Hardings Beach

A beautiful sound-side beach with views of Stage Harbor Lighthouse. The walk to the lighthouse point is a classic Chatham experience. Protected water makes it great for younger swimmers.

Hardings Beach is the most popular sound-side beach in Chatham, and the only one with proper amenities: full bathhouse, snack bar, lifeguarded swim area, and a paved Mobi-mat path to the sand. The beach itself is unusually long for a sound beach — almost a mile — running east toward Stage Harbor Lighthouse at the far end. The lighthouse walk is the signature experience: forty minutes each way along firm wet sand with shorebirds, oystercatchers, and the white tower growing on the horizon. The water is sound-warm, the surf is gentle, and the eastern end (out toward the lighthouse) gets quieter the further you walk. Lot is large but fills by 10:30 a.m. on July weekends; both stickers and daily-fee spots are sold. Pair with a stop in downtown Chatham for an ice cream cone at Buffy's, or dinner at the Chatham Bars Inn beach grille. The complete sound-side Chatham day.