Dennis Beach Guide

From the cool, clear waters and expansive sand flats of Cape Cod Bay on the north side of town, to the warm, calm waters of Nantucket Sound on the south side of town ... I'm sure you'll have no trouble finding your "perfect match".

Amenities: Lifeguards, restrooms, shower facilities, and food concessions (on-site or mobile) are available at some beaches in Dennis - in season only.

Parking Fees: In season, non-resident parking is by daily fee ($20) or Dennis beach parking sticker ($75/week, a week is Saturday-Friday).

Daily fee may be paid to parking attendant at the beach. Stickers may be purchased at Dennis Town Hall, 485 Main St. in South Dennis. Call (508) 760-6159 for more info.

West Dennis Beach

This is without a doubt one of the prettiest Cape Cod beaches on Nantucket Sound. And one of the most popular, too!

With three miles of fine sand and wide-open water for as far as the eye can see - there's plenty of room for everyone to swim, windsurf, fish, play beach games, or just take an afternoon snooze.

• Body of Water: Nantucket Sound
• Crowd Factor: Often busy, but not a crowded feeling.
• Amenities: Lifeguards in season, food concession, restroom and shower facilities, playground. Handicap access surf chairs available - call (508) 760-6159.
• Location: West Dennis Beach Road in West Dennis, MA
• Parking: There are over 1000 parking spots in the lot, so parking is usually not an issue.

Chapin Memorial Beach

Chapin ranks right up there at the top of my list of favorite Cape Cod Bay beaches.

It's a little out of the way, and you have to walk a bit (through sand and up and down a little slope) to get from the parking lot to the beach. But once you're there ... it's glorious!

• Body of Water: Cape Cod Bay
• Crowd Factor: With so much room to roam at Chapin and limited parking, crowds aren't an issue.
• Amenities: None, other than porta-potties.
• Location: Chapin Beach Road in Dennis (off Rt. 6A)
• Parking: The parking lot is small. Go early in the morning or later in the day, or ride your bike if you're staying in the area.

Mayflower Beach

Another beautiful Dennis beach on Cape Cod Bay, Mayflower is a beachlover's dream.

It's spacious - and despite its popularity, there's plenty of room for a game of catch or frisbee, and even more at low tide. Like other Bay beaches in Dennis, the sand is powdery soft and the water is calm.

There's a boardwalk from the parking lot area out over the sand, making it easier to walk to Mayflower Beach than to some other Bay side Dennis beaches. (Watch for some wobbly boards.)

• Body of Water: Cape Cod Bay
• Crowd Factor: Popular and somewhat busy at times, but easy to find your own spot with a short walk.
• Amenities: Lifeguards in season, restroom facilities, food concession. Handicap access surf chairs available - call (508) 760-6159.
• Location: Dunes Road in Dennis (off Rt. 6A)
• Parking: Large parking lot, sometimes fills during the height of summer.

Corporation Beach

This popular Dennis beach consistently tops the list of best Cape Cod Bay beaches for families.

Corporation Beach's shoreline is in the shape of a crescent moon, creating a lagoon-like swimming area at high tide. The beach is large and wide, and it grows even more on the outgoing tide as the sandflats appear.

• Body of Water: Cape Cod Bay
• Crowd Factor: Quite busy in July and August.
• Amenities: Lifeguards in season, restroom facilities, food concession, picnic area, playground. Handicap access surf chairs available - call (508) 760-6159.
• Location: At the end of Corporation Road in Dennis (off Rt. 6A)
• Parking: Medium sized parking lot, often fills early during the summer.

Cold Storage Beach

Cold Storage is a wonderfully long expanse of soft sand, grass- topped dunes and amazing views.

Whether you'd like to walk the beach, have a swim, sit and read, or cast a lure to some of the Cape's feistiest fish, Cold Storage Beach is an excellent place to do it!

• Body of Water: Cape Cod Bay
• Crowd Factor: Not crowded, even during the hottest summer days.
• Amenities: Lifeguards in season, restroom facilities.
• Location: School Street (off Rt. 6A) to Pleasant Street to Cold Storage Road in East Dennis
• Parking: This Dennis beach is residents-only parking in season, but it's well worth a bike ride to get here. You can also walk to Cold Storage Beach from neighboring Sea Street Beach.

Sea Street Beach

There are two Sea Street beaches in Dennis. One on Cape Cod Bay in East Dennis, and one on Nantucket Sound in Dennisport.

In my humble opinion, the Sea Street beach on Cape Cod Bay is the nicer of the two. The sand isn't too shelly or pebbly. And the surf is generally quite gentle. This beach connects with Cold Storage Beach - so you can pretty much walk to your heart's content here.

The Sea Street Beach on Nantucket Sound in Dennisport is smaller, and the sand isn't quite as pretty here as it is on the Bay side beach. However, if you're looking for a neighborhood beach with spectacular views of Nantucket Sound - this Sea Street Beach is great.

• Body of Water: One on Cape Cod Bay, and one on Nantucket Sound
• Crowd Factor: Neither gets overly crowded.
• Amenities: Lifeguard in season and restroom facilities are the only amenities on either Sea Street beach.
• Location: The Bay side beach is on Sea Street (imagine that!) off Rt. 6A in East Dennis. The Sound side beach is on Sea Street (did you guess that?) off Lower County Road in Dennisport.
• Parking: Ample parking at both.

Haigis Beach

Haigis is a nice, medium-sized, family friendly beach. Gentle surf, soft sand, and a playground are great features for children.

High dunes backing this beach (a rarity on this part of Nantucket Sound) make the beach feel somewhat more remote than it really is.

Access to Haigis Beach is via a rather steep stairway.

• Body of Water: Nantucket Sound
• Crowd Factor: Not usually an issue.
• Amenities: Lifeguard in season, restroom facilities.
• Location: Old Wharf Road (off Lower County Road) in Dennisport
• Parking: Medium sized lot. Sometimes fills on prime beach days.