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South Cape Beach
Mashpee MA 

Updated: August 15, 2022

Looking for the nicest beach in Mashpee MA? South Cape Beach is a beauty!
 

Couple walking hand-in-hand near the water's edge on long beach as waves lap at the shorelineEarly Autumn Stroll at South Cape Beach

With more than a mile of coastline backed by low rolling dunes and wild salt marshes, South Cape Beach offers something to love for everyone - all year round.

During the summer months, South Cape Beach is a mecca for swimmers and sunbathers, thanks to its long expanse of soft, light sand and the warm, normally calm waters of Nantucket Sound.

Long, wide beach backed by small seagrass-covered dune, gentle waves coming in from the oceanEarly Morning at South Cape Beach

May through October finds fishermen (fisherwomen and fisherkids, too!), with surf rods in hand, testing their skills against the big Striped Bass and feisty Bluefish that regularly cruise just offshore in search of their next meal.

And all year long, nature lovers find South Cape the perfect place for an invigorating beach walk, or more peaceful endeavors like birdwatching and exploring the nature trails in the adjoining Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.

Sandy footpath through a wildlife reserve, white wooden sign for "Dead Neck Trail".Dead Neck Trail

Need-To-Know Info About South Cape Beach

The first thing to know about South Cape Beach is that there are two areas to this stretch of shoreline:

  • State Beach - the portion of the beach that's managed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation; and

  • Town Beach - the portion that's managed by the town of Mashpee
Diagram showing where the "Town Beach" is in relation to "State Beach"The yellow arrow points toward "Town Beach".
The rest of the shoreline (shown in dark green) is the "State Beach".

State Beach and Town Beach have different parking lots - each with its own parking fee/pass requirements in season.

Handicap Accessibility at South Cape Beach

In season, State Beach and Town Beach have beach wheelchairs and Mobi-mats to help those with mobility issues to access and enjoy the beach.

Blue "Mobi-mat" across the sand leading to the beach, lifeguard stand facing out toward a calm, open oceanMobi-mat at Mashpee Town Beach

From the State Beach parking lot, you'll find a boardwalk ... 

Wooden boardwalk bordered by a white post-and-rail fence, winding through a tree-lined pathway to the beach.Boardwalk at South Cape Beach State Park

 ... that leads to a viewing platform with lovely views of the shoreline and the vast expanse of Nantucket Sound.

Large wooden viewing platform with built-in bench seating, views of Nantucket SoundWheelchair Accessible Platform at State Beach in Mashpee

*Note - Beach wheelchairs are available on a first come, first served basis. On occasion, wheelchairs may not be available due to weather conditions or beach staffing limitations.

For more information about beach wheelchairs and other accessibility features at Mashpee Town Beach, contact Mashpee Recreation Department at (508) 539-1416.

For more information about beach wheelchairs and other accessibility features at State Beach, contact MA Dept. of Conservation & Recreation at (508) 457-0495.



*See: My comprehensive guide to 40+ beaches on Cape Cod offering sand and surf wheelchairs for visitors to use.


Related Pages:

The Cape's Best Handicap Accessible Beaches

Vacationing in Mashpee MA


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