South Cape Beach
Mashpee, MA
South Cape Beach State Park is Mashpee's only public ocean beach, a narrow strip of sand that runs for more than a mile along Nantucket Sound. Waquoit Bay and dune trails sit behind it, so there is room to walk. The state lot takes daily payments and the town also runs its own lot.
A long, uncrowded state beach with room to walk, though the out-of-state fee and narrow sand are worth noting.
How we score beachesWalk east or west along the shore and the crowd thins quickly. The town lot and the state lot use different pass rules.
State lot: $15 a day for Massachusetts vehicles and $40 for out-of-state, with season passes available. The town lot uses weekly or seasonal passes.
Check on arrival for the path from the lot to the sand; dune trails behind the beach are dirt.
Sound water is mild by August. Shoulder seasons are quiet and windy.
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