Skip to main content
Cape Cod Beach Guide
All Beaches
Town Neck Beach — photo 1
1 / 5

Heads up

  • Piping plover nesting closure active this month — sections of the beach may be roped off.
Bay / CalmSticker / Day FeeBest in August

Town Neck Beach

Sandwich, Massachusetts · Cape Cod Bay

Sandwich's iconic boardwalk-and-beach experience

Connected to the famous Sandwich Boardwalk over the marsh — the walk out to the beach is half the experience. Bay-side calm water with views of the canal and great sunset potential.

Town Neck Beach is reached via the Sandwich Boardwalk, a third-of-a-mile wooden walkway built over marsh and tidal creek that is itself one of the most beloved landmarks in Sandwich. Hurricane Bob destroyed an earlier boardwalk in 1991; the current structure was rebuilt with planks engraved with thousands of names — memorials, dedications, in-jokes — that visitors stop to read on the walk out. The beach beyond is the same rocky, eroded Cape Cod Bay shore that defines Sandwich's coastline, with a wide stone-strewn fringe at high tide and broad firm flats at low. Sunsets across the bay toward the canal mouth are quietly spectacular. The walk back, with the marsh grass glowing gold and the herons settling in for the night, is the real ritual of Town Neck. Parking at the boardwalk entrance is sticker or daily fee in season.

History

The current boardwalk was rebuilt with engraved memorial planks after Hurricane Bob destroyed the original in 1991.

Photo spot

The boardwalk stretching across marsh at sunset

Arrive
Walk the boardwalk at sunset
Crowds
Moderate
Dogs
Seasonal
Lifeguards
On duty
Sunsets
Great spot

Best for

Walking

The beach

Lay of the land

Orientation
North-facing
Length
~1 mi
Backshore
Dune / flat
Sand
Mixed sand and cobble fringe; boardwalk over marsh
Shade
none

Wildlife

Birds you may see: great blue heron, snowy egret, osprey, willet, American oystercatcher

Tidepools

Things to know

  • Jellyfish more likely July–August.
  • Greenhead flies are intense in late July through mid-August on calm, humid days.

Plan your visit

Parking & fees

Lot size
Medium
Enforcement
Sandwich sticker or daily fee at the boardwalk lot.

Sticker required in season, boardwalk parking available

Getting there

From Sagamore Bridge
8 min
Cell signal
good

Accessibility

Beach wheelchair
Not available
Mobi Mat
No
Accessible parking
4 spaces
Path from parking
long walk

Dogs

No dogs on beach in season; boardwalk allows leashed dogs year-round.

Pairs well with

Rules & activities

What’s allowed

UmbrellasTents / canopies · small onlyAlcoholGrillsFiresDronesSmoking

Activities

Designated SUP/kayak launchFishing · surfcasting

Safety & stewardship

Lifeguards on duty· Late June through Labor Day, 10am–5pm Significant plover closures

Photo by James Tenreiro via Google Places

Today

Water60°F
Sunrise5:07 AM
Sunset8:18 PM

Conditions

WavesCalm water
Water64-70°F (July–Aug)
TidesModerate
SharksLow risk
Jellyfishlow
Length~1 mi

Facilities

LifeguardsRestroomsShowers

Late June through Labor Day, 10am–5pm

You might also like

Chapoquoit Beach beach in Falmouth, Massachusetts
Bay / Calm

Chapoquoit Beach

Falmouth, MA

Hidden gem
(354)
sunsetSeclusionWalking
Calm waterUncrowdedLifeguardsSunsets
Chapin Memorial Beach beach in Dennis, Massachusetts
Bay / Calm

Chapin Memorial Beach

Dennis, MA

Plover closure
(358)
Walkingdogs off-seasonsunset
Calm waterDog-friendlySunsets
Crosby Landing Beach beach in Brewster, Massachusetts
Bay / Calm

Crosby Landing Beach

Brewster, MA

(199)
Walkingtidal flatssunset
Calm waterDog-friendlyLifeguardsSunsets