Cape Cod Beaches

About Our Ocean, Bay and Sound Beaches on Cape Cod

Town-By-Town Guides to Cape Cod Beaches: Bourne / Brewster / Chatham / Dennis / Eastham / Falmouth / Harwich / Hyannis-Barnstable / Mashpee / Orleans / Provincetown / Sandwich / Truro / Wellfleet / Yarmouth

On the eastern shoreline of Cape Cod in the towns of Chatham, Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro and Provincetown.

Sand and Surf Conditions:

Mainly soft, white to off-white sand.

Waves are big and crashing at some of the Cape's ocean beaches ...

... and a little more moderate at many others.

Water Temperature:

Cold! During the summer months, water temps may reach the low 60s. You'll find a little bit warmer water in tidal pools here and there.

Accessibility:

Some Ocean beaches are handicap accessible. At others there are wooden stairs from the top of a dune down to the beach. At a few, you'll have to hike through loose sand to get to and from the beach.

Highlights:

Most of the Cape's Atlantic Ocean beaches are within the Cape Cod National Seashore. That's 40+ miles of federally protected land and coastline with lighthouses, walking and biking trails, historic sites, nature preserves, and breathtakingly beautiful scenery.

Important Note: Several Atlantic Ocean beaches are notorious for rough conditions and dangerous rip currents. Please pay attention to any warning signs you see. They're not kidding!

On the northern shoreline of Cape Cod in the towns of Sandwich, Barnstable, Yarmouthport, Dennis, and Brewster, and on the western shores of Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro and Provincetown.

Sand and Surf Conditions:

Mainly soft to light texture, off-white sand. Pebbly tide line on a number of beaches.

Surf is usually quite mild, good for all ages and swimming abilities. Waves do build up a bit more when there's a storm offshore.

Water Temperature:

Chilly, but not anywhere near as cold as the Atlantic Ocean. Water temps reach the upper 60s to low 70s in the summer. Tidal pools and creeks hold even warmer water.

Accessibility:

There are stairs at some beaches and wooden boardwalks at others. Most Cape Cod Bay beaches are easily accessible by all.

Highlights:

"The Flats" ...

A Word of Caution: When the tide turns and starts coming back in on the bay-side Cape Cod beaches, the water level rises much more quickly than you can imagine. If you're too far out on the sandflats when the tide turns to incoming, you might be in over your head before you know it.

It's a good idea to print out a Cape Cod Bay tide chart, and keep it handy in your beach bag!

Where You'll Find Them:

On the western and southern shoreline of Cape Cod in the towns of Falmouth, Mashpee, Hyannis, Yarmouth, Dennis, Harwich and Chatham.

Sand and Surf Conditions:

Mainly medium texture, off-white to tan sand. Pebbly tide lines with shells and some seaweed in spots. (Mostly the "clumpy" seaweed ... not much of the yucky gooey stuff.)

Hardly any waves, except when it's very windy. Even then, the surf is still relatively gentle.

Water Temperature:

The water temps at these Cape Cod beaches are "swimmable" from June to September, and often reach the mid-70s in July and August. We have one friend who swims in Nantucket Sound from early May to late October. (She's nuts, IMHO!)

Accessibility:

A few beaches are accessed by stairs, but most are easily accessible by all.

Highlights:

Yes, I might be a little biased on this one. I'm a big fan of warm, calm water and hanging out on the beach with the latest Vince Flynn novel.

Nantucket Sound, Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay beaches are perfect for that ...

And for kids to play with their beach and water toys, without mom and dad having to worry about a big wave coming along washing them off to Spain!