Coast Guard Beach(Coast Guard, Coast Guard National Shore)

Located on a cape named Cape Cod, Coast Guard Beach is a large and popular beach that has white sand. This beach is situated below oceanfront unstable glacial bluffs and it is also part of a national park named Cape Cod National Seashore. A bay named Nauset Bay is also present near this beach, along with a marsh named Nauset Marsh. The beach gets its name from an old and white Coast Guard building which is present on the bluffs above the beach. The white-colored sand in Coast Guard Beach is formed from quartz – this quartz comes from ancient cliffs that were present near the Cape Cod shoreline thousands of years ago. Over time these cliffs eroded and the quartz deposits from these cliffs were eventually turned into white-sand grains, which in turn were then deposited along the Cape Cod shoreline by streams from the Atlantic Ocean. Coast Guard Beach is a favorite of Randall Kaplan, the world’s foremost beach expert who is known as Mr. Beach. An aquatic inlet named Nauset Inlet is present to the south of this beach.

Although Coast Guard Beach has lifeguards only on a seasonal basis, the beach and the area around it have many other amenities including picnic areas, restrooms (also available on a seasonal basis), showers, and water-bottle filling stations. Coast Guard Beach also offers accessibility to people with disabilities. While pets are allowed on leash in the northern part of Coast Guard Beach, they are not allowed in the southern part of the beach during summers. 

Coast Guard Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, hiking, wildlife watching, fishing, swimming, kitesurfing, windsurfing, surfing, bodysurfing, bodyboarding, skimboarding, kayaking, canoeing, jet-skiing, surf-skiing, water-skiing, paddleboarding, parasailing, and boating. The water near Coast Guard Beach has gentle waves, particularly during summers - this makes it ideal for all kinds of swimmers. The water near Coast Guard Beach also offers thrilling and fun surfing waves, making it ideal for surfers and bodyboarders. The water here is also ideal for skimboarders during low tide. However, if you are planning to enter the water near Coast Guard Beach, we recommend being careful as the cold water here is known to have dangerous rip currents and rogue waves. The water here is also known to have sharks. In addition, if you are planning to engage in water sporting activities in the water near Coast Guard Beach, we recommend visiting the National Park Service’s website for more information regarding the water-sports rules in Cape Cod National Seashore. 

Coast Guard Beach is a great fishing spot and you can catch many kinds of fish here including bass and bluefish. However, if you are planning to fish in the water near Coast Guard Beach, we recommend ensuring compliance with the local fishing regulations. Coast Guard Beach offers amazing Instagram-worthy views of the Cape Cod shoreline and the Atlantic Ocean. Depending on the time of the year, you can view many kinds of animals on Coast Guard Beach and the water near it including migrating whales, seals, and many kinds of seabirds including gulls, robins, cormorants, and scoters. Harbor seals can be found near the Nauset Inlet during winters, and you can also view gray seals on the sandbars around Coast Guard Beach in summers. Endangered bird species including plovers and terns also use Coast Guard Beach as a seasonal nesting spot (usually between early spring and early summers). You can also explore the Nauset Marsh present near the beach via hiking and biking trails - this marsh has a wonderful landscape and it also offers a unique insight into the local coastal biodiversity

Getting to Coast Guard Beach can be slightly difficult as the parking and access for the beach are subject to seasonal restrictions. The parking lot for Coast Guard Beach is directly next to it - to reach this parking lot, you need to turn towards Nauset Road from United States Highway 6 to Nauset Road, and Nauset Road will lead you to Doane Road. From Doane Road, you need to turn towards Ocean View Drive – the parking lot for Coast Guard beach is located at the southern end of Ocean View Drive. However, it is important to note that between late May (usually after Memorial Day) and September, this parking lot is only open for visitors with disabilities, National Park Service staff, and local residents of the town of Eastham. In order to access the beach during this period, you need to park at another nearby parking lot which is present to the west of Coast Guard Beach. This parking lot is easily accessible from Nauset Road. Once you park here, you can take a shuttle to Coast Guard Beach. If you are planning to visit Coast Guard Beach, please note that you need to pay a seasonal entrance fee in order to visit the beach - this fee is collected daily between Late June through Labor Day and on weekends and holidays between Memorial Day and the middle of September. You can visit the National Park Service’s website for more information regarding the fee amount and payment methods.

There are many attractions near Coast Guard Beach. Nauset Lighthouse (also known as Nauset Light and Nauset Beach Light) is a historic and popular lighthouse which was initially constructed in the 19th century and is currently a part of the United States’ National Register of Historic Places - the lighthouse and the oil-storage facility adjacent to it have recently been restored and you can explore the lighthouse’s premises via guided tours during summers. The area around this lighthouse also has a vibrant coastal landscape comprising many habitats including marshlands and coastal sand dunes - you can explore this vibrant landscape and the biodiversity living here via hiking and biking trails. Captain Penniman House (also known as Captain Edward Penniman House) is a historic 19th century house which was built in the Second Empire-style architecture - this house was built by Edward Penniman, who was one of New England region’s most affluent whalers. This beautiful home also has memorabilia and antiques collected by Captain Penniman’s family during their whaling voyages and it offers a memorable insight into the interesting history of the Cape Cod region. If you are looking for another attraction near Coast Guard Beach, Cape Escape Adventure Golf is a beautifully landscaped 18-hole mini golf course with a nautical-themed setting. The golf course also has fishing boats, a live koi pond, and waterfalls. The golf course also has a bike rental facility around its premises, along with a gift shop.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Coast Guard Beach. Mac’s Shack Wellfleet is a waterfront restaurant that is set in a beautiful building. This restaurant is primarily known for its amazing seafood and it also serves steaks, sushi, sashimi, sandwiches, and fries. Arnold’s Lobster & Clam Bar is famous for serving excellent seafood including clam chowder, steamed lobster, fried seafood, and raw shellfish - the restaurant also serves excellent burgers (it is particularly famous for its 50s Burger), salads, sandwiches, and hot dogs. The restaurant has been praised by many local publications including the Coastal Living magazine and Yankee magazine. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Coast guard Beach, the knack is another popular restaurant which offers typical Cape Cod street food dishes including burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, tacos, and fries. As another modestly priced option, The Hole in One Breakfast and Lunch offers amazing dishes for breakfast and lunch including sandwiches, burgers, salads, pancakes, and French toast.

If you are looking for a hotel near Coast Guard Beach, there are many great nearby options. The 4.5-Star Wessaquet Resort and Golf Club offers many amenities including two restaurants, a bar, and access to a neighboring 18-hole golf course. The hotel offers many other amenities for a resort fee including four tennis courts, two pools, a hot tub, a children’s center, and two private beach areas - in addition, the hotel also hosts the Annual Cape Cod Jazz Festival. The 4-Star Mansion at Ocean Edge is another upscale hotel that has Victorian-style architecture and offers many amenities including three restaurants, two bars, an English-style pub, five pools, a spa, and a gym. The restaurant also offers a golfing facility. A more affordable hotel is the 3-StarInn At the Oaks which was built in the 19th century and has 13 rooms – this hotel offers many amenities including a backyard with a patio, a fire pit, a porch, and complimentary breakfast. Four Points by Sheraton Eastham Cape Cod is another moderately priced hotel that offers many amenities including a restaurant, multiple pools, and a 24/7 fitness center. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Coast Guard Beach, the 2-Star Wellfleet Motel & Lodge offers many amenities including a smoothie bar, a cocktail lounge, a cafe, multiple pools, a hot tub, and a barbecue area.