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Best Beaches in Yarmouth Cape Cod

Cape Cod, with its vast coastline, offers many different beaches – from small hidden away beaches to larger family beaches. Every town has its own beaches – with its own specific rules and pricing. Some beaches are resident-only, while others have large parking lots with plenty of room for visitor parking.

Yarmouth, Massachusetts, located in the mid-Cape region of Cape Cod, is a great place to visit with families. There are loads of family-friendly activities in Yarmouth MA, including mini golf, the Whydah Pirate Museum, and of course, beaches. These are mostly saltwater beaches, although there are also some freshwater beaches. Dogs aren’t permitted on public beaches from May 15 to Labor Day.

Note that none of the beaches in the town of Yarmouth are part of the Cape Cod National Seashore. These beaches are further down on the lower Cape.

Visiting the area? Here are the best beaches in Yarmouth Cape Cod.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, and a purchase/click through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us at no cost to you. All opinions are my own.

Long wooden pier over marshes at sunset with orange sky

Best Beaches in Yarmouth Cape Cod

If you are planning to visit the beaches in Yarmouth Cape Cod in the summer months, you’ll have to pay to park. Residents can apply for a resident sticker that includes their license plate and cannot be transferred. So, if you rent a home in the area, you won’t be able to use their beach sticker.

There are several options for beach parking. Keep in mind that options can change, but right now they include a daily rate, a weekly sticker, a seasonal (non-resident) pass, a boat pass, and a boat seasonal pass. Currently, the South Middle Beach parking lot is only open to residents – and you’ll have to have a resident sticker.

When you visit these beaches, you’ll need to bring along your own beach chairs, umbrellas, and other beach supplies. The lots are pretty close to the beaches, but if you are carrying a lot of stuff, you may want to have a beach cart. If you need to pick up food, there are lots of grocery stores, bakeries, and delis in the area. There are also beach shops in the area if you want to purchase supplies for your beach vacation.

wooden path with wooden fence and sand leading to the beach

Seagull Beach

Seagull Beach, in West Yarmouth, is the first beach that I visited in the area. It’s the largest beach in Yarmouth, with lifeguards (in season) a large parking lot, a snack bar, showers, and restrooms. It does get busy on hot summer days, but with a large lot, there’s a lot of room.

Parker’s River Beach

Parker’s River Beach is located in South Yarmouth off of South Shore Drive. It’s directly across the street from Skipper Chowder House, one of my favorite restaurants in Yarmouth.

Parker’s River Beach has a seawall, as well as a parking lot, pavilion, playground, and sandy beach. There’s also a concession stand, restrooms, and shower facilities. Skipper Chowder House across the street also has an ice cream window, if you’d like a snack.

Because of the playground and proximity to ice cream, this can be the best place to visit with small children. It’s also a nice place to sit and wait for your table to be ready at Skipper Chowder House.

Gray windmill in front of small beach with brick paths and wooden bench

Windmill Beach

Windmill Beach is a tiny beach located in South Yarmouth. It doesn’t have any facilities, so it’s not really a place you can spend the day unless you are staying within walking distance and can walk back for restrooms. There’s a small sand area as well as a small parking lot with very limited parking. While I’ve never visited it for the beach, it is a beautiful place to take photos.

Smugglers’ Beach / Bass River Beach

Smuggler’s Beach was formerly known as Bass River Beach. This is the beach that I visit whenever I’m in Yarmouth. It’s a beautiful beach, with plenty of room to spread out across the sandy beach. There are also several hotels/motels in the area with beachfront access here.

Smuggler’s Beach has a large parking lot, with a boat ramp, fishing dock, and boat trailer parking. Concessions, showers, lifeguards, and restrooms are all offered in season.

With a large lot, there’s usually room for parking at Smuggler’s Beach without having to arrive too early. However, I have seen it fill up because it’s one of the most popular beaches in the area. So be sure to arrive early on hot days, especially on the weekends.

wooden beach pier over green marshes

Bass Hole Beach / Gray’s Beach

If you want to explore nature in a unique, picturesque setting, you’ll want to visit Bass Hole Beach, also known as Gray’s Beach. While they did offer free parking in the past, parking is no longer complimentary during peak hours. It’s located in Yarmouth Port, off Center Street, on the northern coast of Cape Cod. It’s located on Cape Cod Bay, unlike the other Cape Cod beaches on Nantucket Sound.

While Bass Hole Beach does offer a picnic area (with picnic tables), a small beach, and a pavilion, the highlight is the long boardwalk that goes over a beautiful marsh area. It can be tempting to quickly walk to the end of the boardwalk, but take your time to look at the birds and other wildlife around the marshes. It’s a beautiful spot.

If your plan is to just visit the beach for the day and swim, this probably isn’t the best beach. There’s a small sandy area, and there are sand bars that appear not too far from the shore during low tide. But it is a beautiful place to explore – especially as it gets close to sunset, which can be the best time to visit. The calm waters of the small beach do make it a great spot for those with young children.

Blue beach carpet leading to sand and water

South Middle Beach

Parking at South Middle Beach, located in South Yarmouth, is exclusively available to residents of Yarmouth with a beach parking sticker. The large parking lot is located across the street from the beach.

The actual beach is tucked away, and you’ll need to take a short walk through some trees, and up some wooden stairs. When you get to the top, you’ll see the beach appear in front of you.

South Middle offers public restroom facilities and is a great beach to spend the day.

Where to Stay in Yarmouth Cape Cod

Planning to visit Yarmouth, Cape Cod? There are lots of places to stay, including vacation homes, motels, hotels, and resorts. Here are some of the more popular family resorts in the area.

Other popular hotels on Cape Cod include Ocean Edge Resort in Brewster and the Sea Crest Beach Hotel in Falmouth.

You can find more lodging options on the map below (affiliate links):

Looking for more Cape Cod travel tips? Click to see our guide with town recommendations, things to do, restaurants, and more in Cape Cod.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to book parking at Yarmouth MA beaches in advance?

No, you’ll pay for parking as you enter the parking lot. The town also offers weekly passes, and season passes for Yarmouth residents.

Does Yarmouth MA have good beaches?

Yarmouth has excellent beaches, with a good variety depending on the type of experience you want to have.

corner of gray boardwalk over sand leading to beach

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