Herring Cove Beach
Provincetown, MA
Herring Cove Beach in Provincetown is a Cape Cod National Seashore beach facing west, with some of the best sunsets on the Cape. The water is calmer and warmer than on the Atlantic side, and the beach has long been a favorite of Provincetown's LGBTQ community. Lifeguards are on duty in season.
Sunsets, calm water and a strong local community make it a Provincetown institution, though the fee and summer crowds apply.
How we score beachesStay for sunset, when the whole beach turns toward the water. The far end of the lot is the quietest stretch.
The Seashore charges a per vehicle fee in season, with daily and season passes available. The lot is large but fills on summer weekends.
A paved lot connects to the beach by a short walkway. The final approach is over sand.
Pets are prohibited on lifeguarded beaches in summer, and leashed pets are allowed in the off season, with shorebird closures possible.
Summer is the peak season, with calmer water than the Atlantic side. Fall and winter bring big skies and empty sand.
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