About Cape Cod National Seashore
The great Outer Beach described by Thoreau in the 1800s is protected within the national seashore. Forty miles of pristine sandy beach, marshes, ponds, and uplands support diverse species. Lighthouses, cultural landscapes, and wild cranberry bogs offer a glimpse of Cape Cod's past and continuing ways of life. Swimming beaches and walking and biking trails beckon today's visitors.
Plan a Visit
Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.
Weather & Conditions
Cape Cod's weather is generally moderated by its proximity to the ocean. Winter is typically cold with some snow. Spring is often rainy. Summer is usually warm and humid. Fall is generally dry and clear.
NPS Reference Location
Park state / territory membership: Massachusetts. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.
Entrance Fees
Pass is for one private, non-commercial vehicle — passenger cars, pickup trucks, RVs and vans.
Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers.
Pass is for one person 16 years of age or older — entering on foot or by bicycle.
Operating Hours
Beaches, parking areas, and trails are open year-round between 6 am and midnight.
Activities
Current Alerts
Be prepared for heavy rain, high winds, big waves, and strong rip currents throughout the weekend. There are no lifeguards on duty. Some ranger programs may be cancelled, check web calendar in advance. Visitors are advised to monitor weather conditions before coming to the park and throughout their visit.
Getting There
The national seashore is located in eastern Massachusetts on Cape Cod and is accessed via Route 6. The park is 20 miles east of Hyannis, MA.
View Official DirectionsContact & Address
The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.
Entrance Passes
Passes are available at beach entrances during times when fees are normally collected. Entrance into the park with a pass may also require a driver's license or other form of picture identification. Valid for the current season. Permits access to any of the six Cape Cod National Seashore beaches. The annual pass allows entrance for the pass holder and additional passengers in a single private non-commercial vehicle, or pass holder plus three adults when entering on foot or bicycle.
Topics & Themes
Things To Do
Hike the Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail
Find your trail to explore at Cape Cod National Seashore! One of eleven trails in the park is the Atlantic…
Head of the Meadow Bike Trail
Get ready to explore! Enjoy a calm bike ride along berry bushes and trees.
Take a Break on Cape Cod's Beaches
What better way to enjoy a day on Cape Cod than to relax on the beach? Cape Cod National Seashore…
Hike the Pilgrim Spring Trail
Find your trail to explore at Cape Cod National Seashore! One of eleven trails in the park is the Pilgrim…
Hike the Doane Trail
Find your trail to explore at Cape Cod National Seashore! One of eleven trails in the park is the Doane…
Bike the Nauset Bike Trail
Get ready to explore! The Nauset Bike Trail offers a variety of environments to explore along nearly 2 miles of…
More Things to Do
Additional activities and experiences from the National Park Service.
Bike the Province Lands Bike Trail
Get ready to explore! The Province Lands Bike Trail offers a variety of environments to explore along over 7 miles of paved…
Visit the Eastern National Park Store
Looking for a gift or souvenir to remember your visit to Cape Cod National Seashore? Look no further than the park's Eastern…
Grab a Bite at the Herring Cove Snack Bar
Herring Cove Snack Bar is a food and beverage service located at Herring Cove Beach in Provincetown. This is a vintage beach…
Become a Cape Cod Junior Ranger
Visit Cape Cod National Seashore and become a Junior Ranger!
Hit the Links at Highland Links
One of Cape Cod’s oldest golf courses, perhaps its most scenic, Highland Links in North Truro is one of America’s golf treasures,…
Hike the Beech Forest Trail
Find your trail to explore at Cape Cod National Seashore! One of eleven trails in the park is the Beech Forest Trail,…
Hike the Small's Swamp Trail
Find your trail to explore at Cape Cod National Seashore! One of eleven trails in the park is the Small's Swamp Trail,…
Hike the Pamet Area Trails
Find your trail to explore at Cape Cod National Seashore! One of eleven trails in the park is the Pamet Area Trails,…
Hike the Great Island Trail
Are you looking for a day of adventure? Look no further than Cape Cod National Seashore's longest hiking trail, Great Island! Make…
Hike the Buttonbush Trail
Find your trail to explore at Cape Cod National Seashore! One of eleven trails in the park is the Buttonbrush trail, a…
Hike the Red Maple Swamp
Find your trail to explore at Cape Cod National Seashore! One of eleven trails in the park is the Red Maple Swamp,…
Hike the Nauset Marsh Trail
Find your trail to explore at Cape Cod National Seashore! One of eleven trails in the park is the Nauset Marsh Trail,…
Showing 18 of 19 NPS Things to Do records available for Cape Cod National Seashore.
Visitor Centers
Salt Pond Visitor Center
Open year-round. Let us help you plan the perfect seashore day! Visit the park museum to learn about the many layers of human history here,…
Province Lands Visitor Center
Open seasonally mid-May to mid-October. Let us help you plan a fabulous seashore visit! Exhibits, our award-winning orientation film, Standing Bold, and dramatic views of…
Nearby National Park Service Sites
These sites are ordered by straight-line distance between NPS reference coordinates. This is useful for comparison, but it is not road mileage. Trails, parkways, rivers, and distributed units may extend far from their reference point.
Nearby Cities for Trip Planning
These cities are ordered by straight-line distance from the NPS reference coordinate. They are comparison starting points, not official park gateways or road-distance estimates. Trails and other distributed units may extend far beyond this reference point.
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