Just where is Cape Cod? It’s a common question for visitors planning a Cape Cod vacation or New England road trip. Fortunately, the answer is an easy one. So where is Cape Cod? Look no farther than the crescent-shaped peninsula, or “arm,” of Massachusetts that juts into the Atlantic Ocean.
Famous for its beaches, landscapes, and cultural offerings, Cape Cod is one of the most popular summer vacation destinations in New England, if not America. Ready for a visit? Read on for a more in-depth answer to the question “Where is Cape Cod?” — including how to get there — plus highlights celebrating our favorite Cape Cod beaches and beach towns, Cape Cod restaurants, Cape Cod hotels, and some of the best things to do on Cape Cod. Let’s go!
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How to Get to Cape Cod
Driving to Cape Cod
Ah, Cape traffic. In the summer, it’s unavoidable, but as long as you’ve got a full tank of gas, you just need to sit back, turn up the radio, and remind yourself that it can’t last forever.
There are two main routes to the Cape, each with its own bridge over the Cape Cod Canal. The Sagamore Bridge at the northeastern side of the canal carries Route 6 to the Cape. The Bourne Bridge, southwest of the Sagamore, carries Route 28.
Flying to Cape Cod
Connect or fly directly from Boston to Hyannis or Provincetown on Cape Air. The company also offers flights to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. JetBlue operates seasonal flights from New York City.
Taking the Ferry to Cape Cod
Both Boston City Harbor Cruises and Bay State Cruise Company provide fast ferry trips from Boston to Provincetown, dropping you off at MacMillan Pier and Provincetown Marina. Captain John Boats also offers a fast ferry to Provincetown from Plymouth, Massachusetts.
Taking the Train to Cape Cod
Since 2013, the CapeFlyer has provided a popular alternative to sitting in Cape traffic jams. Departing from Boston’s South Station, the seasonal service (weekends from Memorial Day through Labor Day) stops in Buzzards Bay and the village of Hyannis.
Cape Cod Map & Town List
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Cape Cod spans all of Barnstable County, which comprises 15 towns, each with its own villages. The communities are arranged in four geographical groups, from the “Upper Cape,” closest to the Cape Cod Canal, to the “Outer Cape,” which ends at the tip in Provincetown.
Upper Cape Cod Towns
- Bourne
- Sandwich
- Falmouth (villages include Woods Hole)
- Mashpee
Mid-Cape Cod Towns
- Barnstable (villages include Hyannis, Osterville, and Centerville)
- Yarmouth
- Dennis
Lower Cape Cod Towns (the “elbow” of Cape Cod)
- Harwich
- Brewster
- Chatham
- Orleans
Outer Cape Cod Towns
- Eastham
- Wellfleet
- Truro
- Provincetown
You’ll also frequently hear Cape Cod described in the context of “the Cape and Islands,” referring to the large islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.
Best Cape Cod Beach Towns
In recent years, Yankee spring and summer travel features have celebrated themes such as the 25 Best Beach Towns in New England and the Best New England Coastal Walks. Unsurprisingly, both include Cape Cod. Here are the Cape Cod beach towns and coastal spots we love the most.
Provincetown
At the tip of Cape Cod, P-town has it all: Cape Cod National Seashore beaches, stunning sunsets, a vibrant gallery and restaurant scene, whale-watching cruises, and the most eclectic people-watching of all.
See More:Things to Do in Provincetown, MA
Chatham
Here you’ll find a quintessential village green replete with gazebo and bands playing concerts in summer, surrounded by a good selection of restaurants and shops, plus the Chatham Bars Inn, one of our favorite Cape Cod oceanfront hotels.
See More:Charmed by Chatham
Orleans
Spend the morning on Nauset Beach’s exquisite length of dune-studded coastline along Cape Cod National Seashore, the afternoon biking in the shade of the Cape Cod Rail Trail north past the ponds of Eastham, and the early evening watching a Cape Cod Baseball League game.
Falmouth
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One of the larger communities on Cape Cod, Falmouth has both busy and picturesque sides. If you’re looking for affordable lodging, restaurants that grill fresh seafood perfectly, a fun town center to stroll, a vast assortment of beaches, the Shining Sea Bikewaytrail down to Woods Hole, and easy accessibility via Route 28 south off the Bourne Bridge, follow the Bostonians who have a second home in Falmouth.
Hyannis
Located on Nantucket Sound within the town of Barnstable, Hyannis beckons with sandy beaches, a hometown Main Street, seaside art shanties, museums, restaurants, and ample opportunities to get out on the water. It’s more than enough to keep you busy on a Cape Cod getaway weekend.
See More:Things to Do in Hyannis, MA
Wellfleet
If we were judging beach towns solely on variety and quality of beaches, Wellfleet would earn top honors. Its mix of Cape Cod National Seashore beachfront, freshwater ponds, and bayshore and harborside walks is unparalleled. It’s all worth the drive from the small town center. Don’t miss the retro-favorite Wellfleet Drive-in for the perfect family-friendly night out.
Brewster
Brewster’s bayside beaches, including Paine’s Creek, have far less surf and are warmer than the Cape’s Atlantic-side beaches, thus attracting younger families. Add the Cape Cod Rail Trail, top-tier resorts such as Ocean Edge, and restaurant fare, and it’s clear why Brewster belongs on any list of best Cape Cod beach towns.
Best Things to Do on Cape Cod | Attractions & Events
From seaside fun to top-notch museums and colorful cultural offerings, Cape Cod has a dizzying amount of attractions to entertain visitors of all ages. It’s also home to a year-round roster of events celebrating everything from summer hydrangeas in Sandwich to Mardi Gras in Provincetown. Here’s a roundup of some of our favorite Cape Cod activities and Cape Cod events. With a region so large and diverse, it’s impossible to include them all, but we hope you’ll agree this is a good start. And be sure to let us know in the comments which Cape Cod activities and events are your family’s favorites.
BEST CAPE COD ATTRACTIONS
Cape Cod National Seashore
Seen in green on the map above, the Cape Cod National Seashore — created in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy and operated by the National Park Service — stretches for 40 miles around curve of the Outer Cape from Orleans to Provincetown. Enjoy dunes, salt marshes, nature trails, kettle ponds, and unspoiled beaches.
See More:Guide to the Cape Cod National Seashore | Beaches, Biking & Hiking
Cape Cod Rail Trail
Threading 22 miles from the mid-Cape in Dennis to Lecount Hollow Road near PB Boulangerie in Wellfleet, this paved path with a few gentle hills includes several points of access to Cape Cod National Seashore beaches. Pets on short leashes are permitted on the trail, so Fido can run alongside. Named a 2016 Yankee Editors’ Pick for “Best Tourist Hot Spot.”
Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf
No yo-ho-holiday on Cape Cod is complete without a competitive round of putting for family supremacy at this photo op-filled adventure course in South Yarmouth. There are two 18-hole options — one with ramps, one with stairs — and each takes you deep into a land of shipwrecks, rapscallions, and sharks. Along the way, you can blast water cannons, duck beneath waterfalls, and brush up on your New England pirate lore. The swashbuckling soundtrack will supercharge your appetite for ice cream at the arcade and gift shop o’ pirate bling. Named a 2019 Yankee Editors’ Pick for “Best Mini Golf.”
Cape Cod Chamber Orchestra
See a need; fill it. That formula has catapulted many 20-something entrepreneurs to greatness. And yet Matthew Scinto’s 2018 startup seems particularly gutsy. A Cape Cod transplant with a newly minted doctoral degree in conducting, he’s assembled a dynamic young cadre of professional musicians and already forged collaborative inroads with local arts organizations. Concerts at acoustically superb Pilgrim Congregational Church in Harwich Port feature rousing reinterpretations of classics and fresh works by a composer-in-residence. Named at 2019 Yankee Editors’ Pick for “Best New Cultural Attraction.”
Cape Cod Museum of Natural History
Once you’ve been through the museum — learning about the forces of nature that shaped Cape Cod, studying its various ecosystems, and checking out local fish and mollusks in the aquarium — you’ll be rea
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