Cape Cod, with its vast coastline, offers many different beaches – from small hidden away beaches to larger family beaches. Every town has its own beaches – with its own specific rules and pricing. Some beaches are resident-only, while others have large parking lots with plenty of room for visitor parking.
Yarmouth, Massachusetts, located in the mid-Cape region of Cape Cod, is a great place to visit with families. There are loads of family-friendly activities in Yarmouth MA, including mini golf, the Whydah Pirate Museum, and, of course, beaches. These are mostly saltwater beaches, although there are also some freshwater beaches. Dogs aren’t permitted on public beaches from May 15 to Labor Day.
Note that none of the beaches in the town of Yarmouth are part of the Cape Cod National Seashore. These beaches are further down on the lower Cape.
Visiting the area? Here are the best beaches in Yarmouth, Cape Cod.
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Best Beaches in Yarmouth Cape Cod
If you are planning to visit the beaches in Yarmouth, Cape Cod, in the summer months, you’ll have to pay to park. Residents can apply for a resident sticker that includes their license plate, but it cannot be transferred. So, if you rent a home in the area, you won’t be able to use their beach sticker.
There are several options for beach parking. Remember that options can change, but right now, they include a daily rate, a weekly sticker, a seasonal (non-resident) pass, a boat pass, and a boat seasonal pass. Currently, the South Middle Beach parking lot is only open to residents – and you’ll have to have a resident sticker.
When you visit these beaches, you must bring your own beach chairs, umbrellas, and other beach supplies. The lots are pretty close to the beaches, but if you are carrying a lot of stuff, you may want to have a beach cart. If you need to pick up food, there are many grocery stores, bakeries, and delis in the area. There are also beach shops in the area if you want to purchase supplies for your beach vacation.
Seagull Beach
Seagull Beach, in West Yarmouth, is the first beach that I visited in the area. It’s the largest beach in Yarmouth, with lifeguards (in season), a large parking lot, a snack bar, showers, and restrooms. It does get busy on hot summer days, but with a large lot, there’s a lot of room.
Parker’s River Beach
Parker’s River Beach is located in South Yarmouth, off South Shore Drive. It’s directly across the street from Skipper Chowder House, one of my favorite restaurants in Yarmouth.
Parker’s River Beach has a seawall, parking lot, pavilion, playground, and sandy beach. There’s also a concession stand, restrooms, and shower facilities. Skipper Chowder House across the street also has an ice cream window if you’d like a snack.
Because of the playground and proximity to ice cream, this can be the best place to visit with small children. It’s also a nice place to sit and wait for your table to be ready at Skipper Chowder House.
Windmill Beach
Windmill Beach is a tiny beach in South Yarmouth. It doesn’t have any facilities, so it’s not really a place you can spend the day unless you are staying within walking distance and can walk back for restrooms. There’s a small sand area and a small parking lot with very limited parking. While I’ve never visited it for the beach, it is a beautiful place to take photos.
Smugglers’ Beach / Bass River Beach
Smuggler’s Beach, formerly Bass River Beach, is the beach I visit whenever I’m in Yarmouth. It’s a beautiful beach, with plenty of room to spread out across the sandy beach. Several hotels/motels in the area have beachfront access.
Smuggler’s Beach has a large parking lot with a boat ramp, fishing dock, and boat trailer parking. In season, concessions, showers, lifeguards, and restrooms are available.
With a large lot, there’s usually room for parking at Smuggler’s Beach without having to arrive too early. However, I have seen it fill up because it’s one of the most popular beaches in the area. So be sure to arrive early on hot days, especially on the weekends.
Bass Hole Beach / Gray’s Beach
If you want to explore nature in a unique, picturesque setting, you’ll want to visit Bass Hole Beach, also known as Gray’s Beach. While they did offer free parking in the past, parking is no longer complimentary during peak hours. Gray’s Beach is located in Yarmouth Port, off Center Street, on the northern coast of Cape Cod. Unlike the other Cape Cod beaches on Nantucket Sound, it’s located on Cape Cod Bay.
While Bass Hole Beach offers a picnic area (with picnic tables), a small beach, and a pavilion, the highlight is the long boardwalk over a beautiful marsh area. Walking to the end of the boardwalk quickly can be tempting, but take your time to look at the birds and other wildlife around the marshes. It’s a beautiful spot.
If your plan is just to visit the beach for the day and swim, this probably isn’t the best beach. There’s a small sandy area, and there are sand bars that appear not too far from the shore during low tide. But it is a beautiful place to explore – especially as it gets close to sunset, which can be the best time to visit. The calm waters of the small beach do make it a great spot for those with young children.
South Middle Beach
Parking at South Middle Beach, located in South Yarmouth, is exclusively available to residents of Yarmouth with a beach parking sticker. The large parking lot is located across the street from the beach.
The actual beach is tucked away, and you’ll need to take a short walk through some trees and up some wooden stairs. When you get to the top, you’ll see the beach appear before you.
South Middle offers public restroom facilities and is a great beach for the day.
Where to Stay in Yarmouth Cape Cod
Planning to visit Yarmouth, Cape Cod? There are lots of places to stay, including vacation homes, motels, hotels, and resorts. Here are some of the more popular family resorts in the area.
- Red Jacket Beach Resort
- Ocean Club on Smuggler’s Beach
- Red Jacket Riviera Beach Resort
- The Escape Inn
Other popular hotels on Cape Cod include Ocean Edge Resort in Brewster and the Sea Crest Beach Hotel in Falmouth.
You can find more lodging options on the map below (affiliate links):
Looking for more Cape Cod travel tips? Click to see our guide with town recommendations, things to do, restaurants, and more in Cape Cod.
