The Best Beaches on Cape Cod
In the summer of 1961, John F. Kennedy preserved the Cape Cod National Seashore—40 miles of sand stretching from Chatham to Provincetown’s tip—for "the inspiration and enjoyment of people all over the United States.” The bill popularized a little-known corner of the globe New Englanders had treasured for generations. But if you’ve never crossed the Bourne or Sagamore, the Cape’s geography, often described as a flexed arm with four main areas (upper, mid, lower, and outer Cape), will help dictate your direction. Waters vary depending on where you are on the arm—from the warm, calm, tidal beaches of the bay (upper) to the wild, open Atlantic (outer). To see the wonder of the National Seashore, you’ll have to drive past the point where Route 6 drops down to a two-lane highway. It’s worth the trip.
J. Schwanke / Alamy Stock PhotoSandy Neck Beach, Sandwich
Distance from Boston: 65 miles
What's the water like? A rocky, six-mile shoreline that opens to cold, protected waters.
Why we love it: There’s something about driving on a beach that never gets old, and off-road vehicles are commonplace at Sandy Neck. But the big payoff comes from venturing beyond the sand to explore the wetlands, cranberry bogs, and forest throughout the park.
John GreimCoast Guard Beach, Eastham
Distance from Boston: 95 miles
What's the water like? Rough and reinvigorating in a way that takes your breath away (we're not sure if it's the temperature or the stark beauty).
Why we love it: It’s a Cape Cod classic—a National Seashore beach for the books with bikes docked in sandy racks, a solid surf, and a sea of colorful umbrellas. Outdoor showers are a perk, too.
Michael Neelon / Alamy Stock PhotoCraigville Beach, Centerville
Distance from Boston: 70.5 miles
What's the water like? Sometimes, the Nantucket sound sits still. Other times, it rages higher with a surf that rocks offshore rafts at a private beach club next door. Temperature is a Goldilocks situation—not too warm, not too cold.
Why we love it: You used to be able to tell how nice of a beach day it was by parking prices in pavement lots across the street. It’s that old-school charm—still alive in snack shacks serving up burgers and college-aged parking attendants lounging in beach chairs—juxtaposed with natural beauty that keep generations coming back here year after year. Hope for a soft southwest breeze: It’s the sort of stuff people talk about their whole lives.
Kasia BaumannOld Silver Beach, Falmouth
Distance from Boston: 68 miles
What's the water like? Clear, warm, and calm from Buzzards Bay on, one of two bays that connect to the Cape Cod Canal.
Why we love it: It aces the two basics of a beach: sand (Old Silver’s is soft and powdery) and water (clear enough to see silvery fish glimmering beneath). It’s good for kids, too, as sandbars are built-in play spots. The beach has two sides—one for residents with beach stickers, another for everyone else.
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National Geographic Creative / Alamy Stock PhotoNorth Beach Island, Chatham
Distance from Boston: 89.5 miles
What's the water like? Cold and wild—the kind of water seals favor.
Why we love it: Remote pristine beauty, accessible only by boat or water taxi. The barrier beach is a section of Cape Cod National Seashore where there’s little more than white sand and green beach grass. Pick your side—the tranquil bay or the open sea—then make a day of it.
Betty WileyRace Point, Provincetown
Distance from Boston: 118 miles
What's the water like? The beach was named for the powerful racing cross current at the tip of Cape Cod, two miles east near Race Point Light. It's cold, too.
Why we love it: Not everyone makes it out to Race Point. If you do, you’ll see the same magnificence JFK did: miles of soft sand, bike paths that end at open ocean, and wild waves in the distance. Its northern-facing orientation, giving way to all-day sunshine, might even warm strong swimmers up enough for a dip.
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Cahoon Hollow, Wellfleet
Distance from Boston: 102 miles
What’s the water like? Ocean temps hover around 60 degrees but you’ll still find kids boogie boarding. That said, a sign warning of the possibility of sharks offshore scares some into staying firmly on the beach.
Why we love it: The Beachcomber—a bar housed in a former U.S. Lifesaving Station on a dune above the beach. It's said to be one of the few commercial properties protected under the Cape Cod National Seashore, and with light-up signs, an outdoor bar, and mudslides in plastic cups, it’s what the Hamptons get wrong about summer. Stay for the sunset and live music; leave before the Comber turns into a nightclub.
© Tom Curley / DanitaDelimont.comMayflower Beach, Dennis
Distance from Boston: 79.5 miles
What's the water like? Warmer bayside waters that transform drastically with the tides throughout the day—from small, quiet waves to miles of tidal pools.
Why we love it: Low tide. The beach drains out more than a quarter of a mile, giving way to expansive views and sand flats, attracting families, photographers, and those just in awe of the ocean. Go early to beat inevitable skimboard-, volleyball-, and sand toy-toting crowds.