Dog-friendly ocean beaches on Cape Cod

Dogs are welcome in the off-season on most Cape Cod beaches, with restrictions detailed by town below.

Brewster Beaches
Dogs are prohibited from all beaches in the Town of Brewster between June 1st and October 1st. They are allowed the rest of the year.

Chatham Town Beaches
Dogs are allowed on Hardings, Lighthouse, and Ridgevale beaches only from mid-September the end of May and must be leashed.

Dennis Town Beaches
Dogs are allowed on Chapin, Mayflower, Howes Street and Sea Street beaches only during the off-season, from after Labor Day up to Memorial Day, with the exception of Chapin Beach, where dogs are allowed year-round on the four wheel drive area of Chapin Beach.

Barnstable Town Beaches
Dogs are permitted on Craigville, Kalmus, and Sandy Neck only during the off-season, from September 15 to May 15. Dogs must be on leash or under voice control.

Falmouth Town Beaches
Dogs are not allowed on Menauhant, Surf Drive, and Old Silver beaches during the summer from May 1 through October 1. During the off-season, leashed dogs are allowed all day.

Harwich Town Beach
Leashed dogs are allowed on Red River Beach during the off-season, from October to mid-May.

Orleans Town Beaches
Dogs are allowed on Nauset and Skaket beaches only during the off-season, from after Columbus Day to the Friday before Memorial Day. Dogs are allowed off leash, but must be under voice control.

Provincetown Town Beaches
Dogs on leash are allowed year-round. During the summer, from 6am to 9am, dogs are allowed off-leash.

Sandwich Town Beaches

Leashed dogs are allowed on East Sandwich and Town Neck beaches only during the off-season, from October through March. Dogs must be leashed and people need to clean up after their pets.

Sandy Neck Beach
There is an off-road beach, a public beach and  trails here. Dogs are allowed on the trails and on the Off-Road beach area anytime (but stay on water side) throughout the year, but they are not allowed on the public beach from May 15 to September 15. Dogs are not allowed in the primitive camp area.

Truro Town Beaches
During the summer, dogs are allowed on Ballston, Corn Hill, Fisher, Great Hollow, Head of the Meadow, Longnook and Ryder beaches only before 9am and after 6pm. This policy is in effect from  the third weekend in June through Labor Day. Off-season, dogs are allowed all day.

Cape Cod National Seashore
The park offers a 40 mile stretch of pristine sandy beaches. Dogs on leash are allowed year-round on all of the seashore beaches, except for seasonally posted nesting or lifeguarded beaches. Leashed pets are also allowed on fire roads, and the Head of the Meadow bicycle trail in Truro.

Wellfleet Town Beaches
Dogs are allowed on Marconi, Cahoon Hollow, and White Crest beaches during the summer, only before 9am and after 6pm. During the off-season, from after Labor Day to the end of June, dogs are allowed all day.Photos by Cold Nose Photo