Bay / Calm
Ryder Beach
Truro, MA
Hidden gem
(21)
Familiessunsetcalm water
Calm waterUncrowdedSunsets
Best Sunset Beaches on Cape Cod
Sunset on the Cape belongs to the bay side. West-facing beaches on Cape Cod Bay get the sun dropping straight into the water most of the year — and unlike a beach day, a sunset run usually means free or easy parking, since many lots stop charging in the late afternoon.
28 of 126 Cape Cod beaches make this list, ranked by visitor rating.
Sound Side
Long Beach
Centerville, Barnstable, MA
Plover closureHidden gem
(41)
WalkingSeclusionbeachcombingsunset+1
Calm waterUncrowdedSunsets
Bay / Calm
Paine's Creek Beach
Brewster, MA
(63)
Familiessunsetcreek exploring
Calm waterDog-friendlyLifeguardsSunsets
Bay / Calm
Corn Hill Beach
Truro, MA
(214)
sunsetFamiliescalm
Calm waterLifeguardsSunsets
National Seashore
Herring Cove Beach
Provincetown, MA
Plover closureAccessible
(957)
sunsetSwimminglgbtq-friendly
LifeguardsSunsets
Ocean / Surf
Madaket Beach
Nantucket, MA
Plover closureSurf · advanced
(179)
SunsetsSurfingSeclusionFishing
Surf wavesDog-friendlyLifeguardsSunsets
Ocean / Surf
Moshup Beach (public)
Aquinnah, Martha's Vineyard, MA
Plover closureSurf · intermediate
(67)
ScenerycliffsNatureSunsets+1
Surf wavesDog-friendlySunsets
Bay / Calm
Rock Harbor Beach
Orleans, MA
(25)
sunsetFishingharbor views
Calm waterDog-friendlySunsets
Bay / Calm
Ellis Landing beach
Brewster, MA
Hidden gem
(76)
SeclusionsunsetQuiet
Calm waterUncrowdedDog-friendlyLifeguardsSunsets
Bay / Calm
Grays Beach
Yarmouth, MA
Plover closure
(643)
boardwalkNaturesunsetFamilies
Calm waterLifeguardsSunsets
Bay / Calm
Indian Neck Beach
Wellfleet, MA
(48)
Familiescalm watersunset
Calm waterLifeguardsSunsets
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
National Seashore
Race Point Beach
Provincetown, MA
Plover closureAccessibleSurf · intermediateWhales from shoreSeal viewing
(1,350)
SurfingwhalessunsetSeclusion
Surf wavesLifeguardsSunsets
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
Breakwater Beach
Brewster, MA
Accessible
(505)
Familiestidal flatssunset
Calm waterDog-friendlyLifeguardsSunsets
Bay / Calm
Campground Beach
Eastham, MA
Hidden gem
(201)
Familiescalm watersunset
Calm waterUncrowdedSunsets
Bay / Calm
Chapin Memorial Beach
Dennis, MA
Plover closure
(358)
Walkingdogs off-seasonsunset
Calm waterDog-friendlySunsets
Bay / Calm
Chapoquoit Beach
Falmouth, MA
Hidden gem
(355)
sunsetSeclusionWalking
Calm waterUncrowdedLifeguardsSunsets
Bay / Calm
Crosby Landing Beach
Brewster, MA
(199)
Walkingtidal flatssunset
Calm waterDog-friendlyLifeguardsSunsets
Bay / Calm
Duck Harbor Beach
Wellfleet, MA
Plover closureHidden gem
(28)
sunsetSeclusionNature
Calm waterUncrowdedSunsets
Bay / Calm
Fisher Beach
Truro, MA
Hidden gem
(44)
sunsetSeclusionQuiet
Calm waterUncrowdedSunsets
Sound Side
Ropes Beach
Cotuit, Barnstable, MA
Hidden gem
(14)
SeclusionWalkingsunsetkayak launch
Calm waterUncrowdedSunsets
Bay / Calm
Town Neck Beach
Sandwich, MA
Plover closure
(71)
Walkingboardwalksunset
Calm waterLifeguardsSunsets
Bay / Calm
First Encounter Beach
Eastham, MA
Accessible
No rating0
sunsetFamilieshistory
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 has the best sunsets?
The bay side — beaches facing west over Cape Cod Bay. The outer-Cape Atlantic beaches face east (they are the sunrise side), and Nantucket Sound beaches face south, so the classic over-the-water sunset is a bay-side phenomenon.
Do I need to pay for parking to watch the sunset?
Usually not. Most town lots stop enforcing fees and sticker rules in the late afternoon (often 4–5pm), which makes sunset the cheapest time to hit an otherwise restricted beach. Check the parking note on each beach page.