Orleans, MA, United States

Nauset Beach

Nauset Beach faces the open Atlantic on Cape Cod's outer shore and at times has some of the biggest waves on the Cape, so swimmers share it with surfers and bodyboarders. Summer water usually runs 60 to 70 degrees, and white sharks hunt seals close to shore here, so swim near the lifeguards and with others. Walk-ins and cyclists enter free, while cars pay $35 a day in season.

Directions

Photo: DC_Rebecca · CC BY 2.0

Get your personalized SwimScore

Latest reading · SwimScore 67/100 (Good swim) for a typical swimmer: air 15°C, wind 38 km/h, waves 1.5 m, UV 1. Updated 23 Sept, 22:00 UTC.

Know before you go

Best conditions: Outer Cape ocean water averages 60-70°F in summer (NPS). Surfing is limited to non-protected areas, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Getting in: Town of Orleans beach at the end of Beach Road in East Orleans; closed to the public midnight-7 a.m. Pedestrian drop-off and bicycles are free at the entry gates.
Parking & transport: Sticker or daily pass required on weekends May 23-June 19 and daily June 20-Sept. 7, 2026: $35 a day, $165 a week or $420 for a non-resident season sticker. Passes do not guarantee entry when the lot is full.
Lifeguards: Lifeguards staff designated swimming areas in summer; rafts, tubes and other inflatables are banned in the water off Nauset Beach.
Water quality: Barnstable County's beach program samples Cape Cod beaches weekly in season for enterococci in ocean water; a beach is posted closed if a re-test also exceeds the state limit of 104 cfu/100 mL.
Season: Parking fees and summer staffing weekends from late May, daily late June-Labor Day.
Watch for: White sharks hunt seals in shallow water on the Outer Cape; watch for purple shark flags and stay close to shore
Rip currents, shore break and strong undertow
Large surf at times
Facilities: Restrooms · Showers · Snack bar · Picnic area · Bike rack