Beaches for Guests of Provincetown Vacation Rentals

Guests of Provincetown beach rentals can enjoy more than 30 miles of beaches in Provincetown MA, including sections of the fabulous Cape Cod National Seashore. The Provincetown beaches facing Cape Cod Bay, on the west and northwest sides of the Cape, are the best for swimming due to the calmer, warmer water. East and north facing beaches are fronted by the colder, wilder water of the Atlantic Ocean and can have dangerous undertows.

The Province Lands Visitor Center for the Cape Cod National Seashore offers educational exhibits on the local ecology and great dune views from the observation deck. Ranger-guided tours are available during the high season, and guests of Cape Cod summer rentals can also enjoy canoe programs and surf casting programs. The Province Lands Visitor Center is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from early May to late October.

The parking lots at the Cape Cod National Seashore are open from 6:00 a.m. to midnight year-round. Most restrooms in the park are open seasonally and are closed during winter months. A beach entrance fee of $15 for vehicles and $3 for pedestrians and bicyclists is collected daily from late June through early September and on weekends and holidays from Memorial Day through the end of September. For more information, call the park headquarters at 508-349-3785.

The most popular Provincetown beach is Herring Cove, situated on the calm bay side of P-town. The northern end of the beach, toward Hatches Harbor, tends to be less crowded. Herring Cove Beach is part of the Cape Cod National Seashore and is known for its spectacular sunsets. Amenities include lifeguards, restrooms, showers, and concessions.

Race Point Beach is an ocean-facing Provincetown beach with strong surf, a steep drop-off, and sunshine all day. Race Point is part of the Cape Cod National Seashore and offers restrooms, showers, and lifeguards in season. An added attraction for visitors staying in a Provincetown weekly rental is the Old Harbor Life-Saving Museum. This 19th century shingled building houses exhibits and equipment showcasing the lifesaving station's history.

Nearby Truro boasts several fine beaches for visitors staying in Cape Cod summer rentals. Head of the Meadow Beach is an ocean-facing beach offering great sunbathing, swimming, and body surfing. The beach includes a section of the Cape Cod National Seashore as well as a town beach. Amenities include restrooms and lifeguards. On the bay side of the Truro area, Corn Hill beach offers shallow, warmer water and a gradual slope. Lifeguards and restrooms are available.

Vacationers with properly equipped four-wheel-drive vehicles can drive along High Head Beach, a secluded beach that stretches from Truro to Provincetown. Access permits are available at the Province Lands Visitor's Center on Race Point Road.

Just south of Truro, vacationers staying in a Wellfleet rental will find several excellent beaches, including White Crest Beach, a great surfing beach on the Atlantic; Marconi Beach, backed by spectacular sand dunes; and scenic Cahoon Hollow Beach, an ocean-facing beach that's home to the famous Wellfleet Beachcomber restaurant and bar.

A little farther south, an Eastham rental makes a great base for enjoying the many attractions of the Outer Cape. Popular beaches for guests of a Cape Cod cottage rental in Eastham include Coast Guard Beach and Nauset Light Beach.