Cape Cod with a baby: our family guide to beaches, food, and where to stay

Last updated: January 2026.

Fresh off the final leg of our epic East Coast road trip – from Boston, through Vermont, up to Montreal, and finally down to Cape Cod with kids – I’m already dreaming about our return. With a now 7-month-old R, we spent a glorious week in August exploring this iconic stretch of Massachusetts coastline. Spoiler alert: Cape Cod is a brilliant family travel destination!

With its stunning beaches, family-friendly vibe, incredible seafood (hello, lobster rolls!), and charming New England towns, the Cape is paradise for all ages – complete with sun, sand, and unmissable ice cream sundaes. If you’re debating visiting Cape Cod with a baby or young kids, you won’t regret it!

👉 Don’t have time to read the whole article? Look at Cape Cod’s popular holiday accommodation.

Why Cape Cod is a dream for families with babies

With a 7-month-old who was still relatively portable but getting more adventurous by the day, we tested Cape Cod at a particularly memorable time, and sunsets on the deck were a perfect backdrop.

Before visiting, my main reference points for Cape Cod were glamorous TV shows like The Perfect Couple with Nicole Kidman (set in Nantucket) and other Cape Cod-set dramas that showcase the area’s upscale New England charm. The real Cape Cod lived up to the hype – it completely charmed us with its laid-back, classic coastal beauty.

Here’s why it’s a brilliant destination for families:

• Manageable journey from the UK: While it’s a longer flight than European destinations (but a pleasant 5.5-7 hours to Boston), the journey is straightforward and one of the shorter long-haul options out of the UK. The drive from Boston to Cape Cod is simple and takes just 1.5-2 hours depending on where you’re staying on the Cape. Our Boston adventure was the perfect city break before heading to the beaches.
• Public transport or car hire: You can reach Cape Cod from Boston via the Plymouth & Brockton bus service or the seasonal CapeFlyer train, but I’d highly recommend hiring a car for ease of exploring the Cape at your own pace. We hired ours from Boston airport for the entire road trip and found it relatively affordable.
• Beautiful weather in August: August was warm but not unbearably hot – some days had a lovely breeze, and it never felt oppressively humid like our June trip to Mallorca. R handled the weather brilliantly, especially as Americans love their air conditioning, so every indoor space was perfectly cool!
• Family-friendly, sandy beaches: Calm, clear water and soft sand across the Cape, with many beaches offering gentle waves perfect for little ones.
• Easy to navigate by car: Cape Cod’s roads are well-maintained and straightforward to drive. The only caveat is that America isn’t always set up for pedestrians – some areas lack pavements entirely – so a car is pretty essential.
• Charming New England towns to explore: From Provincetown’s quirky high street to Chatham’s classic coastal charm, there’s plenty of low-key culture to explore with a pram or carrier.
• Incredible seafood and lobster rolls: I won’t lie, the seafood is one of the main draws for me to this part of the US and it was outstanding (I’ve ranked the best lobster rolls below!), and there are plenty of casual, family-friendly spots with high chairs and kids’ menus. We mainly ate out at lunchtime when R was awake and alert, then ordered takeaway via Uber Eats or DoorDash to our Airbnb for dinner once he was in bed – this worked brilliantly and meant we could enjoy proper meals without worrying about a tired baby in a restaurant.
• Large and well-stocked supermarkets: Stop & Shop and Shaw’s are massive American supermarkets with absolutely everything you could need – nappies, formula, baby food, you name it. They’re everywhere on the Cape.

Where to stay in Cape Cod with kids

Harwich: Our recommended family base

We based ourselves in a gorgeous coastal-themed Airbnb in Harwich for the week and I’d choose it again in a heartbeat. The location was perfect – right in the middle of Cape Cod, meaning we weren’t too far from anywhere whether heading east towards Orleans and Provincetown or west towards Hyannis. Plus we were just down the road from Chatham, which was the other area we looked at staying in.

The central Harwich location meant we could easily explore both ends of the Cape without feeling like we were spending all day in the car – crucial when you’re travelling with a baby who needs regular nap times Our Harwich Airbnb had:

• A dedicated bedroom for R
• Lovely rugs throughout creating safe play areas throughout the house
• A large deck perfect for outdoor dining and letting R play in the shade
• All the essentials: high chair, travel cot, and plenty of space for baby gear
• Just a 5-minute drive to several beautiful beaches.
• Harwich itself has a ferry to Nantucket, via Freedom Cruisr Line.

Other Cape Cod accommodation areas to consider for families

• Chatham: A picture-perfect New England town with a lovely beach and charming main street. Particularly upmarket, and in places a bit more touristy, than some areas, it would make a beautiful base for families wanting easy beach access and a village feel.
• Orleans: Home to the expansive Nauset Beach and close to the Cape Cod Rail Trail, Orleans had a similarly upmarket vibe and is a good, middle-of-the-Cape location, similar to Harwich.
• Provincetown: Quirky, artsy, and fun to explore for a day trip, but quite far out at the Cape’s tip. I wouldn’t recommend for a week-long stay with a baby as you’ll probably be in the car a fair bit, but it may be cheaper because of this. Plenty of beaches nearby, and the town had a colorful LGBTQ+ feel.
• Falmouth/Woods Hole: Closer to the bridges from mainland Massachusetts, making it convenient if you’re planning day trips off-Cape or ferry trips to Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket.

Combining Cape Cod with a road trip

Given the flight time from the UK to Boston, it makes sense to maximize your trip by combining Cape Cod with other East Coast destinations. Here are some road trip ideas:

• Boston and Cape Cod: This is a classic combination and the most straightforward option. Spend 3-4 days exploring Boston – it’s an incredibly family-friendly city, and then head down to the Cape for a week of beach time to balance out the city exploring. The drive is only 1.5-2 hours, making it an easy, stress-free transition.
• A longer New England adventure: we chose to explore Boston, Vermont, and a little bit of New Hampshire before our week in Cape Cod, and you could always go further east to Bar Harbor. We tagged on Montreal as it was somewhere we wanted to see, and not far north of our Vermont base.
• New York and the Mid-Atlantic: Another option we’re considering for our next trip is combining Cape Cod with Washington DC, potentially stopping in New Haven, Rhode Island and New York. This route would give a similar mix of cities, culture, and beach time all in one trip.

Best family-friendly beaches in Cape Cod (with parking information)

Are Cape Cod beaches safe?

Before diving into our favourite beaches, it’s worth mentioning that Cape Cod does have great white sharks in the waters, particularly during summer and early autumn when seals are abundant. While shark encounters are extremely rare, it’s something to be aware of. Most beaches have clear signage about shark safety, and many have shark-spotting apps and alert systems in place.

We felt completely safe at all the beaches we visited – the key is:

• Staying close to shore (which you’d be doing with a baby anyway!)
• Avoiding areas where seals are swimming
• Following any posted warnings or beach closures
• Swimming during staffed hours when lifeguards are present.

The beaches we visited on the bay side tend to have calmer waters and fewer sharks than the Atlantic-facing beaches. With a baby, we weren’t venturing far into the water anyway, so it wasn’t something that concerned us day-to-day. For more information on beach safety, check the Cape Cod National Seashore website.

1. Bank Street Beach, Harwich

One of our local beaches and an absolute winner for families with young children. The water was calm and shallow, perfect for little ones (though R was still a bit young to appreciate it fully!). It’s a smaller, quieter beach on the Nantucket Sound.

Best time to visit: Late afternoon from 4:30pm onwards when parking becomes free (between July 1st and September 1st) and temperatures are slightly cooler.

In the summer, parking can be expensive during peak hours. Check the Harwich beaches parking information for current rates and times.

2. Red River Beach, Harwich

Another local gem, with a similar vibe to Bank Street Beach – Red River is calm, family-friendly, and not overly crowded. The sand was soft and perfect for when R was having floor time on his blanket. Again, parking fees apply during the day but free from late afternoon.

3. Lighthouse Beach, Chatham

This beach offers the quintessential Cape Cod experience with postcard-perfect views of Chatham Lighthouse. It’s a lovely spot for a family day out, and the town of Chatham itself is lovely for a wander with the pram (with some nice shops to look around too). The beach can get busy during peak times, but the atmosphere is relaxed and family-oriented.

Check Chatham’s beach parking information for rates and regulations. Similar pricing structure to Harwich beaches.

4. Nauset Beach, Orleans

Part of the 40 mile long National Seashore, Nauset is one of Cape Cod’s most famous beaches for good reason. It’s absolutely enormous – 10 miles of pristine sand and rolling waves. There’s so much space that even on busy August days, it never felt crowded providing you’re happy to walk a bit. Due to its location on the Atlantic, waves here can be bigger than some of the calmer bay beaches, so it’s worth keeping that in mind with very small children.

Parking is paid for again, but there’s a large car park, and the beach facilities (toilets, changing areas) are excellent. This is a Blue Flag beach with lifeguards during peak season.

5. Mayflower Beach, Dennis

This was another lovely family-friendly beach and the protected bay location means gentle waves and warm, shallow water ideal for babies and toddlers.. What further sets Mayflower Beach apart from some of the others is the on-site beach cafe – perfect for grabbing lunch, snacks, or ice cream without having to pack everything or leave the beach. The gentle slope into the water makes it ideal for babies and toddlers, and there’s plenty of space to spread out even on busier days.

Parking is a similar story – quite expensive for the day, but free from late afternoon.

6. Smugglers Beach, Yarmouth

This beach in South Yarmouth has a laid-back family vibe, set along a series of hotels and apartments. The beach, set on the Nantucket sound, felt welcoming and unpretentious. Check the Yarmouth beaches website for current parking rates and beach information.

Things to do in Cape Cod with kids and babies

Here are the best things to do in Cape Cod with kids and why it’s perfect for families:

• Explore the Cape Cod Rail Trail: This is a fantastic, pram-friendly cycling and walking trail that runs for 22 miles through several Cape Cod towns. The trail is completely flat, smooth, and perfect for walking with a pram, or a backpack carrier. We did a walk on the trail almost daily, parking twice at the small car park near Deepwater Dogs (more on that below!) – it’s not huge but we always managed to get a space. Another couple of times we parked at Nickerson State Park and explored from there. The rail trail is shaded in many parts and offers a lovely way to see the Cape beyond the beaches.

• Cycling with kids: R was too young at 7 months to join us for a bike ride, but once he’s old enough to sit in a pull along bike seat, this would be a fun activity. We saw loads of families cycling with toddlers and older kids.
• Visit artsy Provincetown: We spent a lovely afternoon wandering around Provincetown’s quirky high street, popping into independent shops, and soaking up the creative vibe. It’s about an hour’s drive from Harwich (which we took as an opportunity for R to nap) but worth it for the colourful streets and different atmosphere. Pretty pram-friendly for strolling, and plenty of casual lunch spots.
• Explore Hyannis: Hyannis is another charming Cape Cod town worth visiting for a morning or afternoon. With shops, a pleasant harbour area, and good restaurants, it provided a change of scenery and we found it easy to navigate with R in the pram. The marina is also a hub for day trips to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.
• Seal watching in Chatham: The seals near Chatham Pier are a fantastic (and free!) activity, to combine with a spot of lunch. We loved watching them pop up from the top of Chatham Pier.
• Ferry Trips to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket: We really wanted to visit these famous islands, but with a 7-month-old, the ferry journey and long day without a car felt like a lot. That said, if you’re keen to go, here’s what we learned:
  • From Hyannis: Shorter ferry rides (around 1 hour to Nantucket, 45 minutes to Martha’s Vineyard), but expect more crowds and potentially trickier parking.
  • From Harwich: The Harwich ferry (Freedom Cruise Line) takes a little longer – around 1.5 hours to Nantucket – but has the advantage of a dedicated parking lot that’s typically less busy and easier to access than the Hyannis options. Despite the longer ferry time, you might actually save time overall by avoiding Hyannis traffic and parking hassles, especially in peak season.
• Seaside Play in Harwich: A great rainy day option that we didn’t end up needing, but several people recommended Seaside Play as an excellent indoor soft play centre. It’s supposed to be clean, well-maintained, and perfect for babies and toddlers. Worth having in your back pocket if the weather turns!

Where to eat the best lobster rolls on Cape Cod

One of the highlights of our Cape Cod trip was our mission to find the best lobster roll. We tried five different spots, and here’s our ranking:

1. Chatham Pier Fish Market ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The best lobster roll I had on the entire trip! The hot butter sauce was absolutely divine, and the lobster was incredibly fresh and generous. Yes, it’s expensive (they charge market price, around $38), but it comes with fries and the quality justifies it. There’s not loads of seating, but eating your lobster roll while watching the seals over the side of the pier was pure Cape Cod magic.

2. Cape Cod Clam ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was the best value roll for sure, and an excellent lobster roll at that. The location is more of a fishmonger with a takeaway counter, but there are nice picnic benches outside for eating. The roll came with coleslaw and a lovely sauce, and you can add on a pot of chowder. Fresh, tasty, and reasonably priced at under $20.

3. Cobie’s ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was recommended by a few people and a good lobster roll it was, but it wasn’t the best. It’s very conveniently located right on the Cape Cod Rail Trail, making it a perfect pit stop during a walk or cycle. However, you have to pay extra for a brioche roll (which felt a bit cheeky), and there was no sauce, which made it a little dry for me and therefore I felt a bit overpriced. It comes with crisps and there’s lots of outdoor seating.

4. Lobster Pot Express, Provincetown ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was also recommended, but I felt it was just above average. The roll came in a hot dog-style bun with crisps, a gherkin, and a small pot of sauce (which was very good). The cafe is takeaway-style with some picnic seating, and fine if you’re already in Provincetown and want to try a quick lobster roll, but not worth a special trip.

Other must-try foods in Cape Cod

• Deepwater Dogs: Delicious hot dogs at reasonable prices – especially satisfying after a long walk on the Rail Trail! We stopped here multiple times and it was always quick and tasty.

• Pico’s Tacos: Fantastic Mexican food that you can either pick up as takeaway or eat in their outdoor seating area. Really fresh and flavourful – a nice change from all the seafood!
• Sundae School Ice Cream, Harwich: Incredible ice cream with their delicious homemade whipped cream on top. This is a must if you’re driving past.

• Keshar Indian Restaurant and Bar, Yarmouth: we had takeaway from this Indian and it was really good (and we eat a fair bit of Indian food including on trips to India!). The restaurant itself looks like it could be nice to visit, too.

We ran out of time (and stomach space!) but these came highly recommended by locals and other families:

• Brax Landing, Harwich: Waterfront seafood restaurant with outdoor seating overlooking Saquatucket Harbor. Supposed to have excellent lobster rolls and a lovely sunset view.
• The Lazy Lobstah and Grill, near Mashpee.
• Sesuit Harbor Cafe: A Dennis favourite, known for breakfast and lunch with harbor views.

Our Cape Cod family destination score

Using our scoring system, where we rate destinations using a four-part scorecard out of five stars, here’s how Cape Cod fared for travelling with a baby:

1. Getting there – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

With direct flights from major UK airports to Boston taking around 6 hours, and an easy drive from Boston to Cape Cod, we found getting there relatively breezy. Public transport do options exist (bus and seasonal train) but a car is really needed to make the most of the Cape.

2. Pramability – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Nice wide pavements where they exist, and the Cape Cod Rail Trail is absolutely brilliant for prams – smooth, flat, and goes on for miles. However, America still isn’t set up well for pedestrians as much as the UK or Europe – some roads have no pavements at all, which made walking from our Airbnb to the beach impossible. Towns like Chatham, Provincetown, and Hyannis are very pram-friendly for strolling though.

3. Adult fun factor – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

With some pretty coastal New England towns to explore, beautiful beaches, evening BBQ culture out on the deck, and yummy takeout and seafood options, there’s plenty for adults to enjoy (as far as chilled holidays go). R came along with us to everything – restaurants, walks, beach visits – and it all worked smoothly. We didn’t feel like we missed out on anything we really wanted to do except Martha’s Vineyard/Nantucket, which we could have done but chose to wait until R is old enough to get happily through a full day out in the pram.

4. Cost – ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Cape Cod isn’t cheap, but it’s not significantly more expensive than similar global beach destinations and is on par with our other US holidays we’ve been on. We paid £2,300 for a week in August for an absolutely gorgeous 3 bedroom house, which felt like a bit of a splurge but was actually a reasonable deal – we could have saved by going out of season in October.

Restaurant prices vary, with plenty of casual spots you can enjoy to keep prices low – you just need to seek them out (and remember that the US adds tips onto everything, and at a higher % then in the UK – often 20%+). Supermarkets are large and offer everything you need to cook at your accommodation, if you have a kitchen or BBQ.

And while beach parking can add up if you’re going during peak hours, our late afternoon strategy kept it free and the long days meant we could stay enjoy up to 3 hours on the beach late in the day before sunset.

Frequently asked questions about Cape Cod with kids

What we’d do differently next time

Honestly? Not much. The only thing I’d change would be trying to find accommodation within walking distance of a beach. This would make it easier to pop down to the beach in the summer without worrying about parking charges during the day. That said, we never minded going to beaches in the late afternoon/early evening when parking is free – it actually worked really well with R’s schedule and meant we avoided the hottest part of the day. As R gets older and wants to spend longer at the beach, having one on our doorstep would be more convenient. But for a 7-month-old who was happy with an hour or two of beach time, our setup was perfect.

As someone who’d been dreaming g of visiting Cape Cod for years, it was everything I hoped for and going with R was quite special – plus a perfect fit for a laid back end to our road trip.

Got questions about travelling to Cape Cod with a baby or young kids? Ask them in the comments or DM me on Instagram @LittleBritsAbroad – I’d love to help!

If you’re looking at similar beach destinations in the US, check out my road trip down to the Florida Keys.

See you after our next trip!

Allie, Jack & R x

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