Ocean / Surf
East Beach
Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, MA
Plover closureHidden gemSurf · intermediateSeal viewing
(11)
SeclusionNatureFishingBirding
Surf wavesUncrowded
Best Surfing Beaches on Cape Cod
Real waves on the Cape mean the Atlantic-facing outer beaches, most of them inside the National Seashore. Swell is best in late summer and fall when tropical systems light up the coastline; wetsuits are standard equipment since the ocean side rarely leaves the 60s. Respect the posted shark advisories — this is seal country.
27 of 126 Cape Cod beaches make this list, ranked by visitor rating.
Ocean / Surf
Quidnet Beach
Nantucket, MA
Plover closureHidden gemSurf · intermediate
(5)
SeclusionSceneryWalkingBirding
Surf wavesUncrowdedDog-friendly
Ocean / Surf
Surfside Beach
Nantucket, MA
AccessibleSurf · intermediate
(5)
SurfingBodyboardingbikingFamilies
Surf wavesDog-friendlyLifeguardsSunsets
Ocean / Surf
Ballston Beach
Truro, MA
Plover closureHidden gemSurf · intermediate
(141)
SeclusionScenery
Surf wavesUncrowdedLifeguards
Ocean / Surf
Cahoon Hollow Beach
Wellfleet, MA
Plover closureSurf · intermediate
(55)
Surfingyoung crowdnightlife
Surf wavesLifeguards
Ocean / Surf
Cisco Beach
Nantucket, MA
Plover closureSurf · intermediate
(44)
Surfingyoung crowdBodyboarding
Surf wavesDog-friendlyLifeguardsSunsets
National Seashore
Coast Guard Beach
Eastham, MA
Plover closureAccessibleSurf · intermediateSeal viewing
(947)
SurfingBodyboardingsealsScenery
Surf wavesLifeguards
National Seashore
Head of the Meadow Beach
Truro, MA
Plover closureHidden gemAccessibleSurf · intermediateSeal viewing
(200)
SwimmingNatureQuiet
Surf wavesLifeguards
Ocean / Surf
Lecount Hollow Beach
Wellfleet, MA
Plover closureHidden gemSurf · intermediate
(99)
SurfingSeclusion
Surf wavesUncrowdedLifeguards
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
Ocean / Surf
Nauset Beach
Orleans, MA
Plover closureAccessibleSurf · intermediateSeal viewing
(1,309)
SurfingBodyboardinglong walks
Surf wavesLifeguards
Ocean / Surf
Norton Point Beach
Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, MA
Plover closureHidden gemSurf · advancedSeal viewing
(26)
FishingSeclusionBirding
Surf wavesUncrowded
Ocean / Surf
Katama Beach/ South Beach
Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, MA
Plover closureAccessibleSurf · intermediate
(266)
SurfingSwimmingFamiliesSunrises
Surf wavesDog-friendlyLifeguards
Ocean / Surf
Ladies Beach
Nantucket, MA
Plover closureHidden gemSurf · intermediate
(49)
WalkingSeclusionSurfing
Surf wavesUncrowdedDog-friendlySunsets
National Seashore
Marconi Beach
Wellfleet, MA
Plover closureAccessibleSurf · intermediate
(291)
SwimmingScenerydramatic cliffs
Surf wavesLifeguards
Ocean / Surf
Miacomet Beach
Nantucket, MA
Plover closureHidden gemSurf · intermediate
(61)
WalkingSeclusionFishing
Surf wavesUncrowdedDog-friendlySunsets
National Seashore
Nauset Light Beach
Eastham, MA
Plover closureAccessibleSurf · intermediateSeal viewing
(869)
SwimmingSceneryLighthouse
Surf wavesLifeguards
Ocean / Surf
Newcomb Hollow Beach
Wellfleet, MA
Plover closureHidden gemSurf · intermediateSeal viewing
(205)
SurfingSeclusion
Surf wavesUncrowdedLifeguards
National Seashore
Race Point Beach
Provincetown, MA
Plover closureAccessibleSurf · intermediateWhales from shoreSeal viewing
(1,350)
SurfingwhalessunsetSeclusion
Surf wavesLifeguardsSunsets
Ocean / Surf
Tom Never Beach
Nantucket, MA
Plover closureHidden gemSurf · intermediate
(6)
SeclusionWalkingFishingBirding
Surf wavesUncrowdedDog-friendly
Ocean / Surf
White Crest Beach
Wellfleet, MA
Plover closureSurf · advanced
(314)
SurfingBodyboarding
Surf wavesLifeguards
Ocean / Surf
Longnook Beach
Truro, MA
Plover closureHidden gemSurf · advanced
(84)
Scenerydramatic cliffsSeclusion
Surf wavesUncrowdedLifeguards
Ocean / Surf
Sconset Beach
Nantucket, MA
Plover closureSurf · intermediate
(27)
village charmSceneryWalkingSunrises
Surf wavesDog-friendly
Ocean / Surf
Squibnocket Beach
Chilmark, Martha's Vineyard, MA
Plover closureHidden gemSurf · advanced
(62)
SurfingScenerySeclusion
Surf wavesUncrowded
Ocean / Surf
Lucy Vincent Beach
Chilmark, Martha's Vineyard, MA
Plover closureSurf · intermediate
(59)
ScenerycliffsSeclusionSwimming
Surf wavesUncrowdedLifeguards
Ocean / Surf
Nobadeer Beach
Nantucket, MA
Plover closureSurf · intermediate
No rating0
Surfingyoung crowdBodyboarding
Surf wavesDog-friendlySunsets
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
Where do people surf on Cape Cod?
Along the outer Cape’s Atlantic coast — the ocean-facing beaches from Chatham up through Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro, and Provincetown. These take open-ocean swell directly; the bay and sound sides are too protected to surf.
When is surf season on Cape Cod?
Late August through October is the sweet spot: hurricane-season swell, water at its warmest, and thinner crowds. Winter delivers the biggest waves for those with 5mm rubber.
Are sharks a concern for Cape Cod surfers?
White sharks patrol the outer beaches in summer and fall following the seal population. Heed purple shark flags and posted closures, avoid dawn/dusk sessions near seals, and check the Sharktivity app before paddling out.