Which One is Best for You?

If you’re looking for a beach vacation you’ll never forget, the towns of Cape Cod are some of the most perfect coastal villages you’ll find in the United States. And Cape regulars know this. Once you’ve visited, this place tends to call you back over and over.

But which Cape Cod towns are good places to say? That’s the hard part, because it’s different for every traveler!

First off, the Cape is much bigger than most people think. It takes 90 minutes to drive from Falmouth to Provincetown — and that’s before you factor in summer traffic.

For this reason, most travelers tend to stick to their section of the Cape, taking an occasional day trip if they want to visit somewhere further afield, so it’s all the more important to find a town you vibe with.

Let’s take a look at the map to get your bearings:

The area closest to the mainland is the Upper Cape (Bourne, Sandwich, Falmouth, Mashpee) followed by the Mid-Cape (Hyannis, Barnstable, Yarmouth, Dennis), the Lower Cape (Brewster, Harwich, Chatham) and the Outer Cape (Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro, Provincetown).

But beyond the geography, the Cape is a diverse place. You’ve got busy towns, quiet towns, beach towns, and sometimes two very different towns are next door to each other. The Cape’s most rollicking party city, Provincetown, is next to one of the quietest towns, Truro.

Start by asking yourself, “What kind of trip do I want to have?” Do you want your Cape Cod trip to be quiet and full of solitude? Do you want a big beach and lots of activities for your kids? Do you get antsy after an hour at the beach and want lots of interesting things to do? Are good restaurants and nightlife a priority for you?

And then take a look at the section that sounds like a good fit.

I’ve divided the list of Cape Cod towns into four sections:

1. Fun Cape Cod Towns with Lots to Do (Chatham, Provincetown, Hyannis, Chatham)
2. Charming, Pretty Cape Cod Towns (Sandwich, Wellfleet, Brewster, Harwich, Yarmouth, Barnstable)
3. Cape Cod Towns that are All About the Beach (Dennis, Mashpee, Bourne)
4. Quiet Cape Cod Towns for Getting Away From It All (Truro, Eastham, Orleans)

Best Towns in Cape Cod FAQ