Welcome to Cape Cod

What we provide

the essentials to make vacationing easier.

• 1 roll of toilet paper per bathroom

   

• 1 roll of paper towels

   

• shampoo, conditioner, body wash

   

• dish soap

   

• hand soap

   

• sponge

   

• trash bags

• cleaning supplies

   

• dishwasher pods

   

• beds made with fresh sheets

   

• one towel and wash cloth per person plus a few extras
  

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What to bring

things to take along with you that we don't provide

• beach towels

   

• beach chairs

   

• sports equipment

   

• food, spices, cooking oils

   

• foil, plastic wrap, plastic bags, tupperware

   

• coffee filters

   

• charcoal if grill is charcoal

   

• firewood for wood fire pits

   

• laundry detergent
  

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Beach Information

things to take along with you that we don't provide

Cape Cod Beach Stickers

Beach parking rules are set by each Cape Cod town and vary by beach, season and visitor eligibility. Dogs are typically not allowed between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and you will need to pay for parking in this time period. Some towns offer daily, weekly or seasonal visitor passes, while others reserve certain beaches for residents. Passes are generally vehicle-specific and do not guarantee parking if a lot is full.

We strongly recommend reviewing the official information for your destination before your trip and purchasing passes in advance when available. You may need your vehicle registration, rental confirmation and Cape Cod property address.

Beach Information by Town

• Barnstable Beach Stickers
• Bourne Beaches and Parking Permits
• Brewster Beach Information
• Chatham Sticker Office
• Dennis Sticker Sales
• Eastham Beach and Sticker Information
• Falmouth Beach Parking Stickers
• Harwich Beach Sticker Sales
• Mashpee Sticker Information
• Orleans Beach Parking Information
• Provincetown Parking Information
• Sandwich Beach Information
• Truro Beach Sticker Information
• Wellfleet Beach and Visitor Sticker Information
• Yarmouth Beach Sticker Fees

Cape Cod National Seashore

Cape Cod National Seashore beaches use a separate federal entrance-pass system. Town beach stickers are not substitutes for National Seashore passes. Fees are collected seasonally at Coast Guard Beach, Nauset Light Beach, Marconi Beach, Head of the Meadow Beach, Race Point Beach and Herring Cove Beach.

View Cape Cod National Seashore Fees and Passes

Always follow posted signs at the beach, as parking restrictions and collection schedules may change.

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Check out information

Checkout is typically 9am Memorial Day - Labor Day.

Checkout is typically 10am Labor Day - Memorial Day.

Please load the dishwasher/wash the dishes and take the trash to the bins on your check out date.

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Cape Cod Wildlife: What to Expect

The Cape’s coastline, marshes, wetlands and wooded areas create natural habitats for a wide variety of animals and insects. Seeing an occasional bug or animal does not mean that a home is unclean. Here is some information about the wildlife you may encounter during your trip.

Common Indoor Visitors

• Ants may seek accessible food or water.
• Moisture invaders, including house centipedes, earwigs, silverfish and wood cockroaches, may appear in basements or other dark, damp areas.
• Stink bugs may enter homes in the fall while seeking warmth.

These common household visitors are generally harmless. To discourage them, please store food in kitchen cabinets or the refrigerator and promptly clean up crumbs and spills. Kitchen bug spray is provided.

Ticks and Outdoor Insects

Cape Cod has a healthy tick population, and ticks may be encountered throughout the year—not only during the summer. The three primary human-biting species found on the Cape are American dog ticks, blacklegged or deer ticks, and lone star ticks. Deer ticks can transmit Lyme disease and other illnesses, while lone star ticks are becoming increasingly common in the region. Ticks may be present in wooded areas, tall grass, brush, dunes, leaf litter and residential yards. Learn more from Barnstable County.

To reduce your risk:

• Use an EPA-registered insect repellent as directed.
• Walk near the center of trails and avoid brushing against tall grass or vegetation.
• Wear light-colored clothing, closed-toe shoes and long pants when hiking.
• Check yourself, children, clothing, equipment and pets after spending time outdoors.
• Shower and complete a full-body tick check soon after returning indoors.
• If you find an attached tick, use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp it close to the skin and pull straight upward. Clean the area afterward and contact a healthcare provider if you develop concerning symptoms. Review CDC tick-prevention guidance.

Other common outdoor insects include:

• Greenhead flies, particularly near bayside beaches and marshes during July and August. Their bites can be painful.
• Mosquitoes, especially near wetlands and brackish water.
• Midges which may swarm during the still, humid hours around sunset near marshes, beaches and wooded areas.

Please pack or purchase insect repellent upon arrival.

Land Animals

You may see white-tailed deer, rabbits, wild turkeys, raccoons, opossums, skunks, foxes or coyotes in residential and natural areas. Most wildlife will avoid people when given sufficient space.

• Secure trash and do not leave pet food or other food outdoors.
• Keep dogs leashed and supervise children and pets outside.
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Birds and Coastal Wildlife

Cape Cod is home to gulls, terns, ospreys, herons, shorebirds, waterfowl and many migratory species. Threatened piping plovers and other birds may nest directly on beaches. Please do not feed birds, disturb nests or enter roped-off nesting areas. Cape Cod National Seashore supports more than 450 animal species, including fish, birds, mammals, reptiles and marine animals.

Turtles may also cross roads or appear in yards and natural areas. Observe them from a distance and never remove a healthy animal from its habitat.

Seals, Sharks and Other Marine Life

Cape waters support many types of fish, shellfish, seals, dolphins, whales, sea turtles and sharks. Seals are frequently seen swimming offshore or resting on beaches, docks and sandbars. They are wild animals and should never be approached, touched or fed. NOAA recommends keeping people and pets at least 50 yards away from seals. Review NOAA’s marine-life viewing guidelines.

Great white sharks are part of Cape Cod’s marine ecosystem and may be present close to shore, particularly where seals gather. When swimming, surfing, kayaking or paddleboarding:

• Follow all beach signage, flags, lifeguard instructions and shark advisories.
• Avoid swimming near seals or schools of fish.
• Stay close to shore and remain with other people.
• Avoid murky or low-visibility water.
• Keep pets out of the water when seals are nearby.
• Leave the water calmly if a shark is spotted or an alert is issued.

Review current Cape Cod National Seashore shark-safety guidance before visiting ocean beaches.

The best way to enjoy Cape Cod’s wildlife is to observe it from a safe and respectful distance. Never feed or attempt to interact with a wild animal.

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