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Sand & Surf Beach Wheelchairs
at Cape Cod Beaches

Good news for beachgoers with mobility, sensory or cognitive challenges:

Dozens of accessible Cape Cod beaches have sand and surf wheelchairs for you to use at no cost! 

The all-terrain wheelchair (left) rolls across the beach. The floating wheelchair (right) goes over sand and into the water, too.

If you've been searching for this information, you've probably discovered that it's not easy to find online. :-(

So, I’ve done the research for you — checking lots of resources and speaking with local officials, lifeguards, and beach attendants to gather all the details.

Where to Find Beach Wheelchairs
in Each Cape Cod Town

Here's my town-by-town list of beaches on Cape Cod where you'll find all-terrain and/or floating wheelchairs this summer:

Barnstable-Hyannis

• Sandy Neck/Bodfish - Sandy Neck Beach Road, West Barnstable; lifeguarded, accessible restrooms, showers, snack bar;(508) 362-8300
  
  
• Craigville Beach - 997 Craigville Beach Road, Centerville; lifeguarded, accessible restrooms, showers, changing rooms, snack bar across the street; (508) 790-9888
  
  
• Veterans Beach - 480 Ocean Street, Hyannis; lifeguarded, accessible restrooms, showers, ice cream truck, picnic area, grills, playground for the kids; (508) 790-9885
  
  
• Keyes/Sea Street Beach - 175 Ocean Avenue, Hyannis; lifeguarded, accessible restrooms, shower, picnic area, grills; (508) 790-9886
  
  
• Kalmus Beach - 670 Ocean Street, Hyannis; lifeguarded, accessible restrooms, showers, snack bar, picnic area; (508) 790-9884
  

• Covell's Beach - 857 Craigville Beach Road, Centerville;  lifeguarded, accessible restrooms, shower, ice cream truck; (508) 790-9887 (resident parking only)
  
  
• Dowses Beach - 348 East Bay Road, Osterville; lifeguarded, accessible restrooms, showers, ice cream truck; (508) 420-2403 (resident parking only)
  
  
• Hamblin's Pond (fresh water) - 415 Route 149, Marstons Mills; accessible restrooms, ice cream truck; (508) 420-1862 (resident parking only)
  
  
• Lake Wequaquet (fresh water) - Shootflying Hill Road, Centerville; accessible restrooms, ice cream truck; (508) 362-5953 (resident parking only)
  

Bourne

• Monument Beach - 22 Emmons Road, Bourne; lifeguarded, accessible restrooms, concession stand; (508) 759-0600 ext.1504
  

Brewster

• Breakwater Beach - Breakwater Road, Brewster; accessible restrooms; (508) 240-4946
  
  
• Paine's Creek Beach - Paines Creek Road, Brewster; accessible restrooms; (508) 240-4946
  
  
• First Light Beach (reserved for residents only!) - Mittens Road, Brewster; see lifeguard on duty for Mobi-chair use
  
  
• Long Pond (fresh water) - Crowell's Bog Road, Brewster; lifeguard on duty most days
  

Chatham

• Harding's Beach - 385 Hardings Beach Road, Chatham; lifeguards, accessible restrooms/bathhouse, snackmobiles
  
  
• Oyster Pond Beach (salt water pond) - 80 Stage Harbor Road, Chatham; accessible restrooms, picnic area
  

Contact Chatham Recreation & Beach Department at (508) 945-5175 with any questions.

Dennis

• Corporation Beach - 250 Corporation Road, Dennis; lifeguarded, accessible restrooms, rinse-off tower, concession stand; motorized beach wheelchair may also be  available here
  
  
• Mayflower Beach - Dunes Road, Dennis; lifeguarded, accessible restrooms, rinse-off tower, concession stand
  
  
• West Dennis Beach - West Dennis Beach Road, Dennis; lifeguarded, accessible restrooms, rinse-off tower, concession stand
  

To reserve a beach wheelchair at Corporation or Mayflower, call (508) 385-1558. To reserve at West Dennis, call (508) 760-6240. With general questions, contact Dennis Beach Department at (508) 760-6162.

Eastham

This beach is managed by the National Parks Service:

• Coast Guard Beach - 2 Ocean View Drive, Eastham
  

Contact Cape Cod National Seashore at (508) 255-3421 or (508) 487-1256 with any questions.

These beaches are managed by the town of Eastham:

• First Encounter Beach - Samoset Road, Eastham; accessible restrooms
  
  
• Campground Beach - Campground Road, Eastham; accessible restrooms
  
  
• Cooks Brook Beach - Steele Road, Eastham; accessible restrooms; rinse-off facility
  
  
• Wiley Park (fresh water) - off Herring Brook Road, Eastham; lifeguarded; accessible restrooms
  

Contact Eastham Beach Department at (508) 240-5974 with any questions.

Falmouth

• Bristol Beach - 76 Menauhant Road, East Falmouth; lifeguarded, restrooms, water refill station, food and ice cream available
  
  
• Chapoquoit Beach - 104 Chapoquoit Road, West Falmouth; lifeguarded, restrooms, water refill station, food and ice cream available
  
  
• Falmouth Heights Beach - 261 Grand Avenue, Falmouth;  lifeguarded, restrooms, water refill station, food and ice cream available
  
  
• Megansett Beach - 230 County Road, North Falmouth;  lifeguarded, restrooms, water refill station, food and ice cream available
  
  
• Menauhant Beach - 663 Menauhant Road, East Falmouth;  lifeguarded, restrooms, water refill station, food and ice cream available
  
  
• Old Silver Beach - 296 Quaker Road, North Falmouth;  lifeguarded, restrooms, changing facilities, water refill station, food and ice cream available
  
  
• Stoney/MBL Beach - 38 Gosnold Road, Woods Hole;  lifeguarded, restrooms, ice cream available
  
  
• Surf Drive Beach - 56 Surf Drive, Falmouth; lifeguarded, restrooms, changing facilities, water refill station, food and ice cream available
  
  
• Wood Neck Beach - 33 Woodneck Road, Sippewissett; lifeguarded, restrooms, water refill station, ice cream available
  
  
• Grew's Pond (fresh water) - 416 Pumping Station Road, Goodwill Park, Falmouth; lifeguarded, restrooms, water refill station, ice cream available
  

Contact Falmouth Beach Department at (508) 548-8623 with any questions.

Harwich

• Bank Street Beach - 16 Bank Street, Harwich Port; lifeguarded, restrooms, mobile concessions
  
  
• Earle Road Beach - 30 Earle Road, West Harwich; lifeguarded, restrooms, mobile concessions
  
  
• Pleasant Road Beach - Pleasant Road, West Harwich; lifeguarded, restrooms, mobile concessions
  
  
• Red River Beach - Uncle Venies Road, Harwich; lifeguarded, restrooms, mobile concessions
  
  
• Long Pond (fresh water) - Long Pond Road, Harwich; lifeguarded, restrooms, mobile concessions
  

Contact Harwich Recreation Department at (508) 430-7553 with any questions.

Mashpee

• South Cape Beach State Park - 668 Great Oak Road, Mashpee; restrooms
  

Contact Waquoit Bay Research Reserve at (508) 457-0495 with any questions.

Orleans

• Skaket Beach - Skaket Beach Road, Orleans; lifeguarded, restrooms, snack bar, picnic tables
  
  
• Nauset Beach - 250 Beach Road, Orleans; lifeguarded, restrooms, showers, food available
  

Contact Orleans Natural Resources/Beach Dept. at (508) 240-3790 with any questions.

Provincetown

• Herring Cove - Province Lands Road, Provincetown; lifeguarded, restrooms, showers, changing rooms, food concession
  

Contact Cape Cod National Seashore at (508) 771-2144  with any questions.

Sandwich

This is a Massachusetts State Park beach:

• Scusset Beach State Reservation - at the end of Scusset Beach Road, Sandwich (on the "mainland" side of the Cape Cod Canal); lifeguarded, accessible restrooms, showers, concession stand, playground for the kids; (508) 888-0859

For other beaches in Sandwich:

Beach wheelchairs may be signed out from the Sandwich Recreation Department.

Call the Rec. Department at (508) 888-4361 for information about where the town's beach wheelchair may be used and how to reserve it. 

Truro

• Corn Hill Beach -  Corn Hill Road, Truro; portable restroom is the only service/amenity here
  
  
• Head of the Meadow Beach - Head of the Meadow Road, Truro; lifeguarded, portable restroom; food vendor 
  

Contact Truro Beach Office at (508) 487-6983 with any questions.

Wellfleet

• Gull Pond (fresh water) - Gull Pond Road, Wellfleet; lifeguarded, restroom
  

Contact Wellfleet Beach Department at (508) 349-9818 with any questions.

Yarmouth

• Smugglers (Bass River) Beach - South Shore Drive, South Yarmouth; lifeguarded, restrooms/bathhouse, food concession
  
  
• Seagull Beach - Seagull Road, West Yarmouth; lifeguarded, restrooms/bathhouse, food concession
  

To use a beach wheelchair at Smugglers or Seagull, see the gate attendant when you arrive at the beach.

For more information, or to use a chair at another town of Yarmouth beach, contact the Recreation Department at (508) 398-2231 ext. 1520, or stop by the Department's office at 424 Route 28 in Yarmouth, Monday-Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Good to Know About Beach Wheelchair Use

Availability

Beach wheelchairs are generally available daily during summer months, typically from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., when lifeguards are on duty.

However, each town, the state, and the Cape Cod National Seashore set their own schedules. And availability can change from day to day due to staffing issues, weather conditions, or other unforeseen circumstances.

So it’s always a good idea to check ahead to confirm if a wheelchair will be available at your chosen beach on the day you plan to visit.

Reservations

Some towns offer reservations for beach wheelchairs. If this option is available, make sure to reserve as early as possible.

Fees

As I mentioned earlier, there’s no charge to use the wheelchairs. However, you might be asked to sign a waiver of liability and provide an ID/credit card as security for the timely return of the chair in good condition.

Chair Type

Most chairs are manually operated. As far as I know, Corporation Beach in Dennis is the only location on the Cape with a motorized beach wheelchair.

Assistance

A staff member will show you how to use the chair.

But for users who aren't able to independently transfer in and out of the chair and operate it safely on his/her own, a capable adult must accompany the wheelchair user at all times, both in and out of the water.

*On a personal note: I’ve heard some very concerning stories from local lifeguards about people leaving a friend or family member alone in a floating Mobi-Chair in the water.

Unexpected conditions like boat wakes, wind gusts, or leaning can cause the chair to tip. So please, please, please ... stay with the user and keep him/her safe!

Parking Fees

Parking fees or passes are required for all vehicles at most Cape Cod beaches equipped with beach wheelchairs.

The exceptions are: 

• Scusset Beach State Reservation in Sandwich and South Cape Beach State Park in Mashpee. Parking fees are waived for anyone with a disability license plate or placard, a Purple Heart recipient license plate, or a disabled veteran license plate.
  
  
• Coast Guard Beach in Eastham and Herring Cove in Provincetown. Parking is free for holders of U.S. National Parks Passes including the Access Pass - a free, lifetime pass available to U.S. citizens or permanent U.S. residents who have been medically determined to have a permanent disability.
  

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