National Seashore
Coast Guard Beach
Eastham, MA
Plover closureAccessibleSurf · intermediateSeal viewing
(947)
SurfingBodyboardingsealsScenery
Surf wavesLifeguards
Cape Cod National Seashore Beaches
The Cape Cod National Seashore protects forty miles of Atlantic coastline, with six designated swimming beaches run by the National Park Service. One pass covers all of them — buy a day or season pass at any entrance — and the payoff is the Cape’s biggest dunes, its wildest surf, and beaches that feel closer to wilderness than resort.
6 of 126 Cape Cod beaches make this list, ranked by visitor rating.
National Seashore
Head of the Meadow Beach
Truro, MA
Plover closureHidden gemAccessibleSurf · intermediateSeal viewing
(200)
SwimmingNatureQuiet
Surf wavesLifeguards
National Seashore
Herring Cove Beach
Provincetown, MA
Plover closureAccessible
(957)
sunsetSwimminglgbtq-friendly
LifeguardsSunsets
National Seashore
Marconi Beach
Wellfleet, MA
Plover closureAccessibleSurf · intermediate
(291)
SwimmingScenerydramatic cliffs
Surf wavesLifeguards
National Seashore
Nauset Light Beach
Eastham, MA
Plover closureAccessibleSurf · intermediateSeal viewing
(869)
SwimmingSceneryLighthouse
Surf wavesLifeguards
National Seashore
Race Point Beach
Provincetown, MA
Plover closureAccessibleSurf · intermediateWhales from shoreSeal viewing
(1,350)
SurfingwhalessunsetSeclusion
Surf wavesLifeguardsSunsets
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
How much does the Cape Cod National Seashore cost?
In season, a daily vehicle pass covers any Seashore beach for the day, and an annual Seashore pass (or the America the Beautiful pass) covers the season. Fees are charged roughly late June through Labor Day; off-season parking is free.
Which National Seashore beach is best?
They share the same ocean, so choose by logistics: Coast Guard and Nauset Light for classic outer-beach scenery near Eastham, Marconi for dramatic bluffs, Head of the Meadow for elbow room, and Race Point or Herring Cove in Provincetown — Herring Cove being the only one that faces west for sunset.
Can you swim at National Seashore beaches?
Yes — all six have lifeguards in season. Expect real surf, cold water (60s °F), and strong longshore currents; swim near the guards and mind the shark advisories posted at every entrance.