All parks › Cape Cod National Seashore
Cape Cod National Seashore: fees, hours, camping and when to visit
- Private vehicle entrance
- $25[1]
- Busiest month (2025)
- August[2]
- Recreation visits, 2025
- 3,682,771[3]
- Campgrounds
- 3[4]
Cape Cod National Seashore is a National Park System unit in Massachusetts[5]. NPS lists a $25 entrance fee for a private vehicle[1], and its beaches, parking areas and trails are open from 6 am to midnight[6].
Entrance fees and passes
Fees as listed by the National Park Service. Fees change, so confirm on the park's official fees page before you go.
| Fee or pass | Price |
|---|---|
| Private Vehicle[1] | $25 |
| Motorcycle[7] | $20 |
| Per Person[8] | $15 |
| Annual Entrance - Park[9] | $60 |
The America the Beautiful pass is accepted here[10].
Entrance fee payment is cashless (card or mobile payment)[11].
America the Beautiful passes cover entrance fees at national parks and other federal recreation sites.
| Pass | Who can get it | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Resident Annual Pass[12] | US citizens and residents | $80 |
| Non-Resident Annual Pass[12] | Non-US residents | $250 |
| Senior Annual Pass[12] | US citizens and residents 62+ years old | $20 |
| Senior Lifetime Pass[12] | US citizens and residents 62+ years old | $80 |
| Military Annual Pass[12] | Current US military and dependents | Free |
| Military Lifetime Pass[12] | Gold Star Family members and veterans | Free |
| Access Pass[12] | US citizens and residents with permanent disability | Free |
| 4th Grade Pass[12] | US 4th graders | Free |
| Volunteer Pass[12] | Federal recreation site volunteers with 250 service hours | Free |
When to visit and hours
NPS lists the beaches, parking areas and trails as open all year between 6 am and midnight[6]. In 2025 the busiest month was August with 672,062 recreation visits[2]. The quietest month was January with 115,743 visits[2]. NPS describes the weather as moderated by the ocean, with cold and sometimes snowy winters, rainy springs, warm and humid summers and dry, clear falls[13]. Hours can change, so check the official park page before you go[6].
Show visits by month
| Month, 2025 | Recreation visits |
|---|---|
| January | 115,743 |
| February | 116,150 |
| March | 151,050 |
| April | 228,787 |
| May | 322,040 |
| June | 463,276 |
| July | 548,533 |
| August | 672,062 |
| September | 452,870 |
| October | 312,539 |
| November | 175,743 |
| December | 123,978 |
Camping
NPS and Recreation.gov list 3 campgrounds here, all named Highland Beach Suites, with 1 site each[4]. Check Recreation.gov for current booking details.
- Highland Beach Suites, Unit 1, 1 sites[4]
- Highland Beach Suites, Unit 2, 1 sites
- Highland Beach Suites, unit 3, 1 sites
Pets and dogs
Under national NPS rules, pets must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet, and they are not allowed in public buildings or on designated swimming beaches[14]. Service animals are excepted, and each park can close more areas to pets[14]. NPS marks pets as permitted on 7 of its 19 listed things to do here[15].
Before you go
- Entrance fees are cashless, so bring a card or mobile payment[11].
- The park accepts the America the Beautiful pass for entrance[10].
- NPS lists the Resident Annual Pass at $80[12] and the Annual Entrance - Park pass at $60[9].
- Passes are sold at beach entrances when fees are normally collected, and a photo ID may be needed[9].
- Fees and hours change, so confirm them on the official NPS page before a trip[6].
Questions people ask
- How much is the entrance fee at Cape Cod National Seashore?
- NPS lists $25 for a private vehicle[1], $20 for a motorcycle[7] and $15 per person on foot or by bicycle[8].
- What is the best time to visit Cape Cod National Seashore?
- In 2025 the busiest month was August[2] and the quietest was January[2]. NPS describes summer as warm and humid and fall as generally dry and clear[13].
- Are dogs allowed at Cape Cod National Seashore?
- NPS rules say pets must be leashed at six feet or shorter or kept crated, and they are not allowed on designated swimming beaches[14]. The park can close more areas to pets[14].
- Can I pay the entrance fee with cash?
- NPS lists the fees as cashless, so use a card or mobile payment[11].
Facts and sources
- Entrance fee, Private Vehicle: $25. National Park Service
- NPS recreation visits by month, 2025 (chart on this page). NPS Visitor Use Statistics
- NPS recreation visits per year: 2021: 4,017,239, 2022: 3,968,672, 2023: 3,808,404, 2024: 3,823,242, 2025: 3,682,771. NPS Visitor Use Statistics
- Campgrounds in Cape Cod National Seashore (list on this page). National Park Service
- Cape Cod National Seashore is a unit of the U.S. National Park System (designation: National Seashore) in Massachusetts. National Park Service
- Operating hours, Cape Cod National Seashore: Beaches, parking areas, and trails are open year-round between 6 am and midnight. National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Motorcycle: $20. National Park Service
- Entrance fee, Per Person: $15. National Park Service
- Annual Entrance - Park: $60. National Park Service
- Cape Cod National Seashore accepts the America the Beautiful (interagency) pass for entrance. National Park Service
- Entrance fees at Cape Cod National Seashore are cashless (cards or mobile payment, no cash) according to NPS. National Park Service
- America the Beautiful pass prices (table on this page). NPS Passes
- NPS weather and seasons overview for Cape Cod National Seashore. National Park Service
- National Park Service rule 36 CFR 2.15: where pets are allowed they must be crated, caged or on a leash no longer than six feet at all times, and pets are not allowed in public buildings, on public transportation or on designated swimming beaches (service... eCFR, 36 CFR 2.15
- NPS lists 19 things to do at Cape Cod National Seashore: Hike the Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail, Head of the Meadow Bike Trail, Take a Break on Cape Cod's Beaches, Hike the Pilgrim Spring Trail, Hike the Doane Trail, Bike the Nauset Bike Trail, Bike the... National Park Service