Hours & Fees
Halibut Point State Park is open year-round, every day, from 8:00 am to sunset, according to DCR. The visitor center in the WWII tower keeps shorter hours: Fridays to Sundays, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm in fall 2026. Parking costs $5 for Massachusetts plates and $20 for others from May 23 to October 12, and is free from November through April. Walking in is always free.
Hours at a Glance
Park Hours
DCR opens the state park at 8:00 in the morning and closes it at sunset, all year. That means a short day in December and a long one in June. Plan to be back at your car by sunset.
The Trustees, who run the adjacent Halibut Point Reservation, list their hours as sunrise to sunset. Because most visitors arrive through DCR's entrance and lot, DCR's 8:00 am opening is the one that matters.
Visitor Center Hours
DCR's fall 2026 program sheet lists the visitor center and exhibits as open Fridays to Sundays, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. DCR's park page doesn't print the schedule for other seasons, so call (978) 546-2997 before a winter or spring trip if the tower matters to you.
Fees
There is no entrance fee for people. The only charge is for parking, set by license plate, during DCR's fee season. Passes, the YODEL pay-by-phone app and the summer full-lot rule are on the parking page.
Seasonal Notes
- Summer (Memorial Day to Labor Day): when the lot fills it closes for two hours, and no waiting at the gate is allowed (The Trustees).
- Fee season 2026: May 23 to October 12. Off-season parking is free, November through April (DCR).
- Programs: DCR's free walks and tours change by season; heavy rain cancels them.
Program Times (Fall 2026)
DCR's free fall 2026 programs are listed below. DCR's brochure says programs change daily and seasonally.
- Visitor center and exhibits: Fridays to Sundays, 9 am to 3 pm.
- Birding Basics walks: Sundays 8 to 10 am (September 20, October 18, November 15), from the parking area.
- When Granite Was King quarry walk: Saturdays 10 to 11 am in September, from the park entrance.
- Fall Plants of the Park walk: Thursday, October 15, 10 am to 12:30 pm, from the visitor center. No dogs.
- Atlantic Path trek: Sunday, November 15, 11:30 am to 3 pm. Challenging, ages 12 and up.
- Tower Tour: Sundays, December 6 and 13, 11 am to noon, ages 12 and up.
How Long to Plan
The Trustees suggest at least an hour, and two hours if you visit the state park's visitor center and museum too. The quarry loop alone is 0.7 mile. More in plan your visit.
Verify Before You Go
Hours and fees change. The DCR page for Halibut Point State Park is the source of record. These hours were read on October 17, 2026.
Hours & Fees FAQ
What are the hours at Halibut Point State Park?
8:00 am to sunset, every day, year-round, according to DCR. The Trustees' adjacent reservation lists sunrise to sunset.
Is Halibut Point open in winter?
Yes. DCR keeps the park open year-round, and parking is free from November through April.
When is the Halibut Point visitor center open?
In fall 2026, Fridays to Sundays, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Call (978) 546-2997 for other seasons.
Does Halibut Point charge an entrance fee?
No entrance fee. Parking is $5 for Massachusetts plates and $20 for others from May 23 to October 12 (2026); The Trustees say pedestrians and bicyclists pay nothing.
