Beaches for Guests of Wellfleet Vacation Rentals

Vacationers staying in a Wellfleet cottage rental can enjoy a variety of beach activities on the miles of pristine, sandy beaches in the Wellfleet area. Ocean-facing Wellfleet MA beaches include Cahoon Hollow Beach, White Crest Beach, Newcomb Hollow, and Maguire's Landing, all operated by the town of Wellfleet, and Marconi Beach, which is operated by the Cape Cod National Seashore. Lifeguards and restrooms are available at all five beaches. The massive sand dunes backing the ocean beaches shade them in the late afternoons.

Cahoon Hollow, a very popular Wellfleet beach, is accessed by steep dune paths that offer fabulous views of the coastline. The lovely white sand beach is ideal for strolling and sunbathing. Amenities include lifeguards, snack bars, and porta-potties in season as well as the famous Wellfleet Beachcomber restaurant and bar. Parking is $15 per day.

Nearby White Crest Beach is also accessed by a steep dune path. Guests of oceanfront rentals in Wellfleet will find great surfing here, and hang gliding from the dunes is allowed before 9:00 a.m. and after 5:00 p.m. Lifeguards, restrooms, and snack bars are available, and parking is $15 per day.

Marconi Beach, site of the first transatlantic wireless transmission from the U.S., is also known for its steep dunes. This lovely beach, which is part of the Cape Cod National Seashore, is a great spot for beachcombing and swimming. Lifeguards, restrooms, and outdoor showers are available in season, and visitors can also learn more about the historical 1903 wireless transmission at the Marconi Station site. Other attractions include the 1-1/2-mile-long Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail. Parking at Marconi Beach is $15 a day.

Wellfleet's bayside beaches are ideal for visitors seeking warmer, calmer water. Mayo and Duck Harbor are great bayside choices for guests of Wellfleet Cape Cod summer rentals. Mayo Beach, a south-facing beach situated adjacent to Wellfleet Harbor, offers calm water and fabulous views of the harbor and the distant dunes of Great Island. This beach is best enjoyed at high tide as oysters are collected during low tide. The Baker's Field playground is just across the street from this family-friendly beach, and restrooms and several restaurants are also located within walking distance. Parking is free.

Another popular Wellfleet beach is Duck Harbor, offering calm water, gently sloped dunes, and restrooms. To park at the beach, guests of Wellfleet cottage rentals will need to purchase a parking sticker from the Beach Sticker booth on the Town Pier.

Great Island, which is actually a small peninsula bordered by Wellfleet Harbor and Cape Cod Bay, can be accessed by boat or by walking across a narrow strip of land. In this pristine habitat of marshes and beaches, guests of Cape Cod summer rentals can find seclusion and an abundance of natural beauty.

Other Wellfleet bayside beaches include Powers Landing, Indian Neck, and Burton Baker Beach. Windsurfing is permitted on Burton Baker Beach and Indian Neck during specified times; check with the Beach Sticker booth on the Town Pier for details.

The Wellfleet area also features several lovely fresh-water kettle ponds. Great Pond, Long Pond, and Gull Pond offer public beaches with lifeguards and restrooms. Gull Pond is a great spot for families with its sandy bottom, swimming platform, and paddle boat, kayak, and sailboat rentals.

From the third weekend in June through Labor Day, parking stickers are required at most town-operated Wellfleet beaches, including the kettle ponds. Parking stickers are available at the Beach Sticker booth on the Town Pier. A one-week sticker costs $60 for non-residents. The Beach Sticker booth is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Your car registration and a beach parking permit form, or a lease signed by your landlord, are required. Payment can be made by cash or credit card.

Vacationers staying in a Cape Cod rental in Eastham, a few miles south of Wellfleet, will find great surfing conditions at Coast Guard Beach and Nauset Light Beach. To the north of Wellfleet, travelers renting Provincetown and Truro vacation rentals will also find plenty of great beaches on both the bay and ocean sides of the Cape.