Nauset Beach

Ten miles of wild Atlantic barrier beach — one of the Cape's most iconic stretches of sand. Serious surf, strong currents, and a raw ocean energy that makes you feel small. Consistently ranked among America's best beaches.

Nauset Beach is the Orleans flagship and one of the great Atlantic barrier beaches on the East Coast — ten miles of wild Atlantic surf stretching south from the Orleans town lot all the way to Chatham's Monomoy, much of it accessible only by oversand vehicle permit. The town-managed swimming section is at the north end where the big paved lot sits behind a low dune; the lifeguard zone is wide and well-staffed, the bathhouse is full-service, and there's a long-running snack-bar tradition (Liam's was here for decades; Sundae School and various successors carry the torch). The surf is the real reason to come: hollow, consistent beach-break waves that draw surfers from Boston, Providence, and Hartford. The longshore current runs hard south, so swimmers and surfers both learn quickly to line up landmarks on the dune. Walk south of the lifeguard zone and within ten minutes you can have nearly empty beach; walk far enough south past the dune breach and you're in genuine wilderness. Ranked among America's best beaches every year there's a poll.