If you have 3 days to explore Cape Cod and are wondering how to get the very most out of your time, as well as experience some of the best things to do in this region, I’m here to share the perfect Cape Cod in 3 days itinerary. This itinerary will balance spending time at the beaches, since that’s the main attraction on Cape Cod, with visiting some of the best towns and a few other sites that are icons in this area.
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Best Things To See On Cape Cod In 3 Days Overview
To give you an overview of what I think are the best and easiest things to include in your itinerary for 3 days on Cape Cod, here is a list of each destination, as well as why I think it’s worth your time for your 3-day trip.
For this particular itinerary, I’m focusing on a lot of things that are located in the lower and outer regions of Cape Cod because personally, that’s where I think some of the best things to do are located. You can, of course, just pick any town on the Cape, and stay within that town for all 3 days, and you will still have an amazing trip. But if you’re looking to see the best of Cape Cod, this is what I suggest.
1. The Cape Cod National Seashore
This is my absolute favorite thing to do on Cape Cod, and if you have anywhere from 1 day to a month on the Cape, I always recommend that everyone visits. I think the National Seashore has some of the best beaches on Cape Cod, and many of them are great for spotting seals in the water. This is must during any visit.
2. Provincetown
Provincetown is located at the very tip of Cape Cod, and is the furthest town from the border of the Cape as you drive in. But, it’s most definitely worth fitting into your 3-day itinerary because it’s the most unique place to visit in all of Cape Cod. Lively Commercial Street, artist communities and a strong LGBTQ+ presence offer a big sense of community and individuality, and it’s such an awesome and inspiring experience.
3. Downtown Chatham, MA
Chatham is the best town on Cape Cod for shopping and seeing some of the most picturesque homes lined with hydrangeas (when in season in July). It’ll feel a bit like a Hallmark movie set when you arrive, and with all the beautiful shops and boutiques Chatham has to offer, it should definitely make it into your Cape Cod in 3 days itinerary.
4. Nauset or Highland Lighthouse
Nauset Light is the red and white lighthouse featured on the Cape Cod Potato Chips bags, and because it’s located close to the National Seashore, it’s a quick and easy (not to mention beautiful) stop to fit into your Cape Cod in 3 days itinerary while checking something really fun off your list.
If you’re staying closer to Wellfleet, Truro or Provincetown, you can also easily combine a National Seashore beach with a quick trip to Highland Lighthouse in Truro, which is a beautiful lighthouse with some short and easy walking trails around the property.
5. Beach Sunset
There are so many opportunities to catch a sunset over the water on Cape Cod, and experiencing a sunset in person should definitely be included in your Cape Cod in 3 days itinerary. Below, I’ll share with you some of the best places to see a sunset, depending on which town you choose to stay in, so you’ll easily be able to work one into your trip.
Best Towns To Stay When Visiting Cape Cod For 3 Days
If you’re planning a trip to Cape Cod for 3 days, I would suggest staying in a town that’s easily accessible to the Cape Cod National Seashore, Provincetown and Chatham. For this particular itinerary, the best options would be to stay right in Chatham, go a bit further north to Orleans, Eastham or Wellfleet, or as far west as Harwich or Brewster.
If you choose any of the above towns, you’ll be under an hour from Provincetown, within 30 minutes of the National Seashore, and have easy access to towns with shopping, restaurants and local beaches. If you want to stay in a town with a strong downtown or Main Street feel, Chatham or Harwich Port will be your best options, which Chatham having the best downtown scene.
If you want to want to be as close to the National Seashore as possible, then Orleans, Eastham and Wellfleet will be your best choice. You can also stay in Provincetown, or the nearby Truro. I typically suggest trying to stay more central for shorter visits, but Provincetown and Truro are very close to the National Seashore, so they also make good options.
While I don’t always suggest Falmouth as a home base only because it’s so far from the National Seashore, this is also a nice town to stay in for a few days because it will have a great Main Street with lots of shops and restaurants, and some beautiful beaches. It’s also a shorter drive in from the mainland.
So I do still suggest trying to stay in the towns I’ve mentioned above for a more well-rounded Cape Cod experience, even if just for 3 days. But Falmouth is absolutely an option, and you won’t really have to leave the town once you’re there.
Cape Cod In 3 Days Itinerary
To make it even easier for you, this is my suggested day-by-day itinerary for your Cape Cod in 3 Days trip. Keep in mind that you can really stay anywhere on Cape Cod for any length of time, and have the best vacation because each town is unique, and is usually home to some beautiful beaches and awesome restaurants.
But for the sake of this particular guide, I really want to maximize your time, while allowing you to slow down and have a true Cape Cod experience. This itinerary will also allow you to see the things that are most worth your time for a 3-day itinerary as far as being unique to the area, iconic Cape Cod destinations, and the very best beaches.
Scroll down to see my restaurant picks by town (for towns I’ve suggested you stay in)
if you’re in need of some ideas for places to eat.
Cape Cod In 3 Days Day-By-Day Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival
Mid-Afternoon: Plan to arrive at your accommodations between 1-4p for check in. Get settled, and then head out to the beach. Depending on where you’re staying, you won’t have a hard time finding a beach nearby where you can stretch your legs a bit before dinner.
Tip: For most hotels, check in will be between 3-4p, but it doesn’t hurt to arrive early to see if your room is ready. Even if it’s not, you can drive to a nearby beach or a restaurant with a bar to kill some time.
Evening: Dinner, and then ice cream for dessert. If you’re not too tired from your drive, you can also consider catching a sunset. Skaket Beach in Orleans, Breakwater Beach in Brewster and Race Point Beach in Provincetown are all amazing sunset locations you can choose from based on where you’re staying.
Tip: If you’re looking to catch a sunset, be sure to make a note of sunset times since they vary so much month-by-month. Sometimes, it makes more sense to catch the sunset before dinner.
Day 2 – First Full Day
Morning & Early Afternoon: After breakfast, pack up some snacks and head to a National Seashore Beach. I suggest Nauset Light Beach so you can combine this with a visit to Nauset Lighthouse before or after your beach time. The lighthouse is walkable from the beach parking lot. Or if you would rather go closer to Wellfleet, Truro or Provincetown, you can visit Head of the Meadow Beach in the National Seashore, and then combine that with a visit to Highland Lighthouse in Truro.
Tip: Visiting the lighthouses is free, but there will be a $25 per day cost to park at the National Seashore beaches. Arrive as early as you can, as the beach lots will fill up fast in July and August, especially on weekends.
Mid-Afternoon: Leave the beach around 2-3p. Relax at the hotel for a bit to shower and get ready for your evening.
Late Afternoon & Evening: Head into Provincetown before the sunset (so you have at least two hours of daylight to see the town) for the rest of your night, and enjoy the lively atmosphere and amazing restaurants. Be sure to stroll up and down Commercial Street, and walk down to MacMillan Pier. If you have extra time, you may also want to consider going to the top of the Pilgrim Monument for spectacular views from above.
If you didn’t catch a sunset the night before, I suggest trying to see one at Race Point Beach this night. You will have to drive to the beach, as its not walkable from town.
Dinner Suggestion: You can also grab takeout in Provincetown after you’re done exploring the town, and bring it to the beach for sunset. I’ve done this many times, and it’s a great (and romantic) way to end your evening.
Tip: Be sure to plan ahead for parking in Provincetown. You can use this helpful guide here. I usually park at Grace Hall parking lot on weekends and in peak season (July & August) and sometimes try my luck at the MacMillan Pier lot if I want the most convenient option that day.
Day 3 – Second Full Day
Morning: Have a leisurely breakfast. If you’re feeling ambitious and are staying in or close to Chatham, you can get up for sunrise at Chatham Lighthouse Beach. If you’re staying closer to Wellfleet, Newcomb Hollow and Cahoon Hollow beaches in Wellfleet are also amazing for sunrises.
Late Morning & Afternoon: Head into Chatham for lunch and shopping. Be sure to also visit the Chatham Windmill, and walk along Shore Rd to see the beautiful ocean-front houses. Both of these are walkable from the main town area. On your way into Chatham, or as you’re leaving, stop by the Chatham Pier Fish Market for a cup of chowder and to see the seals that are often hanging out by the fishing boats. You can also squeeze in a quick stop at the Chatham Lighthouse. You will want to drive to the lighthouse and Fish Market.
Late Afternoon: Relax at your hotel or take a nap. If you’re still feeling adventurous, you’re probably only a short drive to a local beach, and most stop charging for parking after 4-5p. A quick beach walk or a dip in the water is always a good idea!
Evening: Dinner and ice cream for dessert.
Departure Day
Depending on when you have to leave this day, there is some flexibility on what you can do. Most check-out times at hotels will be between 10-11a, so you’ll likely have time for a leisurely breakfast before having to check out. You can either head home right after check out, or you can make a few stops on your way out of town if you have some extra time. Below are some suggestions if you have time for stops on your way home.
Stops To Make On Your Drive Home:
- If you stayed closer to Wellfleet or Provincetown, and didn’t have a chance to see Nauset Light, this would be a great stop as you drive home, and it will only take a few minutes. The only caveat here is that you’ll have to park at the Three Sisters Lighthouses parking area to avoid paying to park at Nauset Light Beach. The Three Sisters lot is free and very small, but I’ve always had good luck finding a spot there in all seasons.
- Brewster General Store.
- Harwich Port’s Main Street has some cute shops and eateries, and is smaller than Chatham, making it easier for a quick stop.
- Sandwich is on your way out of Cape Cod, and has a some cute shops and restaurants as well, but doesn’t have a strong “Main Street” destination.
- If you have some time to go a bit out of your way, swing by Falmouth. As mentioned before, it has a great downtown area with some cute shops and restaurants. This stop is a bit of a detour, and will set you back about an hour round-trip. But Falmouth is a really cute little town, and a great way to say goodbye to Cape Cod if you have time on your drive home.
Restaurant Suggestions By Town
Regardless of where you choose to stay, you’ll have plenty of great restaurants to pick from. But if you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the options, here is a list of my favorite restaurants in each town I’ve recommended you stay in for a 3-day trip to Cape Cod.
Harwich
Mad Minnow
Brax Landing – Water Views
Sundae School – Ice Cream
Brewster
The Brewster Fish House
Spinnaker Restaurant – Water Views
Brewster Scoop – Ice Cream
Chatham
The Impudent Oyster
Bistro On Main & Raw Bar
Brick Block – Ice Cream
Orleans
Mahoney’s Atlantic Bar & Grille
Cooke’s Seafood
Ice Cream Cafe – Ice Cream
Wellfleet
Moby Dick’s
The Wicked Oyster
Gelato Joy Cafe – Ice Cream/Gelato
Truro
Montano’s Restaurant
Black Fish
Savory & Sweet Escape – Ice Cream
Provincetown
The Lobster Pot
Ross’s Grill – Water Views
Lewis Brothers – Ice Cream
Tip: Many restaurants on Cape Cod are only open seasonally, so if you’re visiting October-April, it’s best to confirm a restaurant is open before visiting.
How Long Does It Take To Drive Around Cape Cod?
There are some variables to consider, but generally speaking, it takes the average person 2 hours to drive from one end of Cape Cod to the other. If you wanted to make it a round trip, it would take about 4 hours. This doesn’t account for traffic, or the speed of other drivers on the road. Traffic will be more congested in July and August, and on weekends in May, June and September.
Can You See All Of Cape Cod In 3 Days?
While it is possible to see all of Cape Cod in 3 days, it would still be very hard to do, and I don’t recommend trying to pack everything into a short amount of time. There is so much to see and do on the Cape, and it would be a shame to pass everything by so quickly without taking at least a few hours or longer to really enjoy them. Especially the beaches and the Cape Cod National Seashore.
If you have 3 days, you can definitely check some amazing things off your Cape Cod list, and you won’t regret keeping your itinerary manageable, with room to slow down and and be in the moment. One of the best things about Cape Cod is that while there’s so much to do, you’ll still have an authentic experience by selecting just a few key places, and really enjoying them.
Is It Worth Visiting Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard If Only On Cape Cod For 3 Days?
I applaud your ambition! This is something you can certainly consider, but I would probably suggest thinking twice about it, or at least, stop to consider how much you want to feel rushed. If you had longer than 3 days on Cape Cod, a day trip to one of the islands is something I would absolutely suggest. But since there are so many beautiful things to see on the mainland, I think your time will be very well spent exploring this area for all 3 days.
But, that said, if you wanted to spend one full day on Cape Cod, and one full day on an island, it’s possible. For one on the mainland, you could visit a National Seashore beach during the morning and early afternoon, spend your late afternoon in Provincetown, grab dinner somewhere and get an ice cream before catching a sunset somewhere. And then use your last day for an island day trip.
The other option is to spend all 3 days on either Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard, and both islands will give you an amazing Cape Cod experience.
Here are some posts that will help you with a day trip to Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard:
- Nantucket vs. Martha’s Vineyard For A Day Trip
- Nantucket Day Trip Ultimate Guide
- Martha’s Vineyard Day Trip Ultimate Guide
Hotel Suggestions For 3 Days On Cape Cod
If you’re visiting in July and August, which is peak season on Cape Cod, many hotels will have minimum night stays. But with 3 days, you shouldn’t have a problem booking a room. You will likely not be able to book a vacation rental house or apartment, as those tend to book only for week-long stays in peak season.
If you visit outside of peak season, you’ll have more flexibility with vacation rentals, but with just 3 days, I think a hotel, or using the above link to check for apartment or house rentals on Booking.com is the best option. Below are a few suggestions for hotels that will allow a 3-night stay in peak season.
The Inn on the Beach in Harwich Port is located right on Bank Street Beach (one of my favorite smaller town beaches!), and also has private beach access for hotel guests. For a 3-day stay, this is a great option because you can walk to Harwich Port’s downtown, be right on the beach and are in a great location. Rooms are also nicely decorated in a coastal calm design, and a complimentary continental breakfast is included with each stay.
Click here to book your stay at the Inn on the Beach in Harwich Port!
The Chatham Wayside Inn is located right on Main Street in downtown Chatham, so you’ll be within walking distance to all the shops and restaurants. The hotel also has an outdoor pool, an on-site restaurant and free parking.
Click Here to book your stay at the Chatham Wayside Inn!
Eagle Wing Inn in Eastham is located in Eastham, and is only a 5-minute drive from Nauset Lighthouse Beach and Nauset Lighthouse, so you’ll be very close to the National Seashore. There’s also an outdoor pool and continental breakfast included in the room rate.
Click here to book your stay at the Eagle Wing Inn!
Endless Coast Hotel in Wellfleet is a great option if you want to be closer to Provincetown, stay in a smaller, more beachy town but also not be too far from Chatham and the lower to mid-cape towns. This hotel has also been recently renovated, has an outdoor pool, provides coolers and bikes to hotel guests and is a short drive to Cahoon Hollow Beach. For a 3-day stay, this is another great option on the outer Cape!
Click here to book your stay at the Endless Coast Hotel in Wellfleet!
You may also find these posts helpful:
- Best Time Of Year To Visit Cape Cod
- Visiting Cape Cod For The First Time: Things You Must See & Do!
- Best Shopping On Cape Cod
- Best Ice Cream On Cape Cod
- Best Lobster Rolls On Cape Cod
- Best Things To Do On Cape Cod For Adults
- Unique Things To Do On Cape Cod
- Best Sunsets On Cape Cod
- Best Waterfront Restaurants On Cape Cod
- Things To Know When Visiting Cahoon Hollow Beach
- Best Beach Towns In New England
- Best Places To See Seals On Cape Cod
And here are some guides to Cape Cod towns you may also enjoy:
- Best Things To Do In Wellfleet, MA
- Best Things To Do In Harwich, MA
- Best Things To Do In Dennis, MA
- Best Things To Do In Falmouth, MA
- Best Things To Do In Brewster, MA
- Best Things To Do In Provincetown, MA
- Best Things To Do In Chatham, MA
- Best Things To Do In Sandwich, MA
That’s A Wrap On Cape Cod In 3 Days
Even with just 3 days, you can do so much on the Cape and still have time to really enjoy everything on your list and relax. Keep in mind that these are all suggestions, and you can always branch off based on your preferences, and really tailor your itinerary to your needs. But if you were planning to see Cape Cod in 3 days, I hope you’ve found this helpful.
Amy says
Gorgeous photos! Can’t wait to spend a weekend on Cape Cod this summer!