune and a parking lot. The scenery combines natural and cultivated forests, with a few houses and cottages sprinkled around.

Drive from Downtown Halifax: 55 minutes
Ample Parking: Yes
On-Site Washrooms/Changerooms: Yes
Seasonal Lifeguards: Yes

Martinique Beach, located in the provincial park of the same name, features a long stretch of beautiful light bronze-colored sand. Martinique Beach Provincial Park boasts the longest sandy beach in Nova Scotia. The beach is special for its wide dunes, which create a natural barrier between the sand and the parking area at one end and form a sandbar along the rest. The area is surrounded by mature trees, shrubs, and classic dune plants, giving it a lush, natural feel.

Drive from Downtown Halifax: 40 minutes
Ample Parking: Yes
On-Site Washrooms/Changerooms: Yes
Seasonal Lifeguards: Yes

Queensland Beach, located in St. Margaret’s Bay, features fine golden sands and a rocky shoreline on its eastern side. To the west, a large forest adds a natural and scenic touch to the beach. This is one of the most popular beaches in this region and is just a two-minute drive from its quieter sister beach, Cleveland.

Drive from Downtown Halifax: 65 minutes
Parking: There is no parking lot, but plenty of parking on the road.
On-Site Washrooms/Changerooms: Yes*
*There are single bathroom stalls roomy enough for changing, with benches in each.
Seasonal Lifeguards: Yes

Clam Harbour is a charming beach nestled within the provincial park that shares its name. The beach is graced with a plethora of stunning natural features, including an imposing cliff that can be admired from a vast beach, which, during low tide, stretches out over a considerable distance, making it perfect if you have young children. Furthermore, Clam Harbour flaunts an extensive rocky platform and an intricate system of dunes, adding to its distinct and picturesque landscape. The beach offers views of distant peninsulas and islets, and is adorned with lush, mature tree coverage.

Drive from Downtown Halifax: 40 minutes
On-Site Washrooms/Changerooms: Small single stall washrooms
Seasonal Lifeguards: No
Ample Parking: Yes, there is a small parking lot

The beach, nestled in the heart of St. Margaret’s Bay, is a provincial park known for its long but moderately wide sandy stretch. It has enough space for visitors, even though there are some cobbles on the shore, likely left by storms. Acting as a natural barrier between the wetland and the bay, the beach offers views of various islands and peninsulas dotting the horizon. Despite some light development nearby, the beach remains largely natural, thanks to the mature vegetation and the nearby wetland, keeping it a peaceful spot for visitors.

Drive from Downtown Halifax: 40 minutes
Ample Parking: Yes
On-Site Washrooms: Yes
Seasonal Lifeguards: No

Crystal Crescent is one of the most popular beaches in the Halifax area and is part of a trio of connected beaches known for their stunning white sands and clear blue waters. The beach has natural dunes that help maintain its sand and a rocky area to the west that adds to its beauty, along with mature trees. The view of the distant Sambro Island Lighthouse off the coast adds a charming mix of natural and cultural heritage to the beach.