The Ultimate Guide to Falmouth’s Best Beaches

The town of Falmouth is one of 15 communities that make up Cape Cod, the world-famous Massachusetts peninsula that juts into the North Atlantic like a balled fist. Immortalized in songs and literature, Cape Cod is classic New England — preserved by Summer salt air, served chilled in Winter, crowned in Autumn’s hues, and started anew each Spring. Summer, by far Falmouth’s most popular season, is a perfect time to visit the 68 miles of coastline that ring the community and are home to some of the most beautiful and varied beaches in New England. Whether you are looking for a place to relax and enjoy the scenery or an active beach where you can swim, sunbathe, and build sandcastles, there is a perfect beach for you in Falmouth, each offering its own unique personality.

Falmouth’s Public Beaches

Falmouth’s beaches are grouped into two distinct locales, those that are found on the coast of Vineyard Sound and the others nestled along the shores of Buzzard’s Bay. The beaches found on Vineyard Sound offer panoramic views of Martha’s Vineyard and are great for sunbathing and stand-up paddleboarding, while beaches in Buzzards Bay are mellower — great for families with kids, swimming, and exploring tidal pools.

Old Silver Beach

ADDRESS: 296 Quaker Rd, Falmouth, MA 02540
MILES FROM BOSTON: 68.5
SEAGULL ATTACKS: Numerous

By and large, Old Silver is the most popular of all the beaches in Falmouth. Clear water with soft white sand, this beach is an idyllic setting. It is divided into two distinct sections, separated by a “creek” that runs between two jetties and into a marsh behind the beach. Old Silver is well staffed with lifeguards and has two great concession stands featuring restrooms, showers, and changing areas.

Megansett

ADDRESS: 239 County Rd, Falmouth, MA 02556
PROXIMITY TO NEAREST DUNKIN' DONUTS: 5 minutes
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Dock Jumping

Located on the town border between Bourne and North Falmouth, Megansett beach is one of the quietest locations in Falmouth for beachgoers. Since it’s located at the end of calm streets within the hamlet that bears the same name as the beach, it’s the parking lot is reserved for residents only. Plan on making other arrangements getting there, like the Shining Sea bike path whose northern terminus ends nearby. Since the beach lacks concessions, plan on picking up some delicious goodies for breakfast at The Stand or order ahead for a sandwich at Dean’s Market just up the road.

Chapoquoit Beach

ADDRESS: 104 Chapoquoit Rd, Falmouth, MA 02540
MILES FROM DOWNTOWN: 5.3
NEARBY FOOD: West Falmouth Market

Perhaps one of the most quintessential “Cape Cod” beaches in Falmouth, Chapoquoit beach has it all! A picturesque harbor and tidal marsh hem in the public beach’s rear quarter while a nice walk along the shore can be found on the beach proper, albeit this beach has suffered some erosion in years past.

Woodneck Beach

ADDRESS: 33 Woodneck Rd, Falmouth, MA 02540
MILES FROM BOURNE BRIDGE: 14.3
# OF STUBBED TOES: 3,053

One might consider this beach a hidden gem as it sees nearly none of the traffic that Falmouth’s popular beaches like Old Silver or Falmouth Heights receive. This beach has a unique topography with a creek, similar to the one found at Old Silver, that empties into a marsh and provides some great exploring for young oceanographers during low tide.

Stoney Beach

ADDRESS: 38 Gosnold Rd, Falmouth, Massachusetts
NEARBY COFFEE SPOT: Pie in the Sky Bakery & Cafe
NUDE BEACH: [CENSORED]

Speaking of Oceanographers, you’ll find Stoney Beach close by to the world-renowned Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute or “WHOI.” While the beach might fall under the radar, WHOI does not and is known as the home berth of the exploration submersible Alvin which found the wreck of the Titanic. Stoney is the last public beach in Falmouth that dots the shore of Buzzards Bay before the coastline does a 180º and joins Vineyard Sound.

Surf Drive

ADDRESS: 56 Surf Dr, Falmouth, MA 02540
MILES FROM DOWNTOWN: 1.1
DISTANCE OF SHINING SEA BIKEPATH: 10.7 miles from North Falmouth to Woods Hole

Bike or walk, you’re only a few minutes from downtown Falmouth when you visit Surf Drive Beach. Home to the Falmouth Beach Department, you’ll find a well-staffed Ellen T Mitchell Bathhouse complete with concessions, showers and changing rooms. A unique jetty creates a sheltered pool for little ones to explore without heavy waves crashing in from Vineyard Sound and is mile+ of sand runs parallel to one of the most revered — some might say “hated” due to its lack of shade, sections of the Falmouth Road Race course.

Falmouth Heights

ADDRESS: 240 Grand Ave, Falmouth, MA 02540
SWIM TO MARTHA'S VINEYARD: 4.3 miles
FIREWORKS: Every 4th of July

It’s hard to say which beach sees more foot traffic — Old Silver or the Heights. In either case, it’s not hard to understand why due to the wide sandy shores, great views of Martha’s Vineyard in the distance and fun to be had in the crashing waves.

Bristol

Take all the good things about Falmouth Heights and none of the bad (not that there are many except maybe crowds) and you’ve got Bristol Beach. It’s quieter but still offers great sand and warm waters.

Menauhant Beach

Similar in size to Old Silver and setup, Menauhant is a nice beach to get away from it all. Parking is available to both residents and the public. This beach is great for hunting for shells or sea glass and for a nice walk. As it’s located on Vineyard Sound, you can expect more wave action here than beaches found on the west side of Falmouth.

Come & Visit!

While the nine beaches listed above are some of the highlights, there are many more spits of sand to be found along the coastline of Falmouth. For more information on hours of operation and fees, check out the Falmouth Beach Department.