J Juliett · Line 3: Seasons & Beaches
Signal notes
- The six Seashore beaches with fees are Coast Guard and Nauset Light in Eastham, Marconi in Wellfleet, Head of the Meadow in Truro, and Race Point and Herring Cove in Provincetown.
- A private vehicle pass costs $25; a person on foot or bike 16 or older pays $15; the Seashore’s own annual pass is $60.
- Passes are sold only at beach entrances, by card, and not at visitor centers.
The Cape Cod National Seashore covers the long Atlantic side of the Outer Cape, and its six staffed beaches are the ones most visitors picture: high sand bluffs, wide surf beaches and dunes that run for miles. They are run by the National Park Service, which means federal fees and passes, federal rules and a summer lifeguard season. Here is how they work.
The six beaches
| Beach | Town | The park’s own description |
|---|---|---|
| Coast Guard Beach | Eastham | Family friendly fun on a wide stretch of beach |
| Nauset Light Beach | Eastham | A picturesque beach under the Nauset Lighthouse |
| Marconi Beach | Wellfleet | A historic site for recreation |
| Head of the Meadow Beach | Truro | Where the Frances came to rest |
| Race Point Beach | Provincetown | A favorite spot at the tip of the Cape |
| Herring Cove Beach | Provincetown | Gentle beach with sunsets |
These six are where fees are collected and where lifeguards work in summer. Town beaches elsewhere on the Cape have their own parking permits and rules, set by each town.
Fees and passes for 2026
Entrance fees are charged only seasonally at the beaches, in spring, summer and fall, and not in most other parts of the park. The Seashore lists these options:
| Pass | Price | Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Private vehicle | $25 | One non-commercial car, pickup, RV or van and everyone in it |
| Motorcycle | $20 | Up to 2 motorcycles with up to 4 people in total |
| Per person | $15 | One person 16 or older on foot or by bike; under 16 free |
| Seashore annual pass | $60 | Any of the six beaches for the season, for one vehicle and its passengers, or the holder plus three adults on foot or bike |
| America the Beautiful annual pass | $80 | Federal lands nationwide, including the Seashore |
| Senior annual / lifetime pass | $20 / $80 | US citizens and residents 62 and older |
Three practical points trip up visitors every summer:
- No cash. The park does not accept cash. Every beach booth is credit or debit only.
- Beach entrances only. Passes, including the America the Beautiful series, are sold only at beach entrances and only during the months fees are collected. Visitor centers do not sell them.
- The Seashore annual pass is in person only. It cannot be bought online, and it is good from late May through mid-September of that calendar year. Some other federal passes can be bought online.
What you will find at each beach
In summer, the park says all six have restrooms or vault toilets, outdoor showers, drinking fountains or bottle filling stations, changing rooms and first-aid kits. Every beach except Nauset Light has an emergency call box that dials emergency services directly and works year-round. Restrooms at the Salt Pond Visitor Center in Eastham and the Province Lands Visitor Center in Provincetown stay open all year; others close outside late spring to early fall.
Beach wheelchairs are usually available to borrow in summer at Coast Guard, Nauset Light, Head of the Meadow, Race Point and Herring Cove. Marconi does not have one. Where possible the park lays a firm mat in summer to help strollers and wheelchairs.
A limited number of beach campfire permits are available each day per beach and can be reserved up to three days ahead, in person or by phone.
Lifeguards and safety rules
Lifeguards are typically on duty at all six beaches from late June through Labor Day. The park is blunt that there are none between Labor Day and the third week of June. On lifeguarded beaches, glass containers, rafts, rubber tubes and masks and snorkels are not allowed.
The sand itself is a hazard. The park warns that sand collapses easily and asks visitors not to climb slopes and dunes or dig holes deeper than knee level. For sharks, seals and rip currents, see Sharks and Rip Currents on Cape Cod: What the Research Shows and How to Swim Smart.
Dogs
Where pets are allowed they must be on a 6-foot leash, and owners must pack out waste. In summer, pets are not permitted on lifeguard-protected beaches, though a leashed pet may pass through to reach an area where pets are allowed. During shorebird nesting and migration, from late March to mid-October, posted areas are closed to pets around the clock.
Some closures repeat every year from April 1 through October 15, including part of Coast Guard Beach to the right of the pedestrian access when facing the water and the northwest side of Herring Cove. Others change daily, and the park says signs at beach entrances take precedence over its website.
Fishing and night visits
Fishing from the designated swimming beaches is allowed all year except from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. between June 15 and Labor Day. Park parking lots close at midnight; anglers who want to park between midnight and 6 a.m. can apply for a night fishing parking permit at a visitor center. Licensing is covered in Fishing and Shellfishing on Cape Cod: Which Permit You Need, What It Costs and Where to Check Closures.
Tip: If you plan to visit Seashore beaches several times in one season, the $60 annual pass pays for itself on the third car visit. Buy it at the first beach booth you reach, by card.
To reach the Seashore by bike instead of car, the Rail Trail runs to the Salt Pond Visitor Center and the Marconi area; see Biking the Cape Cod Rail Trail: Trailheads, Parking, Trail Rules and the 2026 Eastham Closure.