Newcomb Hollow Beach
Wellfleet, MA
Newcomb Hollow Beach in Wellfleet sits below tall dunes and has a reputation for gentler surf than other Atlantic beaches on the Cape. Swimmers who are wary of big waves often prefer it. Lifeguards are on duty in season, and the wide, open beach has plenty of room to spread out.
Gentler surf and big dunes make it a pick for less confident swimmers, though it is still cold Atlantic water.
How we score beachesIt is one of the calmer ocean beaches on the Outer Cape, so it is a good pick for beginners. Bring your own shade, since the dunes offer little.
A daily parking fee applies in season. Check the town for current rates and sticker rules.
The lot connects to the beach via a path over the dunes. The final approach is over soft sand.
Summer water is cool, and the beach is at its best from July to early September. Fall brings stronger surf.
More Atlantic Coast beaches
Coast Guard Beach
Eastham, MA · Atlantic Coast
A National Seashore beach backed by grassy dunes and a tidal marsh, with clean Atlantic surf and one of the Cape's most scenic approaches on foot from the parking area.
Surfside Beach
Nantucket, MA · Atlantic Coast
Open Atlantic swell and a wide sandy shoreline about three miles from Nantucket town, popular with locals for its bodysurfing waves and quieter, less commercial feel.
Jones Beach State Park
Wantagh, NY · Atlantic Coast
A classic Long Island beach with six and a half miles of shoreline, a landmark water tower, boardwalk, and a large outdoor amphitheater that hosts concerts through the summer.