Cape Cod is one of the most popular summer destinations on the Eastern Seaboard. With more than 500 miles of coastline, the peninsula in the southeastern corner of Massachusetts has stunning coastal landscapes, many of which are only accessible by boat. Cruising to the Cape from Boston allows boaters to beat the summer traffic jams on the roadways while enjoying a scenic ride with noteworthy harbors to visit along the way.

One of the most appealing aspects of cruising around Cape Cod is that the region is accessible for most types of boats. There are many protected harbors that are safely navigable by small craft, as well as accommodations for 200-foot-plus yachts.

Here are some of the cruising options for boaters arriving to the Cape from Boston, as well as some of the hazards to be mindful of along the way.

Reaching the Cape from Boston

A good jumping-off point for Cape Cod is Constitution Marina in the heart of downtown Boston, situated on the Freedom Trail just minutes away from the historic North End neighborhood, the North Station transportation hub, and TD Garden arena (home of the Celtics and Bruins sports teams).

Before heading southeast from Constitution Marina, familiarize yourself with the hazards in and around Boston Harbor. These include the Lower Middle and Castle Island flats; Ram’s Head Flats, Aldridge Ledge and Devils Back rock off President Roads; the Roaring Bulls rocks near The Graves; and Half Tide Rock just west of Hypocrite Channel. Harding’s Ledge, located 1.5 miles east of Point Allerton in the town of Hull, is another hazard. It is critical to pay attention to navigational beacons as you leave the harbor and head down Massachusetts’ Eastern Shore.

Once you are through the harbor, you can enjoy a scenic cruise down the South Shore before reaching the Cape Cod Canal, which is approximately 50 nautical miles from Boston. There are good stopping points along the way to refuel and grab supplies, including Scituate Harbor (midway between Boston and Plymouth), and Plymouth Bay (18 miles north of the Cape Cod Canal). Both locations have beautiful harbors with dockage and welcoming downtowns. When leaving Plymouth, be mindful of the Mary Ann Rocks just southeast of Manomet Point.

As you approach the Cape Cod Canal, you have a couple of options: travel through the canal to reach Buzzards Bay and access the Cape’s Nantucket Sound shore, or continue cruising down the coast of Cape Cod Bay.

Cape Cod Canal, Woods Hole and Nantucket Bay

The Cape Cod Canal is approximately 7 miles long, 500 feet wide and 40 feet deep. It has a speed limit of 8.5 knots. Expect a minimum running time of 30 minutes with a fair current, 45 minutes with a slack current and 60 minutes with a foul current. Be prepared for conditions to escalate in Buzzards Bay, where southwest winds often stir the sea.

Once you have exited the west end of the canal, one notable destination is Bassetts Island at the entrance of Pocasset and Red Brook harbors in the town of Bourne. The island is a short boat ride from shore, and although much of it is private, the pristine town beaches on the southern arm offer a peaceful daytime escape. Raft up along the shore to enjoy more than a mile of beach and shallow sand flats off the point. You can hike to a picnic area at the top of the island for a 360-degree view of the harbors.

Marine services are available directly across the harbor from Bassetts at Kingman Yacht Center and Parker’s Boat Yard in Cataumet, where you can grab a mooring or slip. While in Cataumet, stop at the Chart Room restaurant across the street from Kingman Yacht Center to dine on fresh seafood and enjoy their signature mudslide.

From here, continue down the west side of the peninsula toward Falmouth and Woods Hole to reach some of the quintessential towns on the Nantucket Sound side of the Cape. Be mindful of the hazards in Woods Hole; rocks are everywhere, and there are strong tidal rip currents. If you follow the daily tide charts, you might be able to navigate through during one of the short slack tide periods.

Once you are through Woods Hole, head for the village of Hyannis, once a favorite vacation spot of the Kennedy family. The harbor can accommodate boats of all sizes, and the deep channel between Nantucket Sound and the inner harbor maintains a depth of 13 feet for easy entry, even for larger yachts. Hyannis is one of Cape Cod’s busiest ports, so be careful of ferries, tour boats and fishing vessels in the harbor. If you are visiting for a few hours, you can tie up for free at the town docks at Bismore Park. Dockage is also available at Hyannis Marina, Dockside Marina and the town-managed Gateway Marina. Lewis Bay offers good holding ground for boaters who wish to drop anchor.

There is much to do ashore in Hyannis. Visit the restaurants and bars downtown or check out the art displays in Bismore Park. Walk down South Street to the Cape Cod Maritime Museum, which documents five centuries of local maritime life. Before leaving Hyannis, stop at Baxter’s. This dock-and-dine is one of the oldest restaurants on the Cape and offers a stunning view of the harbor.

To round out your trip along the Nantucket Harbor side of the Cape, cruise toward the towns of Harwich and Chatham. Harwich spans almost 11 miles of shoreline and has five harbors. Once a whaling port, Harwich is now a fishing destination for striped bass, tuna, bluefish and more.

Just beyond Harwich at the southeastern tip of the Cape is Chatham, a picturesque destination with miles of white sand beaches (most of which are public), an upscale downtown and two distinct harbors.

Chatham Harbor is to the east and is the homeport to most of the local fishing fleet. This harbor provides easy access to the open Atlantic, but because of its exposure to the ocean, it is often bombarded by breakers and can be risky for small boats to enter. To the south of Chatham is Stage Harbor, which has a safer point of entry protected by the barrier island of Monomoy. Stage Harbor offers most facilities for visiting boaters, and there are several marinas and transient facilities here, as well as limited anchoring space with permission from the harbormaster.

From Stage Harbor, it is easy to access Chatham’s downtown, where boutiques, art galleries, antiques stores and fine-dining restaurants stretch down Main Street for a mile. Grab a bite to eat at top-rated restaurants such as Bluefins Sushi & Sake Bar, or Del Mar Bar & Bistro, or pick up the catch of the day at the Chatham Pier Fish Market.

Cape Cod Bay

While the Nantucket Bay side of the Cape commonly draws fleets of boaters, there are also many beautiful towns and beaches to explore on the Cape Cod Bay side of the peninsula, which normally enjoys fairly calm and protected waters.

One destination on the Bay side of the Cape is Sandy Neck Beach in Barnstable. It’s a barrier beach on the Sandy Neck peninsula that stretches for 6 miles. Sandy Neck is accessible from either side by boat without a beach permit. Be careful of fluctuating tides in this area.

Continuing along the bay, you will approach the Brewster Flats at the inner elbow of the Cape. These are North America’s most extensive tidal flats, measuring 12,000 acres in size and extending almost 10 miles up the coastline between Brewster and North Eastham. This area is renowned for its fishing opportunities. You can surf cast for striped bass from the sand flats, or sight cast for bass and blues from your boat.

Past the Brewster Flats is the town of Wellfleet, with pristine natural landscapes and a vibrant downtown. Located at the narrowest point of the Cape, Wellfleet has big-wave ocean beaches and tranquil bay beaches. The Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, located in a salt marsh, offers miles of walking trails with promising bird-watching opportunities. The town is also home to winding tidal creeks and verdant marshes that can be explored by kayak or boat.

Pay close attention to the tides and channel markers while navigating Wellfleet Harbor, as the shifting bars and channels can be challenging. Inside the harbor, the Wellfleet Town Marina has fuel, pump-out, and electric and water hookups. There is also an anchorage north of Smalley Bar and east of Great Island in 7 to 20 feet of water with good protection from winds.

The last town along the bay side of Cape Cod is Provincetown, at the tip of the peninsula. It’s a prime location for boaters. The deep, natural harbor is well-protected from the wind and seas in all directions, and the harbor approaches are deep and free from obstructions. Transient moorings are available at Flyer’s Boat Rentals, and Provincetown Marina has 100 slips for boats up to 250 feet with a reservation. Transient boaters can also anchor inside the protected arm of Long Point.

There is no shortage of activities in Provincetown, between the lively nightlife, natural landscapes, historic monuments and museums. One of its main appeals is the potential to see whales and other marine life. The Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary is 3 miles offshore. Humpback, minke and finback whales gather there to feast on the abundant plankton and baitfish. (Federal law mandates that boaters stay at least 300 feet away from whales.) Basking sharks, ocean sunfish and Atlantic bluefin tuna also congregate there.

Cape Cod is a boater’s paradise. Regardless of where on the Cape you decide to cruise, you are sure to find boating amenities, beaches and seaside communities with plenty of activities. Just remember to remain mindful of the tides, currents and navigational beacons as you jet off toward your summer escape. 

This article was originally published in the August 2023 issue.