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Visitors Guide to
Wellfleet Beaches

Updated: July 24, 2024

Looking out over the Atlantic Ocean in Wellfleet

The Ocean-side beaches in Wellfleet feature towering dunes, golden sand and active surf.

On the Bay side, miles of woodlands, marshlands and inlets lead to calm, warm-water beaches that are perfect for shell hunters, nature lovers and families with small children.

Walking a Bay-side beach in Wellfleet

*Note: Lifeguards, restrooms, shower facilities, food concessions (on-site or mobile), and other amenities are available at many Wellfleet beaches in season only, during normal beach hours.

Atlantic Ocean Beaches in Wellfleet

Marconi Beach

A Quiet Early Summer Day at Marconi Beach

History was made here on the Atlantic Ocean shoreline in 1903, when Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi completed the first trans-Atlantic wireless transmission between the United States and England.

Today, the high dunes and the long stretch of sand known as "Marconi Beach" is part of the Cape Cod National Seashore Park.

When you've had your fill of swimming, surfing or fishing at Marconi Beach, be sure to visit the nearby Marconi site. From the observation area, you can see the entire width of the Outer Cape - all the way from the Atlantic Ocean to Cape Cod Bay. It's amazing!

• Body of Water: Atlantic Ocean
  
  
• Crowd Factor: Not usually crowded.
  
  
• Amenities: Lifeguards in season, restroom and bathhouse facilities, boardwalk leading to a steep stairway to the beach.
  
  
• Location: At the end of Marconi Beach Road (off Rt. 6) in South Wellfleet
  
  
• Parking: Large lot, rarely fills in June and July. Occasionally fills in August. Daily fee/pass required.
  

Cahoon Hollow

Cahoon Hollow is a big, breezy, active beach that's very popular with young adults - thanks in large measure to "The Beachcomber", the rockin' bar and restaurant that sits atop the huge dune overlooking Cahoon Hollow.

Cahoon Hollow Beach

The view from the parking area is breathtaking ... as is the climb down (and back up) the steep incline of shifting sand that serves as the pathway to and from the beach. It's a physically demanding climb and might be a bit too much for very young children.

• Body of Water: Atlantic Ocean
  
  
• Crowd Factor: Very busy at times, especially on summer weekends.
  
  
• Amenities: Lifeguard in season, restaurant/bar, restroom facilities.
  
  
• Location: At the end of Cahoon Hollow Road, off Rt. 6 in Wellfleet, MA
  
  
• Parking: Parking at the Beachcomber/Cahoon Hollow Beach lot is $30 a day in season. But ... they'll give you a voucher to use toward food in the restaurant and merchandise their gift shops. So it's kind of like free parking. ;-)
  
  Get there early! All the parking spaces are usually filled by  by mid-morning in the summer months.
  

White Crest

White Crest is a long, wide, gorgeous stretch of surf-lovers beach, just a few miles south of Cahoon Hollow.

Like Cahoon Hollow and a number of other Wellfleet beaches, White Crest also sits at the base of enormous bluffs, and there's no staircase.

So be prepared to lug yourself and your belongings up and down the rather steep sandy path!

White Crest Beach

White Crest is one of the premier surfing venues in Wellfleet, and it's the only town-owned beach where paragliding and hang gliding is allowed.

*Important: Gliding is not allowed from April 15 through October 1st. This regulation is strictly enforced!

This dune is much higher than this photo shows.
Imagine jumping off a tall, steep cliff!

• Body of Water: Atlantic Ocean
  
  
• Crowd Factor: Not quite as busy as some other Wellfleet beaches. Popular with teens.
  
  
• Amenities: Lifeguards in season, restroom facilities, food concession.
  
  
• Location: Off Ocean View Drive (Rt. 6 to LeCount Hollow Road, then left on Ocean View Drive; or Rt. 6 to Cahoon Hollow Road, then right on Ocean View Drive).
  
  
• Parking: Medium sized lot, does fill on busy summer days. Town of Wellfleet sticker or daily fee paid at the gate.
  

LeCount Hollow

LeCount Hollow (also known as Maguire's Landing) gets my vote for the most beautiful of all Wellfleet beaches.

Autumn at LeCount Hollow

My favorite time to visit LeCount Hollow is during the fall, after the boogie-boarders and beach volleyballers have migrated south to warmer locales.

As lovely as this beach is in summer, it's even better in the off-season, when the only ones you'll share it with might be a few seals here and there on the long, wide, deserted swath of sand. Heaven!

• Body of Water: Atlantic Ocean
  
  
• Crowd Factor: Not overly crowded in the summer. Blissfully quiet the rest of the year.
  
  
• Amenities: Lifeguard in season, restroom facilities, food concessions.
  
  
• Location: At the end of LeCount Hollow Road (off Rt. 6).
  
  
• Parking: Small lot. Town of Wellfleet resident sticker required.

Newcomb Hollow

Newcomb Hollow is the northernmost of all Wellfleet beaches. It's a large expanse of soft sand backed by a very steep dune.

Newcomb Hollow Beach

The surf at Newcomb Hollow is surprisingly gentle, compared with other Atlantic Ocean beaches. That's a big plus for tentative or inexperienced swimmers.

During the day, Newcomb Hollow is popular with families. At night, it's a hotspot for surf fishermen.

Just be prepared to haul your beach stuff or fishing gear down - and back up - the side of the dune. That's the access to the beach, and there aren't any stairs.

• Body of Water: Atlantic Ocean
  
  
• Crowd Factor: Large enough that it rarely feels overcrowded.
  
  
• Amenities: Lifeguards in season, restroom facilities, food concession.
  
  
• Location: At the end of Gross Hill Road (off Rt. 6).
  
  
• Parking: Small lot. Town of Wellfleet sticker required.
  

Cape Cod Bay Beaches in Wellfleet

Mayo Beach

Lots of folks love Mayo Beach for its location. It's  adjacent to Wellfleet Harbor and just a short walk from the shops, galleries and restaurants of "downtown" Wellfleet.

Mayo Beach

Mayo Beach is on the Cape Cod Bay side of town. So the water is warmer, more shallow and much more calm than the Ocean-side Wellfleet beaches.

When the kids still have some excess energy to burn off, Baker's Field is just across the street from the beach.

The Field has a nice playground with slides, tunnels and lots of stuff for the young ones to climb on, plus a skateboard park, recreation fields and public tennis and pickleball courts.

• Body of Water: Cape Cod Bay/Wellfleet Harbor
  
  
• Crowd Factor: Sandy space can be in short supply on summer days, espacially at high tide.
  
  
• Amenities: Restrooms are available across the street. And one of the Cape's best seafood joints (Mac's) is within easy walking distance at the town pier.
  
  A beach wheelchair is available in season. Call (508) 349-9818 as far in advance as possible to reserve the chair.
  
  
• Location: Main Street (off Rt. 6) to Commercial Street to Kendrick Avenue.
  
  
• Parking: There's a small lot with free parking. But you'll need to be there early to get a spot during the summer months. If no spots are available in the beach lot, you'll find more public parking nearby at the town pier.
  

Duck Harbor

Many beaches on the Bay side of town are within the sheltered confines of Wellfleet Harbor. Not Duck Harbor. Duck Harbor faces right out onto Cape Cod Bay. Ahhhh, the view!

Duck Harbor Beach

This remote-feeling Wellfleet beach is a nice place to spend the day with family or friends, or bring your sweetheart for a romantic sunset getaway.

• Body of Water: Cape Cod Bay
  
  
• Crowd Factor: Even on the hottest summer day, it's usually pretty easy to find a spot all to yourself at Duck Harbor Beach.
  
  
• Amenities: None, other than restroom facilities.
  
  
• Location: Main Street (off Rt. 6) to Chequessett Neck Road, to Duck Harbor Road
  
  
• Parking: Moderate amount of parking, Town of Wellfleet sticker required.

Indian Neck Beach & M. Burton Baker Beach

These scenic Bay-side beaches have warm, relatively shallow water and pretty views of the Harbor.

Indian Neck Beach

M. Burton Baker Beach

• Body of Water: Cape Cod Bay
  
  
• Crowd Factor: A good amount of room at Indian Neck, especially at low tide. Burton Baker is smaller. 
  
  
• Amenities: None except seasonal restroom facilities.
  
  
• Location: 235 Nauset Road and 255 Indian Neck Road
  
  
• Parking: Limited at Indian Neck. Very limited at Baker. Town of Wellfleet sticker required.
  
  

Wellfleet Beach Parking Fees & Passes

Parking fee/sticker requirements vary, depending on whether the beach is town-owned or is managed by the Cape Cod National Seashore/National Parks Service.

• National Seashore beaches - parking fees/passes are required every day from late June through Labor Day, and on weekends and holidays from Memorial Day to late June and Labor Day to mid-September.
  
  Click here for information about Cape Cod National Seashore beach fees and passes.
  
  
• Town-Managed Beaches - You'll need a parking sticker to park your car in the lot from mid-June through Labor Day.  No entrance fees are charged to those who walk or bike to town-owned Wellfleet beaches.
  
  Check the town of Wellfleet's website for parking fee/sticker requirements and purchasing information.
  
  Important Note: Town of Wellfleet stickers are not valid for parking in National Seashore beach lots.
  

Related Pages:

The Cape's Top Accessible Beaches

Vacationing in Wellfleet


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