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updated for 2021! Find the best dog-friendly beaches on cape cod — including beaches that allow dogs in the summertime and off-leash dog beaches.

What’s more fun for a dog than chasing a tennis ball through the surf then shaking off all over your dry towel? Or finding a shady spot to curl up below a faded umbrella to nap?

We’ll help you find the best beaches on cape cod to take your dog.

Jump to a town to find beaches that allow dogs on cape cod:

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Barnstable

Barnstable beaches that allow dogs

Barnstable public beaches don’t allow dogs in the summertime. This includes beaches in Hyannis, Centerville, Osterville, and Cotuit. But you can take your dogs in the offseason, after September 16th.

• where to get a barnstable beach sticker
• barnstable beach parking regulations

Dog rules for Barnstable Beaches

• Dogs are not allowed on barnstable beaches in the summertime, from May 15th – September 15th
• Dogs are allowed on beaches in the offseason, from september 16th – may 14th
• Dogs are not allowed in protected areas that are closed due to piping plovers nesting

Beaches in Barnstable:

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Bourne

Bourne beaches that allow dogs

• How to get a bourne beach parking sticker

Dog rules for Bourne beaches

• Bourne doesn’t allow dogs on public beaches from May 1st – October 15th
• Dogs are only allowed on the beach in the off-season
• Remember to always clean up poop
• All public beaches and boat ramps require a Town of Bourne Parking Sticker
• All other Bourne beaches are resident only, except for Monument beach which requires proof of 1 or 2 week lodging for temporary sticker

Beaches in Bourne:

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Brewster

Brewster beaches that allow dogs

Dog Rules for Brewster Beaches

• Dogs allowed on beaches in Brewster in the offseason only, from September 16 through May 14th
• Dogs aren’t allowed on beaches in Brewster during the summertime, from May 15th – September 15th.

Beaches in Brewster:

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Chatham

Chatham beaches that allow dogs

Dog Rules for Chatham Beaches

• Dogs are allowed on Chatham beaches during the off-season only, from September 16 through April 30 each year
• Dogs not allowed on beaches in Chatham during the summertime, from May 1 through September 15
• The only exception is Jackknife Harbor’s beach, which allows dogs in the summer before 9:00 a.m and after 6:00 p.m.

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Beaches in Chatham:

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Dennis

Beaches in Dennis that allow dogs

Dog rules for Dennis beaches

• You can’t take your dog to the beach in Dennis during the summer
• No dogs are allowed from memorial day-labor day on Dennis beaches

Beaches in Dennis:

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Eastham

Beaches that allow dogs in Eastham

There are two categories of beaches in Eastham that allow dogs: Cape Cod National Seashore beaches and town-managed beaches.

Cape Cod National Seashore Beaches

Coast Guard Beach

Coast Guard is open to dogs all year long. It is a very beautiful beach that regularly ranks as one of the top 10 beaches in the U.S.

Coast Guard’s large parking lot has a shuttle bus to bring passengers to the beach.  Note that pets aren’t allowed on the bus, so you and your furry friend will need to walk instead.

• Read our guide to coast guard beach
• See other dog-friendly beaches on cape cod
• view our dog-friendly guide to the beaches of the cape cod national seashore

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Nauset Light Beach

Nauset light beach is also open to dogs all year long, pending closings for nesting shorebirds.

The parking lot at nauset light tends to fill up by mid-morning in the summer as there isn’t a lot of room, so plan to arrive early to get a good space.

The National seashore dog rules for Nauset Light beach are the same ones shared by coast guard beach.

• Read more about nauset light beach
• view our dog-friendly guide to the beaches of the cape cod national seashore

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National Seashore beach dog rules in Eastham

• Dogs must be on a leash up to 6 feet long
• No pets allowed on protected (lifeguarded) areas of beach during summer. Dog access allowed on each side of the protected areas.
• Dogs not allowed where there are nesting shore birds
• pets not allowed on shuttle bus, so plan on a hike from parking lot

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Eastham Public Beaches (town-managed)

Most public beaches in Eastham are dog-friendly only in the offseason. To find an Eastham beach that allows dogs in the summertimes you’ll need to hit the National Seashore instead.

Here’s a list of all the public beaches in Eastham that allow dogs in the offseason only:

• Bayberry Lane Beach
• Campground Beach
• Cooks Brook Beach
• First Encounter Beach
• Great Pond Beach
• Herring Pond Beach
• Sunken Meadow Beach
• Thumpertown Beach
• Wiley Park Beach

Town of Eastham Beaches: Dog Rules

• Eastham town bylaws prohibit dogs on public beaches from June 15 through Labor day.

There is one dog-friendly beach in Eastham that does allow dogs during the summer, but only in the mornings and evenings: Rock Harbor Beach.

Rock Harbor Beach

Rock Harbor offers one of the greatest sunsets on cape cod.

Rock Harbor beach at Dyer Prince Road is closed to dogs during the day in the summertime between June 15th – Labor Day. But pets are allowed in the morning before 9am and in the evening after 5pm during the summer, so you can get in a nice dog walk in the off-hours.

Dog rules for Rock Harbor Beach in Eastham:

• All Pets must be leashed
• Please clean up after your dog! The ecosystem at rock harbor is very fragile, please help preserve the beauty of this wonderful place!
• Cars in parking lot must have Town of Eastham beach sticker

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Falmouth

Beaches that allow dogs in Falmouth

Dog rules for Falmouth Beaches

• Dogs not allowed on Falmouth Beaches in the summer, from May 1st–September 30th.
• Dogs allowed on beaches in Falmouth off-season only, from October 2nd through April 30th.

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Harwich

Beaches that allow dogs in Harwich

• Map of amenities at all Harwich public beaches
• Harwich beach regulations

Dog rules for Harwich Beaches

• Dogs are only allowed on beaches in Harwich during the off-season.
• Dogs not allowed on harwich beaches during the summer season, which ranges from Memorial Day – Labor Day each year.
• Dogs are allowed to walk the parking lot of Red River beach year-round from 7:30am-9:00am and also after 4:30pm

Beaches in Harwich, MA

Bank Street Beach

Bank Street Beach in Harwich requires a town parking sticker. The beach is very popular and the parking lot fills up early in the day. You used to be able to walk from the free town lot (from the beach heading up Bank Street take a left at rt. 28 and its just ahead on your right, near the Chamber of Commerce). Dogs only allowed at Bank Street Beach during the off-season.

Earle Road Beach

parking sticker required. Earle Road Beach is a fairly small beach with a similarly sized parking lot. Fills up much later than Bank Street.

Jacknife Harbor Beach (Pleasant Bay)

Jacknife Harbor Beach sits right on the Harwich/Chatham line off of Route 28. It’s one of the few beaches on cape cod that doesn’t require a beach sticker. There’s limited parking on one side of the street and a bigger lot below.

harwich’s pleasant bay beach allows dogs to play in a limited sandy beach area. It’s not the best beach in terms of sand quality. It tends to be rocky and covered with broken shells. bring foot protection as there is also glass, but not the smooth weathered kind you find at beaches with good surf. It’s more the “you cut your foot open and now you need stitches” type. Rusty bottle caps abound too. Wear sandals.

pleasant bay beach’s access road on chatham side of the beach can flood at certain times in high tides, be aware or your tires will get to say hello to the ocean. At high tide the beach path becomes a puddle.

#1 BEACH DOG RULE for pleasant bay beach in harwich on cape cod: you Must clean up after your dog! please bring a bag and clean up your mess, keep the beach looking cleaner than when you found it! People go clamming here, they don’t want to eat your pet’s fertilizer.

Pleasant bay beach in harwich is a fun place to swim after a tennis ball. the shallow, gentle waters of pleasant bay are great for youngsters or poor swimmers, dog and human alike. lots of hermit crabs, blue crabs, and horseshoe crabs will keep children entertained all day long.

Watch out for the currents as the tide is going out in the river though, they can be quite strong and may pose a safety hazard for kids or pets who aren’t strong swimmers.

Long Pond Beach

Long Pond has beaches in Harwich and in Brewster. On the Harwich side, Long Pond Beach offers a large dirt parking area with bathroom facilities and boat ramp. There’s a designated swim area so that the boats don’t clunk you on the head. Due to the large lot size it isn’t likely to fill up.

Long Pond – Cahoon’s Landing Beach

You can also check out the much smaller Cahoon’s Landing Beach on Long Pond, which has a very small parking area with porta-potties. This parking lot does fill up on summer days but if you get shut out you can always keep driving to the main Long Pond beach and you should be all set.

Pleasant Street Beach

parking sticker required. Pleasant Street beach is pretty popular. Large parking lot usually fills up during nice days. If you get there and it’s full, head back towards Lower County road and take a right to try Earle Road Beach which is close by.

Red River Beach

Red River Beach is a long, narrow beach with a large parking lot. It is the only beach in Harwich that sells daily parking passes. Because it is so long, you’ll have more room to spread out your towel here than at most other beaches in the area.

There are lots of jetties (and occasionally lots of seaweed onshore). Drive to the left to the far end of the parking lot for a great beachcombing, there’s a path down the shore side to a narrow river that fills with the tides.

Red River Beach is the only beach in Harwich that allows dogs in the summer – but not on the sand. Dog walking is allowed in the parking lot from 7:30am-9:00am and also from 4:30pm-dusk year round.

Sand Pond

The beach sand here may not be as sandy as the name implies. But Sand Pond is a nice freshwater beach with a roped off swimming area. The beaches and pond allows dogs after Labor Day. Kids can get swimming lessons here in the summertime.

You need a Town of beach sticker to park in the lot. Sand Pond’s parking lot is located at 180 Great Western Road in Harwich.

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Mashpee

Beaches that allow dogs in Mashpee

Sorry, we don’t know of any public beaches in Mashpee that allow pets. bummer.

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Orleans

Beaches that allow dogs in Orleans

Orleans dog rules and regulations

The dog rules for most beaches in orleans allow pets in the offseason only, from the day after Labor day through March 31st. Special rules apply for Nauset Beach’s ORV trails and for Rock Harbor (where dogs are allowed only he extreme off-season, from after Columbus Day up until the Thursday before Memorial Day each year).

Here is the complete breakout of the dog rules for Orleans beaches:

• Nauset Beach
  • North of Parking Lot, dogs allowed off-season only. Dogs are not allowed from April 1st to Labor Day.
  • South of Parking Lot to Trail #1: Dogs allowed off-season only. Dogs are not allowed from April 1st to Labor Day.
  • South of Trail #1 to Chatham Inlet:
    • Dogs are allowed during the summer season, but they must be on leash of not more than 30 ft. at all times from April 1st through Labor Day
    • Dogs are allowed off-leash after Labor Day
• Skaket Beach
  • Dogs allowed off-season only. Dogs not allowed from April 1st through Labor Day.
• Rock Harbor
  • Dogs allowed after Columbus Day up until the Thursday before Memorial Day.

Dogs are not allowed on areas closed to human or vehicle traffic due to nesting piping plovers.

Make sure to call ahead if you’re planning to buy a beach sticker during the summer so that you can take your dog on Nauset Beach’s oversand driving trails. Nauset’s orv trails are typically closed from the end of may through early-mid august due to piping plover menace, so plan accordingly.

dogs should be prepared to battle sharks on extended swims, great whites hunt off nauset all summer long and a splashing dog can look mighty tasty at times.

Nauset Beach

Nauset Beach is one of Cape Cod’s best beaches. It faces East to the open Atlantic Ocean, so the water is very cold. Strong surf and heavy currents can make it tough to swim. Plus there’s tons of great white sharks so you’d better not swim out to far anyway.

It used to be a great place to surf and fish from shore. No longer. The overpopulated seals took care of the striped bass. The growing numbers of sharks make swimming after a tennis ball a life-or-death game. Use caution before letting your dog swim here.

The parking lot is large but does fill up on busy days (especially weekends). There’s a nice bathroom facility and snack bar. view a webcam of nauset beach

Nauset Beach ORV trails

The ORV trails at nauset beach in orleans are open to dogs all year long, including summers. but there is a catch.

Nauset beach’s off road vehicle trails south of the main parking lot are usually closed or greatly restricted for most of the summer due to piping plover nests (often memorial day through labor day). so don’t bother planning to get an orv sticker if you’re only here for a week or two mid-summer, as it’ll likely be closed.

more info about  orv trails and oversand beach driving on cape cod

When nauset beach’s ORV trails aren’t closed due to piping plovers, they’re an awesome place to take your pet. The ORV area of Nauset beach allows dogs off-leash after Labor Day.

Rock Harbor

Dogs are allowed at the beach next to Rock Harbor after Columbus Day up until the Thursday before Memorial Day. Dogs are prohibited from The Friday before Memorial Day through Columbus Day.

Rock Harbor is a very sensitive ecosystem, be very careful about cleaning up pet Waste if you visit during the offseason.

Eastham has access to Rock Harbor as well. Dogs are allowed there in mornings and evenings, but you need and Eastham sticker to park.

Skaket Beach

Dogs are allowed on Skaket Beach in the offseason only.  Pets are not allowed from April 1st – Labor Day.

Skaket Beach has a nice tidal pool and no waves so it’s a great place for young kids. The water is definitely warmer on this bay-side beach compared to the cold of Nauset.

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Provincetown

Beaches that allow dogs in Provincetown

Dog Rules for Race Point Beach and Herring Cove beach:

• Dogs must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet
• Not allowed on protected (lifeguarded) areas of beach during summer
• Not allowed where there are nesting shore birds
• Dogs not allowed on Province Lands bicycle trails
• Clean up your dog’s poop

Race Point Beach

Cape cod national seashore

race point beach is open to dogs all year long. Check the National Seashore’s dogs info page to make sure that it isn’t closed to pets due to nesting shorebirds, which happens most summers.

Race Point Beach is amazing. One of the most beautiful spots on the cape. Whales swim just offshore for most of the summer. Lots of seals, and of course the occasional great white shark.

Race Point has some of the best ORV trails on the cape as well. Even when closed for piping plovers, they usually keep stretches open with limited access. It can get crowded, but at least you’re out there! There is a section for campers as well if you’re really looking to settle in on a beach for a few weeks.

Race Point’s ORV trails have amazing views. Head towards Powerline Road to get an up close view of a Race Point Light Station. If you really want to immerse yourself, you can even sleep there.

That last rule is important. Very few beaches on the cape allow pets, so lets all make sure to not ruin the national seashore’s dog-friendly atmosphere.

Herring Cove Beach

Cape cod national seashore

Herring cove beach is open to dogs all year long. Check the National Seashore’s dogs info page to make sure that it isn’t closed to pets due to nesting shorebirds, which happens most summers. In recent years the left side of the beach has remained open to pets even as most of the other Seashore beaches had restricted access.

Herring Cove Beach is the most popular beach on the National Seashore. Amazing sunsets, good sized parking lot, a concession stand, great bathrooms. It’s a great beach.

Dogs don’t wear bathing suits. Most people do. But not all people. Especially at Herring Cove beach. Be aware if you have kids. Don’t hike too far to the left or you’ll be in for some interesting questions from your children.

The nude beach requires some walking to get to, so if you stay near the main parking lot and you’ll be safe. If your dog is dying to see some naked bodies but you’re too lazy for the long walk you can park your bike near the wooden fence that sits a ways the left of the main Herring Cove parking lot.

Dog rules for Provincetown Beaches (Town-Managed)

• Dogs may be off leash on P-town beaches from 6am–9am and 6pm–9pm, from Memorial Day through November 1st
• From November 2nd through the day before Memorial Day off-leash dogs are allowed from 6am to 9pm
• Clean up poop!

Dog beach on Commercial Street

Provincetown has the only public off-leash dog beaches on cape cod. In the summer pets are allowed in the mornings and evenings at all town beaches. Super cool!

These morning/evening off-leash times are in place from Memorial Day through November 1st. Outside of those days dogs are allowed off leash from 6am to 9pm.

The highlight of your dog’s vacation will be to run off-leash in p-town with some new furry friends.

You can access several stretches of off-leash beaches just off of commercials street, there’s multiple paths that lead you to different sections.

The same rules apply as at a dog park – don’t bring aggressive dogs or animals that don’t respond to your voice commands. That being said, most dog owners we’ve met here are cool so you’ll have a blast! And of course always clean up after your pet. Some beaches have bags but they’re often empty in the summer season.

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Sandwich

Beaches in Sandwich that allow dogs

Dog Rules for Sandwich Beaches

Sandwich has different dog regulations for their saltwater beaches than for their ponds.

Saltwater Beach Rules

• Dogs not allowed from April 1st to September 15th each year
• Dogs are allowed in offseason, from September 16th to March 31st.
• Keep dogs under close control
• Pick up doo-doo

All other Beaches in Sandwich

• Dogs not allowed from May 15 through September 15
• Dogs allowed from September 16th through May 14th.
• Keep dogs under close control
• Pick up doo-doo

Beaches in Sandwich, MA:

East Sandwich Beach

Sandy Neck Beach

Town Neck Beach/Boardwalk

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Truro

Truro beaches that allow dogs

Truro has some of the most beautiful beaches on all of cape cod. This town hasn’t changed much since the 1960’s when much of it because designated as Cape Cod National Seashore. Beaches are often less crowded here than on other spots on the Cape.

There are different dog regulations for Truro’s beaches depending on whether you visit the town-managed or the national seashore areas.

Head of the Meadow Beach (Cape Cod National Seashore)

Dog Rules

• Dogs must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet
• Not allowed on protected (lifeguarded) areas of beach during summer
• Not allowed where there are nesting shore birds
• Dogs not allowed on Province Lands bicycle trails
• Clean up your dog’s poop

head of the meadow beach is open to dogs all year long. At least in theory.

Head of the Meadow beach is one of the nicest beaches on the cape. The national seashore beach is adjacent to a town owned beach that shares the same entrance road off of route 6. Because of the remote location in truro, it is typically less populated than other National Seashore beaches.

The National Seashore side of Head of the Meadow beach extends far to the left. It often gets closed for pet access during the summer due to nesting shorebirds. Oftentimes large sections of the beach will get roped off to protect them.

Truro Beaches (Town-Managed)

Dog rules for Truro public beaches

• All dogs are prohibited between the hours of 9:00 am and 6:00 pm, from the third Saturday in June through Labor Day.
• Dogs are allowed from the day after Labor Day through the third Friday in June.
• Pets are not allowed in areas protected due to plovers nesting.
• View beach rules for Truro public beaches

Public Beaches in Truro, MA

Ballston Beach

Residents Only. Beware of sharks, Truro! You have some might hungry great whites cruising offshore here. In 2014 a swimmer got attacked at Ballston beach. Worth keeping in mind before swimming far offshore or throwing a tennis ball.

But don’t live in fear over great white sharks, because realistically you’re swimming with sharks off of all the outer cape beaches. They want seals, not you or your dog.

• Learn how to avoid getting eaten by a great white shark

Beach Point

no sticker required, Residents Only

Cold Storage Beach at Pond Village

Residents Only

Great Hollow Beach

Residents Only

Coast Guard Road Beach

Residents Only. Very limited parking. beware of pedestrians, lots of foot traffic here, especially due to coast guard road being a short walk from a nearby dog-friendly campground.

Coast guard road beach has ORV trail access in the evening for fishing purposes only. The trail runs right through where people sit, so watch out! There isn’t an air station here, so make sure you bring your own air pump if you plan to drive out. Learn more about ORV Trails on Cape Cod beaches.

Note that Coast Guard Road beach is different from Coast Guard Beach in Eastham.

Corn Hill Beach

public parking available

Fisher Beach

Residents Only

Head of the Meadow (town-managed side)

Public parking available on the side of Head of the Meadow Beach that’s managed by the town of Truro. Note that the dog rules here differ from those on the part of this beached managed by the cape cod national seashore. Keep this in mind when walking your dog back and forth between the National Seashore side and the Town of Truro side.

Long Neck Beach

Residents Only

Noons Landing

No sticker required

Ryder Beach

Residents Only

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Wellfleet

Wellfleet beaches that allow dogs

Cape Cod National Seashore

Marconi Beach

Marconi is another great beach for dogs on the national seashore. Lots of room here, with a huge parking lot rarely fills up. This beach has some really tall sand dunes, and a matching set of tall wooden stairs. Plan on walking a bit to either the right or the left on the beach to get to the unprotected area.

The high dunes block the setting sun, so this isn’t the spot to watch it go down. Better off heading further up the coast to Herring Cove for that.

The beach is named for the italian inventor who successfully completed the first transatlantic wireless communication between the U.S. and England in 1903. Most people don’t bother checking out the Marconi Station exhibit, but it is interesting. No dogs allowed there though.

Dog Rules for Marconi Beach

• Dogs must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet
• Not allowed on protected (lifeguarded) areas of beach during summer
• Not allowed where there are nesting shore birds
• Clean up your dog’s poop

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Wellfleet Public Beaches (town-managed)

Dog Rules for Wellfleet Public Beaches (Town-Managed)

• Pets are allowed all summer long
• Dogs must be on a leash between May 15 – October 15
• Pets not allowed on lifeguarded areas 9:00am – 5pm during summer

Cahoon Hollow Beach

Cahoon Hollow Beach is the home to the Wellfleet Beachcomber. The parking lot is usually mobbed during the summer. But in late afternoon the beach crowd thins out and the bar crowd sets in. Great place to have a beach fire and some drinks while the sun sets.

The sand at Cahoon Hollow Beach is the dirtiest sand on cape cod. It will leave a fine grit on you, so be advised and don’t wear your new white sundress.

Newcomb Hollow Beach

White Crest (Surfer’s Beach)

White Crest Beach (also known as Lecount Hollow Beach) has some good waves, a fun place for dogs who are strong swimmers.

Lecount Hollow Beach (Maguire’s Landing Beach)

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Yarmouth

Yarmouth beaches that allow dogs

Dog Rules for Yarmouth Beaches

Dogs aren’t allowed on the beach in the summer in Yarmouth.

• Dogs are allowed on Yarmouth beaches in the offseason, from the day after labor day to May 14
• Dogs are prohibited from May 15–Labor day on these beaches
• At seagull beach and Grey’s beach, dogs will not be allowed from April 1–labor day
• Dogs must be leashed
• Clean up poop!

Dogs were first alloed on beaches in yarmouth starting in 2016. respectful dog ownership will ensure that yarmouth continues to allow dogs on their beaches for a long time.

Public Beaches in Yarmouth, MA:

Bass Hole (Grays Beach)

Amenities: Picnic Area (groups need reservations), Pavilion, Boardwalk, and Bathrooms.

View map of Bass Hole aka Grays Beach

Bass River Beach  (Smugglers)

Smugglers beach in Yarmouth offers the following menities: Bathhouse, Food Concession, Boat Trailer Parking, Boat Ramp, Fishing Deck, Large Parking Area, Handicapped Accessible.

View map of smugglers beach

Bay View Beach

Bay View Beach offers seasonal Porta-Johns and is handicapped Accessible.

View map of bay view beach

Colonial Acres Beach

Colonial Acres Beach is a small beach with a small parking area. It offers the following: Marina, Wooden Bridge, and seasonal Porta-John.

View map of colonial acres beach

Englewood Beach

Englewood Beach has a marina and a Jetty. It’s a small parking area that is handicapped accessible.

view map of englewood beach

Parker’s River Beach

Parker’s River Beach has a playground, a bathhouse, Food Concessions, Showers, Concrete Walk on Seawall, a Pavilion, and it is Handicapped Accessible.

View map of parker’s river beach

Seagull Beach

Seagull Beach is the largest beach in Yarmouth, MA. Note that Seagull beach has different rules for dogs then other beaches in Yarmouth, dogs are prohibited much earlier in the season.

It offers amenities such as a Bathhouse, Shower, Food Concessions. It has a large Parking Lot that is Handicapped accessible. There is a daily Admission Charge.

View map of Seagull Beach

Seaview Beach

Seaview Beach has a concrete Walk on Seawall, a Picnic Area, and a Seasonal Porta-John. There is a daily Admission Charge.

View map of seaview beach

South Middle Beach

South Middle Beach is residents-only. It has a Large Parking Lot with a Bathroom Facility, and it is Handicapped Accessible.

view map of south middle beach

Wilbur Park Beach

Wilbur Park Beach has a picnic area and a Boat Ramp.

View map of wilbur park beach

Windmill Beach

Windmill Beach is a small beach with a historic Windmill. The parking area is tiny.

View map of Windmill Beach

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More information

Now that you know the dog-friendly beaches on Cape Cod you’re ready to go!

But first check out these beach safety tips for dogs.

Hungry? Make sure to check out our list of restaurants that allow dogs on cape cod to get some tasty eats on your way.

Make sure to watch out for ticks, they’re everywhere including beach grass. Learn more about ticks on cape cod.

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did we miss any dog-friendly beaches on cape cod? please email us