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Wellfleet Beaches Guide 

Marconi Beach - Wellfleet, MA

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.

Wellfleet MA Beach Information

Amenities: Lifeguards, restrooms, shower facilities, food concessions (on-site or mobile), and other amenities available in season only, during normal beach hours.

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

• National Seashore - daily parking fees/passes are required every day from late June through Labor Day, and on weekends and holidays from Memorial Day to late June.
  
  Daily vehicle fee, $20. Pedestrians and bicycles, $10. Motorcycles $15.
  
  Cape Cod National Seashore Season Pass - $60
  
  "America the Beautiful" Passes:
  
  Annual Pass (available to everyone) - $80
  Senior Pass (for ages 62 and older) - $80 lifetime or $20 annual
  Access Pass (for permanently disabled persons) - FREE
  Military Pass (for current military personnel and dependents) - FREE
   
  Contact the National Seashore at (508) 487-2100 or visit the Cape Cod National Seashore website for more info about purchasing the passes.
  
  
• Town Beaches - At most town-owned 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.
  
  Sticker prices for visitors are: $60/three days, $95/one week, $180/two weeks, $300/season.
  
  To qualify for purchase of a visitor sticker, you'll have to show proof of temporary residence in Wellfleet.
  
  Call the Town offices at (508) 349-9818 for more info.
  
  Important Note: Town of Wellfleet stickers are not valid for parking in National Seashore beach lots.
  
  

This icon indicates that the beach is accessible to people with disabilities via a boardwalk, ramp, Mobi-Mat, or beach wheelchair. The Cape's Best Wheelchair Accessible Beaches

Cape Cod National Seashore Beaches in Wellfleet MA

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 platform, 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 (see above).
  
  

Town Beaches in Wellfleet

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.

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 pretty physical 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: There are two lots for Cahoon Hollow.
  
  The town lot is the smaller of the two and requires a town sticker or daily fee ($20).
  
  The larger lot is owned by The Beachcomber. If you park in the Beachcomber lot, you'll have to pay $20 to park in the 'Comber lot. But you'll get a voucher to use in the restaurant/bar/gift shop. Get there early, particularly on weekends. The lots often fill by mid-morning.
  
  

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 dunes, and there's no staircase. So be prepared to lug yourself and your belongings up and down the rather steep sandy path.

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

Important: Hang gliding hours are strictly regulated and enforced. Regulations can be obtained at the beach sticker booth at Town Pier.

• 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 ($20) 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.

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 sticker required.

Newcomb Hollow

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

The surf at Newcomb Hollow is suprisingly gentle, compared with other Atlantic Ocean beaches. That's a big plus for more 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.
  

Duck Harbor

Most Wellfleet 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!

This remote 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, by Town of Wellfleet sticker only.

Indian Neck Beach / M. Burton Baker Beach

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

They're also the only town-owned Wellfleet beaches where windsurfing/sailboarding is allowed.

• Body of Water: Cape Cod Bay/Wellfleet Harbor
  
  
• Crowd Factor: A good amount of room at Indian Neck, especially at low tide. Burton Baker is smaller. 
  
  
• Amenities: None except restroom facilities.
  
  
• Location: Pilgrim Spring Road (off Rt. 6) to Indian Neck Road
  
  
• Parking: Limited. Town of Wellfleet sticker required.
  
  

Mayo Beach

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

Mayo is on the Bay, so the water is warmer and much more calm than at the oceanside Wellfleet beaches.

When it's not a perfect beach day, or if the kids are looking for more activity than Mayo provides, there's Baker's Field just across the street. That's where you'll find a nice playground with slides, tunnels and lots of stuff for the young ones to climb on, plus a newly renovated skateboard park, recreation fields and public tennis 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 at Baker's Field, and one of the Cape's best seafood joints (Mac's) is within easy walking distance at the town pier. Beach wheelchair 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 get 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.
  
  

Related Pages:

Vacationing in Wellfleet


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