Eastham.
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Eastham sits ninety miles south of Boston, roughly a two-hour drive along Route 6 where the Cape narrows into salt marshes and wild Atlantic scrub. It is best known as the official entrance to the Cape Cod National Seashore and home to dramatic ocean bluffs. Eastham is worth visiting if you want wild Atlantic dunes, quiet kettle ponds, and fresh steamers straight from the bay. Look elsewhere if you want bustling resort nightlife, walkable commercial high streets, or sheltered swimming pools.
Last updated 5 Oct 2026
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What to do in Eastham Massachusetts United States
Eastham marks the transition from the mid-Cape strip into the sparse, windswept Outer Cape. Life here follows the tides and the wind. Days rotate between hiking the bluffs around Salt Pond, reading on the sands of Coast Guard Beach, and wading the mile-wide flats of Cape Cod Bay at sunset. It suits self-sufficient travellers, cyclists, and families seeking quiet coastal nature over manicured resort amenities.
24 hours in Eastham Massachusetts United States
Start early with coffee and pastries near the Windmill Green, then take the shuttle to Coast Guard Beach before the crowds build. Grab fried clams along Route 6 for lunch, walk the Fort Hill loop in the afternoon, and finish by watching the sunset over the tide pools at First Encounter Beach. Select 1 Day above to see it.
2 days in Eastham Massachusetts United States
Spend your second morning paddling Nauset Marsh from Salt Pond out toward the barrier dunes. Cool off with an afternoon dip in the clear freshwater of Great Pond. For dinner, head just across the town line to Wellfleet for local oysters and grilled stripers at a casual harbor shack. Choose 2 Days to expand the plan.
3 days in Eastham Massachusetts United States
A third day allows an unhurried bike ride along the Cape Cod Rail Trail south through Orleans or north to the Marconi Station bluffs. Spend the late afternoon searching for the Three Sisters lighthouses in the woods before cooking local shellfish on a rented cottage deck.
Eastham Massachusetts United States itineraries by interest
Local Seafood in Eastham Massachusetts United States
Dig into fried whole-belly clams, steamed Wellfleet oysters, and haddock chowder at roadside shacks along Route 6 and bayside raw bars.
Coastal Walks in Eastham Massachusetts United States
Trace the boardwalk through red maple swamps and over the salt marsh on the Fort Hill and Red Maple Swamp trails near Salt Pond.
Lighthouses in Eastham Massachusetts United States
Visit Nauset Light with its red-and-white tower above the ocean bluff, and see the Three Sisters lights set back in the oak woods.
Beaches in Eastham Massachusetts United States
Catch the shuttle to Coast Guard Beach for roaring Atlantic surf, or head to First Encounter Beach for warm, shallow low-tide wading.
Cycling in Eastham Massachusetts United States
Ride the paved Cape Cod Rail Trail through pine forests, linking directly to the Salt Pond Visitor Center and ocean access paths.
Birdwatching in Eastham Massachusetts United States
Spot migrating shorebirds, piping plovers, and herons across Nauset Marsh and the open shallows of Hemenway Landing at dusk.
Pond Swimming in Eastham Massachusetts United States
Swim the clear, glacier-carved freshwater of Great Pond and Wiley Park, sheltered entirely from ocean winds and currents.
Maritime History in Eastham Massachusetts United States
Examine the 1797 Eastham Windmill on the town green and learn about the 1620 meeting between the Nauset tribe and the Mayflower crew.
Canoeing & Kayaking in Eastham Massachusetts United States
Paddle a kayak through the protected channels of Nauset Marsh, launching from Salt Pond toward the outer barrier dunes.
Farm Stands in Eastham Massachusetts United States
Pick up local native sweet corn, summer tomatoes, and beach plum jelly from small timber stands along the town's back lanes.
Casual Dining in Eastham Massachusetts United States
Start your morning with dense cider donuts, breakfast sandwiches on griddled Portuguese rolls, and strong coffee from roadside counters.
Day Trips in Eastham Massachusetts United States
Drive fifteen minutes north to Wellfleet for art galleries and oyster beds, or thirty minutes to the tip of Provincetown.