Our favorite beaches for Cape Cod summer sunsets, from Falmouth to Provincetown

Eric Williams, Cape Cod Times
·4 min read

What's the best way to cap off a great summer day on Cape Cod? Taking in the sunset at a splendid Cape beach!

Most beach parking lots are free to enter after about 5 p.m. That gives you the chance to explore beaches you may have wondered about, but never gotten to. Bring supper, a few chairs and marvel at the miraculous colors as Sol sinks into the water — it may be the best bargain on Cape Cod.

Sunset aficionados may know that the precise direction of sunset changes as the year goes by. As seen from Rock Harbor in Orleans, around the time of the summer solstice, the sun is setting toward Boston. But by the winter solstice at Rock Harbor, the sun is setting in the general direction of Falmouth.

A composite of images from the NOAA Solar Calculator showing the direction of the setting sun (from Rock Harbor, Orleans), around the time of the 2023 summer solstice (left), and the direction it will be setting around the time of the 2023 winter solstice (right).
A composite of images from the NOAA Solar Calculator showing the direction of the setting sun (from Rock Harbor, Orleans), around the time of the 2023 summer solstice (left), and the direction it will be setting around the time of the 2023 winter solstice (right).

Since we are firmly ensconced in the summer season, it makes sense to seek sweet sunsets on the Cape Cod Bay or Buzzards Bay side of the peninsula.

Here are some great sunset beaches to visit on Cape Cod this summer:

Herring Cove Beach, Provincetown

Sunset at Herring Cove Beach in Provincetown, with Race Point Light in the background.
Sunset at Herring Cove Beach in Provincetown, with Race Point Light in the background.

Herring Cove Beach in Provincetown delivers excellent sunsets all year long. There is also plenty of parking, and surf conditions tend to be significantly gentler than the other Cape Cod National Seashore beaches. Travel to the end of Route 6 in Provincetown, hang a right on Province Lands Road, and the beach entrance will be on your left.

Corn Hill Beach, Truro

A sunset bonfire at Corn Hill Beach in Truro.
A sunset bonfire at Corn Hill Beach in Truro.

Located on Corn Hill Road on Cape Cod Bay, Corn Hill Beach has a nice-sized parking lot and it's an easy, flat walk to the beach. You can stroll down to the left and visit the entrance to scenic Pamet Harbor, then settle in for the big sun show. In the fun fact department, according to the Truro Historical Society, Corn Hill was a hotspot for glider launching in the early 1900s.

First Encounter Beach, Eastham

Sunset at First Encounter Beach in Eastham
Sunset at First Encounter Beach in Eastham

First Encounter Beach in Eastham is a nice sandy stretch that spans about half a mile along Cape Cod Bay. There is a main parking lot and other parking areas as you head south along the beach road. Low tide pulls the water way out into the bay, but that can be a good thing: more room to roam, and the sunset can light up tide pools in beautiful ways. Located at the end of Samoset Road in Eastham.

Rock Harbor, Orleans

Sunset at Rock Harbor in Orleans.
Sunset at Rock Harbor in Orleans.

Heading to Rock Harbor for sunset is a cherished tradition for many folks who find themselves around Orleans at the end of the day. You've got the added bonus of watching the charter boats puttering into the harbor, and there's a little breakwater and beach area. The locale is convenient to lots of great restaurants, so you can enjoy the show and head out on the town. There's also a good-sized parking lot, found at the end of Bay View Road in Orleans.

Grays Beach, Yarmouth Port

A boardwalk sunset at Grays Beach in Yarmouth Port.
A boardwalk sunset at Grays Beach in Yarmouth Port.

You say you want a giant boardwalk, so you can get closer to a fabulous sunset? Well. Grays Beach in Yarmouth Port might be the place for you. There's a even a playground! But the star of the show (beyond the big star called the sun) is the Bass Hole Boardwalk that takes you out toward Cape Cod Bay and offers views all around. If you've never been, a visit should be on your Cape Cod bucket list. Located at the end of Center Street in Yarmouth Port.

Sandy Neck Beach Park, West Barnstable

A Sandy Neck Beach sunset.
A Sandy Neck Beach sunset.

Sandy Neck Beach Park is a giant and wonderful place, with 4,700 acres of dunes, marshes, beach and more. If you feel like taking a giant beach walk, this is the spot, and it can run up to five miles in one direction! A natural wonder of Cape Cod, and worth visiting, even when the sun is high in the sky. Located at the end of Sandy Neck Road in West Barnstable.

Chapoquoit Beach, West Falmouth

A boat speeds through sunset as seen from Chapoquoit Beach in West Falmouth.
A boat speeds through sunset as seen from Chapoquoit Beach in West Falmouth.

We move now to the Buzzards Bay side of things, and slide into West Falmouth, a beautiful and quiet village in a part of the Cape that some folks may have never visited. It's worth a trip, because Chapoquoit Beach offers a perfect sunset perch. The water is gentle and warm and it's fun to watch boats zipping around the bay. Located on Chapoquoit Road in West Falmouth.

Eric Williams, when not solving Curious Cape Cod mysteries, writes about a variety of ways to enjoy the Cape, the weather, wildlife and other subjects. Contact him at ewilliams@capecodonline.com. Follow him on Twitter: @capecast.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Best Cape Cod sunset beaches in summer. Plus, where to park.