Barnstable · Village guide

Centerville

Find your starting point. Choose a few places worth your time.

Photo: Craigville Beach · Andrew F

Start at Craigville for a Sound-side beach day; the village itself is residential, with Four Seas as a seasonal dessert stop rather than a meal. Confirm parking eligibility and shop hours before combining them.

Get oriented

Centerville is a village within Barnstable. Locations do not imply walking access between stops.

Village markers are approximate centers. Beach markers identify locations, not verified entrances. No routes or travel times are shown.

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1. Craigville Beach

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Choose a beach

3 beaches in this guide · compare access as well as character.

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Centerville · Sound Side

Craigville Beach

For a beach-focused visit in Centerville

Craigville is a Nantucket Sound beach in Centerville, with a town-managed bathing beach and parking.

Parking: The town facility page lists daily parking at $30 per vehicle; confirm current seasonal charges and permit eligibility.

Toilets: Listed · Showers: Listed

Consult the town’s current beach parking and permit information. Visitor parking is not assumed free; confirm fees, eligibility and facilities for your date.

Approach: level. Confirm individual access needs and current conditions.

Official information · checked 2026-09-17. Facility labels are catalog information.

Resident / sticker parking · 2 beaches

Centerville · Sound Side

Covell's Beach

Parking: Resident sticker required — no daily fee option available

Toilets: Listed · Showers: Not listed as available

Approach: short walk. Confirm individual access needs and current conditions.

Centerville · Sound Side

Long Beach

Parking: Resident sticker only, two tiny lots that fill by 9am in summer

Toilets: Not listed as available · Showers: Not listed as available

Approach: soft sand walk. Confirm individual access needs and current conditions.

Ideas for a half-day

Editorial suggestions to adapt—not timed itineraries. Check the season and each stop before setting out.

Centerville: beach and a seasonal treat

Pair Craigville with a treat only when Four Seas is operating. Its current off-season notice offers packaged ice cream on weekends, with no scooping. Arrange a separate meal.

The beach and shop are separate stops. Plan transport and parking for each.

Food & things to do

Grouped by location. Price symbols are catalog categories; check current menus and admission separately.

Centerville

Food · Ice cream · $

Four Seas Ice Cream

A long-established ice cream shop on South Main Street in Centerville.

Consider packaged ice cream when the shop is operating; do not expect scooped cones or a meal.

360 South Main Street, Centerville

dessert

Practical details

Meal service: dessert

Scooping has ended for the season. The current notice offers prepackaged pints and quarts on weekends; this is not a lunch stop.

Current off-season notice: Saturday and Sunday 11am–5pm, prepackaged ice cream only. Confirm before visiting.

Official information →

Source checked 2026-09-17; confirm availability for your date.

Activity · museums

Centerville Historical Museum

A village museum with historical collections and changing exhibitions.

An indoor history option alongside the village’s coastal visits.

513 Main Street, Centerville

museums · history

Practical details

Published adult admission $10; check concessions and current fees.

Official programs and calendar

Published season: February 1–December 15, Tuesday–Saturday noon–4; closed holidays.

Official information →

Source checked 2026-09-17; confirm availability for your date.

Activity · playgrounds

Centerville Playground

A playground beside the Centerville recreation building.

An outdoor play stop; current facilities and access need checking.

524 Main Street, Centerville

playgrounds · family

Practical details

Check hours — opening times are unverified for your date.

Official information →

Source checked 2026-09-17; confirm availability for your date.

Before you go

Barnstable town and Barnstable Village are different geographic scopes. Use the village name when checking addresses.
Parking eligibility differs by beach. A resident-only lot is not interchangeable with a beach that sells visitor parking. Unknown fees are not free parking.
Check individual access requirements with the venue or town. Listed facilities do not establish current availability or suitability.
Use current operator schedules for ferries, museums and seasonal food stops. These suggestions contain no live opening guarantees.

Area geography · checked 2026-09-17

More about Centerville

Read the town background

Centerville is best known to most visitors as the village containing Craigville Beach — a wide, sandy, family-popular stretch on Nantucket Sound that fills its big lot fast on summer weekends. The village itself is a quiet residential web of streets between Hyannis and Osterville with the 1856 Country Store as a recognizable anchor.

If you’re staying in Centerville you’re probably here for the beach access — Craigville is genuinely one of the best family beaches on the Sound — and the slightly slower pace compared to Hyannis. There isn’t much in the way of village dining; you’ll drive to Hyannis or Osterville for restaurants and groceries.

Centerville beach FAQ

Do I need a beach sticker in Centerville?

Parking rules vary by beach and season. Check the named beach’s official information for visitor eligibility, permits and current fees. Missing fee information does not mean parking is free.

Which Centerville beaches allow dogs?

Check the individual beach’s dog restrictions for your date, including seasonal exclusions and leash rules. A catalog dog-friendly label does not guarantee access today, including seasonal exclusions and leash rules.

Which Centerville beach is best for families?

Craigville Beach has toilets listed in the catalog, which may help narrow your choice. Confirm facilities, access and posted water conditions; catalog descriptions do not establish swimming safety or individual suitability.

How warm is the water in Centerville?

Catalog shorelines here are described as Nantucket Sound. Catalog seasonal notes such as 68–72°F (July–Aug) are not current measurements.

How many beaches does Centerville have?

Centerville has 3 beaches in this guide. This is a catalog count, not a claim to include every shoreline access point.

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