Barnstable County

Best beaches in Barnstable County

This selection of Cape Cod beaches spans from the towering Atlantic dunes of the National Seashore to the calm, shallow waters of Cape Cod Bay. Featured locations include historic sites like First Encounter Beach in Eastham and the expansive surf of Nauset Beach in Orleans. Visitors can explore unique geological features such as the kettle ponds of Wellfleet, the salt marshes and boardwalk at Grays Beach, and the sunset-facing shores of Skaket Beach. The list covers both ocean-side surf and protected bayside tidal flats across Barnstable County.

Best Beaches — Map

Someone35 / CC BY-SA 3.0

A

Marconi Beach

Marconi Beach is part of the Cape Cod National Seashore in Wellfleet, Massachusetts.

B

First Encounter Beach

Historical site of the 1620 meeting between the Mayflower Pilgrims and the Nauset tribe. It features shallow water and expansive tidal flats accessible during low tide.

Carol M. Highsmith / Public domain

C

Town Beach

Public beach located in the center of Provincetown, offering views of the harbor and easy access to the town's central commercial district.

Arjen Ros / CC-BY-SA

D

Ryder Street Beach

Central Provincetown beach located adjacent to MacMillan Pier and the Coast Guard station.

E

Skaket Beach

A beautiful beach in Orleans particularly popular for great sunset sceneries.

F

Lecount Hollow Beach

A very popular Eastham beach. Great for taking a walk, relaxing and admiring the beauty of Cape Cod.

G

Cliff Metcalf Memorial Beach

Small Nantucket Sound beach in Dennis featuring calm waters and stone jetties.

H

Town Neck Beach

Sandwich beach located at the entrance of the Cape Cod Canal, known for views of passing ships and its proximity to the local marsh boardwalk.

I

Seymoor pond beach

Freshwater beach on the shores of Seymour Pond in Brewster, part of a chain of inland glacial kettle ponds.

J

Grays Beach

Also known as Bass Hole, this Yarmouth beach features a long wooden boardwalk extending over a salt marsh to the mouth of Garden Creek.

K

Herring Brook Beach

Bayside beach in Eastham located near the mouth of Herring Brook, characterized by calm water and extensive tidal pools.

L

Forest Beach

Small beach in Chatham on Nantucket Sound, featuring several stone jetties and views toward the Monomoy Islands.

M

Nauset Beach

Large Atlantic Ocean beach in Orleans known for its consistent surf, wide sandy shoreline, and public facilities.

N

Gull Pond Beach

Freshwater beach on a glacial kettle pond in Wellfleet, offering a swimming area and a seasonal sluice connecting to neighboring ponds.

Other Lists

Barnstable County's Quintessential Cape Cod Recreational Areas and Parks Coastal Wetlands and Marshes Iconic Lighthouses Museums and Galleries