What to Do in Yarmouth, Massachusetts — Cape Cod’s Underrated Beach Town

While Cape Cod may look small on a map (after all, it’s just a little peninsula that juts out from Massachusetts!) it’s actually a pretty large area. Measuring approximately 350 square miles, Cape Cod encompasses 15 towns across one county and four regions: Buzzards Bay, Nantucket Sound, Cape Cod Bay, and the Outer Cape. So, when you say you’re going to Cape Cod on vacation, you’re going to have to pick a singular homebase and general area to explore.

Along those lines, when most think of a Cape Cod beach vacation, a few destinations spring to mind first. There’s, possibly most famously, Provincetown, which sits at the peninsula’s very tip; Chatham, at the bottom of the Outer Cape and filled with charm; and Hyannis, sometimes referred to as the Cape’s “capital.”  

However, I’m going to encourage you to get off the beaten path a bit and, instead, stick to a less-crowded area: Yarmouth. When you do, here’s what you’re going to need to know and what you can plan to do for the best time possible.

If you’re looking at Cape Cod on a map, and thinking of it a little like an arm bent at an angle (you know, fist curled up, like you’re making a muscle), then Yarmouth sits right about at the center of the bicep. Yarmouth is actually made up of three smaller villages: West Yarmouth, Yarmouth Port, and South Yarmouth. Because of this, it stretches out across the length of the peninsula, from Cape Cod Bay in the north to Nantucket Sound in the south—resulting in more shoreline, which means more beach options.

There are many reasons why you might choose to visit and stay in Yarmouth versus one of the other popular stops on Cape Cod.

For one, ease of access. Driving through Boston on any day is a pain, but driving to the Cape in the height of summer? Forget about it. And the further you drive, the worse the experience. Cape Cod has one primary highway stretching along its entire length, and, for most of the way, that highway is two lanes. When everyone’s going to the same place, you’re stuck at a crawl, meaning if you want to drive all the way to Provincetown at the end of the peninsula, you’d better buckle up and settle in. In contrast, you can get off the highway to Yarmouth pretty quickly and easily.

Then, there’s the lack of crowds and lesser travel rates, which go hand in hand. With everyone going to the more popularized towns and villages, you can enjoy fewer tourist crowds and lower pricing on accommodations, while still being within easy access of restaurants, shopping, historical attractions, and beaches. Meanwhile, if you do want to see some of those popular spots or the Cape Cod National Seashore, you’re just a short drive away.

First and foremost, yes, you’re going to need to drive somewhat when staying in Yarmouth. There’s no central spot where everything you’re going to want to do is within walking distance. To experience a variety of restaurants, activities and beaches, you’ll need to keep your car keys handy and designate a sober driver for the day. However, that said, the driving isn’t extensive. Getting around all of Yarmouth and into the neighboring towns might take you 10 minutes, 20 minutes max.

For a combination of peak savings, the fewest crowds and the best weather, plan your visit for right after Labor Day. Cape Cod very much empties out after the holiday, but for little good reason. There’s still plenty to do and the weather is still warm enough for beachgoing. 

For beaches that are only minutes apart, the beaches in and around Yarmouth can vary quite a lot.

For example, Seagull Beach sits on the Nantucket Sound side of Cape Cod. During a recent visit, I found it to be very quiet, with plenty of room on the long stretch of sand for beachgoers to spread out. Waves were minimal, so it was great for swimming and kids. Parts of the beach are covered in seashells (and horseshoe crabs). The on-site bathrooms were very clean. The only downside is there’s a reason this beach has its name, and I found that out pretty quickly when I pulled out a snack. The aggressive seagulls on this beach don’t play.

In contrast, if you go almost directly north, to Mayflower Beach (which is technically in Dennis, but was actually closer to my Yarmouth Airbnb than Seagull Beach), you’ll get a completely different vibe. There are more people, but also a much, much wider beach when the tide is out. There are fewer seashells and seagulls.

Point being, before deciding which area beach will be “your beach” for the duration of your vacation, visit a few, particularly at least one on the Nantucket Sound side and one on the Cape Cod Bay side, to see which is more your speed.

Beyond just the beach, what else is there to do in Yarmouth, Massachusetts?

Whether you’re interested in history or you just appreciate a good pirate-related attraction, visit the Whydah Pirate Museum to learn more about the ship for which the museum was named, which wrecked off the Cape Cod coast in 1717, only to be discovered in the 1980s. The ship participated in the Atlantic slave trade before it was captured by pirates. In addition to offering exhibits on the history of piracy and the Atlantic slave trade, the museum (and its affiliates) houses the world’s largest collection of pirate artifacts from a single shipwreck.

Even if you’re not down for a beach day, consider stopping by Gray’s Beach (sometimes also called Bass Hole) to walk the boardwalk. The quarter-mile boardwalk stretches over the tidal marsh and allows for great views (even in the fall!), as well as birding and other wildlife watching. You’ll quickly see why travelers call this little spot a “hidden gem” and “surprise find.”

Yarmouth is chock full of history. Founded in 1639, it’s one of the oldest towns on Cape Cod, so this is no surprise.

As for how you go about exploring the area’s storied past, you have a few options. For a self-guided driving tour, take to the Old King’s Highway and The Captain’s Mile. The historic road will take you past more than 50 properties previously owned by sea captains, with some dating right back to the town’s founding.

If you’re interested in history that’s a little more on the modern side, you can visit the Edward Gorey House, which was once home to the American illustrator and author who passed away in 2000 and is now a museum dedicated to his work. If you’re not familiar with Gorey, but you have a taste for the macabre or gothic, you’ll likely still love a visit to the house. Gorey was known for some of his particularly grim works, such as “The Gashlycrumb Tinies,” (which you might be familiar with, even if you don’t know the title). It’s an alphabet book that, for each letter, lists a child’s name and how they died. So, “A is for Amy who fell down the stairs,” “B is for Basil assaulted by Bears,” and so on and so forth.  

Another slightly macabre historical site worth visiting is Yarmouth Port’s Ancient Cemetery, with gravestones dating to the 1600s.

And, lastly, if you like your history with a side of food, you can make reservations at the Old Yarmouth Inn, the oldest restaurant still in operation in all of Cape Cod.

Of course, you can’t visit Cape Cod without seeing one thing, no matter where you’re staying. So, pack a bag of snacks for the day and head out to the Cape Cod National Seashore. There’s a lot to see and do here, as the national seashore stretches along nearly the entire Outer Cape, so plan what you’d like to check out in advance, to minimize your driving time.

I’d recommend starting at the Salt Pond Visitor Center, which is closest to Yarmouth, and then traveling north to visit famous lighthouses such as the Nauset Lighthouse (a great beach is adjacent, too), and the Highland Lighthouse. History lovers will want to be sure to also check out the Marconi Wireless Station Site, where the first transatlantic wireless communication between the United States and Europe took place, in 1903.