Skaket Beach faces west across Cape Cod Bay from the corner of Skaket Beach Road and West Road, which gives it warmer, calmer water than the ocean side and some of the best sunsets in town. At low tide the bay pulls back more than a mile, leaving flats to walk and poke around in; at high tide the water comes right up for swimming and floating.
What to expect
Parking
Resident sticker $32.50/day hangtag; $165/week; $420/season (non-resident, 2026); $25 resident/taxpayer season sticker
Swimming
Allowed water tested by the state
Hours
Enforcement roughly 7:30am-4:30pm (weekends May 24-Jun 13, then daily mid-June through Labor Day); parking free after 4:30pm; beach itself closed to the public 10pm-7am
Accessible
Wheelchair access noted
Lifeguard
Seasonal lifeguards on duty during the enforcement period
Dogs
Prohibited within 300 feet of the beach at all times; banned entirely Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day; permitted leashed (max 30 ft) off-season outside the 300-ft zone; ADA service animals exempt from the ban but must remain…
Kayak/Paddleboard
Allowed year-round, best at high tide
Tide-Pooling/Flat-Walking
Allowed low tide
Managed by
Town of Orleans DPW & Natural Resources / Sticker Office
508-240-3790 · WebsiteGetting in
Parking
Resident sticker
Cost$32.50/day hangtag; $165/week; $420/season (non-resident, 2026); $25 resident/taxpayer season stickerStickerOrleans resident sticker (shared system with Nauset Beach)
Skaket Beach Road lot
Access points along this beach
Main lot beach entrance
flat, ramp-accessible path from the parking lot directly onto the sand, no boardwalk
Wildflower Lane access (70 Willie Atwood Rd)
Separate leashed-dog access area adjacent to Skaket; dogs on a leash no longer than 30 ft allowed outside 9am-5pm, June 15-Labor Day, and off-leash once 300 ft seaward of the high-tide line
What's here
Facilities
Restrooms
Restroom building at the main beach lot
Common questions
Is Skacket in Orleans open today?
Open, no advisory on record in the latest MA DPH posting (updated 2026-07-16). MA DPH is the authority. Check the status the morning you go.
When's the best time to go, tide or crowds?
Low tide exposes more than a mile of sand flats for walking and tide-pooling, while high tide is better for swimming and floating. On summer weekends, arrive before 9am for parking and 30-60 minutes before sunset for the bay-facing view.
Only outside the main season and never within 300 feet of the beach itself; the adjacent Wildflower Lane access area at 70 Willie Atwood Road allows leashed dogs outside 9am-5pm from June 15 through Labor Day.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
The lot-to-sand approach is flat with no boardwalk needed, and a beach wheelchair is available in season on a first-come, first-served basis, shared with Nauset Beach; call the Sticker Office at 508-240-3790 to check availability.
Where do I park if the lot is full?
There's no official overflow lot; it regularly fills on summer weekends, so arrive early or plan around the free-after-4:30pm window.
Are there restrooms at Skacket?
Public restrooms are listed near the beach. Seasonal hours are common, so they may be closed off-season.
What rules should I know at Skacket?
Tide comes in fast across the flats (roughly 10-12 ft tidal range, full cycle about 6h12m); keep landmarks visible when walking out at low tide. No alcohol, no littering, no open fires; no kites/drones/frisbees except in a lifeguard-designated area; no bicycles Memorial Day-Labor Day;…
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