Planning Your Cape Cod Beach Campfire

Campfires at the Cape Cod National Seashore

Evening beach bonfires are allowed on six beaches at the Cape Cod National Seashore, on the Cape's Atlantic Ocean coast:

• Coast Guard Beach in Eastham


• Nauset Light Beach in Eastham


• Marconi Beach in Wellfleet


• Head of the Meadow in Truro


• Herring Cove Beach in Provincetown


• Race Point Beach in Provincetown

The Cape Cod National Seashore issues beach fire permits free of charge, but only a very limited number of them.

Since demand often exceeds the daily supply, it's best to reserve your permit 3 days in advance. (For example: Reserve on Sunday for a beach camp fire on Wednesday, reserve on Monday for a fire on Thursday, etc.)

To reserve your permit, call or visit the Salt Pond Visitor Center in Eastham (508-255-3421) or the Provincelands Visitor Center in Provincetown (508-487-1256).

Insider's Tip: The National Park Service's policy is to take permit reservations from people who are physically present at the visitor center each morning, before phone reservations are accepted.

Permits must be picked up the day of the fire, before 3:30 p.m., at the Visitor Center where you made your reservation.

Campfires at Town-Owned Beaches

Only a few towns on the Cape allow campfires on their public and private beaches ... with the required permit, of course.

Barnstable: Evening camp fires are allowed on the Sandy Neck ORV beach after 7PM, but only when wind/weather conditions allow. Call the gate House at Sandy Neck at (508) 362-8300 for more info.

Wellfleet: Campfires are allowed on ocean beaches only, after 6:30 p.m. Permits are issued at the Town of Wellfleet Beach Sticker Office, located at the Wellfleet Town Pier. Call (508) 349-9818 for more info.

Truro: Fires are allowed on many of Truro's beaches, but the number of permits available for each beach is limited. They're issued at the Town of Truro Beach Office at 36 Shore Road (Rt.6A) in N. Truro. Call (508) 487-6983 for more info.

What to Bring With You to the Beach

I mentioned marshmallows, didn't I?

Well, in addition to those gooey treats, there are a few other things you'll want to take with you when you head off to the beach.

Fire Wood: You can buy small bundles of firewood at most grocery stores and convenience marts on the Cape.

Please, buy it. Don't try collecting your own. You don't want to risk running afoul of local laws and ordinances that prohibit taking wood from Mother Nature. And, unlike the wood you find in the wild, the firewood you buy is already bundled, and it's not damp or "buggy". Seriously - buy some!

A Flashlight: It gets dark out there. Even if it's light when you arrive, you'll want to find your way back to your car without tripping over anything.

Bring a flashlight with fully-charged batteries. If you don't have one when you arrive on the Cape, you can pick up a cheap flashlight and batteries at one of the local Christmas Tree Shops (they have everything under the sun, not just Christmas-related stuff!) or at a local hardware store.

Insect Repellant: Yes, as the sun sets, little flying critters do come out. Especially on nights where there's no breeze blowing, or when the breeze is coming off the land. It's wise to have some bug repellant handy, just in case.

Fishing Gear: Okay, this isn't for everyone, I know. But if you love fishing, bring your gear. The hours just before and just after dusk are prime surf fishing time for Striped Bass and Bluefish on Cape Cod!

Warm Clothes: It gets chilly on our beaches after the sun goes down. Don't forget your "warmies"!