Massachusetts Cape Cod National Seashore map and highlights

Cape Cod National Seashore. Basic information for visitors to the Cape Cod National Seashore On outer Cape Cod.    

Cape Cod National Seashore On outer Cape Cod.    

More than 43,000 acres of pristine beaches and grassy,  wind-swept uplands fill this gorgeous seaside park, which stretches from  Chatham to Provincetown on the states Outer Cape. The main 40-mi band  of shoreline draws many visitors to its mesmerizing ocean views, but  further explorations uncover little embers of local history in  statuesque lighthouses, charming Cape Cod-style dwellings, and weathered  life-saving stations. Its a wonderful walking area, with dozens of  clear, deep, freshwater kettle ponds pocketing the land, and pleasant  trails threaded throughout the fields and dunes. The site of the former  Marconi Wireless Station, where in 1903 Guigelmo Marconi transmitted the  first wireless message across the Atlantic, from President Theodore  Roosevelt to King George of England, is also found here. The park was  authorized in 1961 and established in 1966.    

WHAT TO SEE & DO    

Bicycling, boating (rentals, see below), fishing (MA license  required, see below), hiking, picnicking, swimming, touring historic  sites. Facilities: Salt Pond visitor center and Province Lands visitor  center, 6 swimming beaches, movies, 11 self-guided nature trails, 3 bike  trails. Bookstores. Programs & Events: Ranger-led hikes, canoe  tours, beach walks, historic-house tours. Ranger-led interpretive  programs (late May-early Nov.), campfire programs (Memorial Day-Labor  Day). Tips & Hints: Plan on at least a half-day visit. Busiest July  and Aug., least crowded Jan. and Feb.    

FOOD, LODGING & SUPPLIES    

fib Camping: None at site. In Brewster: Nickerson State Park  (3488 Main St., Rte 6A, tel. 508/896-3491; 877/422-6762 reservations;  418 sites, 5 yurts; $12-$ 15, $25-$30 yurts; flush toilets, showers;  closed Columbus Day-mid-Apr.). H Hotels: None in park. In Provincetown:  Best Western Tides Beachfront (837 Commercial St., tel. 508/487-1045 or  800/528-1234; 64 rooms; $159-$319; closed mid-Oct.-mid-May). In North  Eastham: Captains Quarters Motel & Conference Center (U.S. 6, tel.  508/255-5686 or 800/327-7769; 75 rooms; $135; closed Dec-Mar.). X  Restaurants: None in park. In Provincetown: Lobster Pot (321 Commercial  St., tel. 508/487-0842; $7-$20; closed Jan.-Mar.). & Groceries: None  in park. In Provincetown: Grand Union (28 Shank Painter Rd., tel.  508/487-4903).    

FEES, HOURS & REGULATIONS    

Entrance fee: $10 per vehicle, $3 per bicyclist or walk-in at  lifeguard-protected swimming beaches (Memorial Day-late June, weekends;  late June-Labor Day, daily; Labor Day-Columbus Day, weekends). Seasonal  pass $30. Permits required for beach campfires and overnight parking  while fishing. Seasonal permit ($65) required for dune-riding; weekly  permit ($40) required for off-road vehicles. Seasonal RV permits ($110,  mid-Apr.-mid-Nov.) required for overnight stays. Parking lots open daily  6-midnight. Salt Pond Visitor Center open June-mid-Oct., daily 9-5;  mid-Oct.-June, daily 9-4:30. Province Lands Visitor Center open  May-Oct., daily 9-5.    

HOW TO GET THERE    

Near Provincetown, via Rte. 3 south; from Boston via Sagamore  Bridge in Bourne, then along U.S. 6 east to Eastham and Provincetown;  from Providence, RI, via 1-95 north to 1-195 east, then along U.S.. 6  east as above. Closest airports: Hyannis (35 mi), Boston (120 mi).    

CONTACTS    

Cape Cod National Seashore (99 Marconi Station Site Rd.,  Wellfleet, MA 02667, tel. 508/349-3785, fax 508/349-9052,). Salt Pond  Visitor Center (U.S. 6, Eastham, MA 02642, tel. 508/255-3421). Province  Lands Visitor Center (Race Point Rd., Provincetown, tel. 508/487-1256).  Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce (Box 790, Hyannis,   MA  02601,  tel.   508/362-3225  or  888/332-2732.   

Cape Cod National Seashore. Basic information for visitors to the Cape Cod National Seashore On outer Cape Cod.