Image may be subject to copyright

Great Local Beaches

Harwich and the surrounding towns are filled with a number of excellent beaches for you to enjoy. Most of them offer unforgettable views of Nantucket Sound and all the amenities you need for a relaxing and safe day at the beach. Below, we've listed a few of our favorite and convenient, nearby Harwich and Chatham-area beaches to consider visiting when you stay with us at Handkerchief Shoals Inn.

From Memorial Day until Labor Day, beach parking stickers are typically required. A day-pass parking sticker can be purchased on-site at Red River Beach (if you walk or bike to a Harwich beach, no fee is charged).

Image may be subject to copyright

Red River Beach

Location: Red River Beach, Harwich, MA
Distance from Us: 0.5 miles (via Deep Hole Road)

Red River Beach is one of the most popular beaches in the Harwich and Chatham area, and for good reason. The sand is soft, the water is warm, and the views of Nantucket Sound are fantastic. This is an excellent beach for swimming, beachcombing, playing in the waves, or paddling a canoe or kayak. Red River Beach is one of Harwich's longest beaches, so even at peak season, it doesn't usually feel crowded.

Lifeguards are on duty here in summer until Labor Day. You can usually pick up a convenient snack since mobile food vendors are permitted at the beach. This location has plenty of parking, with day passes available on site. Restrooms are also on-site, including handicap-accessible facilities. Red River Beach also has a canoe/kayak launch. Gentle waves and a shallow tidal inlet for wading and shell collecting make Red River Beach ideal for families!

Bank Street Beach

Location: 16 Bank St, Harwich Port, MA
Distance from Us: 1.7 miles

Bank Street Beach is a relatively large beach that is very popular in the Harwich area, with its clean, soft sand and proximity to Harwich Port center. Bank Street Beach is a nice place to take a stroll along the coastline, fly a kite, or fish in the typically calm surf.

Lifeguards are on duty in season. Mobile food vendors are also allowed here. Parking at Bank Street Beach can be a challenge. While 60 parking spaces are available, the beach is very popular and can be crowded at peak times. Day stickers are NOT sold here. Facilities are on-site, including handicap-accessible restrooms.

Image may be subject to copyright

Chatham Lighthouse Beach

Location: 30 Main St, Chatham, MA
Distance from Us: 6 miles

Visitors to Chatham Lighthouse Beach, typically frequented by locals, enjoy spectacular views of the Atlantic at the "elbow" of the Cape. Overlooked by the stunning and historical Chatham Lighthouse, which is still a working Coast Guard Station, Lighthouse Beach is a great place for relaxing or taking a walk along the beach and watching the fishing boats as they enter the channel and make for the Chatham Fish Pier just down the road. Keep an eye out for the seals that follow the boats! It is common to see hundreds of seals in this area, hauled out on the sand spit opposite the beach.

Lighthouse Beach has no lifeguards on duty and no public restrooms. The parking at the beach overlook is free, but limited to 30 minutes, so consider dropping off family and parking in town instead. Due to the swift current and the presence of dangerous marine life, we recommend this beach for the jaw-dropping views alone; visitors to the Cape, please pay attention to the warning flags at this and all Cape Cod beaches!

If you liked this article, check out these articles as well!

Image may be subject to copyright

Local Fishing

Image may be subject to copyright

The Best Hiking Trails on Cape Cod

Image may be subject to copyright

Cape Cod Lighthouses