While Cape Cod is known for its stunning beaches and coastline, the sand dunes in this region are an equally incredible landscape to experience. For the last 75 years, Art’s Dune Tours has been providing unforgettable adventures by taking people out into the Province Lands dunes, and showing them some of the most unique landscapes in the entire country.
If you’re planning a trip to Cape Cod, and are looking to get out into the sand dunes, this post is all about what to expect with Art’s Dune Tours, and why it should be on your itinerary.
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This tour was hosted by the Cape Cod Tourism Board. All opinions are my own.
The History Of Art’s Dune Tours & Provincetown’s Sand Dunes
Art’s Dune Tours started with a man named Art and his 1936 Ford Woody. Art began as a taxi service that brought people out to the dunes, which eventually evolved into a tour company. Stemmed from his passion for the region, and his love and knowledge of the dunes, Art’s Dune Tours quickly became one of the most exciting things to do in Provincetown. Art continued to do tours for 50 years, and his son, Rob, shared that he truly loved every minute of it.
Rob now owns the company, and he’s just as passionate as his father, and excited to take people out into the dunes to provide not just a tour, but a meaningful experience.
In 1961, when President Kennedy established the Cape Cod National Seashore, this land became protected from any further development, and its natural beauty has remained untouched since. During the tour, I learned that 70% of Provincetown is sand, and also that the Cape Cod National Seashore is the largest protected coast in the U.S. Special permits are needed to drive in the dunes, and with some of the dunes reaching 110 feet tall, this is really quite an amazing experience!
What To Expect On Your Art’s Dune Tour
In a nutshell, lots of fun, incredible views and interesting stories about the history of the dunes.
Tours will start at Art’s Dune Tour offices in Provincetown, a short walk from MacMillan Pier, and most tours last about one hour or so. From there, you’ll hop into one of their Suburbans, and head toward the dunes, which are only a 5-minute or so drive away. Each vehicle seats up to 6 people, and are equipped with air conditioning for a comfortable ride.
Once you arrive at the entrance for the dunes, you’ll stop for a quick moment to allow the guide to let air out of the tires so the vehicle can easily navigate the soft sand. And then you’re off! You’ll ride up and down the dunes (some of them pretty steep) pass by the dune shacks, stop to admire the local foliage and have moments to get out of the car and take some photos.
Tour guides for Art’s will share so much interesting history of the Province Lands, dunes, artist shacks and local ecosystem. I was lucky enough to be on a tour with Rob himself, and he was able to point out and share his knowledge on all the beautiful flora that exists amongst the dunes, including mosses, lichen, rugosas and so much more. We even got to pass a natural cranberry bog, which was surprising to see in the middle of these vast dunes.
The History Of The Dune Shacks In Provincetown
Wondering what the story is with the dune shacks? Great! I’d love to tell you all about them. You’ll also hear many more stories on your tour, but here are some highlights.
The dune shacks are quite famous in Provincetown, and throughout all of Cape Cod, and date back to the 1920s. The 19 shacks were built by members of the Coast Guard as a place for their families to stay during visits, or as a place of rest on their days off. They’re scattered amongst the sand dunes, and many of them offer breathtaking views of the coastline.
As the Provincetown artist colony gained popularity, artists began using the shacks during their Cape Cod visits. Famed artists and writers like E.E. Cummings, Jackson Pollock, Jack Kerouac, Tennessee Williams, Harry Kemp and Normal Mailer have all stayed in the dune shacks. In fact, Jack Kerouac wrote part of On The Road while staying in one of the shacks.
Many of the shacks became property of the government in 1961 when Kennedy established the Cape Cod National Seashore.
Can You Stay In The Provincetown Dune Shacks?
Yes you can, but it will require some work and a bit of luck. The government partners with non-profit organizations to host local and aspiring artists and writers in the shacks. Imagine, as an artist or writer, the amazing inspiration you’d get by being surrounded by such remote, natural beauty just outside your door each day.
Those hoping to stay in one of the dune shacks can apply for residency, and applications are accepted by a lottery system (this is where the luck comes into play). Samples of your work are required during the application process.
Some things to keep in mind to appreciate a residency at the shacks even more: There is no indoor plumbing or electricity at the shacks. And they’re very secluded, meaning you’ve got quite the hike through soft sand if you’re in need of additional food or supplies. It’s also common to encounter wildlife like snakes and bugs during your stay. It’s not for the faint of heart. But it’s also considered an honor to stay in one of the famed shacks.
Do The Tours Harm The Local Ecosystem?
Absolutely not, and this one of the first questions I asked on the tour. Art’s Dune Tours has to get a special permit each year for every vehicle in their fleet, and the tours stay on the access “road,” which is the main path that runs through the dunes. Guides don’t stray from the main path to keep the vegetation in-tact.
During the tour, you’ll witness the deep respect between tour guides and the dunes, and one of the main goals of the tours is to educate visitors on how important this area is for the local ecosystem, as well as what a special place it is. This was the most impressive part of the tour for me.
Art’s Dune Tour Options
Art’s Dune Tours offers a few different options, with some really great add-on experiences. Below is a breakdown of tours you can arrange with them.
Daily Tours
This is the tour I experienced, which will take you around the dunes for about an hour. These tours run daily at 9:45a, 11a, 1p, 2:30p and 4p from May 1-October 31. Times may change a bit later in the fall season, so be sure to give them a call to confirm if you plan to visit after Labor Day.
Sunset Tours
There are 3 different Sunset Tour options to customize your perfect evening. You can go for either a regular sunset tour, a tour with dinner, and finally, a tour with both dinner and a bonfire. For these tours, you’ll ride through the dunes for 1 hour, and then drive down to the beach to watch the sunset, have dinner and start the bonfire.
Art’s Dune Tours also offers a few other options that include art, photography, kayaking and ventures out to Race Point Lighthouse. Click here to check out these tours on their website.
How Much Do Art’s Dune Tours Cost?
Daily tours cost $38.11 per person (as of 2022), which includes taxes and fees, and there is a 4-person minimum for each tour to operate.
For sunset tours, prices start at $56.65 per person (as of 2022), and will go up from there if you choose to add on dinner or the bonfire experience.
For all other tour experiences, call them directly for pricing.
Does Art’s Dune Tours Operate If It’s Raining?
They sure do! In fact, the day of my tour, it was drizzling rain off and on, and it was still an incredible experience. Tours run rain or shine since you’re inside a vehicle, and protected from the elements.
Are Art’s Dune Tours Suitable For Children?
Definitely. If you need a car seat, you’ll need to bring one with you. But other than that, this is a really fun adventure that children will love.
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That’s A Wrap On My Art’s Dune Tours Review
And there you have it, everything you can expect on your tour with Art’s Dune Tours. I’ve been coming to Cape Cod for a long time, and this truly is one of the best experiences I’ve had here. Between the mind-blowing landscapes and the incredibly knowledgeable, fun tour guides and hearing really fascinating stories about the history of the Province Lands, it’s impossible to not have a great time.
