With six swimming beaches, 20 (warmer) kettle ponds, a forest that invites exploration on foot or bike, scenic outlooks, lighthouses, dune-buggy tours, and ranger-led events, there’s plenty to do without leaving the Cape Cod National Seashore in Massachusetts, the miles of dunes, beach, and wild lands in the heart of one of the most popular summer destinations in the country. The Cape Cod National Seashore is a haven for beach bums, nature lovers, history buffs and sea worshipers. Here’s what to see, do and eat in each town along the way.
Cape Cod National Seashore Kettle Ponds
Kettle ponds formed when the ice sheets retreated around 18,000 years ago. They’re ideal for children and are usually around 10 degrees warmer than the ocean. Most are operated as town swimming beaches. Great Pond, Gull Pond, and Long Pond are the more popular bodies of water, set right off main roads. Visitors can also rent canoes, kayaks, or stand-up paddle boards to use here.
Weather – When to Visit
The best time to visit Cape Cod is May, June, September or October. These shoulder months have pleasant temperatures for outdoor activities, fewer crowds than the busy summer season and reasonable room rates. Visiting between July and August is best if hitting the beach is a top priority for you, but you’ll shell out a pretty penny for a seaside cottage during the peak tourist season. In contrast, the Cape is near abandoned from December through March and hotel prices are much less expensive than the warmer months, though many shops and restaurants close in the off season. If you’re looking for some time to curl up with a good book in quiet solitude, winter is the time for you.
The Best Cape Cod National Seashore Area Beaches
Coast Guard Beach
Coast Guard is the southern-most beach in the Cape Cod National Seashore, and is in the town of Eastham. It is absolutely gorgeous, one of the best places for spotting seals on Cape Cod, and enjoying bigger waves for boogie boarding. You can park for free at the Salt Pond Visitor’s Center, and walk the Nauset Marsh trail, continuing onto Coast Guard Beach.
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Race Point Beach
Located in Provincetown, the northern-most beach on the Cape Cod National Seashore which is at the very tip of the peninsula. This beach is another popular one for swimming, and is also a great sunset spot. It’s actually known for having one of the best coastal sunsets on Cape Cod. This beach is also home to Race Point Lighthouse, which is located at the very end of the beach.
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Herring Cove Beach
located in Provincetown, Herring Cove beach is also great for swimming and sunsets. It’s also known for having some of the gentlest surf , and is home to concerts in the evenings in the summer season. Herring Cove is a beautiful beach, and an excellent choice for families, especially if you’re staying in the outer Cape region.
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Head of the Meadow Beach
While is has some of the most limited facilities of all the beaches, it’s back dropped by beautiful sand dunes, and has long stretches of shoreline to walk on. This beach also experiences a nice tide shift that creates really cool sand bars at low tide, so you can walk a bit further out into the ocean floor.
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Nauset Lighthouse Beach
Most known for being home to the beautiful Nauset Lighthouse, Nauset Lighthouse Beach is definitely one to visit when exploring the region. From the beach parking lot, it’s a very short walk over to the lighthouse, which stands guard over the beach. It’s free and easy to walk around the grounds of the lighthouse. It’s a fairly steep walk down to the beach from the parking area, so it may not be best for those with mobility issues. Once you get down there, though, you can enjoy a gorgeous stretch of pristine, sandy coastline.
Best Cape Cod National Seashore Restaurants
$-Inexpensive $$-Moderate $$$-Pricey $$$$-Ultra High End
The Beach House at Chatham Bars Inn $$
Fresh, local “just caught” seafood, classic seaside favorites, sunset clambakes in the summer season, seasonally inspired cocktails and local beer served in an unforgettable oceanfront setting. Featuring live music and attentive, upbeat service. Telephone: 1 800-527-4884 Web: The Beach House at Chatham Bars Inn
Pilot House Restaurant & Lounge $$ – $$$
Enjoy dining hearthside with family and friends or unwind at the bar while sipping on a refreshing cocktail. If dining outside is something you enjoy, stop by for lunch on the patio under the sun, dinner under the stars or a beverage of choice at their fully stocked outside bar (weather permitting and seasonal). Telephone: 508-888-8889 Web: Pilot House Restaurant & Lounge
Popponessett Inn Restaurant $$ – $$$
It’s tucked inside an inn that’s tucked inside a country club that’s tucked into a golf course. Inconspicuous, to say the least. But it’s also 50ft from the ocean, with glass windows that guarantee every diner a sweeping beach view. If you’re jonesing for more saltwater time, check in for the night: guests gain access to the tony beachfront bar and raw bar, otherwise available to members only. Telephone: 508-539-8322 Web: Popponessett Inn Restaurant
Quicks Hole Taqueria $$ – $$$
Quicks Hole Taqueria located at 6 Luscombe Avenue in Woods Hole is a unique combo of Baja California surfer hangout meets New England clam shack. Open mid-May to late September, this seasonal restaurant specializes in tacos, burritos, salads and from-scratch soups like watermelon gazpacho and quahog chowder made the traditional way with bacon and roasted corn. Telephone: 508-495-0792 Web: Quicks Hole Taqueria
Mattakeese Wharf $$ – $$$
Mattakeese is one of those places that caters to multiple generations: baked stuffed shrimp for the grandparents, baked stuffed lobster for the ‘rents, and straight-up steamed lobster for yourself (with a starter of oysters and a side of steamers, of course). Frankly though, going for sunset cocktails and appetizers on a weekend when there’s live music is the best! Telephone: 508-362-4511 Web: Mattakeese Wharf
Best Nightlife – Cape Cod National Seashore
British Beer Company
This traditional British “public house” has a great menu that includes fish, ribs, and pizza. Entertainment options throughout the week include karaoke, trivia night, and a variety of bands that perform Thursday–Saturday. There are two other Cape locations in Falmouth and Hyannis. Telephone: 508-833–9590 Web: British Beer Company
Chatham Squire
Boasting four bars (including a raw bar), this is a rollicking year-round local hangout, drawing a young crowd to the bar side and a mixed crowd of locals to the restaurant. There’s live entertainment on weekends. Telephone: 508-945-0945 Web: Chatham Squire
Governor Bradford Restaurant
This bar is dark and rustic, and lacks the glittering lights of some of the other town nightspots. It’s on a busy corner of Commercial and Standish Streets, where you can sit at tables with windows open to the street or inside at the long bar. Late-night fun includes drag karaoke, a great time and wildly popular; downstairs are multiple pool tables, darts, and a jukebox. Telephone: 508-487-2781 Web: Governor Bradford Restaurant
Harvest Gallery Wine Bar
Near the Cape Playhouse, this friendly place has an extensive wine list, a good variety of hors d’oeuvres and other nibbles, eclectic artwork, and live music. Telephone: 508-385-2444 Web: Harvest Gallery Wine Bar
Paramount
Part of the Crown & Anchor complex of entertainment options, the Paramount is the hotel’s main nightlife venue, offering poolside dancing to skilled DJs—including many names from the top international dance scene—on many nights. It’s also host to cabaret performances and live theater. Next door is a video bar and a male-only leather bar, The Vault. Cover charges vary. Telephone: 508-487-1430 Web: Paramount
I remember the first time my parents took me to Cape Cod. It has a magnificent energy and such beautiful and vast scenery. This post brought back to me a fond memory and inspired me to consider another visit but this time with my little one!
Another great post Leahrae!
Thank you!!
-Bex
Glad you enjoyed Bex! Thanks for visiting beach travel destinations.
Cape cod looks beautiful. As you mentioned it is ideal for beach lovers, I would very much like to explore this beautiful destination. I have explored California and Florida beaches but never been to Cape Cod National Seashore. The light house looks stunning and I’m always fascinated by light house destination. So this place is a must in my travel list.
Sounds like the perfect fit for you Demi. It will exceed your expectations, knowing you have been to Florida and California. Unique in it’s own way but absolutely beautiful!
Six swimming beaches got immediately my attention. It’s so damn far from me but I will find the time to visit this gorgeous place too.
Thanks for the thorough and useful depiction!
You are very welcome, and it will be so worth it! You will fall in love with Cape Cod!
Wowzas!! The vast landscape the beautiful vistas! Cape cod looks so magnificent! I remember visiting there as a child but have yet to experience it as a parent. The various ponds that yield higher temperatures for the little ones sounds exactly like something me and my little seven year old would totally love to check out!
Great post and chalk full of really helpful tips and information.
Thank you Leahrae!
-Bex
Great Bex! I am glad you enjoyed. Yes, your little one will love the kettle ponds
HI Matts,
Oh, wow, Cape Code is stunning!
I have traveled to many places, but to Cape Code, never. The hotels are beautiful. The one that I’ll choose is the Brass Key Guesthouse. It must be quite expensive, but worth the price. Also, we love biking with our kids when we are on vacation, it’s fun and great for health. Do we have to have to book the activities and the hotel separately or it comes with the hotel package?
Thank you for this excellent post!
You will have to book your activities separately, but the hotel can help you with that. Just keep in mind, because you do mention your kids, that the Brass Key Guesthouse is an adults only hotel, and does not allow anyone under 18 to stay at the hotel. Let me know if you have any additional questions.
Wow! I had no idea there was such a beautiful seashore in the Cape Cod area. My only experience is from what you see in the movies, usually a ferry heading somewhere. You did such a wonderful job showing us when to visit depending on personal preferences and listing the available attractions. I can see my wife and I biking down the Cape Cod Rail Trail in the spring or fall months.
We generally head a little further south when we visit the east coast. You have definitely piqued my interest in expanding our horizons. We love a good restaurant and your review shows there’s no shortage of options. I’d have a hard time deciding on one of the accommodations you have so wonderfully described.
Thank you for opening my eyes to such a beautiful National Seashore.
You are very welcome Randy. Yes, you do need to expand your horizons for sure. This is a wonderful area and I live in Florida where there is no shortage of beautiful beaches. Cape Cod is unique and worth vacationing too. Thanks for visiting beach travel destinations.
Thank you for this post Leahrae, now you are making me want to go to Cape Cod. The photographs are so great. I think I would love to visit In September or October. They are the months I like to relax before it gets Christmas busy. And the hotel that tickles my fancy is the Brass Key Guesthouse.
Good choice on hotels Juliet and I never thought of it that way, traveling before the hectic Christmas season. I like that idea!
I’ve never been to Cape Cod before but after reading this post it’s very hard not to think about booking a trip! It seems like it has many different beautiful scenery attractions which is great for me because I love the outdoors!
I will be bookmarking this website for future trips!
Glad you enjoyed visiting the Cape Cod National Seashore. Thanks for stopping by!
Hi laehrae, this is just another wonderful post about Cape Cod National Seashore in Massachusetts, a visit to Monomoy National Wildlife will not really be a bad idea for me and I also checked on coast guard beach, it’s not actually a bad place to visit, I have really enjoyed reading your post all different Beaches since
Great, I am glad you are enjoying your visits to beach travel destinations and the Cape Cod National Seashore. Thanks for stopping by!
Amazing and insightful write up on the Cape Cod national seashore I must say, I wondered while reading about if the six beaches and twenty ponds are natural ponds or if they were artificial, I was also stunned by the Cape Cod rail trail, it was an eye catcher for me, the fact that the best visiting times are may – June may not work for me, but September to October will definitely work for me. Best regards.
None of the beaches or kettle ponds are artificial. All are natural with wonderful natural beauty. If heading to Cape Cod, a bike trip on the rail trail is definitely a must. I hope you can make it to Cape Cod National Seashore soon. Thanks for stopping by.
Hi Leahrae, first things first, I absolutely love your website. It’s exactly what I’ve been looking for. Since I love cycling, hate cold water and prefer secluded, windy beaches I believe Cape Cod wins over San Gregorio, I checked before. Should I bring a bicycle with me or they have a rental in town? I would love to do a Rail trail and visit the Lighthouse.
Thanks,
Katya
Hi Katya, I love windy beaches too! I don’t get too hot when there is always a breeze. You will find bike rentals there, so no need to tug along your bicycle. The best place to rent bikes from is Little Capistrano Bike Shop. Please let me know if you have any other questions. Thank you for visiting beach travel destinations.
Hi Leahrae,
Thanks for giving a beautiful presentation of nice places to visit in Cape Cod, MA. I wonder how far they are from MIT. One of my children has hopes of attending MIT and that would be a great opportunity to visit these places. You also have a wonderful lineup of nice places to eat and stay. This is a very useful article.
Thanks again
Thank you
It’s only about an hour and a half drive from MIT. That’s not too far! You can visit your college son/daughter and visit Cape Cod or take them there for the weekend. Nice!
I’ve never been to Massachusetts before, but Cape Cod National Seashore sounds like a great place to visit! I will surely bookmark this page!
You captured my attention in the first few sentences! With several swimming beaches to choose from, the kettle ponds, places to walk and ride bikes, beautiful scenery. I love to see different lighthouses too! Sounds like a great vacation idea. I like the idea of the dune-buggy tours as well. I’ve always wanted to do that.
Thanks for sharing another great vacation idea; 1 more on my bookmark list!
Devara
I know I keep growing your bookmarks and hopefully your bucket list for vacations
It is really a beautiful area to vacation to, and plenty for the whole family. Dune buggies are a blast!
If you ask a European citizen about beaches in the US he will mention California or possibly Florida. Every time I visit your website I realize that there are lots of really amazing places to visit. The list is enormous and I don’t know which one I should choose. Cape cod is definitely one of my favorites. Great article Leahrae !
You are so right Effie! I have a lot of family in Germany and when they found out I moved to Florida, they all want to come visit. No when I was in Texas, there was zero interest. And I found Texas to be such a great place as well. Granted they don’t have the wonderful and tremendous about of coastline and beaches. But they do have beaches
Cape Cod National Seashore is just a wonderful place, and it is up there – hands down – with Florida and California!
Wow, what a great review of everything Cape Cod National Seashore has to offer. I love biking, being from the Netherlands it is in my second nature. I did not know this region, but I am definitely interested in discovering it, it has such a wide variety of things to do and to see. Thanks for sharing!
You are very welcome Karen. I am glad you learned about the Cape Cod National Seashore. It is a very beautiful place worth seeing in person
Thanks for stopping by beach travel destinations.