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Cape Cod Beach Guide

Nauset Beach in Orleans. CapeCodKidz Photo.

It goes without saying that Cape Cod is well-known and loved for its beaches, in fact, year after year are beaches are regarded as some of the best in the world.  The natural uniqueness of the Cape also provides for a variety of beaches to fit all tastes.  There are, of course the beaches on the bay side and the beaches on the ocean side, but many folks enjoy and some even prefer the Cape's lakes and kettle ponds.

Whatever your pleasure, you are guaranteed a fun day in the sun swimming, kayaking, fishing, beachcombing, 4-wheel driving or even lying about enjoying a good book.

BEACH STICKER

All of our public beaches require parking stickers.  Most beaches are under the jurisdiction of the town in which they are located, but some are under the jurisdiction of the state in the case of South Cape Beach in Mashpee or the government in the case of the National Seashore Beaches.

Town stickers are available through the town hall, beach sticker office or recreation department as indicated below.  Sticker fees and regulations different by town and prices differ depending upon whether you are a resident or a visitor. A proof of residence or in the case of visitors, a proof of stay is required to obtain a parking sticker. More information on replacement stickers or multiple stickers is available on the individual town sites and many permits are available by mail.  Daily parking stickers (parking fees) are for the most part, available for purchase at the beach gate.  Fees and regulations are subject to change at the discretion of the town.

TYPES OF BEACHES

The Cape's beaches vary by size, location, number of available parking spaces and by amenities such as restrooms, lifeguards on duty, and the availability of snack bars or food concession.  Please consult the key below. Also, we have indicated if the beaches are calm, such as those on the bay side (kid-friendly, flats) or surf beaches (better suited for surfing, windsurfing).

[R: Restroom available; L: Lifeguard on duty; F: Food/Snack Bar available;  C: Calm; S: Surf, P: Pond or Lake]

UPPER CAPE COD

Bourne - Department of Natural Resources, 24 Perry Ave, Room 102, Bourne. 508-759-0600/web

Sticker Fees: Resident: $15, Non-Resident: $30, one-week temp $40, two-week temp $60.

• Monument Beach, off Route 28: R, L, F, C

Falmouth - Beach Department, Ellen T. Mitchell Bathhouse, 56 Surf Drive (July-Aug); Harbormaster's Office, 180 Scranton Ave. (Sept-Jun), 508-548-8623/web

Sticker Fees: Resident: $60/2yrs; Seasonal: One week to season: $60-200; Motel/Hotel: $10/day; Timeshare/Interval Ownership: $30/owner

Daily Parking Fees: Surf Drive, Mill Road & Menauhant Beaches: $10; Old Silver Beach & other beaches: $20; Recreation Vehicles (Old Silver Beach only): $40

• Menauhant Beach, off Route 28: R, L, F, C
• Old Silver Beach, off Quaker Road: R, L, F, C
• Surf Drive Beach, Surf Drive: R, L, F, C

Sandwich - Beach Department, stickers available from the Tax Collector's Office, Town Hall Annex, 145, Main Street, 508-888-4361/web

Sticker fees: Resident: $30 (all beaches including Sandy Neck); Non-resident: $75 (excludes Sandy Neck, Peter's Pond and Snake Pond)

Daily Rate: $10 (excludes Snake Pond, Sandy Neck & Peter's Pond)

• Town Neck Beach, Wood Avenue, R, L, F, C

Mashpee - Sticker Office, Mashpee Town Hall, 16 Great Neck Road, Mashpee, 508-539-1400/web

Sticker fees: Residents: $25 (town beaches & South Cape Beach); Weekly beach parking sticker: $40 per week (weeks must be indicated). All town beaches are open to residents only with proper stickers or Mashpee Tribal stickers or IDs. Non-residents may attend South Cape State Beach (see state beaches section).

• John's Pond, Back Road, P
  
• Attaquin Park (Mashpee/Wakeby Lake), Lake Ave, P
  

MID CAPE

Barnstable - Kennedy Skating Rink, 141 Bassett Lane, Hyannis, 508-790-6345/web

Sticker fees:  Resident: $30;  Landlord: $275;  Seasonal: $200 (entry to public beaches only);  Weekly: $50 (entry to public beaches only)

Daily Parking Passes: $15 (includes holidays and weekends, valid only day of purchase for certain beaches); $7 at Hathaway's Pond.

• Craigville Beach, Craigville Road, Centerville, R, L, F, C
• Kalmus Beach, Ocean Street, Hyannis, R, L, F, C
• Sandy Neck Beach, off Route 6A, Barnstable, R, L, F, C

Yarmouth - Town clerk's department at the Yarmouth Town Hall, 1146 Route 28, South Yarmouth, 508-398-2231/web

Sticker Fees:  Most beaches are open to the general public, while one is open to residents only. Resident beach stickers are available at the Yarmouth Town Hall for $35 ($30 by mail).

Daily Parking Fees: Non-tax payers may visit the public beaches during the summer for $15 per day,  or by purchasing a weekly sticker for $70. Seasonal stickers are available for $175. All non-resident stickers are available at the beach booths.

• Sea Gull Beach, off South Sea Ave., R, L, F,C
• Bass River Beach, on South Shore Drive, R, L, F, C
  

Dennis - Beach department at the Dennis Town Hall, 485 Main Street, South Dennis, 508-760-6159/web

Sticker Fees: Resident/tax payer stickers are $30; seasonal stickers (with a 4+ week lease) are $135.

Daily Parking Fees: Weekly guest (valid Saturday through Friday) are $60 and daily parking fees are $20.

• Chapin Memorial Beach, Beach Street, R, C
• Corporation Beach, Corporation Road, R, L, F, C
  
• Sea Street Beach, Sea Street, off Route 28, R, L, C
• West Dennis Beach, off Lower County Road, R, L, F, C

LOWER CAPE

Harwich - Harwich Community Center, 100 Oak Street, Harwich, 508-432-7638/web

Sticker Fees: Beach stickers may be purchased at the Community Center, June through September (call for details). Resident: $20; Non-resident (one week): $55; Non-resident (season): $125.

Daily Parking Fees: Daily stickers, $15, may be purchased at Red River Beach, Earle Road Beach and Long Pond

• Red River Beach, off Route 28, R, L, F, C
  

Chatham - Permit Office, 283 George Ryder Road, Chatham, 508-945-5180/web

Sticker Fees: Beach stickers are available after May 15th. Resident $25; combination beach/transfer station stickers are also available, see the site for details.

Daily Parking Fees: Daily stickers $15, weekly $60 and seasonal $125 non-resident stickers are available for purchase at Harding's Beach, Ridgevale Beach and Cockle Cove Beach.

• Hardings Beach, off Route 28, R, L, F, C
• Lighthouse Beach, Shore Road (no parking fee/limited parking), S
• Ridgevale Beach, off Route 28, R, L, F, C
  

Brewster - Visitor Information Center (back of the Town Hall), 2198 Main Street, Brewster, 508-896-4511/web

Sticker Fees: Residents $15 for the season.

Daily Parking Fees: Non-residents $15 per day; $50 per week; $125 for the season.

• Breakwater Beach, off Route 6, R, C
• Crosby Landing Beach, off Route 6A, R, C
• Paines Creek, off Route 6A, R, C
• Robbins Hill Beach, off Route 6A, R, C
  

Orleans - Former American Legion Building, 137, Main Street, Orlean, 508-240-3711/web

Sticker Fees: Resident/real estate taxpayer stickers are available at no charge.

Daily Parking Fees: Daily fee $15 (post-season Nauset & Skaket parking, weekends from 9/12-9/27 $5); One-week $50; Season $110. Available for purchase online as well. Out-of-town visitor (Brewster, Eastham, Chatham, etc) season stickers are available for $150.

• Nauset Beach, off Route 28, R, L, F, S
• Skaket Beach, Namskaket Road, R, L, F, C
  

OUTER CAPE

Eastham - Sticker Office, DPW Building, 555 Old Orchard Road, Eastham, 508-240-5976/web

Sticker Fees: Resident taxpayer stickers are $20 for the season.

Daily Parking Fees: Daily fee $15; One-week $55; Two-week $95; Seasonal $150. Town visitor beach stickers are NOT valid at Cape Cod National Seashore beaches (see CCNS beaches below).

• Cooks Brook Beach, off Massasoit Road, R, C
• First Encounter Beach, end of Samoset Road,  R, C
• See Cape Cod National Seashore beaches

Wellfleet - Beach Sticker Office, Town Pier, 255 Commercial Street, Wellfleet, 508-349-9818/web

Sticker Fees: Resident taxpayer stickers are $15 for the season.

Daily Parking Fees: $15 daily; three-day $35; One-week $70; Two-week $120;  Seasonal $225.

• Cahoon Hollow Beach, off Route 6, R, L, F, S
• White Crest, Ocean View Drive, R, L, F, S
• Mayo Beach, Kendrick Ave, R, C, no permit required
• See Cape Cod National Seashore beaches

Truro - Beach Office, 36 Shore Road (Route 6A), North Truro, 508-487-6983/web

Sticker Fees: Contact the beach office for info.

Daily Parking Fees: Residents $10; Daily $10 (Corn Hill & Head of the Meadow); One-week $30; Seasonal $150

• Corn Hill Beach, off Corn Hill Road, R, S
• Coast Guard Beach, off Route 6, R, S
  
• Head of the Meadow Beach, Head of the Meadow Road, R, L, S
• Longnook Beach, off Route 6, R, S
  
• See Cape Cod National Seashore beaches

Provincetown - See Cape Cod National Seashore beaches

CAPE COD NATIONAL SEASHORE BEACHES (CCNS)

Beach Entrance Fees: Daily (car) $15; Daily (pedestrian, bike or motorcycle) $3; Seasonal $45.  Entrance fees are collected late June through early September when lifeguards are on duty. Passes are available at vistor centers and fee booths when open (click here for times).  Click here for more information about the Cape Cod National Seashore. 

CCNS - Eastham

• Coast Guard Beach, off Route 6, R, S
• Nauset Light Beach, off Route 6, R, S

CCNS - Wellfleet

• Marconi Beach, off Route 6, R, S

CCNS - Truro

• Head of the Meadow Beach, off Route 6, R, S
• Pilgrim Heights, off Route 6, R, S

CCNS - Provincetown

• Herring Cove Beach, off Route 6A, R, L, F, S
• Race Point Beach, off Race Point Road, R, S
  

STATE BEACHES

Beach Entrance Fees: Daily parking fee $7.  MA ParksPass annual pass $35 MA residents; $45 non-residents. More information from the MA Department of Conservation & Recreation is available here.

State - Bourne

• Scusset Beach, from the Sagamore flyover area, Scusset Beach Road, R, L, F, C

State - Mashpee

• South Cape Beach, Great Oak Road, R, L, C

Updated 05/13/10