A tiny footpath landing at the end of Tonset Road, looking out on the same warm, marshy stretch of Nauset Harbor as Snow Shore up the road. Seals and shorebirds show up as often as boaters, and the channels get tricky to read at low tide.
What to expect
Swimming
Water not monitored off-season
Hours
General town park/beach hours; resident-sticker enforcement 9am-5pm, mid-June to mid-September
From mid-JuneSeason
General town rule: closed to the public 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise
Kayak/Canoe
Allowed tricky at low tide
Managed by
Town of Orleans Department of Public Works & Natural Resources
508-240-3790 · WebsiteGetting in
Parking
Resident sticker
StickerOrleans resident sticker required 9:00am-5:00pm, mid-June to mid-September; 72 Tonset Road separately restricted year-round (sticker required, no parking 11pm-sunrise)
Tonset Road landing
Details unconfirmed
Tonset Road landing
Spaces6-8
Access points along this beach
Tonset Road footpath landing
Tides & weather
Tide and sun: NOAA astronomy · forecast: NWS, up to 7 days
Show the full year
Average water temperature at Tonset Beach by month, in °F| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|
| 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 Tonset Beach in Orleans open today?
Tonset 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.
Yes - it's a small carry-in launch onto Town Cove with access out to the Nauset Harbor estuary's marsh channels (birds and seals are common), though it gets tricky to navigate at low tide.
Is there parking at Tonset Beach, and what does it cost?
Resident sticker. Tonset Road landing
What's the water temperature at Tonset Beach?
Water at Tonset 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 Tonset Beach?
No alcohol, no littering, no open fires (town-wide beach/park rule).
Can you swim at Tonset Beach?
There is no MA DPH swim status for Tonset 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.
Is there an entry fee at Tonset Beach?
No, entry is free.
Do you need a beach sticker to park at Tonset Beach?
Yes, parking here uses a resident sticker.