Bay / Calm
Ryder Beach
Truro, MA
Hidden gem
(21)
Familiessunsetcalm water
Calm waterUncrowdedSunsets
Best Cape Cod Beaches for Families
The best family beaches on the Cape share a formula: gentle water, summer lifeguards, restrooms close to the sand, and parking that does not require a 6am start. Bay-side and Nantucket Sound beaches usually beat the open Atlantic for young kids — the water is warmer and the waves are smaller.
67 of 126 Cape Cod beaches make this list, ranked by visitor rating.
Ocean / Surf
Surfside Beach
Nantucket, MA
AccessibleSurf · intermediate
(5)
SurfingBodyboardingbikingFamilies
Surf wavesDog-friendlyLifeguardsSunsets
Bay / Calm
Paine's Creek Beach
Brewster, MA
(63)
Familiessunsetcreek exploring
Calm waterDog-friendlyLifeguardsSunsets
Bay / Calm
Wood Neck Beach
Falmouth, MA
Hidden gem
(17)
Familiescalm waterSeclusion
Calm waterUncrowdedLifeguardsSunsets
Sound Side
Bank Street Beach
Harwich, MA
(11)
FamiliespaddleboardingKayaking
Calm waterLifeguardsSunsets
Bay / Calm
Bayview Beach
Dennis, MA
Hidden gem
(17)
Familiescalm water
Calm waterUncrowdedSunsets
Sound Side
Bend-in-the-Road Beach
Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, MA
(5)
FamiliesSwimmingbiking
Calm waterDog-friendlyLifeguards
Bay / Calm
Corn Hill Beach
Truro, MA
(214)
sunsetFamiliescalm
Calm waterLifeguardsSunsets
Sound Side
Craigville Beach
Centerville, Barnstable, MA
Accessible
(353)
FamiliesSwimmingteensvolleyball+1
Calm waterLifeguardsSunsets
Sound Side
Lake Tashmoo Town Beach
Vineyard Haven, Martha's Vineyard, MA
Hidden gem
(29)
FamiliesSwimmingNatureBirding
Calm waterDog-friendlyLifeguards
Sound Side
Menauhant Beach
Falmouth, MA
Accessible
(71)
Familieswarm waterSwimming
Lifeguards
Sound Side
Pleasant Road Beach
Harwich, MA
(13)
FamiliesSwimming
Calm waterLifeguardsSunsets
Bay / Calm
Grays Beach
Yarmouth, MA
Plover closure
(643)
boardwalkNaturesunsetFamilies
Calm waterLifeguardsSunsets
Sound Side
Hardings Beach
Chatham, MA
Plover closureAccessible
(161)
Familieslighthouse views
Calm waterLifeguardsSunsets
Bay / Calm
Indian Neck Beach
Wellfleet, MA
(48)
Familiescalm watersunset
Calm waterLifeguardsSunsets
Harbor
Jetties Beach
Nantucket, MA
Accessible
(86)
FamiliesPlaygroundcalm waterevents+1
Calm waterLifeguardsSunsets
Sound Side
Joseph Sylvia State Beach
Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard, MA
Plover closure
(613)
FamiliesSwimmingbikingKayaking
Calm waterDog-friendlyLifeguards
Ocean / Surf
Katama Beach/ South Beach
Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, MA
Plover closureAccessibleSurf · intermediate
(266)
SurfingSwimmingFamiliesSunrises
Surf wavesDog-friendlyLifeguards
Bay / Calm
Mayflower Beach
Dennis, MA
Accessible
(1,704)
Familiestidal flatssunset
Calm waterLifeguardsSunsets
Harbor
Menemsha Public Beach
Chilmark, Martha's Vineyard, MA
(52)
SunsetsFamiliesSwimmingScenery
Calm waterDog-friendlyLifeguardsSunsets
Bay / Calm
Skaket Beach
Orleans, MA
Accessible
(849)
Familiestidal flatssunset
Calm waterLifeguardsSunsets
Bay / Calm
Thumpertown Beach
Eastham, MA
Hidden gem
(90)
FamiliessunsetQuiet
Calm waterUncrowdedSunsets
Bay / Calm
Barlows Landing Beach
Bourne, MA
Hidden gem
(87)
Familiescalm waterKayaking
Calm waterUncrowdedLifeguardsSunsets
Bay / Calm
Breakwater Beach
Brewster, MA
Accessible
(505)
Familiestidal flatssunset
Calm waterDog-friendlyLifeguardsSunsets
Bay / Calm
Campground Beach
Eastham, MA
Hidden gem
(201)
Familiescalm watersunset
Calm waterUncrowdedSunsets
Harbor
Childrens Beach
Nantucket, MA
Accessible
(22)
FamiliestoddlersPlaygroundcalm water
Calm waterLifeguardsSunsets
Bay / Calm
Cooks Brook Beach
Eastham, MA
Hidden gem
(131)
Familiescalm water
Calm waterUncrowdedSunsets
Bay / Calm
Corporation Beach
Dennis, MA
Accessible
(1,141)
Familiescalm water
Calm waterLifeguardsSunsets
Sound Side
Covell's Beach
Centerville, Barnstable, MA
Hidden gemAccessible
(267)
Familiescalm watervolleyballquieter alternative
Calm waterLifeguardsSunsets
Sound Side
Dowses Beach
Osterville, Barnstable, MA
Accessible
(277)
FamiliesFishingKayakingcalm water
Calm waterLifeguardsSunsets
Sound Side
Earle Road Beach
Harwich, MA
Hidden gem
(95)
FamiliesQuiet
Calm waterLifeguardsSunsets
Sound Side
Falmouth Heights Beach
Falmouth, MA
Accessible
(98)
Familiestown accessSwimming
LifeguardsSunsets
Sound Side
Forest Beach
Chatham, MA
Hidden gem
(104)
FamiliesQuiet
Calm waterUncrowdedLifeguardsSunsets
Harbor
Lighthouse Beach
Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, MA
(14)
FamiliesScenerytown access
Calm waterSunsets
Harbor
Millway Beach
Barnstable Village, Barnstable, MA
Plover closure
(354)
Familiesharbor viewsFishing
Calm water
Harbor
Owen Park Beach
Vineyard Haven, Martha's Vineyard, MA
(91)
FamiliesSwimmingtown access
Calm waterLifeguards
Sound Side
Ridgevale Beach
Chatham, MA
(195)
Familieswarm water
Calm waterLifeguardsSunsets
Sound Side
Veterans Park Beach
Hyannis, Barnstable, MA
Accessible
(975)
FamiliesPlaygroundpicnicsSwimming
Calm waterLifeguardsSunsets
Sound Side
Bass River Beach
Yarmouth, MA
Accessible
(50)
FamiliesFishingpicnics
Calm waterLifeguardsSunsets
Harbor
Colonial Acres Beach
Yarmouth, MA
Hidden gem
(225)
Familiescalm waterQuiet
Calm waterUncrowdedSunsets
Sound Side
Dionis Beach
Nantucket, MA
Plover closureHidden gem
(29)
Familiescalm waterdunesSwimming
Calm waterDog-friendlyLifeguardsSunsets
Sound Side
Eugenia Fortes Beach
Hyannis Port, Barnstable, MA
Hidden gem
(83)
Familiescalm waterquiet swimming
Calm waterUncrowdedSunsets
Sound Side
Haigis Beach
Dennis, MA
Hidden gem
(37)
FamiliesSwimming
Calm waterUncrowded
Sound Side
Inkwell Beach
Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard, MA
Accessible
(520)
FamiliesSwimminghistorytown access
Calm waterLifeguards
Sound Side
Kalmus Park Beach
Hyannis, Barnstable, MA
Accessible
(42)
WindsurfingkiteboardingFamiliesKayaking
LifeguardsSunsets
Sound Side
Keyes Memorial Beach
Hyannis, Barnstable, MA
Accessible
(41)
Familiestown accessSwimming
Calm waterLifeguardsSunsets
Sound Side
Loop Beach
Cotuit, Barnstable, MA
Accessible
(58)
Familiescalm waterSwimmingsmall children+1
Calm waterLifeguardsSunsets
Harbor
Oak Bluffs Town Beach
Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard, MA
(38)
Familiestown accessSwimming
Calm waterLifeguards
Sound Side
Parkers River Beach
Yarmouth, MA
Accessible
(24)
FamiliesPlaygroundmusic
Calm waterLifeguardsSunsets
Sound Side
Red River Beach
Harwich, MA
Plover closureAccessible
(172)
Familieswarm waterSwimming
Calm waterLifeguardsSunsets
Sound Side
Seagull Beach
Yarmouth, MA
Plover closureAccessible
(827)
FamiliesteensSwimming
Calm waterLifeguardsSunsets
Sound Side
West Dennis Beach
Dennis, MA
Plover closureAccessible
(135)
FamiliesWindsurfinglarge beach
Calm waterLifeguardsSunsets
Harbor
Englewood Beach
Yarmouth, MA
Hidden gem
(175)
Familiestoddlerscalm water
Calm waterSunsets
Sound Side
Sea Street Beach
Dennis, MA
(242)
FamiliesSwimming
Calm water
Sound Side
Cockle Cove Beach
Chatham, MA
(88)
Familiestoddlerscalm water
Calm waterLifeguardsSunsets
Sound Side
Glendon Road Beach
Dennis, MA
Hidden gem
(28)
Familieswarm water
Calm waterUncrowded
Bay / Calm
Howes Street Beach
Dennis, MA
Hidden gem
(6)
Familiestidal flatsQuiet
Calm waterUncrowdedSunsets
Sound Side
Lambert's Cove Beach
West Tisbury, Martha's Vineyard, MA
(33)
ScenerySeclusionSwimmingFamilies
Calm waterUncrowdedLifeguards
Sound Side
Surf Drive Beach
Falmouth, MA
Accessible
(44)
FamiliesWindsurfingcycling
LifeguardsSunsets
Sound Side
Inman Road Beach
Dennis, MA
Hidden gem
(12)
FamiliesSwimming
Calm waterUncrowded
Harbor
Fuller Street Beach
Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, MA
Hidden gem
(9)
FamiliesSwimmingtown access
Calm waterUncrowded
Harbor
Brant Point Road
Nantucket, MA
No rating0
FamiliesLighthouseferry watchingcalm water
Calm waterDog-friendlySunsets
Bay / Calm
First Encounter Beach
Eastham, MA
Accessible
No rating0
sunsetFamilieshistory
Calm waterLifeguardsSunsets
Harbor
Mayo Beach
Wellfleet, MA
No rating0
Familiestown accesscalm water
Calm waterDog-friendlyLifeguardsSunsets
Bay / Calm
Monument Beach
Bourne, MA
No rating0
Familiescalm waterFishing
Calm waterLifeguardsSunsets
Bay / Calm
Old Silver Beach
Falmouth, MA
Accessible
No rating0
FamiliessunsetSwimming
Calm waterLifeguardsSunsets
Bay / Calm
Sunken Meadow Beach
Eastham, MA
Hidden gem
No rating0
FamiliessunsetQuiet
Calm waterUncrowdedSunsets
Turn this list into a trip
The trip planner picks the right base town and builds a day around these beaches — traffic, tides, food and all.
Frequently asked questions
Which side of Cape Cod is best for kids?
The bay side (Cape Cod Bay) and the Nantucket Sound side. Both are protected from open-ocean surf, so the water is calmer and several degrees warmer than the Atlantic beaches, and low tide on the bay side exposes wide, shallow flats kids can wade across.
Do Cape Cod family beaches have lifeguards?
Most of the popular town beaches staff lifeguards from late June through Labor Day, typically 9am to 5pm. Each beach page in this list shows whether lifeguards are on duty and for what season.
When should we arrive to get parking?
Before about 10am on July and August weekends — the family-friendly lots are the first to fill. Several beaches on this list also sell day passes; check the parking answer on each beach page.