A six-mile barrier beach and dune system on Cape Cod Bay, with a staffed public swimming beach near the gatehouse and a much longer off-road-vehicle beach beyond it that stretches out toward Sandy Neck Point.
What to expect
Parking
Paid lot $20/day weekday or weekend; $80/week; $275/season
Swimming
Water not monitored off-season
Hours
Beach pass/parking required 9am-3:45pm year-round; ORV 8am-4pm Nov-Apr off season
Season
Open year-round; ORV hours shift seasonally (8am-4pm Nov 1-Apr 30 off season)
Dogs
Leashed at all times, max 15ft leash, everywhere on Sandy Neck; allowed on ORV beach and all hiking trails unless marked closed for shorebird protection; restricted at some marked public swim access paths in season
Fishing
Allowed year-round
Managed by
Town of Barnstable Natural Resources / Sandy Neck Beach Park
508-362-8300 · WebsiteGetting in
Parking
Gatehouse public lot (Bodfish Beach)
Cost$20/day weekday or weekend; $80/week; $275/seasonSpaces~200-car lot
Main public swim beach lot; small overflow lot before the gate varies by season
Access points along this beach
Gatehouse
main vehicle entrance, ORV permits sold here
Bodfish Beach
main staffed public swim beach
Great Marsh Trail trailhead
near gatehouse; gatehouse parking reserved for hikers and employees
What's here
Facilities
Restrooms
Near gatehouse/Bodfish Beach
Info kiosk
gatehouse serves as info point
Worth knowing
- The gatehouse small lot before the gate is reserved for people hiking the Great Marsh Trail and for employees, separate from the main public beach lot.
Tides & weather
Tide and sun: NOAA astronomy · forecast: NWS, up to 7 days
Common questions
Is Sandy Neck in Barnstable open today?
Sandy Neck is not monitored right now. MA DPH samples beach water Memorial Day to Labor Day and posts no advisories or all-clears off-season, so there is no swim status to report. Swimming off-season is at your own risk.
Can I drive onto the beach?
Only with an ORV permit: $100 for Barnstable residents, $250 for non-residents, yearly and expiring January 15. An off-season permit is $60 resident and $120 non-resident from the day after Labor Day, and $25 and $50 from the day after Columbus Day. The ORV permit does not cover the parking lot.
What does it cost to park at Sandy Neck?
Public beach parking is $30 a day, 8am to 5pm. A Barnstable or Sandwich beach parking permit also works from Memorial Day through Labor Day; without either, buy a daily pass at the Gatehouse. The ORV beach itself is open 8am to 10pm.
Are there restrooms at Sandy Neck?
Public restrooms are listed near the beach. Seasonal hours are common, so they may be closed off-season.
What rules should I know at Sandy Neck?
Self-contained camping vehicles may stay overnight on the front beach up to 96 hours; everyone overnight must sleep in the camper. Horseback riding only on Cape Cod Bay Trail (front beach to Trail No. 5) and Braley's Dune Trail, with a daily permit registered at the gatehouse.
Can you swim at Sandy Neck?
There is no MA DPH swim status for Sandy Neck off-season: the state samples beach water Memorial Day to Labor Day. Swimming off-season is at your own risk; check conditions posted at the beach.
Are dogs allowed at Sandy Neck?
Leashed at all times, max 15ft leash, everywhere on Sandy Neck; allowed on ORV beach and all hiking trails unless marked closed for shorebird protection; restricted at some marked public swim access paths in season