Looking for a classic Cape Cod getaway filled with pristine beaches, bike trails, and maritime history? Head to Eastham! Located on the Outer Cape, Eastham offers peaceful beaches, charming lighthouses, scenic bike rides, and close access to Cape Cod’s iconic natural beauty. Whether you're into hiking, kayaking, or simply soaking up seaside charm, Eastham is the perfect base for a relaxed coastal adventure.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Eastham is from late spring through early fall (May through October). Summer is perfect for beachgoing and festivals, while fall brings fewer crowds, cooler temperatures, and beautiful foliage along Cape trails and marshes.
How to Get There
- If you are traveling by car: Eastham is located along U.S. Route 6, about 1.5 hours from the Sagamore Bridge and 2 hours from Boston.
- By Air: The nearest major airports are Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and smaller Barnstable Municipal Airport (HYA) in Hyannis, offering car rentals for easy access.
- By Ferry: High-speed ferries run seasonally from Boston to Provincetown, about a 30-minute drive from Eastham.
Where to Stay
- Ocean Park Inn – Relaxed, family-friendly hotel with easy access to Nauset Light Beach and Cape Cod National Seashore.
- Viking Shores Motor Inn – Affordable, cozy stay perfect for bikers and beachgoers along the Cape Cod Rail Trail.
- Four Points by Sheraton Eastham Cape Cod – Modern hotel with indoor and outdoor pools, centrally located for exploring the Outer Cape.
Best Things to Do
1. Bask in Natural Beauty at Coast Guard Beach
Rating: ★★★★★
Coast Guard Beach is a surfing and boogie boarding destination that is one of five beaches sitting on the ocean side of the Cape included in the Cape Cod National Seashore. Its low tide creates a flat surface that is perfect for skimboarding. The outer beach that is locally referred to as the "backside" of Cape Cod is a watery cemetery for about 3,000 ships. There is no parking between mid-June to Labor Day except for park staff and disabled persons, with a shuttle bus giving access from Little Creek. Restrooms are open on a seasonal basis, and there is wheelchair access to the beach.
Ocean View Drive, Eastham, Massachusetts
2. Snap a Classic at Nauset Light
Nauset Lighthouse is officially known as Nauset Beach Light. It's a lighthouse that was constructed from one of the 1877 lighthouse towers relocated from Chatham in 1923. Completely automated, the Nauset Light is listed as a National Historic Place that stands 48 feet high. The logo for Cape Cod Potato Chips, today it's used as a private aid for navigation funded by the Nauset Light Preservation Society. With its iconic red tower, Nauset Light plus the nearby old oil house, are open for tours by the public at nominated times.
Nauset Beach, Eastham, Massachusetts
3. Soak Up the Sun at Nauset Light Beach
Nauset Light Beach is located one mile to the north of Coast Guard Beach in Eastham. A broad sandy beach with a dramatic glacial scarp background, it offers visitors amenities such as restrooms when in season. Bicyclists and walkers frequent the area no matter what season, as it's on the pine forest trail to the current location of the Three Sisters lighthouses. The endangered bird species, piping plovers, nest on the beach between spring and early summer. When the tide is low during the winter, the rustic old brick foundations of the original Three Sisters lighthouses can be seen poking out of the sand.
One mile north of Coast Guard Beach on Ocean View Drive, Eastham
Activities and Attractions for Couples:
4. Step Back in Time with the Three Sisters Lighthouses
Located in Ocean View Drive, Eastham, the lighthouses known as The Three Sisters were restored to their former glory in 1989. Named the Three Sisters due to their ladylike appearances of wearing white dresses and black bonnets, they were created as a threesome because Cape Cod had one lighthouse and Chatham had two. The Three Sisters were to provide light halfway along the eastern coastline of Cape Cod with their distinguishing 3 lights. The original lighthouses were initially built in 1837, but they fell into the sea in 1890 due to erosion. Today the Three Sisters sit 1,800 feet west of Nauset Light. Guided tours are available of the lighthouses that are a National Historical treasure.
Three Sisters Lighthouses, One mile north of Coast Guard Beach on Ocean View Drive, Eastham
5. Catch the Breeze at Eastham Windmill
Built in 1680 in Plymouth, Eastham Windmill was initially placed near Salt Pond in Eastham, after being transported by a log raft over the waters of Massachusetts Bay and an ox-cart to its final destination. Eastham Windmill was later sold and relocated to the Village Green opposite Eastham Town Hall. This was the original site of the Setucket Mill constructed in 1705 on land that was once owned by Giles Hopkins of the Mayflower fame. Extensively renovated in 1968, today it's open to the public during the summer months giving an extraordinary glimpse into the internal workings of an operating windmill.
2510 U. S. Route 6, Eastham, MA 02642, Phone: 508-255-3421
6. Tour the Timeless Captain Penniman House
Named Captain Penniman House after its seafaring owner, the house was built in Fort Hill Road, Eastham, at the end of the Victorian Age in a French Second Empire style. A wood-framed dwelling of two and a half stories with a mansard roof, the residence was constructed in 1868 from the best materials available. It is a masterpiece that was handcrafted by local artisans and features numerous innovative ideas for that period, such as running water, heating systems, stained glass windows, and beautiful woodwork. Home to the whaling captain and his family for over 100 years, he was able to watch the ships passing by on the Atlantic Ocean and in Cape Cod Bay.
70 Fort Hill Road, Eastham, MA 02642, Phone: 508-771-2144
7. Explore the Town’s Roots at Eastham Historical Society
A non-profit historical society for the community of Eastham, it was established in 1963. The organization maintains museums such as the School House Museum, collects genealogical and historical information, also cataloging and preserving artifacts in a climate-controlled environment. The Eastham Historical Society sponsors numerous programs on an annual basis from public displays to historical presentations and information days. It's instrumental in providing resources and services to support the region's culture and history. Conducting various year-round events from a White Elephant Sale to an August Antique Market and a Summer Lecture Series, the Eastham Historical Society is a pivotal gathering point for preserving Eastham's past into Eastham's future.
P.O. Box 8 – Eastham MA 02642, Phone: 508-240-1247
What to do if you are traveling with kids:
8. Learn the Old Ways at the 1869 Schoolhouse Museum
1869 Schoolhouse Museum is a living museum where the first students of Eastham attended school. This 1869 structure was abandoned in 1936 when a new school was built. In 1963 the Eastham Historical Society restored the old school into a museum. A new museum was added to the site in 2008 displaying the town's history from Native American artifacts to shipwreck displays. Children are encouraged to sit at the old desks and play school when visiting the site. Donations are gratefully accepted, even though admission is free, to poke your nose into the Schoolhouse Museum that celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2019.
25 Schoolhouse Road, across from the Cape Cod National Seashore Visitors Center, Phone: 508-255-0788
9. Start Your Journey at the Salt Pond Visitor Center
Visitor Centers are a must-visit for a reason! They’ve got all of the information and insider tips that will make your visit to a new place the best it could possibly be. When it comes to Cape Cod National Seashore, the Salt Pond Visitor Center ought to be your first stop. Open year-round, this facility doesn’t just house a National Parks store, it’s also the location of a theater and a museum. The theater is known for Standing Bold, their award-winning orientation movie, which plays in regular intervals throughout the day. The visitor center is also a great jump-off point to the great trails in the region such as the 1.5-mile Nauset Marsh Trail, the Buttonbush Trail, and the Nauset Bicycle Trail. There is also a quarter-mile multi-sensory trail nearby that invites guests to follow a guide rope while spotting text panels and interactive activities.
50 Nauset Road, Eastham, Massachusetts 02642, Phone: 508-255-3421
10. Fuel Up Cape Cod-Style at The Fairway Restaurant
A family-run restaurant located in North Eastham, The Fairway Restaurant is the local's hangout for amazing homemade food delivered with warm service and friendly vibes. In business for twenty years, it's a part of the Eastham community dishing up seasonal produce sourced locally and gluten-free meals, for those who may need it. Menus change with the seasons and special occasions such as Mother's Day and Easter Sunday are celebrated in style. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the decor is inviting, and the food is a reflection of their passion.
4295 State Highway, North Eastham, MA 02642, Phone: 508-255-3893
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