Eastham, MA

Travel Guide

Eastham featuring a sunset
Salt Pond Visitor Center featuring food and markets
Salt Pond Visitor Center featuring signage and markets
Eastham
Salt Pond Visitor Center

Use this seaside Massachusetts town as your gateway to explore the Outer Cape and all its attractions, including the Cape Cod National SeashoreOpens in a new window.

Eastham marks the beginning of the Cape Cod National Seashore. Its beautiful beaches have drawn in visitors for generations.

Walk, drive or bike along Eastham's winding country roads, dotted with quaint wooden cottages, and embrace the feeling of a bygone era. The Pilgrims settled Eastham in 1644. Today, it has a permanent population of fewer than 5,000 residents.

Cape Cod National Seashore is the town's crown jewel. This national park stretches for 40 miles (65 kilometers) along Cape Cod's shoreline. Take your pick of beaches to go for a swim or enjoy a day of sunbathing.

Begin your explorations of the seashore at Salt Pond Visitor CenterOpens in a new window. Tour the complex's exhibits or catch a short film in its theater to learn more about the area and its history.

Travel back in time at First Encounter Beach. In 1620, British officer Myles Standish disembarked the Mayflower and led an exploration of Cape Cod to find a good place for the Pilgrims to settle. It was at this beach that Standish and his party first encountered the Nauset Native Indians.

Test the waters at Eastham’s many beaches. Coast Guard Beach, with its large sandy shore and calm waters, is very popular among swimmers and sunbathers. See the iconic lighthouse at Nauset Light Beach. Take a tour inside Nauset Lighthouse and enjoy the spectacular views from the top.

For a freshwater experience, go to Great Pond. This large pond located near the town center has two public beaches.

Cape Cod Rail Trail is one of the best ways to explore the area. Bring a bike or rent one in town and ride along this 22-mile (35.4-kilometer) former railroad path, which runs from Dennis to Wellfleet.

Take a walk to the Three Sisters Lighthouses. Visit the replacement lighthouses, which now stand in a line in a field offshore. The original trio were let fall into the Atlantic.

During the summer, Eastam is a hotbed for tourists seeking sun and surf. However, it is a gorgeous place to visit any time of year.

Viking Shores Motor Inn
Viking Shores Motor Inn
2 out of 5
5200 State Highway Rte 6, Eastham, MA
$197 nightly
The price is $225 total per night from Jul 6 to Jul 7
$225 total
Jul 6 - Jul 7
Total includes taxes and fees
Stay at this motel in Eastham. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and an outdoor pool. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular attractions Nauset ...
9/10 Wonderful! (14 reviews)
"We really enjoyed our stay. The staff were very friendly and accommodating. Great location near amazing beaches and dining. Would highly recommended."

Reviewed on Jul 3, 2025

Viking Shores Motor Inn
Captains Quarters Motel & Conference Center
Captains Quarters Motel & Conference Center
2 out of 5
5000 State Highway/Route 6, Eastham, MA
$197 nightly
The price is $225 total per night from Jul 6 to Jul 7
$225 total
Jul 6 - Jul 7
Total includes taxes and fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Eastham. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a conference center. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
7.6/10 Good! (1,003 reviews)
"This property is a great value and is located near the best beaches and restaurants on Cape Cod. My room was clean and well-situated for my extended vacation stay. I will return!"

Reviewed on Jul 2, 2025

Captains Quarters Motel & Conference Center
Four Points by Sheraton Eastham Cape Cod
Four Points by Sheraton Eastham Cape Cod
3 out of 5
3800 State Hwy, Eastham, MA
$288 nightly
The price is $330 total per night from Jul 9 to Jul 10
$330 total
Jul 9 - Jul 10
Total includes taxes and fees
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly hotel in Eastham. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and an outdoor pool. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (812 reviews)
"We really liked the location, the pools and the cleanliness. We were a bit disappointed that the onsite restaurant isn’t fully open yet but we enjoyed Caroline’s down the road. The bed was super comfy. A very nice hotel."

Reviewed on Jun 22, 2025

Four Points by Sheraton Eastham Cape Cod
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Lakefront Cottage in Eastham, near ocean and Bay
Lakefront Cottage in Eastham, near ocean and Bay
Eastham
Stay at this cottage in Eastham. Enjoy patios, cable/satellite TV service, and an in-room coffeemaker. Popular attractions Nauset Beach and Eastham Windmill ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (44 reviews)
vacation
"It was very nice except the toilet was loose from the floor and the TV and internet didn't work"

Reviewed on Aug 19, 2024

Lakefront Cottage in Eastham, near ocean and Bay
Bayfront cottage w/ bluffside deck & outdoor shower - steps to private beach
Bayfront cottage w/ bluffside deck & outdoor shower - steps to private beach
Eastham
Book a stay at this beach cottage in Eastham. Enjoy a beach locale, laundry facilities, and patios. Popular attractions Nauset Beach and First Encounter Beach ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (39 reviews)
"Second time staying here, and it was just as lovely as I remembered. The location can't be beat - we spend a lot of time lounging on the deck watching the birds and listening to the ocean, and of course taking many walks on the beach.The living room could use a good reading light near the couch or ..."

Reviewed on Jun 9, 2025

Bayfront cottage w/ bluffside deck & outdoor shower - steps to private beach
Family Friendly Cape Escape
Family Friendly Cape Escape
Eastham
Stay at this vacation home in Eastham. Enjoy free WiFi, a garden, and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Nauset Beach and Rock Harbor Beach are located ...
Family Friendly Cape Escape
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of Eastham

4.3
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
61
5 - Excellent 46%
4 - Good
56
4 - Good 42%
3 - Okay
15
3 - Okay 11%
2 - Disappointing
1
2 - Disappointing 1%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler

It is very quiet this time of year. We enjoyed the ease of getting around

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

For great leather products (handbags, clothing, etc.) and Native American jewelry check out Four Winds Leather Shop on route 6 East!

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler

Check out the Cape Cod National Seashore and visitor center down the road.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler

Great area for visiting central area and tip of Cape Cod

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveler

Downside is terrible traffic.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

The Pizza at The Red Barn is the best. We love Eastham, it is very Family friendly.

Cities near Eastham