Beaches in Eastham MA

The town's Bay-side beaches are wonderful for families with small children, thanks to the warmer waters and much more gentle surf than you find on the Ocean beaches.

At the end of the day, you'll also see spectacular sunsets over the Bay.

On the Atlantic Ocean beaches, the waves are bigger, the water's colder and there's plenty of room to play, relax or roam.

Amenities: All the National Seashore beaches have paved parking lots, seasonal rest rooms, changing rooms and showering facilities, drinking water, and lifeguards (from late June through Labor Day).

See beach descriptions below for the in-season amenities at town-owned Eastham beaches.

Parking Fees: Parking fee/sticker requirements vary, depending on whether the beach is town-owned or managed by the Cape Cod National Seashore. See below for details.

Daily vehicle fee, $15. National Seashore Season Pass, $45. Interagency Senior Pass, $10. Interagency Access Pass for permanently disabled persons, FREE.

Contact the National Seashore at (508) 487-2100 or visit the National Seashore's website for more info about purchasing the passes.

Coast Guard Beach

Coast Guard Beach is routinely voted one of the "Top 10 Beaches" in the USA. In 2010 it was #7 on Dr. Beach's Top 10 list ... two places ahead of Hamoa Beach in Maui, Hawaii!

As with all Atlantic Ocean beaches on the New England coastline, the water is chilly - even in mid-summer. Actually, it's downright cold ... upper 50s to low 60s. But that doesn't deter hearty swimmers, surfers and boogieboarders from plunging into the rolling waves and sparkling clear water.

For those who prefer to stay warm and dry, Coast Guard Beach is also phenomenal for long walks. Head south (to your right as you face the water) toward Nauset inlet, and keep your eyes open for seals in the surf just off the shoreline!

• Body of Water: Atlantic Ocean
• Crowd Factor: Coast Guard Beach does get crowded. Most people tend to congregate near the first lifeguard station. If you walk a little way up or down the beach, it's usually easy to find some "alone space".
• Seasonal Amenities: Lifeguards, restroom and shower facilities. Coast Guard Beach is also handicapped accessible and has wheelchairs that travel over sand.
• Location: Rt. 6 to Doane Road.
• Parking: In season, the only beach access is via shuttle bus from the Coast Guard Beach/Little Creek Shuttle area (watch for signs on Rt. 6). If you get there by 10:30 a.m., you'll likely have little or no waiting time for the shuttle.

Not to be confused with Nauset Beach in Orleans, this Cape Cod National Seashore beach is Nauset Light Beach in Eastham - named for the lighthouse that stands guard about 300 feet inland from the bluff.

Nauset Light Beach is about a mile north of Coast Guard Beach, and shares many of the same attributes - beautiful sand, good surf, cold water, and lots of room.

This is one of the best beaches in Eastham for snapping some amazing photos. If you stand at the viewing area near the parking lot, you'll have a great vantage point for shots of the lighthouse and the ocean vista from atop the dune.

** SPECIAL NOTE - Nauset Lighthouse is open for tours (free) on Sunday from early May through late October, as well as on Wednesday in July and August.

• Body of Water: Atlantic Ocean
• Crowd Factor: This is one of the most popular beaches in Eastham, but the smaller parking lot tends to keep the crowdedness down a bit.
• Amenities: Lifeguards, restroom and shower facilities.
• Location: Nauset Road (off Rt. 6 in North Eastham) to Cable Road.
• Parking: Vehicle lot usually fills by 10 a.m. during the summer. Daily fee payable at the gate, or National Seashore pass required.

Stickers are available at the DPW/Natural Resources at 555 Old Orchard Rd., Eastham, MA. Call (508) 240-5976 for more info.

Note: Town-issued stickers are not valid at Cape Cod National Seashore beaches. Only at the town-owned beaches.

First Encounter Beach

It's called "First Encounter" because this is the site of the first encounter between the Pilgrims and the Native Americans on Cape Cod, in early December of the year 1620. Great history here!

This is one of my favorite bayside beaches in Eastham, with its low, rolling sand dunes and wonderful view of Cape Cod Bay. Like much of the Cape Cod Bay shoreline, First Encounter Beach features warm, calm waters and expansive sandflats at low tide.

• Body of Water: Cape Cod Bay
• Crowd Factor: Does get quite busy in July and August.
• Amenities: Lifeguards, restroom/bathhouse facilities. First Encounter also has beach wheelchairs available in season. Call (508)240-5000 to reserve.
• Location: Turn off Rt. 6 onto Samoset Rd. (opposite Town Hall). Beach is at the end of Samoset.
• Parking: Decent number of spaces, but the lot does fill on busy days. Daily vehicle fee payable at the gate, or town-issued sticker required.

Campground Beach

Campground is a small, town-owned Eastham beach that's popular with folks who own a home or rent a cottage in the neighborhood. There's not a whole lot of room to spread out on this beach, particularly when the tide is high. At low tide, there's considerably more sand.

• Body of Water: Cape Cod Bay
• Crowd Factor: It does get crowded at Campground Beach during the summer. To have "first dibs" on a good spot, get there early.
• Amenities: None, except restroom facilities (porta potty).
• Location: Turn off Rt. 6 onto Old County Road. Go to stop sign at Massasoit Road and turn right onto Massasoit. Then take first left onto Campground, and continue to Shurtleff. Go left on Shurtleff, and the beach will be just around the corner to your right.
• Parking: Not many spaces, so get there early. Daily fee payable at the gate, or town-issued sticker required.

Dyer Prince Beach

This is one of those "off the beaten path" beaches in Eastham - literally. There's a trail at the end of the parking area that leads to this small, quiet stretch of sand on Cape Cod Bay.

Dyer Prince is a nice place to spend a peaceful few hours with that special someone, or just hanging out on your own watching the wildlife.

• Body of Water: Cape Cod Bay
• Crowd Factor: Not usually an issue.
• Amenities: None.
• Location: From Rt. 6 rotary, take Rock Harbor Rd. to Bridge Rd. Cross over bridge. Dyer Prince Road will be the 2nd street on your right. The beach is at the end of Dyer Prince.
• Parking: Very limited. Eastham resident or town-issued sticker required. No daily fee parking available.

Sunken Meadow

Sunken Meadow is another of the small Bay beaches in Eastham that's great for a couple hours of hanging out time.

It's not the most scenic beach in town, but it does have a good amount of space and the warm, calm waters that Cape Cod Bay is known for. That's undoubtedly why Sunken Meadow appeals to so many families with small children.

• Body of Water: Cape Cod Bay
• Crowd Factor: Not usually an issue.
• Amenities: None, except restroom facilities (porta potty).
• Location: Massasoit Road (off Rt. 6) to South Sunken Meadow Road. Beach is at the end of South Sunken Meadow.
• Parking: Very limited. Eastham resident or weekly sticker required. No daily fee parking available.

Cooks Brook Beach

Cooks Brook Beach is one of the smaller beaches in Eastham. But the lovely view of the Bay and soft sand dunes make this beach well worth a visit.

• Body of Water: Cape Cod Bay
• Crowd Factor: Rarely gets very crowded.
• Amenities: Lifeguard, restroom facilities (porta-potty). Beach wheelchairs available in season. Call (508)240-5000 to reserve.

• Location: Massasoit Rd. (off Rt. 6) to Steele Rd. Beach is at the end of Steele Rd.
• Parking: There's a good sized lot at Cooks Brook Beach. Daily fee payable at the gate, or town-issued sticker required.