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Can you swim in Cape Cod in September?

Author

Matthew Martinez

Updated on March 18, 2026

Can you swim in Cape Cod in September?

September-October

The fall shoulder season is one of Cape Cod's best-kept secrets. Hotels drop their rates considerably as the tourists head home. And while it is starting to get chilly, the water is usually warm enough to still go swimming in September.

Also know, what is the weather like in Cape Cod in late September?

September on Cape Cod is usually warm-ish, from upper 60s to mid-70s (farenheit) during the day. But it does get chilly when the sun begins to set. And every now and then we do have some late September days that aren't much warmer than low 60s. For me, that's sweater weather!

Likewise, which Cape Cod beaches are closed? According to the Sharktivity app, Nauset Public Beach in Orleans, Lecount Hollow Beach and Maguire Landing Beach in Wellfleet, Coast Guard Beach in Truro and Eastham and Head of the Meadow Beach in Truro were closed to swimming for an hour after a research boat spotted sharks swimming nearby.

Beside this, can you swim in Cape Cod?

Cape Cod & the Islands beaches offer excellent sand, swimming and water sports. A Cape Cod vacation is a beach vacation. Cape Cod extends 70 miles into the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Cape Cod Bay on the north, Buzzards Bay on the west, Vineyard and Nantucket sounds on the south, and the Atlantic Ocean on the east.

Are Cape Cod beaches free after Labor Day?

Cape Cod is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. During the summer months, you need to purchase a Cape Cod beach sticker to enjoy them but once Labor Day hits, they are free to enjoy. Soak up the last of the warm weather and take your family to one of the many beaches throughout the Cape.

What should I bring to Cape Cod in the fall?

Packing List for Cape Cod in the Fall
  • Clothing.
  • 1 pair shorts.
  • 2 tank tops.
  • 1 cardigan.
  • 2 summer dresses.
  • 1 pair jeans.
  • 1 sweatshirt.
  • 1 waterproof boots (optional)

When should I go to Martha's Vineyard?

As any Martha's Vineyard travel guide will tell you, the best time to visit the island is from May until September, when the Atlantic Ocean ensures temperatures around the low 70s and rarely above 90 degrees.

What is the best time to go to Cape Cod?

The best time to visit Cape Cod is May, June, September or October. These shoulder months usher in pleasant temperatures for outdoor pursuits, fewer crowds than the busy summer season and reasonable room rates.

How hot does it get in Cape Cod?

Days of Hot Weather in Cape Cod

It seldom gets really hot on Cape Cod. In an average year, there's just one day of 90-degree weather and the thermometer never makes it to 100 °F. Spells of 70 degrees Fahrenheit or more can happen from May to October.

Where should I stay in Cape Cod?

If you plan on taking several day trips to Martha's Vineyard or even visit Newport, Rhode Island then staying in Falmouth or Woods Hole right at the southwestern tip of Cape Cod is best. Falmouth is one of the best walking towns on Cape Cod with a long Main Street and lots of great shops and restaurants.

What is there to do in Cape Cod in the fall?

How to Plan the Best Cape Cod Fall Getaway
  1. Enjoy a Fabulous Fall Event. Celebrate autumn with an unforgettable cooking class or event on Cape Cod!
  2. Ride the Cape Cod Rail Trail.
  3. See a Cranberry Bog.
  4. Tour Truro Vineyards.
  5. Experience the Fall Foliage.
  6. Attend the Wellfleet Oyster Festival.
  7. Whale Watch For the Last Time This Year.

Why are there sharks in Cape Cod?

Their resurgence near Massachusetts is mainly due to the growing number of seals, the sharks' favorite food. Some 25,000 seals now call Cape Cod home, and because seals are also federally protected, their population cannot be legally culled.

Where are the most sharks in Cape Cod?

All ocean beaches on cape cod have sharks. But great whites are more often documented on the outer cape beaches, stretching from Monomoy Island and Chatham all the way up to Provincetown. If there are a lot of seals near a beach, then there's likely an increased presence of sharks.

Are there sharks at Cape Cod?

Shark sightings are nothing new for Cape Cod, which has a reputation as a hot spot for white sharks. According to the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, a local research nonprofit, 718 shark sightings have been recorded since 2016 on Sharktivity, an app that lets users flag where they spot sharks.

How close to shore can a shark come?

Swimmers and others in the water, he advised, should know that proximity to shore doesn't mean lessened risk for sharks. “If there's deep water close to shore, the sharks can get into that area,” the researcher said. He estimated that the sharks can get into five or six feet of water.

Are there sharks near Martha's Vineyard?

However, the maps indicate very few sharks swimming in the area of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. “Not many sharks visit the Vineyard — the outer Cape is where it's happening,” Skomal said. “Most white sharks that come to the Island are transient animals moving through to get to the cafe.”

Which side of Cape Cod is warmer?

Even when the Cape is experiencing some of its hottest weather in the summer, the water temperature at beaches like Coast Guard Beach in Eastham can often be in the 50s. If warmer water is what your after, the south-facing beaches along Nantucket Sound are much warmer.

What beaches in Cape Cod have sharks?

Five Cape Cod beaches closed Thursday morning after multiple shark sightings. The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy Sharktivity app reported shark sightings at Coast Guard Beach and Head of the Meadow Beach in Truro, Cahoon Hollow Beach and White Crest Beach in Wellfleet and Nauset Public Beach in Orleans.

Are beaches on Cape Cod Open?

Cape Cod National Seashore

Beaches and parking lots open 6 a.m. to midnight year round.

Is Cape Cod a safe place to live?

What are the safest towns in Cape Cod? According to the FBI, the safest towns in the area are Sandwich, Brewster, Bourne, Harwich, and Mashpee. Not only is Sandwich the safest town but also the oldest in Cape Cod being incorporated in 1639. The overall crime rate in this town is 1.11%.

Are Wellfleet beaches open?

The first Outer Cape town to limit beach access. WELLFLEET — Summertime is coming but the living is far from easy. The ocean beaches at Lecount Hollow and Newcomb Hollow are open only to residents and taxpayers or three-day, one-week, or two-week sticker holders.

Are Falmouth beaches open?

?Beach Hours

The gates at all beaches, except Menauhant Beach (East) and Megansett, are locked at 10 p.m. Those 2 beaches are open 24 hours. No dogs are allowed on the public beaches from May 1 through October 1.

Is scusset beach open?

Visiting hours: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Visitors must pay the daily parking or visitor fee.

Where is Cape Cod located?

Cape Cod, hooked sandy peninsula of glacial origin encompassing most of Barnstable county, southeastern Massachusetts, U.S. It extends 65 miles (105 km) into the Atlantic Ocean, has a breadth of between 1 and 20 miles (1.6 and 32 km), and is bounded by Cape Cod Bay (north and west), Buzzards Bay (west), and Vineyard

Is the National Seashore closed?

Cape Cod National Seashore is open year-round.

From November through April, some visitor facilities are closed. Alerts and other closures may occur, so plan ahead and visit the Current Park Conditions page for the most up-to-date information on facilities, restrooms, beaches, pet regulations, and more.

Is Hampton Beach Open?

Hampton Beach State Park's North and South Bathhouses are now open. Check signs for up-to-date bathhouse operating hours.

Are Cape Cod beaches free?

Most Cape Cod beaches have no admission fee. You can walk in or bike in at no charge - even in the summer months. You'll only have to pay if you want to park your vehicle in the lot.

Can you drive on the beach in Cape Cod?

The Cape Cod National Seashore

Vehicles are permitted everywhere from Race Point Light to Long Nook Beach, which is just south of Coast Guard Beach.

Is Cape Cod dog friendly?

All dogs go to heaven: The Cape Cod National Seashore is open to leashed dogs year-round. (Stay away from shorebird areas and lifeguard-protected beaches; visit the website or Salt Pond Visitor Center for a guide to pet-friendly spots.)

Are Hyannis beaches open?

Barnstable/Hyannis public beaches are open. However, due to COVID-19 concerns, beach policies and regulations have changed significantly for this season. * Please click here to read about Summer 2020 beach parking, services and amenities at Barnstable/Hyannis beaches.

Are Truro beaches open?

BEACH REOPENING STATUS: June 2020

Town-managed Truro beaches are open. COVID-19 restrictions remain in effect. Social distancing is required. Beach parking, services and amenities may be limited.

Is Mayflower Beach Open?

Beaches are staffed by lifeguards only during posted hours.

Public Parking Areas:

NORTH SIDE BEACHESMayflower Beach
STAFFED HOURS7am - 5pm
SOUTH SIDE BEACHESSouth Village Beach
STAFFED HOURS9am - 4pm