Best Beaches on Cape Cod

We always get asked where the best beaches on Cape Cod are, so we decided to put together a list of some of our favorites! If you're a beach lover like us, you'll want to try to visit as many of these beaches as possible. Did we miss any? Leave a comment below!

Upper Cape (Bourne, Falmouth, Sandwich, Mashpee)

• Old Silver Beach (North Falmouth) - one of Buzzards Bay's most popular beaches! With separate public and resident sides, either shoreline has the same spectacular views across the Bay to Marion, Mattapoisett, and West Island. Both sides offer seasonal parking, food, and a bathhouse so you can spend all day in the sun! 

Photo by @parthgpatel

• South Cape Beach (Mashpee) - a beautiful barrier beach facing Nantucket Sound and Martha's Vineyard. It is the perfect spot for fishing, swimming, and walking. South Cape Beach is wheelchair accessible and offers an overlook deck for regular wheelchairs. With daily parking passes available, restrooms, and grills, South Cape Beach is a great spot to spend a relaxing day with friends and family. 

Photo by @capecodmomma

• Town Neck Beach (Sandwich) - walk along the Sandwich Boardwalk and arrive at a beautiful spot for swimming, fishing, and watching boats pass through Cape Cod Canal. At high tide, the boardwalk is a great spot to jump into the marshes! Find Cape Cod Slush and Ice Cream Co's truck here for delicious slushies, hot dogs, grilled cheese, and more! 

Photo by @ben.forrester

• Monument Beach (Bourne) - a wide, sandy shoreline, Monument Beach is the perfect spot to spend a sunny day. With calm waters, it is a great place for families to swim, build sand castles, play sand volleyball, and grab a snack from the seasonal concessions stand. 

Photo by @corriganphotography

• Nobska Beach (Woods Hole) - a white sand crescent beach overlooking Vineyard Sound is nestled in the rocky shoreline and under the shadow of the picturesque Nobska Lighthouse. Enjoy a spectacular view of Martha's Vineyard and watch boats and ferries pass as the day goes by! 

Photo by @capeology

Mid Cape (Barnstable, Yarmouth, Dennis)

• Mayflower Beach (Dennis) - one of our favorite beaches that the Cape has to offer! It is very clean, has soft sand, and is a great spot for families with its sandbars, tide pools, and light waves. 

Photo by @michaelafowler

• Sandy Neck Beach (Barnstable) - drive your car onto the beach, or walk out to sand stretching along 6 miles of the coastline! High sand dunes and cool water temperatures make for a great beach day. Off-road vehicle permits are needed. 

Photo by @ben.forrester

• Craigville Beach (Centerville) - just a few minutes from Main Street Hyannis, Craigville Beach is most popular for its warm water on the Vineyard Sound.  

Photo by @alylynn25

• Grays Beach (Yarmouth) - a tiny beach, with a lot to offer! Walk down the boardwalk that is built over a marsh to arrive at a quaint little beach. Gray's Beach marshes are the perfect place to spot a variety of sea life, including schools of fish, crabs, and shellfish!

Photo by @ehtekazi

• Chapin Beach (Dennis) - backed by low sand dunes, Chapin Beach feels like a private getaway! It is a perfect spot for exploring tidal flats and swimming. Just a short walk from local restaurants, Chapin Beach is the perfect spot for a quaint beach day. 

Photo by @bettywileyphoto

Lower Cape (Harwich, Brewster, Chatham, Orleans)

• Nauset Beach (Orleans) - Nauset Beach has 10 miles of shoreline and is complete with amazing scenery including Nauset Lighthouse, nearby trails, and seals swimming close to shore. During the season, the beach offers lifeguards, restrooms, outdoor showers, bike racks, picnic tables, and more!

Photo by @simplymekb

• Skaket Beach (Orleans) - walk along tidal flats for miles at low tide, and sunbathe on the soft sand at high tide. With seasonal lifeguards, a snack bar, and restrooms, Skaket Beach is popular with families due to its warmer water and calm surf. 

Photo by @samsicard

• Lighthouse Beach (Chatham) - only a half mile from downtown Chatham, Lighthouse Beach sits below Chatham Lighthouse. It is one of the best beaches on Cape Cod to stroll along miles of Cape Cod's coastline or to spend a day at the beach. 

Photo by @above.newengland

• Paine's Creek Beach (Brewster) - a scenic inlet at low tide where you can walk and explore the flats for hours. At high tide, the inlet is fun to swim and float in. Paine's Creek is a perfect spot for kids to explore and float down the lazy river all day long while experiencing a memorable beach day.  

Photo by @haydenshots

• Ridgevale Beach (Chatham) - the perfect kid-friendly beach with plenty to do. Explore the many sandbars and marshes by means of swimming, walking, or even paddle boarding! The Ridgevale Beach Snack Bar is conveniently located right on the beach and is the ideal spot for a casual beachside lunch from their outdoor patio. 

Photo by @ridgevalebeachsnackbar

Outer Cape (Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro, Provincetown)

• Marconi Beach (Wellfleet) - Marconi Beach obtained its name from a famous Italian inventor who successfully completed the first transatlantic wireless communication between the U.S. and England in 1903. The beach is most famous for its steep 40-foot sand cliffs! Beach-goers and swimmers can feel a sense of solitude being surrounded by nature on all sides.

Photo by @lastisle_travels

• Head of the Meadow Beach (Truro) - often less crowded than other beaches in the area, visit Head of the Meadow Beach for gorgeous views with no boats. It is the least popular beach at the Cape Cod National Seashore due to its remoteness but is one of the best beaches in the area.

Photo by @andrea_spence

• Coast Guard Beach (Eastham) - part of the Cape Cod National Seashore, Coast Guard Beach is the location where the Mayflower first made landfall. It is the perfect swimming spot during the summer season! Parking is limited to Eastham residents from mid-June to Labor Day, but there is a shuttle available from Little Creek for a short ride to the beach. 

Photo by @mattfischerphoto

• Race Point Beach (Provincetown) - relax on the sandy shores, spot seals sunbathing off the coast, and soak up the sun all at the tip of Cape Cod!

Photo by @overcapecod

• Cahoon Hollow Beach (Wellfleet) - with steep 75-foot dunes leading to the beach, Cahoon Hollow is known for its breathtaking views and white sand. It is also known as the "Beachcomber Beach", as it is home to the Beachcomber Restaurant and Store located at the top of the dunes. Parking is limited, so make sure to secure a spot on the beach early!

Photo by @zjayphotography