Surfing Cape Cod

Are you looking for the best beach for surfing Cape Cod?

You’ve come to the right place!

Cape Cod surfing is growing rapidly in popularity as more and more people experience the pure adrenaline rush of being propelled by the sheer power of ocean waves.

Surfing on Cape Cod is limited to the Atlantic beaches on the outer Cape, from the southernmost tip of Nauset Beach in Chatham to Head of the Meadow Beach in Truro.

The surf here is consistently knee to waist high, perfect for beginners.

The die-hard wave chasers will be looking for a hurricane or major storm system hundreds of miles out to sea, that can generate some really challenging waves on these beaches.

No, it’s not California or Hawaii, but Cape Cod has some great under rated surfing hotspots, and the best part is, with 40 miles of open beach and countless beach breaks, you can find your own, uncrowded waves.

Keep in mind that this is cold water surfing and a wetsuit is highly recommended.

All of the Atlantic beaches on the east side of the Cape have surfing potential. Some are always better than others.

We have listed all of the beaches, with important info below.

Best Wetsuits for Surfing Cape Cod

Coast Guard Beach is part of the Cape Cod National Seashore, and is recognized as one of the best beaches in America. It is also one of the most popular surf spots on the Cape, known for its consistent shortboard/longboard summer swell. Amenities include:

Public Restrooms

Outdoor Showers

Lifeguards On Duty In-Season

Wheelchair Accessible

$15 Daily Parking Fee In-Season

Directions: Travel 1 1/2 miles east on Doane Rd., accessible via the entrance to Salt Pond Visitor Center off Route 6. Follow brown and white signs to beach

Nauset Beach in Orleans

Nauset is one of the most popular beaches on the Cape. Surfing here can be very good at times. If you have a 4WD vehicle, you can get a beach pass from the Orleans police Department that will allow you to access 5 miles of beach, all the way to Chatham. Even without a 4WD this is a great beach for beginners and seasoned pros alike. Amenities include:

Public Restrooms

Outdoor Showers

Full Service Concession Stand

Large Picnic area

Lifeguards On Duty In-Season

Beach Patrol with 4WD Vehicles

Wheelchair Accessible

Extra Large Parking Lot for Several Hundred Cars

$15 Daily Parking Fee In-Season.

Directions: From RT6A follow Main St through East Orleans to Nauset Beach Rd.

Nauset Light Beach in Eastham

Nauset Light Beach is part of the Cape Cod National Seashore, and is protected by a high dune bluff. Wooden stairs connect the beach to the parking area. Nauset light is another popular surfing destination. Amenities include:

Restrooms

Outdoor Showers

Bathhouse

Lifeguards On Duty In-Season

$15 Daily Parking Fee In-Season

Directions: From Route 6 in North Eastham take Nauset Rd. to Cable Rd.

Marconi Beach in Wellfleet

Marconi Beach is protected by tall dune bluffs, a boardwalk leads to a steep staircase to the beach. A popular surfing destination known for its steep right running at higher tides when the swell is up. Amenities include:

Restrooms

Outdoor Showers

Bathhouse

Lifeguards On Duty In-Season

$15 Daily Parking Fee In-Season

Directions: Take Route 6 in South Wellfleet to Marconi Beach Rd. and follow to its end.

White Crest Beach in Wellfleet

White Crest Beach,(sometimes called four mile or surfer’s beach)is known for its great longboard waves, some say the best on the cape. The sandbars here make for consistent lefts, making this beach a favorite of both beginners and seasoned surfers.

Restrooms

Concessions

Lifeguards On Duty In-Season

$15 Daily Parking Fee In-Season

Directions: From Route 6 in Wellfleet take Cahoon Hollow Rd. At its end, turn right on Ocean View Drive and look for White Crest’s parking lots on both sides of the road.

Cahoon Hollow Beach in Wellfleet

Cahoon Hollow is Wellfleet’s most popular beach. Teens and college students hang out here in the summer, mainly because of The Beachcomber restaurant and bar, located right on top of the 90 foot dunes overlooking the beach. They serve lunch, dinner and cocktails, and are known as a top venue for Rock and Reggae bands.

Cahoon Hollow features Lifeguards in-season and portable toilets.

$15 Daily Parking Fee In-Season

Directions: From Route 6 in Wellfleet take Cahoon Hollow Road all the way to its end.

Head of Meadow Beach in Truro

Head of Meadow Beach has constantly shifting sandbars, making it a very attractive beach for the surfing crowd. Amenities include:

Restrooms

Showers

Lifeguards On Duty In-Season

Directions: Take Head of the Meadow Road off Route 6 in Truro.

• Kyle – MA – Coast Guard!
• Jack – MA – Nauset Beach in orleans continues to impress me, it seems that the further down to the right you go…the better the surfing conditions get, bigger waves, longer runs, and especially less crowded. it doesnt matter what tide you go as long as you walk far down right
• Ryan – MA – head of the meadow in truro is the best. its nice and flat, so the waves roll in for a long time before breaking, and once they break, you can surf them a long ways. The waves are decent size, not huge, so beginners and more experienced surfers can both enjoy the beach.
• Devin – NY – Marconi Beach, Wellfleet. I spent the last few days in the cape and Marconi seemed to have the best swell out of all of them. At lower tides, this beach is beautiful for surfing.
• dhifhci – MA – Coast Guard Beach!
• Scott – Iowa – Marconi Beach
• Colton – MA – Nauset Beach I think is good for longboarding but sometimes is good for shortboarding as well.
• Jeff – MA – Pamet beach in truro, if you can find it you deserve to surf it
• Robert – MA – Coast Guard Beach has some of the longest cleanest breaks I’ve ever seen.
• Don – MA – Nauset or Cahoon Hollow are best.
• Tay – MA – Marconi Beach!
• Kat – MA – Nauset Beach! best, biggest waves!
• Brendan – MA – Coast Guard Beach has Gnarly waves. And it’s one of the top 10 surfing beaches in the world. It features Lifeguards and rest rooms also a shuttle.
• Patrick – CT – My favorite spot to surf on the Cape is Nauset beach because at low tide the waves are perfect
• Bill – CT – coast guard beach, eastham
• Jeff – CA – nauset/coast guard beach when big is great fun reminds me of a really good day in cali in the summer but not nearly as our winter swells. stay wet.
• Alexandra – MA – Nauset Light Beach is the best by far. The break there is just way better than anywhere else and it’s not too far of a walk off the protected beach.
• Jimmy – NH – Coast Guard Beach is the best.

Best Cape Cod Surf Shop!

Nauset Surf Shop

Best Cape Cod surf report.

What do you think is the best beach for surfing Cape Cod? Let us know in the comments below!