10 Best Beaches in Eastham, Massachusetts on Cape Cod

When it comes to the best beach town on Cape Cod, Eastham must be in the conversation. There are incredible beaches all around this town from the sprawling beaches along the National Seashore to the calm bayside beaches to the lowkey pond beaches. 

The National Park Services manages the two main National Seashore beaches in Eastham, Coast Guard Beach and Nauset Lighthouse Beach. Fees for these National Park Service beaches are $25 per day or an annual pass can be purchased for all NPS Cape Cod Beaches for $60. 

The town of Eastham manages 9 beaches around town. Four of these beaches are public where daily passes are sold and permitted, these include Campground Beach, Cooks Brook Beach, First Encounter Beach, and Wiley Park. The other five town-managed beaches are residents only year-round or during the summer. That said, there are also some hidden gems around the town where no fee or resident sticker is required. 

Without further ado, here is my list of the 10 best beaches in Eastham, Massachusetts on Cape Cod. 

 

1. Coast Guard Beach

When asking people about their favorite Cape Cod beach, odds are many people will say Coast Guard Beach in Eastham. This legendary beach has been a favorite for locals and visitors alike for decades. The beach is named Coast Guard Beach because of the historic lifesaving station that is situated on a bluff looking over the beach. 

The beach itself is the southernmost on the National Seashore, which stretches for 40 miles north. This means there is plenty of space for beachgoers to spread out. The water during the summer varies from calm to wavy, and lifeguards are present. Depending on the tides and waves, surfers are known to enjoy the beach. This beach is managed by the National Park Service, and fees are collected during the summer. Also, during the summer, an overflow parking area is open, and a complimentary shuttle brings beachgoers to the sandy shore.

 

3. Nauset Light Beach

Just a mile up the road from Coast Guard Beach is Nauset Light Beach. Nauset Light Beach, not to be confused with Nauset Beach or Nauset Outer Beach, is another top-rated beach on Cape Cod. The beach is most famous for being home to the historic Nauset Lighthouse, which remains operational today and is printed on every bag of Cape Cod potato chips.

Beachgoers can park in a large lot adjacent to the lighthouse and then walk down the steep dunes to the beach. The beach is along the National Seashore and has miles of open space in both directions. After finding your perfect spot, enjoy swimming in the water, admiring the scenery, and soaking up the rays. Fees are collected to park during the summer months, and seasonal amenities include bathrooms, changing rooms, and lifeguards.

 

3. First Encounter Beach

While the Atlantic-facing beaches of Eastham, are wonderful, they are not for everyone. Some beachgoers prefer the Cape Cod Bay beaches instead, due to their calmer and warmer water. One of the most popular bayside beaches in Eastham is First Encounter Beach. 

This public beach is a favorite for many reasons. First, it has the largest parking lot of any bayside beach in Eastham with around 300 spaces. It is also the longest public beach on the bayside with a length of half a mile. The width of the beach varies depending on the tides. At low tide, the tidal flats stretch out into the bay for nearly a mile, allowing all beachgoers to space out and enjoy the flats. The tidal flats on Cape Cod are one of the most incredible natural features, they are especially fun for children to play around in the tide pools, search for crabs, and run around on the smooth sand. 

Resident beach stickers or daily parking passes are required. Daily passes for public Eastham beaches, including First Encounter Beach, are $30. There are seasonal bathhouses available. 

 

4. Campground Beach

Campground Beach is another awesome public beach option on Cape Cod Bay. This beach is smaller than First Encounter but still has so much to offer. The beach boasts a pretty good-sized parking area that can hold about 90 cars. During the summer, resident beach stickers or daily $30 parking passes are required. The beach is not very long, but it expands significantly at low tide when the tidal flats appear. Campground Beach offers clear, calm, and warm water during the summer months, making it perfect for swimming, playing around, and relaxing in the sun. Consider arriving at the beach around 9 am in the summer to guarantee a parking spot! 

 

5. Cooks Brook Beach

Cooks Brook Beach in Eastham, Massachusetts, is a wonderful hidden gem. It is not as popular as some of the other beaches in town, but it still has a ton to offer. The beach offers a surprisingly large parking area with about 100 spaces. Resident parking passes or daily beach passes ($30) are required to park. Beachgoers will find soft sand and clear, calm, and warm water during the summer months here. Grab a beach chair and towel, and you are all set for a great bayside day. Cooks Brook Beach is one of the northernmost beaches in town, making it a great option for people traveling south on Route 6.

 

6. Sunken Meadow Beach

Just a few hundred yards north of Cooks Brook Beach is Sunken Meadow Beach. Sunken Meadow is definitely one of the Eastham locals’ favorite beaches. The beach has the same qualities as many of the other bayside beaches, but it is residents only during the summer. That said, it is a wonderful place to visit during the off-season for non-locals. One of my favorite aspects of Sunken Meadow Beach is how you can walk for nearly a mile north of the beach along the sandy shoreline. This walk passes a few homes but then goes to a totally undeveloped stretch of beach, which is incredibly peaceful to enjoy. 

 

7. Rock Harbor Beach

Rock Harbor Beach in Eastham, not to be confused with Rock Harbor in Orleans, is another great public beach in town. I am a huge fan of this beach for many reasons, but most of all is because it has FREE parking! Visitors can park in a small dirt lot at the end of Dryer Prince Road and get right on the beach. Rock Harbor Beach is a magical spot. 

The beach itself is pretty long, as it stretches for about a half-mile. Additionally, the beach expands a lot at low tide when the legendary tidal flats go out for nearly a mile. This is a wonderful spot for beachgoers of all ages thanks to its changing tides, calm water, soft sand, and easy accessibility. Be sure to arrive early during the summer months. Oh yeah, this is also one of the top sunset spots on Cape Cod!

 

8. Great Pond Beach

Although many people think about the saltwater ocean beaches of Cape Cod, there are so many great freshwater beaches too. Did you know Cape Cod is home to 365 ponds? Many of these have sandy shorelines that are perfect places for relaxing, wading in the water, and launching paddle boats. Great Pond in Eastham is home to an awesome beach, Great Pond Beach. Great Pond Beach can be found just a short distance off Route 6 along the eastern shore of the 109-acre Great Pond. Eastham resident beach stickers are required to park at the pond during the summer. 

 

9. Wiley Park Beach 

Looking for a freshwater pond beach that is public, consider visiting Wiley Park Beach located directly across Great Pond from Great Pond Beach. Wiley Park is a wonderful public park that offers seasonal lifeguards, bathrooms, changing rooms, floating pond docks, and more. The park is also home to some great trails, a playground, and a wonderful beach. The Wiley Park Beach is about 200 feet long. The highlights of this beach are the warm, clear, and calm water. This is a great place for kids to visit due to the accessible water and other amenities. There are 55 parking spots at Wiley Park, and an Eastham Resident Pass is accepted or a $30 daily pass can be purchased.

 

10. Herring Pond Beach

The final beach I want to mention is another freshwater pond beach at Herring Pond. Herring Pond is a beautiful 43-acre pond with a great public beach located at its southwestern shore. This sandy beach is very small, but it is a wonderful place to take a dip, relax, and launch a boat. Water is calm, clear, and warm during the summer months. It should be noted that Herring Pond Beach is open to only Eastham Beach Permit holders during the summer. 

Conclusion:

Hope you enjoyed this overview of the 10 best beaches in Eastham, Massachusetts on Cape Cod. From the popular and wavy beaches of the National Seashore to the calm and flat beaches on Cape Cod Bay. Once your skin is salty enough, maybe mix in a freshwater pond beach! No matter what beach you go to in Eastham, odds are you will have a great time!