Cape Cod Beaches

Beaches of Cape Cod Surfside Hotel & Suites Cape Cod Sand Dunes Beach Recreation

A beach vacation awaits on Cape Cod. From romantic getaways to family fun vacations, take in the waters around Provincetown.

Visitors find plenty of waterfront activities, from sunbathing along Cape Cod Bay, to boogie boarding the Atlantic Ocean. Or, discover a unique experience and take a ride through Provincetown’s dunes.

Beaches of Cape Cod. A Cape Cod vacation would not be complete without plenty of time spent exploring its 550 miles of beaches. You’ll find crashing waves along the eastern side, where the Atlantic Ocean hugs the Cape. Opposite, enjoy the sometimes-milder waters lapping at the beaches of Cape Cod Bay. In Provincetown, the National Seashore manages two beaches, Race Point Beach and Herring Cove.  [Top]

Cape Cod Sand Dunes. The Cape Cod sand dunes have inspired generations of visitors, including famed American playwright Eugene O’Neill, who spent a good amount of times out on the dunes. Maintained by the Cape Cod National Seashore, the Provincetown dunes can be toured in the comfort of a climate-controlled Suburban vehicle. Tours are run by Art’s Dune Tours, which also specializes in dune weddings and commitment ceremonies. Consider a sunset tour of the dunes or a combination dune tour and classic family clambake. You can also a hike on the dune trails for an afternoon of fun, explore the dunes and swim in the Atlantic Ocean.  [Top]

Cape Cod Beach Recreation. From nude beaches to sport-fishing beaches, visitors to Cape Cod find a variety of seaside activities. Along Cape Cod Bay, high and low tides are daily events, and when the tides go out, children can discover all kinds of maritime critters, like hermit and sand crabs. Low tide is also a nice time for a long beach walk or game of Frisbee. For the intrepid, Nauset Beach on the Lower Cape offers excellent surfing.  [Top]

Race Point Beach - One of the most spectacular beaches in the state, Race Point, at the very tip of Cape Cod, is a sweeping eight miles long. There are an expanse of rolling dunes, and surfing is allowed. It's also a nice spot for swimmers, but water depths drop off sharply. Sunsets here are beautiful. If you keep your eye on the water, you may catch a whale: Stellwagen Bank, a prime feeding area, is nine miles away.

Herring Cove - P'town's most popular beach, Herring Cove has warm, calm waters and ideal swimming conditions. The quiet boundary here is that the beach's right side is designated for families, and its left end is gay-oriented. To avoid the masses, head towards Hatches Harbor.
Often, you'll observe whales and/or seals sunning themselves on the shore. Make sure to stay until sunset- Herring Cove offers some terrific views. Public facilities include restrooms, showers and a snack bar.
Lifeguards are also on duty here. Parking requires a seasonal daily fee. Two parking lots exist - a small one on the right close to the beach and a larger one on the left further away from it.