Reached by a set of stairs down a bluff rather than a ramp, Thumpertown is the one Eastham bay beach the town flags as not wheelchair accessible.
What to expect
Parking
Paid lot No daily pass sold here; Visitor sticker $75(3-day)/$120(1-wk)/$175(2-wk)/$300(season)
Swimming
Water not monitored off-season
Hours
Open access, no gate
Season
Open access, no gate; sticker-only (no daily pass) starting mid-late June through Labor Day
From late JuneEntry fee
None to enter; parking requires a Town of Eastham beach sticker (no daily pass sold at this location) checked Jul 14, 2026
Accessibility
Not step-free - access is via stairs down the bluff; not on the town's beach-wheelchair list (unlike First Encounter, Cook's Brook, and Wiley Park)
Lifeguard
No lifeguards at any Town of Eastham beach
Dogs
No animals or pets on the beach or in the parking area June 15-Labor Day; leashed or under voice control the rest of the year
Allowed now · ban starts June 15Managed by
Eastham Recreation & Beach Department
(508) 240-5974 · WebsiteGetting in
Parking
Paid lot
CostNo daily pass sold here; Visitor sticker $75(3-day)/$120(1-wk)/$175(2-wk)/$300(season)StickerTown of Eastham Beach Sticker
Thumpertown Rd lot
Thumpertown Rd lot
CostNo daily pass sold here; Visitor sticker $75(3-day)/$120(1-wk)/$175(2-wk)/$300(season)
Access points along this beach
Stairs down the bluff
not step-free, the only access route
What's here
Facilities
Restrooms
Portable toilet at the lot (handicap-accessible unit, seasonal)
Tides & weather
Tide and sun: NOAA astronomy · forecast: NWS, up to 7 days
Show the full year
Average water temperature at Thumpertown Beach by month, in °F| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
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| Water °F | 40° | 39° | 42° | 49° | 55° | 63° | 69° | 68° | 66° | 60° | 50° | 44° |
|---|
Monthly averages from NOAA, Chatham (2022 to 2024). Today's reading is in the conditions above.
Common questions
Is Thumpertown Beach in Eastham open today?
Thumpertown Beach 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.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
No - Thumpertown is the one Eastham bay beach the town specifically flags as stairs-only; there's no beach wheelchair or Mobi-Mat here. Campground Beach, a short drive away, is the nearest wheelchair-accessible bay beach.
Is there parking at Thumpertown Beach, and what does it cost?
Paid lot (No daily pass sold here; Visitor sticker $75(3-day)/$120(1-wk)/$175(2-wk)/$300(season)). Thumpertown Rd lot
Are there restrooms at Thumpertown Beach?
Public restrooms are listed near the beach. Seasonal hours are common, so they may be closed off-season.
What's the water temperature at Thumpertown Beach?
Water at Thumpertown Beach averages about 39°F in February and 69°F in July, based on NOAA readings at Chatham from 2022 to 2024. For today's temperature, see the conditions above.
What rules should I know at Thumpertown Beach?
No lifeguard on duty; stairs down the bluff can be steep. No animals/pets on the beach or in the parking area June 15-Labor Day.
Can you swim at Thumpertown Beach?
There is no MA DPH swim status for Thumpertown Beach 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 Thumpertown Beach?
No animals or pets on the beach or in the parking area June 15-Labor Day; leashed or under voice control the rest of the year
Is there an entry fee at Thumpertown Beach?
None to enter; parking requires a Town of Eastham beach sticker (no daily pass sold at this location)
Do you need a beach sticker to park at Thumpertown Beach?
A beach sticker applies to parking here. No daily pass sold here; Visitor sticker $75(3-day)/$120(1-wk)/$175(2-wk)/$300(season).