Cape Cod National Seashore
Parking Fees, Passes & Free Entry

Updated: July 30, 2024

I'll cover all that and more on this page!

Cape Cod National Seashore Beaches

There are more than 130 public beaches on Cape Cod. But only 6 of them are Cape Cod National Seashore beaches.

These are the beaches we're talking about:

• Nauset Light Beach in Eastham
• Coast Guard Beach in Eastham
• Marconi Beach in Wellfleet
• Head of the Meadow Beach in Truro
• Herring Cove Beach in Provincetown
• Race Point Beach in Provincetown

CCNS Beaches
(Click for Live Map)

Cape Cod National Seashore Fees & Passes

For most of the year, parking and entry to Cape Cod National Seashore beaches is free.

"In season" though, you'll find someone at the beach entry gate  checking passes and IDs, and selling passes, during the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.:

• Weekends and holidays from Memorial Day weekend to mid-September at select beaches; and
  
  
• Every day including weekends and holidays from late June through Labor Day at all 6 beaches.
  

Coast Guard Beach in September

Cape Cod National Seashore Passes

Cape Cod National Seashore Daily Pass

A daily pass (a/k/a "Standard Pass") is valid for parking and entry at all 6 Cape Cod National Seashore beaches during the same day.

• Private Vehicles - $25 per vehicle, includes beach entry for the driver and passengers
  
  * "Private vehicle" means a non-commercial passenger car, pickup truck, RV or van.
  
  
• Motorcycles - $20.00 per motorcycle
  
  
• Bicycles - $15.00 per person
  
  
• Pedestrians - $15.00 per person
  

Active duty military and their dependents are admitted FREE with proper ID.

Children aged 15 and younger are also admitted FREE.

Bicycling At Race Point

Cape Cod National Seashore Annual Pass

Do you plan to spend more than 3 days at a Cape Cod National Seashore beach this summer?

Buy this annual pass. It'll save you money!

• Cost: $60 
  
  
• Valid: All 6 Cape Cod National Seashore beaches
  
  
• Covers: The pass holder and passengers riding together in a single private vehicle, or the pass holder plus three adults when entering on foot or by bicycle.
  
  
• Where to Buy It: At National Seashore beach entry booths during normal operating days/hours.
  
  ** Note: These passes are not sold at Salt Pond or Province Lands Visitors Centers.  
  
  Also, they're not valid at the town-managed beaches or state parks on the Cape!

Nauset Light Beach on an Early Summer Day

US National Parks & Federal Lands Passes

These passes are valid at more than 2,000 national parks and federal lands all across the USA - including at Cape Cod National Seashore beaches.

They cover up to four adults riding together in the pass holder's car. (Kids under 16 are always free.) 

• Annual Interagency Pass - $80
• Annual Senior Pass (age 62+) - $20
• Lifetime Senior Pass (age 62+) - $80
• Lifetime Access Pass (for disabled individuals) - FREE
• Annual US Military Pass - FREE
  

** Note: US National Parks passes are not accepted at town-managed beaches on Cape Cod or at Massachusetts state parks!

Special Passes for 4th & 5th Graders

In addition to the passes I've already mentioned, the National Parks Service also offers special (free) passes for kids.

If you have a 4th or 5th grader in your family, you'll want to check these out!

• Every Kid Outdoors Pass for 4th Graders
  
  
• Free Access for 5th Graders

Click here for more about the US National Parks passes.

"Fee Free" Days in 2024

Each year, the U.S. National Parks Service designates several  "Fee Free Days" when entrance fees are waived at national parks all across the country.

In 2024, the Fee Free Days at Cape Cod National Seashore beaches are:

• Wednesday, June 19th
• Sunday, August 4th
  
• Saturday, September 28th
  

Keep in Mind ...

Cape Cod National Seashore beach parking lots are open from 6 a.m. to midnight.

Coast Guard Beach. In season, the lot adjacent to the old Coast Guard station is reserved for town of Eastham residents and those with a disabled permit/placard.

Everyone else must park at the nearby Little Creek Shuttle lot and take a shuttle to the beach.

Shuttles run about every 10 minutes, so there's rarely a long wait.

** Note: Drop off/pick up of passengers and belongings at Coast Guard beach is not allowed.

Nauset Light Beach. The parking lot at Nauset Light beach isn't very large, and part of it is reserved for town of Eastham residents.

If you're not here by 9:30-10 a.m. on a summer day, don't count on finding a parking spot. So come early!

** Note: Drop-off/pick up of passengers along the roads leading to Nauset Light Beach is not allowed.

Herring Cove Beach. There's a good amount of parking here - a about 600 spaces total in two lots. But ...

Herring Cove Beach is a very popular place to spend a sunny summer day. So it's best to arrive before 10 a.m. to have a good chance of finding an open parking space.

Marconi Beach. The Marconi lot rarely fills up. When it does fill, there's usually a reasonable rate of turnover throughout the day. 

Don't want to wait for a spot? Head up the road to Head of the Meadow.

Head of the Meadow. In all the years I've been going to Head of the Meadow, I can't recall ever having trouble finding a parking spot.

That's probably because getting from the parking lot to the beach takes a bit of climbing on a steep dune. Some people aren't up for that. Fewer visitors = open parking spots! :-)

Head of the Meadow
Scenery, Peace and Quiet Worth Climbing For!

Race Point. Although there's ample parking at Race Point, the lot does occasionally fill up on blistering-hot July and August days. 

Most of the time, though, spaces are available or will open up after just a short wait.

Related Pages:

Beaches With Free Parking All Summer

Handicap Accessible Beaches with Beach Wheelchairs

Beachfront Hotels

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