A curling wave breaks against the backdrop of a pink sunrise.
Visiting the beach to watch the sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean is a beautiful experience. NPS image

Cape Cod National Seashore

National Seashore / Lakeshore · Massachusetts · National Park Service

The great Outer Beach described by Thoreau in the 1800s is protected within the national seashore. Forty miles of pristine sandy beach, marshes, ponds, and uplands support diverse species. Lighthouses, cultural landscapes, and wild cranberry bogs offer a glimpse of Cape Cod's past and continuing ways of life. Swimming beaches and walking and biking trails beckon today's visitors.

Plan your visit

Know before you go

Phone
508-255-3421
Official site
www.nps.gov
Managed by
National Park Service

Getting there

Directions on Google Maps →

What's here

Highlights: Arts · Painting · Poetry and Literature · Colonization and Settlement · Maritime · Lighthouses · Ships and Shipwrecks · Military · US Coast Guard · Monuments and Memorials · Native American Heritage · Science, Technology and Innovation · Wars and Conflicts · Cold War · Animals · Birds · Fish · Tortoises and Turtles · Climate Change · Coasts, Islands and Atolls · Dunes · Estuaries and Mangroves · Groundwater · Natural Sounds · Night Sky · Oceans · Whales · Scenic Views · Trails · Wetlands · Marshes · Swamps

Activities & features: Auto and ATV · Auto Off-Roading · Biking · Camping · RV Camping · Fishing · Freshwater Fishing · Saltwater Fishing · Golf · Guided Tours · Bus/Shuttle Guided Tour · Hiking · Front-Country Hiking · Hunting and Gathering · Hunting · Paddling · Canoeing · Kayaking · Stand Up Paddleboarding · Junior Ranger Program · Skiing · Cross-Country Skiing · Snowshoeing · Surfing · Swimming · Saltwater Swimming · Wildlife Watching · Birdwatching · Park Film · Museum Exhibits · Shopping · Bookstore and Park Store · Gift Shop and Souvenirs

Photos

  • Low tide exposes rippled ridges of sand and water.
    NPS photo
  • A red kayak floats on a pond facing a forest colored with red and orange leaves.
    NPS photo
  • A flock of birds flies along a beach with waves in the background.
    NPS photo
  • Boardwalk trail runs through a swamp surrounded by green ferns and tall trees.
    NPS
  • A brilliant sun rises over the ocean reflecting light on the water's surface.
    NPS

Nearby parks

Parks of Massachusetts

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125 parks mapped in Massachusetts

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Sources: National Park Service, Google Places · updated 2026-08-12