5 Best Mid-Cape Beaches

Craigville Beach, Barnstable: Craigville Beach is very popular and for good reason. Located in the village of Centerville in Barnstable, MA, Craigville Beach offers great views of Nantucket Sound. This wide, long beach has soft and moderate surf. There is plenty of parking and a bathhouse with showers.

Sea Gull Beach, Yarmouth: Yarmouth’s largest beach is also its most popular. This beach is known for its lively atmosphere, rolling surf and gorgeous setting in West Yarmouth off of South Sea Ave. This beach is just west of Parker and offers lifeguards, concessions, toilets and paid parking.

Chapin Beach, Dennis: Chapin Beach on Chapin Beach Road at the northwest corner of Dennis is a favorite among owners of four-wheel-drive vehicles. At low tide, those looking for shellfish will delight in being able to walk more than a mile out on the tidal flats of Cape Cod Bay. The beach has no lifeguards and no restrooms, but portable toilets are available. Across the water is Yarmouth's Bass Hole and Gray's Beach.

 Bass Hole (Gray's Beach), Yarmouth: Bass Hole, also known as Gray's Beach. It is at the end of Centre Street off Mass. Rt. 6A in Yarmouthport and is considered by many to be one of the great spots on the Cape to watch the sunset. Bass Hole is at the mouth of Garden Creek and has a long boardwalk that extends over the salt marsh and offers an excellent view of coastal plant and marine life as well as nature's beauty. Across the river is Dennis' Chapin Beach. Bass Hole Beach is rather small and, at low tide, has very little water, which makes it perfect for small children (just pay attention to the tidal current in the creek). Bass Hole Beach has a large picnic area complete with a pavilion and bathroom facilities.

Smugglers Beach, South Yarmouth: Smugglers Beach (also known as Bass River Beach) is a great family beach with a fishing pier, a large parking area, and a snack bar. This beach, located at the mouth of Bass River in South Yarmouth, also has lifeguards and bathroom facilities. The daily parking fee of $10 is required. Some free parking and there are lifeguards on duty.