Cape Cod is one of the top getaways in the Northeast and one of the best stops on a New England Coastline road trip. This hook-shaped peninsula is home to quaint villages, incredible seafood restaurants, lighthouses, ponds, and beaches. So I’ve created the ultimate guide for planning a Cape Cod vacation.

The Best Getaways in New England

Many visitors don’t venture to the remote end of the peninsula, but I highly recommend exploring the pristine, off-the-beaten-path Outer Cape.

Here’s everything you need to know for planning a Cape Cod vacation!

When To Go

July and August are the most popular months to visit Cape Cod because it’s warm enough to enjoy the beaches. But these months are the most crowded and expensive. So book tours, dinner reservations, and accommodation in advance to save money and ensure availability. You’ll also want to get up early to beat the crowds to the beaches and popular attractions.

September – October is a shoulder season. Hotels and tours reduce their prices, and there will be relatively few tourists. The weather will drop to the 60s in September and the 40s in October, which is the end of the whale-watching season.

Cape Cod is practically deserted from November – March because of the freezing temperatures and lack of snow. Many shops, restaurants, ferries, and attractions close or reduce their hours for the winter season. So if you want solitude, rest, and relaxation, then you can score some great accommodation deals during these months.

Apil – June is Cape Cod’s other shoulder season. Crowd and tourist numbers will still be relatively low, and temperatures will usually stay above 50°F in the day. Shops, restaurants, and attractions will re-open or extend their hours. April is also the start of the whale-watching season. 

Know Before You Go

Because of Cape Cod’s large seal population, every Cape Cod beach has sharks, and great whites are common. So swimming isn’t advisable. 

Cape Cod is divided into three areas – the Upper (southwest region), Mid (middle region), and Lower & Outer Cape (northeast region). So when you look at a map, the Upper Cape is south of the Lower Cape. A local will tell you to head “up the Cape” to travel south and “down the Cape” to travel north, which can confuse visitors. 

Upper Cape

Towns: Sandwich, Bourne, Falmouth, and Mashpee.

What To Do: bike a portion of the Shining Sea Bikeway, visit the Nobska Lighthouse, wander through the picture-perfect streets of Falmouth, lounge on either Old Silver Beach or South Cape Beach if it’s the summer, tour the Marine Biological Laboratory at the Pierce Exhibit Center.

Stay Here If You Want: that old-school Cape “vibe” and to be on-the-beaten-path.

Where To Stay: The Coonamessett (mid-range), Woods Hole Passage Inn (boutique), AutoCamp Cape Cod (glamping), Cape Cod RV Resort.

Where To Eat: Chart Room (Seafood, $$$), Barking Claw (American, Seafood, $$-$$$), Bad Martha’s Falmouth Brewery ($$), Bill and Ben’s Chocolate Emporium ($$), Cooke’s Seafood ($$), Eli’s Tavern ($$-$$$), Treehouse Brewery ($$).

Mid Cape

Towns: Barnstable, Dennis, and Yarmouth.

What To Do: visit the Kennedy Museum, go on a whale watching tour, see the Judah Baker Windmill, tour the Whydah Pirate Museum, walk or bike the Cape Cod Rail Trail.

Stay Here If: you want to be centrally located to other parts of the Cape, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket.

Where To Stay: Village Inn Cape Cod (historical), DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cape Cod-Hyannis (mid-range), Cape Codder Resort & Spa (budget).

Where To Eat: Sesuit Harbor Café (Seafood, $$), Cape Cod Creamery ($), The Pheasant (American, $$$), Cleat and Anchor (Bar & Grill, $$).

Lower & Outer Cape

Towns: Brewster, Chatham, Harwich, Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro, and Provincetown.

What To Do: marvel at the Cape Cod National Seashore, visit Rock Harbor, do a wine tasting at Truro Vineyards, explore Provincetown, watch the sunset at Race Point Beach.

Stay Here If You Want: luxury accommodations, seclusion, or to be off-the-beaten-path. 

Where To Stay: The Mansion at Ocean Edge Resort and Golf Club (ocean views), Villages at Ocean Edge Resort (mid-range), Chatham Bars Inn (luxury), Candleberry Inn on Cape Cod (historical).

Where To Eat: Stars (American, $$$$), Neer Beer Garden ($$-$$$), Strangers & Saints (Mediterranean, $$), Del Mar (Bistro, $$$), Hangar B (American, $$).

Best Day Trips

Martha’s Vineyard. This island is just a short ferry ride from Cape Cod. Contrary to its name, there isn’t a vineyard on Martha’s Vineyard, but there are beautiful coastal towns and incredible restaurants. Martha’s Vineyard is the perfect biking destination, so I recommend renting a motorized bike when you get to the island. Then spend the day biking between Oaks Bluff, Edgartown, and Vineyard Haven.

Nantucket. This tiny, isolated island can be reached by a high-speed passenger catamaran from Cape Cod. I highly recommend visiting Nantucket as its own trip. But if you only have a day here, visit the Whaling Museum, see the iconic steepled churches, shop, and wine and dine yourself.

YOUR TRAVEL CHECKLIST

PIN THIS GUIDE!

This post is not a sponsored post, and, as always, the thoughts and opinions expressed in this guide for planning a Cape Cod vacation are entirely my own. Some of the links in this guide for planning a Cape Cod vacation are affiliate links, and, at no cost to you, I may earn a small commission.