Cape Cod Towns: Barnstable, Provincetown, Falmouth, Chatham and More
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Towns of Cape Cod - A List of Cape Cod Towns, from Bourne to Provincetown
Each town on Cape Cod is a little bit different. You can't compare the beaches of Bourne along Buzzards Bay to the beaches of Wellfleet. The fishing at Falmouth is far different than fishing at the Cape Cod Canal. There are few sunset views in Sandwich, however, there are beautiful sunsets in Truro, Eastham, Provincetown, Orleans, and Wellfleet. If you're looking to go surfing, the Cape Cod National Seashore is where to go (and the Outer Cape towns that lie within it), however the Cape Cod Bay town waters are quite calm and gentle. This page provides a list of the towns on Cape Cod, along with links to more information about each town. Read on for more information!
Intro photo of Cape Cod by flickr user rmcgervey.
Intro photo of Cape Cod by flickr user rmcgervey.
curated content from Flickr
Bourne
The first town on Cape Cod
Bourne, MA is the first town over the Sagamore Bridge and the Bourne Bridge (or the Cape Cod Canal Rail Bridge, if traveling via train by some chance). This town includes several smaller villages like Monument Beach, Sagamore Beach, Pocasset, and Buzzards Bay.
Falmouth
The gateway to Martha's Vineyard
Falmouth, MA is one of the busiest towns on Cape Cod. It's location is at the southwestern corner of Cape Cod, placing it right next to Martha's Vineyard. This town is also home to Woods Hole, which is where the busy Martha's Vineyard ferry departs.
There are 15 towns that make up Cape Cod, not including Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.
Sandwich
Sandwich, Massachusetts - Sandwich Glass Factory
Sandwich, MA is the oldest town on Cape Cod. It's the second town you'll encounter on Route 6 east, and is where you can find the Sandwich Glass Factory. The town also has several bed and breakfasts, and a great view of the salt marsh along Old King's Highway, Route 6A.
Mashpee
Home of the Womponoag Native American Tribe
Mashpee today is much different than it was when the Womponoag Native Americans initially inhabited the Cape Cod area. However, most of the surviving descendants of the tribe live very close to the town of Mashpee. The town has a Womponoag Tribal Museum, along with beautiful, quiet coastal views, inlets, and water views.
Cape Cod Bumper Stickers
Unique bumper stickers featuring Cape Cod - for your car, boat, truck, or as a gift!
Passionate people use bumper stickers. When they want to tell people what they stand behind, they slap one on their vehicle and use it as a soapbox to tell people what they're proud of or against. In this case, the use of Cape Cod bumper stickers on cars, trucks, boats, SUV's, lockers, books, and bikes means they're in love with the Cape. And there's nothing wrong with that! Here's a great selection of Cape Cod bumper stickers from our store, South Shore Tees, which specializes in Massachusetts themed gifts and merchandise. Have a look!
Cape Cod Bumper Sticker Sticker (Oval)
Beautiful, historic Nauset Light is featured on this red, black, orange and blue bumper sticker. A great way to tell everyone that you're a Cape person.
Price: $4.49 
Provincetown Sticker (Oval)
Show some PTown pride with this Provincetown bumper sticker! Features the colors of the gay pride flag, along with the Pilgrim Monument silhouette that's seen from just about everywhere in PTown.
Price: $4.49
Cape Cod Bumper Sticker Sticker (Oval)
This Cape Cod bumper sticker features the Bourne/Sagamore Bridge (they're identical, so it could be either bridge) in light blue, with darker blue text over it. Perfect for your car!
Price: $4.49
Cape Cod Sagamore Bridge Bumper Sticker
CC is a simple abbreviation for Cape Cod that everyone is familiar from the Cape. This sticker features the Sagamore Bridge.
Price: $4.49
Cape Cod Bumper Sticker Sticker (Oval)
Simple, blue, black, and white colors make this a great pick for your boat.
Price: $4.49
Barnstable
Hyannis, Cotuit, Osterville, Centerville, and Craigville Beach
There are many villages that make up the city of Barnstable. It's the only city on Cape Cod, and most notably contains Hyannis and Hyannis Port.
curated content from Flickr
Yarmouth
Yarmouth Port, Bass Hole, and the town of Yarmouth
Right about in the middle of Cape Cod is the town of Yarmouth. Like Dennis, it contains beautiful beaches along the Cape Cod Bay side and on the southern side, near Route 28. As you head further away from the city of Barnstable (or Hyannis) along Route 28, the town becomes more and more "Cape like" further east. On the north side, along Route 6A, that's where the town gets really interesting. Here, you can find the village of Yarmouth Port, and the scenic Bass Hole area.
Dennis
Beautiful views of Cape Cod Bay and Nantucket Sound
Dennis is one the Cape's most visited towns. The Route 28 area of Dennis has some of the best fishing at Bass River, and one of the busiest tourist resort areas. Once you see the beaches in Dennis, you'll understand why so many people come here.
Harwich
Harwich, Harwich Port, and the Seven Villages
Seven unique villages make up the town of Harwich. Located along Route 28 and Route 6, Harwich covers a large area of the Cape, adjacent to the towns of Chatham, Orleans, Brewster, and Dennis.
Brewster
Along Old King's Highway, Route 6A
Brewster is one of the most popular towns on Cape Cod for a romantic bed and breakfast stay. Some of the best reviewed B & B's are located in Brewster, and some of the quietest beaches on the entire Cape.
Cape Cod's fall season is especially mild. The summer temperatures often continue into the fall, and the Cape stays slightly warmer than the rest of coastal New England.
Chatham
Located at the southeastern "elbow" of Cape Cod
Chatham is one of the Cape's most unique towns, and one of the prettiest. Gorgeous views of Nantucket Sound and the open Atlantic Ocean can be seen from its shores, at Lighthouse Beach, Stage Harbor, and throughout the miles of coastline. Route 28 stays close to most of the most well known scenic spots in Chatham.
Cape Cod Children's Books
Recommended Childrens books about Cape Cod
Children loving hearing about Cape Cod just about as much as they do visiting there! Relive the beaches, the sights, sounds and creatures of Cape Cod through these recommended story books for your child. A great before bedtime read, and a great gift for children!
Orleans
Beautiful beaches on the Cape Cod National Seashore
If you could pick any town to live in on Cape Cod, Orleans might be the most central, and the most attractive. It's beaches are beautiful, and have the advantage of having coastline along Cape Cod Bay and on the Atlantic ocean. This town also has protected beaches, dunes, sand bars, and shoreline part of the Cape Cod National Seashore.
Whaling became a popular source of income for Cape Cod residents in part due to the unsuccessful attempts at farming on Cape Cod. The soil was ill suited for the crops the settlers were growing, and the timber was soon depleted (though it has since mostly grown back).
Eastham
Home of Nauset Light
Nauset Light, Nauset Light Beach, and some of the gentlest waters on Cape Cod Bay can be found in the town of Eastham. Located on the outer "arm" of Cape Cod, Eastham is bordered only by the towns of Orleans and Wellfleet. You can also find the historic Three Sisters of Nauset Lighthouses right around the corner from Nauset Light.
Wellfleet
Wellfleet Bay Sanctuary, Marconi Beach
Wellfleet is one of Cape Cod's most influential artist towns. Wellfleet also has some dramatic scenery along its beaches, with giant cliffs dominating the coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. Along the Cape Cod Bay side, the beaches are much calmer, with beautiful sunsets and whale sightings a common occurrence.
Truro
Dunes, sandy beaches, and protected shoreline
Truro is the second to last stop before making it to the end of Cape Cod. This town has perhaps the most memorable and impressive scenery of the entire Cape Cod region. Massive sand dunes dominate the horizon, and sculpt the coastline of both the Cape Cod Bay side and Atlantic Ocean side (though the dunes on the ocean side are bigger for the most part). There are also plenty of rivers, galleries, and a small town center to explore.
Recommended Books About Cape Cod
Cape Guides, Photo Books, and Best Sellers
Cape Cod has some great ocean views, but also some great literature and guide books about the region. The books listed below are excellent guides to the Cape, and some include the best photos of Cape Cod you'll find anywhere. These make outstanding gifts for Cape Cod residents and travelers.
Provincetown
Fine art galleries, lighthouses, monuments, harbors and beaches found in PTown
Provincetown is a place you should definitely visit on your trip to Cape Cod. The scenery is the most photogenic on the entire Cape. There are three lighthouses within town, a long jetty that connects the remote Wood End and Long Point peninsula, tidal marshes, and miles of bike paths that wind through dunes, trees, beaches, and sunset views. The town is also a booming artist colony, and is a thriving gay tourist attraction. There are also daily whale watches that leave Provincetown where you're practically guaranteed to spot whales.
Find Unique Cape Cod Artwork
Art posters, fine art prints, framed photos, and nautical home decor ideas
Find the perfect piece of artwork for your home! Decorate your home with unique Cape Cod fine art prints and framed photos, like the ones that have been featured on the following page:
Take the Cape Cod Quiz!
Test your knowledge about Cape Cod
A lot of people think they know everything there is to know about Cape Cod. What do you know about it? Test your knowledge, then post your results to Facebook or Twitter! You can also share the quiz with your friends and compare results with them.
Plan a Cape Cod Road Trip
Travel to Cape Cod via car
Cape Cod is best seen by car. There is little other forms of transportation on the Cape, and little in the form of public transportation. Railways are defunct on the Cape, so your best bet is by car. See some of the recommended spots to stop on Cape Cod and find tips for your trip on this page:
The Cape Cod Canal
The unofficial entryway to Cape Cod
The boundary of Cape Cod is usually up for debate. Some include the towns of Plymouth and Wareham in with Cape Cod, while others firmly state Bourne is the first town. To most people, once you head over the Cape Cod Canal, you are on Cape Cod. This man-made waterway has saved hundreds of thousands of miles of travel time for ocean vessels, connecting Cape Cod Bay to Buzzards Bay. The canal also has much to do in terms of activities, like bike riding, roller blading, and some of the best fishing in Massachusetts.
Things to do on Cape Cod
Activities, attractions, and fun recommended things to do on Cape Cod
Looking for a good time on Cape Cod, but have run out of ideas? Here's 50 ideas for things to do, from Bourne to Provincetown. There's no way you've done every single one on the list!
Have You Been to Cape Cod?
Tell us about your favorite place, town, restaurant, or other spot on the Cape!
Thanks for stopping by! Do you have a spot on Cape Cod that you think others should check out? A favorite beach that you think is above the rest, great for kids, or great because they're aren't kids? Tell us about your Cape Cod experience, make some recommendations, and tell everyone what they should keep in mind when travelling to the Cape.
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whitemoss
Sep 27, 2010 @ 8:10 am | delete
- I love this lens of yours- all your Cape Cod lenses are great, but I've chosen this one to sprinkle a littel Angel dust over. Blessed and added to my Angel lens.
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oztoo
Jun 3, 2010 @ 4:24 pm | delete
- Nicely put together. I'll have to visit your Cape Cod lenses.
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TheWhistler
Jun 3, 2010 @ 3:25 pm | delete
- No I haven't, but would love too visit. Thanks for the lens.
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I'm Kiwisoutback. I write about traveling, marketing, video games, and the music I like. I started writing on Squidoo in 2007, and was slowly sucked into... more »
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