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Wheelchair Accessible Beaches
on Cape Cod

Cape Cod's wheelchair accessible beaches give everyone a chance to enjoy the sun, sand and surf.

Wheelchair Accessible Beach in Brewster MA

There's no doubt about it ...

Navigating across loose sand poses an epic challenge for anyone who relies on a wheelchair, a cane, crutches, or a walker to get around.

For those with mobility challenges, Cape Cod's accessible beaches make it possible to get right to the water's edge and beyond.

Assistive Devices at Cape Cod Beaches

Thanks in large part to the generosity of wonderful organizations like SMILE Mass, dozens of beaches across Cape Cod have been equipped with special assistive devices that are available for use during the summer months.

Boardwalks, Ramps and Mobi-Mats

At many beaches on Cape Cod, a system of boardwalks, ramps, or hard-surfaced mats provide a stable surface for wheelchair users to navigate across the sand.

MobiMat

These access ways also come in handy for folks who use a cane, crutches, or a walker. And for moms and dads pushing strollers, too!

All-Terrain Wheelchairs (a/k/a Sunbathing Chairs)

These chairs are specially designed to roll on most any surface. They'll take you from the parking lot to the boardwalk and onto the beach. 

All-Terrain Wheelchair

And the seat cushions are comfy enough for an afternoon of sunbathing! 

MobiChair Wheelchairs

These wheelchairs give users the best of both worlds. They roll across the sand and they float, too.

"Mobi-Chair"

Using these surf chairs, anyone - no matter how limited their mobility might be - can enjoy a cooling dip on a hot summer day!

Which Cape Cod Beaches Have Beach Wheelchairs?

More than 40 beaches do!

So I've created a comprehensive guide to let you know:

• where and when beach wheelchairs are available;
• whether you'll need to reserve a chair;
• parking fee/pass requirements for each beach;
  
• tips for using the chairs; and
  
• local beach department contact numbers.
  

*Here it is: Sand & Surf Wheelchairs at Cape Cod Beaches

The Best Accessible Beaches on Cape Cod

Monument Beach

Shore Road
Bourne, MA
(508) 759-0600

Known locally as "Mo Beach", this is the only public beach in Bourne that's relatively simple to get on and off using a wheelchair.

Monument Beach in Bourne MA

The parking lot here is level with the beach, and there's a relatively gentle grade at the shoreline - a bonus for anyone who wants to enjoy the warm, calm water.

The beach is lifeguarded in season, and the rest room facilities are handicap accessible. There's no food available on-site.

Monument Beach normally has a MobiChair on site during the summer.

*Note: Parking permits issued by the Town of Bourne are required all year round.

Scusset Beach

Scusset Beach Road
Scusset Beach Road, Sandwich, MA
(508) 888-0859

This long, wide stretch of beachfront is the crown jewel of Scusset Beach State Reservation.

Scusset Beach

From the huge, level parking lot, access to the beach is via paved sidewalks leading to a wide wooden boardwalk. There's a moderate grade up and over a gently sloping dune.

Seasonal services include accessible restrooms and shower facilities, lifeguards, beach wheelchair, snack bar, and a playground for the kids.

*Note: In-season, parking is free for vehicles bearing a disability license plate or placard, Purple Heart Recipient license plate, or Disabled Veteran license plate.

Old Silver Beach

Quaker Road
North Falmouth MA
(508) 548-8623

Facing the warm, calm waters of Buzzards Bay, Old Silver is easily one of the prettiest beaches in the town of Falmouth.

Old Silver Beach in Falmouth MA

Wheelchair access is via a ramp. There's very little grade to navigate across the beach and a gentle slope into the water.

In season amenities include restrooms, bathhouse, beach wheelchair (to be reserved in advance), a snack bar and lifeguards.

Handicap parking spaces are somewhat limited, so it's a good idea to get there as early in the day as possible.

South Cape Beach

Great Oak Road
Mashpee MA
(508) 457-0495

Bordered by Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, South Cape is a beautiful, expansive beach overlooking Vineyard Sound in Mashpee.

South Cape Beach in Mashpee MA

A 6-foot-wide boardwalk leads to an observation deck, giving all visitors a chance to take in the gorgeous views at South Cape.

South Cape is lifeguarded in the summer months. Seasonal facilities include accessible rest room facilities, handicap changing booth, beach wheelchair, and wheelchair-friendly picnic tables.

*Important: There are two parking lots at South Cape Beach. One is managed by the town and requires a town-issued resident parking sticker. 

The other lot is managed by the state and is open to everyone. 

At the state-managed lot only, daily parking fees are waived for vehicles with a disability license plate or placard, Purple Heart Recipient license plate, or disabled veteran license plate.

Kalmus Beach

Ocean St. and Hawes Ave.
Hyannis MA
(508) 790-9884

No matter what time of year you're here, a day in Hyannis should always include a visit to Kalmus Beach!

Kalmus Beach in Hyannis MA

This "two-sided" beach has great views of Hyannis Yacht Club and Lewis Bay from one side, and open views of the famous Kennedy Compound and Nantucket Sound from the other.

Wooden boardwalks lead from the parking lot to the beach. Seasonal amenities include rest rooms, changing facilities and snack facilities. And a Mobi-Chair is available during the summer months on a first-come, first-served basis.

Smugglers (a/k/a "Bass River") Beach

South Shore Drive
South Yarmouth MA
(508) 398-2231

Whether you're looking forward to lounging in the sun or you're hoping to catch a seafood feast for your dinner table, Smugglers Beach in Yarmouth is a great place to do it.

Bass River Beach in South Yarmouth MA

From the big, level-terrain parking lot, visitors with limited mobility can take the boardwalk to the beach or onto the Bass River fishing pier.

In the summer months, this beach has lifeguards, accessible restroom facilities, beach wheelchair, and food is available.

Corporation Beach

Corporation Road
Dennis MA
(508) 760-6159

This pretty beach on Cape Cod Bay is one of the easiest Dennis beaches for people with limited mobility to access.     

Corporation Beach in Dennis MA

Although its popular neighbor, Mayflower Beach, is also fully accessible and has tons of amenities, I prefer Corporation because, to me, it has a more peaceful feel than Mayflower.

In season, Corporation Beach is staffed by lifeguards. Ramps and sidewalks lead to the snack bar, picnic tables, bathhouse and beach. A sand and surf wheelchair is normally available here, too.

Bank Street Beach

Bank Street
Harwich MA
(508) 430-7552

As you can see in the photo below, Bank Street is a spacious beach with great open-water views. It's one of my favorite beaches in the town of Harwich.

Bank Street Beach in Harwich MA

At Bank Street, it's quite easy to get from the parking lot to the wood boardwalk and onto the beach. There's virtually no grade change at all from pavement to sand and very little slope from the beach to the water.

During the summer months, Bank Street Beach has lifeguards, a mobile food concession, beach wheelchair, and restroom facilities accessible via a ramp.

Paines Creek Landing Beach

Paines Creek Road
Brewster MA
(508) 896-2737

Paine's Creek Landing is among the loveliest and most handicap accessible portions of Brewster's Cape Cod Bay shoreline.

Paines Creek Beach in Brewster MA

Although vehicle parking is somewhat limited at Paine's Creek, it's worth the effort to go early enough (or wait until later in the day) to find a spot!

Paine's Creek isn't lifeguarded, and there's no snack bar here. Seasonal restroom facilities consist of an accessible porta-potty.

A beach wheelchair is normally available, free of charge, on a first-come, first-served basis.

Harding's Beach

Hardings Beach Road
Chatham MA
(508) 945-5158

Imagine a shoreline that appears to stretch on forever. When you get your first peek at Harding's Beach in Chatham, you'll see what I mean.

Hardings Beach in Chatham MA

The beach is rimmed by low dunes and looks out onto Nantucket Sound.

Using the town's beach wheelchair allows visitors to travel without difficulty from the large, paved parking lot onto the sand.

In season, bathhouse and restroom facilities are available, food is provided by vendor trucks, and the beach is lifeguarded. 

Skaket Beach

Skaket Beach Road
Orleans MA
(508) 240-3700

From Skaket's ample parking lot, there's a relatively gradual grade down to the shoreline ... to a beach that "grows" exponentially as the tide goes out and the sand flats appear. 

Skaket Beach in Orleans MA

No, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you. That's a mom pushing a stroller across the sand at Skaket Beach. 

Seasonal services at this popular beach in Orleans include a snack bar, restrooms, outdoor rinse-off showers, beach wheelchair, and lifeguards.

First Encounter Beach

Samoset Road
Eastham MA
(508) 240-5974

On Cape Cod Bay in Eastham, First Encounter holds an important historic distinction. It's the site of the first encounter between the Mayflower settlers and the native residents on Cape Cod.

First Encounter Beach in Eastham MA

Although First Encounter isn't lifeguarded and no food service is available, there's a handicap-accessible porta-potty, a Mobi-mat, and a beach wheelchair available in season on a first-come, first-served basis.

FYI: For anyone who's wondering why I didn't choose Coast Guard Beach as my top accessible beach in Eastham, honestly, it was a toss-up.

Coast Guard is one of the Cape's most magnificent Atlantic Ocean beaches. It's accessible via ramps and mobi-mats, and there's a beach wheelchair available in the summer. In-season, Coast Guard also has lifeguards, handicap-accessible bathrooms and rinse-off facilities. 

*Note: Parking is free at Coast Guard Beach for holders of a National Parks "Access Pass" or any other U.S.National Parks pass. At First Encounter, in-season parking is by daily fee or town-issued pass only.

Mayo Beach

Kendrick Avenue
Wellfleet MA
(508) 349-0300

As glorious as Wellfleet's ocean-side beaches are, the simple truth is: they're inaccessible by anyone who's not able to climb a steep set of stairs or a shifting wall of sand.

That's why my choice for the most easily accessible beach in Wellfleet is Mayo Beach, on the Cape Cod Bay side of town.

Mayo Beach in Wellfleet MA

Mayo isn't a large beach, by any means. But it's family friendly, and it's a nice place to spend a little time enjoying the sun, the salt air, and the scenery. It's also fun to watch the oystermen tending their traps at low tide.

Plus, this is one of the few free-parking beaches on Cape Cod — even in the summer months.

Seasonal services at Mayo Beach are limited. It's lifeguarded during the summer, and a beach wheel chair is usually available by advance reservation.

Food (including fresh-from-the-sea Wellfleet oysters) is available across the street at Bookstore Restaurant, or right around the corner at the pier.

Corn Hill Beach

Corn Hill Road
Truro MA
(508) 487-6983

Truro is also blessed with some of the most spectacular beaches on all of Cape Cod. Unfortunately, the thing that makes Truro's shoreline so breathtaking - the towering dunes - also makes many Truro beaches a challenge to access.

One notable exception is Corn Hill Beach on the Cape Cod Bay side of town.

Corn Hil Beach in Truro MA

Although Corn Hill does have a little bit of an incline on the way to the water, it's do-able via a ramp from the paved parking lot to the high tide line. 

Corn Hill also has a Mobi-mat that makes the going easier for those who use a wheelchair, cane, walker or crutches.

The beach isn't lifeguarded. But there are accessible rest room facilities (porta-potty), and a beach wheelchair is available in season.

Herring Cove Beach

Rt. 6A and Provincelands Road
Provincetown MA
(800) 809-1750

Provincetown is graced with two wonderful, accessible beaches:  Race Point and Herring Cove.

As much as I adore Race Point for its wide-open spaces and incredible vistas, I have to go with Herring Cove here ... simply because Herring Cove has more helpful features for folks with physical challenges.

Herring Cove Beach in Provincetown MA

Seasonal amenities at Herring Cove include accessible lifeguards, restroom facilities, changing rooms, and showers that'll accommodate a wheelchair.

Access from the parking area to the beach is via sidewalks and ramps. A beach wheelchair is available in season.

*Note: Parking is free at Herring Cove for holders of a National Parks "Access Pass" or any other U.S. National Parks pass.

Want to know more about the Cape's beaches?

My all-in-one Beaches Guide covers dog-friendly beaches, beach parking, beach campfires, and lots more.

• Cape Cod Beaches Guide →

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