After years of traveling to Cape Cod, I’ve really perfected and streamlined my packing routine. I remember packing for our first week-long stay in a vacation rental, and I felt so overwhelmed. Not only by what to wear to make sure I was comfortable for the week, but with also trying to decide what was worth bringing for our rental. If you’re also feeling overwhelmed, and are wondering what to pack for Cape Cod, I’ve got you covered in this post!
This post will also include all my favorite beach accessories that you may find helpful, and my favorite things that have made our Cape Cod vacations much easier over the years. I’ve also included some outfit ideas, which may help you when deciding what to pack for Cape Cod.
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What To Pack For One Week On Cape Cod In The Summer
For a trip in the summer on Cape Cod, here is my personal master packing list I’ve developed over the years. You’ll want to consider some of these when thinking of what to pack for Cape Cod, but for shorter stays, not all of these will be necessary, so be sure to tailor everything to your liking. Vacation rental items and a breakdown of clothing will be covered in separate sections below!
- Clothing – see a breakdown and outfit inspiration below!
- Medications, including general pain relievers just in case.
- Toiletries – Toothbrush, toothpaste, face wash, contact solution, razor, etc. Shower gel and shampoo will be provided at hotels, but may not be included at a rental.
- Tampons or pads if you expect your period.
- 2-5 swimsuits, depending on how often you plan to swim. I go in the ocean almost every day during summer trips (I sometimes also go for evening swims), and usually pack around 5.
- 1-2 swim cover ups.
- Beach accessories (see section below for a breakdown!).
- Hair dryer (a hotel will likely have this, but a vacation rental may not).
- Make-up and skincare.
- Hand cleansing wipes (I keep a pack in our beach bag, and in my purse to wipe our hands after we apply sunscreen)
- Aloe vera for sunburns.
- Bug spray for the beach or nature walks (the beach can sometimes get those annoying beach flies that bite).
- Band-Aids for blisters or any small cuts (I’ve gotten thrown in strong waves and cut myself a few times on the rocks).
- Dramamine if you get seasick and are planning any boat rides or tours.
- Wine carrier or cooler (lots of seafood shacks are BYOB, and with it being warm, chances are you’ll want a cold white wine, champagne, or beer to bring with you).
- Insulated wine thermos and insulated drinkwear (you may not realize you need these! See why in my links below)
- Reusable water bottle
- Things you may need for your vacation rental (see section below!).
- Cash. Some ice cream places (including Sundae School and Schoolhouse) and seafood shacks are still cash only. You can, of course, withdrawal cash once you arrive, but we usually like to have around $50 on us when we arrive so we don’t have to worry about finding at ATM right away. Places like Eden Hand Arts are also cash only.
Helpful Links To Things I Love
East Coast-Style Swimsuit
I have a lot of swimsuits, but one of my favorites is this blue and white striped one from Amazon, believe it or not. It has the perfect East Coast vibe, is a bit different than a standard swimsuit and is really affordable. I ordered the Blue color, and it’s a really pretty royal blue that also pulls slightly teal. It also comes in a few other colors, including a navy (which I’m tempted to buy every year). This is always on my list when deciding what to pack for Cape Cod.
Click here to buy this blue and white striped swimsuit!
Insulated Wine Thermos and Drinkware
Did you know that glass is prohibited on most Cape Cod beaches? So, if you’re looking to do a little sunset picnic with wine or champagne, you’ll want to be sure you have something to decant your wine into. I really love this set, which comes with the wine thermos, and two cups, all of which are insulated and keep our white wine and champagne nice and cold (better than a cooler with ice packs).
Lots of seafood shacks are also BYOB, and allow you to bring alcoholic beverages at no charge, or for a small corkage fee. Sesuit Harbor Cafe is one of them (and also, my favorite lobster roll on the Cape). These also are perfect for keeping your wine or champagne cold for your BYOB outings, so this is something you’ll want to consider when deciding what to pack for Cape Cod.
Click here to buy the insulated wine thermos and drinkware set!
Wine Carrier
Since we love those sunset beach picnics so much, and also love hitting up those BYOB places, we decided to get this cute little wine carrier, and have loved it. Our beach cooler is too big for just a bottle of wine, or even a small picnic, so this is perfect for us. Plus, the wine thermos keeps does a better job at keeping our drinks cold than a cooler with ice packs. This carrier fits two bottles of wine, with a front flap that comes with a cheese board and knives.
Our wine thermos also fits perfectly inside, and we use the other compartment for our insulated cups and a few extra small things (like cheese and crackers if we’re doing a picnic).
This is not insulated, so keep that in mind. That’s why we like using the wine thermos since we have it anyway for drinks on the beach.
Click here to buy this cute little wine carrier!
Reusable Water Bottle
This is really great to have whenever you travel, including when you’re planning what to pack for Cape Cod. This comes in handy for staying hydrated on beach days, when you’re out exploring all day, nature walks or hikes and on boat tours. My husband and I each have a Swell water bottle, and it’s the perfect size for traveling. They don’t take up too much space in our day packs or bags, and hold just enough to stay hydrated without drinking too much and needing a bathroom every 30 minutes.
Click here to buy your Swell reusable water bottle!
Tinted Serum With SPF
This tinted serum by Ilia with SPF 40 is a game changer, and the only foundation I bring with me when I decide what to pack for Cape Cod. I tend to have oily-combination skin in the summer, and this works perfectly. It never breaks me out, provides enough sun protection when I’m out and about in the afternoon, and it’s minimal coverage that gives me a nice, natural and fresh look without feeling heavy. It just feels like skin once applied, and I’m now on my third bottle of it, which goes to show you how much I love it.
I use the shade Formosa ST4, but when trying samples of different shades, I could have gotten away with the shade below and above it because the light coverage is very forgiving. This will not cover everything on your face, but really just evens things out a bit. For evenings out, I’ll apply a little concealer around my face for extra coverage.
Click here to buy your Ilia Serum Skin Tint With SPF 40!
Osea Face Mist
After a day at the beach, this Sea Vitamin Boost Facial Mist by Osea feel so, so good. I do use this year-round, but find I especially enjoy it in the summer after being out in the sun all day. A few mists around my face, and my skin feels hydrated, glowy and brought back to life. It works really well under the Ilia Skin Tint Serum as well. I often use it right after I shower after a beach day, and right before bed.
Click here to buy your Osea Sea Vitamin Boost Facial Mist!
RMS Bronzer
I’ve been using the RMS Buriti Bronzer for years in the summer season, and I’ve never wanted to buy another bronzer – ever. This always comes with me when I’m planning what to pack for Cape Cod. I love this particular one because it’s a smooth and blendable cream formula that looks incredibly natural, and the undertone is more red, which gives me the appearance of just having been sun-kissed, without the damaging effects of tanning.
I place this on the tops of my cheekbones, a little on my nose and my chin (wherever the sun should naturally hit my face the most), and it provides the perfect, sun-kissed look that I love if I’m heading out to Provincetown or Chatham for the day (or on a date with my husband!).
Click here to buy your RMS Buriti Bronzer!
What To Pack For Cape Cod: Beach Accessories
Depending on how much time you plan to spend at the beach, you’ll want to make sure you’ve brought everything you need to be comfortable for lounging in the sand all day. You may not need everything on this list, but if you’re like me, and spend the whole day at the beach multiple times during each trip, some of these things may be helpful when thinking about what to pack for Cape Cod.
Tip: Your hotel or vacation rental may provide some of these things, but it’s best to double check with your accommodation to see what you need. Things like beach chairs and umbrellas are common at hotels (especially if it’s near a beach, or is a higher end hotel). Vacation rentals may provide the same, in addition to coolers and ice packs. Always check with the owner if you have any questions.
- Beach umbrella, canopy or tent
- Beach chairs
- Sun hat
- Sunscreen
- Beach sandals that you can get wet
- Beach pillow (I love these for naps at the beach, and the inflatable ones for camping are so easy to use)
- Books (alternatively, you could support a local bookstore on the Cape, and buy a book or two!)
- Beach bag
- Beach bag essentials like a wide-toothed hair comb, chip clips to keep snack bags closed, extra hair ties and wipes to wipe down hands after applying sunscreen).
- Cooler
- Ice packs for picnics
- Beach blanket
- Beach towels
- Boogie boards or floaties (floaties are not generally permitted at the National Seashore, but most town beaches with calm water allow them. It’s always the lifeguard’s discretion, but we’re usually able to use them. Boogie boards are always allowed at all beaches).
- Floatie inflator (definitely check this out below, it’s tiny and incredibly helpful!)
Helpful Links To My Favorite Beach Accessories
These are the specific beach accessories we use a lot and really love!
Hopefully this helps you if you’re looking to buy some things to prepare for your trip.
Beach Tent
This is what I bring with me when I travel solo to the Cape. I really wanted something sturdier than an umbrella for days when winds are a bit gusty, and I also wanted something I could easily set up and take down myself. Guys, this pop-up beach tent is awesome.
The style I purchased is no longer available, but they have a newer version for the same price. If you need a beach shelter that’s super easy to put up, I can’t recommend this enough. It takes me less than five minutes, and packs up into an easy-to-carry bag, too. The past few years on the Cape, I’ve seen more and more solo travelers using these pop-up tents, so I’m not the only one who seems to like them!
Click here to buy your pop-up beach tent!
Beach Cabana
A newer addition to our beach accessories is this Cool Cabana beach tent, and my husband and I love this thing. This gives us a bit more room under the shade than the pop-up tent, and is completely open. I use this when my husband and I travel together because even though it’s marketed as easy to set-up with one person, I actually have a hard time doing it on my own just because of the larger size. So we use this when we go to the beach together.
We decided on the Medium size, which is perfect for two people. Online, it says the Medium will fit four people, but I think that would be a stretch. I would recommend the Large size for more than two people, for sure. You can kind of tell in the picture above how four people would be a stretch.
With two people, this is very easy to set-up, and it takes less than 5 minutes. It’s basically a giant umbrella that’s anchored by four sides that you put sand into to hold them down. We’ve tested this is winds up to 15-17 MPH, and it does very well. Winds stronger than that may be tough, though. Overall, even though it was a bit more expensive than the pop-up tent, we love this thing.
You obviously don’t need both the tent and canopy, so definitely decide which works best for you and your plans! These also come in different colors and patterns. There seems to be a lot of generic ones available on Amazon, and I can’t speak to the quality of those, as we got the original one by Cool Cabana, so be sure to check the brand before purchasing.
Click here to buy your Cool Cabana Beach Canopy!
Beach Pillow
I love taking naps at the beach if we’re there all day – it’s inevitable that the sound of the waves will lull me to sleep. Once I got these inexpensive beach pillows, I was so comfortable. And after one trip to the beach where I used this a ton, my husband ordered one immediately for himself, so this is always on our list of what to pack for Cape Cod. They roll up into nothing, are waterproof and take up no space in our beach bag. I really love these.
Click here to order your inflatable beach pillow!
Beach Bag
I actually have quite a selection of beach bags that I’ve collected over the years, and you’ll see me using different ones in different photos. But my favorite is actually this inexpensive one from Amazon. It’s sturdy, washable, and comes in a few different colors and patterns, and I love the nautical rope handle.
Click here to buy this blue and white striped beach bag!
Sun Hat
I was so hesitant to spend $60 on a sunhat, but I had my eye on this for a long time. When I finally pulled the trigger, I was so happy I did. I love this hat because it’s perfect to wear at the beach, and an afternoon out, and works with pretty much any outfit. It’s also perfectly and classically New England.
Inside, it has a size adjuster that you control with two strings so it will fit most head sizes, and those ties double as a way to secure your hat to a bag (which is what I do all the time). It also comes in different color options for the bow. You’ve seen this hat is so many of my photos, so that’s a testament to how much I love and recommend it.
Click here to buy this New England-inspired sun hat!
Beach Towels
I’ve accumulated quite a few beach towels over the years (some of them just because they’re cute, no judgement!). But my favorite ones, and the ones both my husband and I reach for the most, are the microfiber towels from Dock & Bay. They dry super fast, repel sand and fold up smaller than our other traditional beach towels. If you need to buy anything for your Cape Cod trip, I would recommend getting a few of these.
They also come in two sizes, and the XL size is perfect for getting that blanket feeling while you towel off after a swim. We have the L and the XL, but prefer the XL. These are always included on our list of what to pack for Cape Cod. They also come in nice canvas drawstring bags, which we use to keep our phones and keys and such in at the beach so we can find them easier in our bag.
and still have tons of room for everything else.
Click here to buy your towels from Dock & Bay!
Waterproof Beach Blanket
This is another recent discovery for us, but we use it ALL the time, and love it. This beach blanket is made of a parachute-like material, and it’s completely waterproof, and shakes off sand super easily. My husband and I both like to sit in the sand when we go to the beach, but we were tired of packing extra towels, or blankets to sit on that just stayed soggy the whole day. This was the perfect solution! It also has pockets on each corner you can fill with sand to anchor it down.
If you have beach chairs, you likely won’t need this, but if you like to sit in the sand, we both love it. We do use this in conjunction with our beach tent or canopy.
Click here to buy your waterproof beach blanket!
Boogie Boards
For days we go to a beach with bigger waves, we bring our boogie boards with us. For years, we used cheap ones we found at, I kid you not, CVS. But we finally had to upgrade because they were meant for small children, and they didn’t work that great for adults. We searched high and low at all the beach supply shacks on the Cape, and finally decided that these ones from Amazon were best for us, and we love them.
While these say they’re for children, they work really well for us (and are bigger and sturdier than the ones we previously had). I also liked the simple striped pattern, and they come in different colors. These always come with us when packing for Cape Cod so we can enjoy riding the big waves.
Every year, we see more and more people with boogie boards, from young children to seniors! It’s possible you’ll be sad you don’t have a board once you arrive, so this is definitely something to think about for your trip.
Click here to buy your boogie boards!
Beach Floaties
I posted this lobster floatie on Instagram last year because yes, as a 30-something adult, I bought this for myself at a beach supply shack on the Cape. And guess what? I love it. I got quite a few messages from people asking where I got it, and I finally found it on Amazon. If you’re looking for an awesome, New England floatie for your trip, I love this thing. Definitely not necessary, but also very fun!
Click here to buy your lobster floatie!
Floatie Inflator
You’re probably thinking of a huge pump that seems cumbersome and not worth bringing with you, right? Well guys, what if I told you that the one we use fits in the palm of your hand and takes up no space at all in your beach bag? This one amazing, charges via USB and can even be used to start beach fires and inflate your beach pillow. It doesn’t inflate your things at lightening speed, but it’s fast enough considering the size, and super convenient.
If you bring floaties with you to the beach, or use them in a pool, definitely get this. We love it. It would be great for families with children that need to use safety arm floaties as well.
Click here to buy your floatie inflator!
Drink Koozies
So, these are definitely not necessary, but they are super cute, and whenever I post about them, I get asked where to buy them. These are mostly just for fun, but they do help to keep your drinks cool at the beach, too. We bring these with us for our canned drinks when we spend the whole day at the beach, and almost always get people stop to ask where we got them, so I wanted to give them a mention. They come in three colors, and we found ours on Amazon.
Click here to buy your life jacket drink koozies!
What To Pack For A Cape Cod Vacation Rental
If you’re staying for a week on on the Cape, chances are you’ve booked a vacation rental, especially if you’re traveling in the summer. When deciding what to pack for Cape Cod for your stay in a rental, there are some things that you’ll want to look out for, as not all basic amenities are always included. I’m going to break down specific things to double check for, as well as helpful items we started to bring with us over the years.
Keep in mind that while you’ll see that some vacation rentals don’t provide some big items, they’ll usually have a fully-stocked kitchen, so you shouldn’t need to pack anything like dinnerware, drinkware, utensils, basic cooking pots and pans, dish soap, wine glasses or corkscrews. If in doubt, you can always ask the owner, or read reviews online. And always double check because there is no standard for stocked items at a vacation rental, as each one is different.
- Bedding, including sheets, blankets, pillow cases and a comforter or blanket. Some vacation rentals don’t include bed linens. Be sure to check the listing before you book, or before you begin packing for your vacation. Some rentals will provide linen service for an additional fee. We have a designated set of bedding that we use just for Cape Cod trips, since we stay at the same place for most of our vacations.
- Bathroom towels. This would also fall into the same category as bed linens. Some vacation rentals don’t offer these as standard, and may have an option to add these on for an additional fee. We always bring our own bathroom towels with us – x2 per person.
- Hand soap. This is commonly provided at rentals but not always. We usually pack the kind we use at home, and then just bring it back home with us if we don’t use it. You may want to skip this one, but I wanted to mentioned it just in case.
- Laundry detergent. If your rental has a washer and dryer, it’s not a bad idea to bring a small thing of laundry detergent in case you want to wash any dirty clothes or swimsuits. Some rentals may provide it, but in our experience, many do not.
- Toiletries like shampoo and shower gel. These are often not included at a vacation rental, so we always buy a bottle of shower gel to bring with us (since we’re bar soap users at home), and pack our own shampoo for the week.
- Toilet paper, paper towels and tissues. Some rentals may not be fully stocked, so if you have a large group, or see you only have 1-2 rolls, it’s a good idea to pack some (or buy some on your first day). We’re now in the habit of just bringing them with us for week-long stays.
- Food storage containers & sandwich baggies. If you plan to pack lunches to bring to the beach, it’s not a bad idea to bring some reusable tupperware and/or sandwich baggies. We use tupperware for bringing watermelon chunks, sandwiches and cheese to the beach. We just use whatever we have at home and throw it all in our cooler when packing – no need to get all new stuff.
- Ice packs for beach picnics (you could also just buy lots of ice and store in your freezer if your rental comes with one that’s full-size). We’ve always just found bringing our ice packs from home easier.
Tip: When we pack up our bed linens and bathroom towels, we pack them in big garbage bags. This makes it easy when packing up to leave your rental because you can toss them right back into the garbage bag, and when you get home, throw them directly in your washer. You can also do this with your beach towels and blankets.
What To Pack For Cape Cod: Summer Clothing
Okay! Now that we have everything else packed, let’s talk about clothing. If you’re planning to travel in the summer season, and are wondering what to pack for Cape Cod when it comes to outfits, I’ve got lots of suggestions for you. Here’s a general breakdown of clothing to pack for a week-long stay in the summer:
- Swimwear and cover-ups as discussed above.
- Underwear, bras, socks, etc. Think about the kinds of shoes you plan on wearing, and bring the appropriate socks. I’ve packed sneakers for morning jogs, and have forgotten to pack athletic socks. Ladies, also think about if you need a specific bra for an outfit, like a strapless one, for example.
- 2-4 sundresses. I live in sundresses when I go to the Cape because they’re the easiest for me. I love that I can just throw it on, and not have to worry about coordinating tops and bottoms. They also take up less space for this reason. I personally always go for about 4-5 sundresses for a week-long stay (one of which is my nice outfit for a dinner out).
- 2-4 pairs of shorts. If you pack 4 sundresses or so, you’ll likely only need 1-2 pairs of shorts. But pack more if you’re a shorts and top kind of person.
- 5-6 t-shirts and tanks for any shorts you bring. One will likely be what you wear for the drive home.
- Workout clothes if you plan to exercise or go on any hikes or nature walks.
- A light sweater, sweatshirt or jacket for chillier days, evenings or boat rides. I usually pack a lightweight cardigan that works with a lot of different outfits, and then pack a Cuffy’s sweatshirt (or buy a new one while I’m there) as a more casual option.
- 1 pair of pants or jeans for chillier days (I usually go for a pair of white jeans or navy blue chino-type pants).
- Pajamas.
- Footwear: I usually pack one pair of sandals that I can wear with sundresses and walk around a lot in, 1 pair of flip flops for shorts/t-shirt days, 1 pair of beach flip flops, 1 pair of sneakers for morning jogs and 1 pair of dressier shoes for our nice dinners out.
- Thigh-saver. This is a recent thing that I sometimes use. For anyone who lives in sundresses like I do, but gets thigh burn from thighs rubbing together all day, a thigh saver is super helpful! This is different from a body slimming thing – it’s just a light-weight pair of shorts that’s almost like a tights material that you wear under dresses, and they’re undetectable and I barely notice that I’m wearing it. I wear these when I have a longer walking day, like exploring Provincetown or Chatham.
- For guys, you’ll likely live in shorts and t-shirts or button-down short-sleeved shirts. Guys will also want 1-2 pairs of long pants for colder nights or a nice dinner out, and 1-2 nice shirts if you plan to go out to a nice restaurant. My husband usually packs 1-2 pairs of flip flops, 1 pair of sneakers for morning jogs, and 1-2 pairs of boat shoes (which work for nice outfits, too).
- Hats. I usually pack 1 cute straw-type hat and one baseball hat to wear while walking around to keep the sun off my face. This also keeps me from having to do my hair/bangs every day.
- Purses. I usually bring one small crossbody, one tote bag for shopping and one bag that goes with my nice dinner outfit. Sometimes I get lazy and skip the dinner outfit bag, though.
Cape Cod Outfit Ideas For Summer
When deciding what to pack for Cape Cod, the trick to packing clothes for any vacation is to include things that all work together. And if you’re looking to get some Cape Cod outfit ideas for summer, or maybe just want to streamline your packing so everything works with a Cape Cod style, I have some inspiration for you below.
The great thing is New England outfits usually use a lot of the same colors and patterns, and they all work really well together.
Of course, it’s not necessary to only pack clothes that would fall into a specific style, but if you’re interested in streamlining your packing for this particular aesthetic, here are a few tips when coming up with Cape Cod outfit ideas.
- New England style is very casual, for the most part, and grounded in lots of blues, neutrals and stripes, making it really easy to coordinate outfits. Block prints also work well. It tends to be pretty simple and classic, and not often trendy.
- You don’t need to dress up a lot on Cape Cod, unless you’re going out to a fancy dinner. Most of the time, you’ll see people in shorts, t-shirts, baseball hats and flip flops. Sundresses are also popular, and double as a night-out outfit.
- For a nice dinner out, you still don’t have to go super fancy. I often wear a midi or maxi-length sundress, sandals with a low heel or espadrilles, a handbag that goes with the outfit, and throw on a brighter lipstick to feel a little more put together. Men can do khaki or chino pants, a long-sleeved button down and shoes (even boat shoes work).
The places I find the most luck with getting coastal New England-inspired pieces are J.Crew and J.Crew Factory (especially for dresses, swimwear, whimsical/nautical patterns and tops), Old Navy (also great for dresses), Joules USA (great tops, jackets and dresses) and Tuckernuck for special and investment pieces, as well as the sunhat I’ve mentioned earlier in this post.
When looking for clothes, I tend to look for things in a stripe pattern, lots of blues in different hues, and neutrals. And let me tell you, I own about 10+ blue striped dresses 🙂 BUT, they go with everything, feel really classic and fit in so well on Cape Cod. Generally, that tends to be my own personal style year-round.
I also like to pick out a few whimsical patterned pieces, like a lobster-print t-shirt for example, as a fun way to mix it up. J.Crew typically does a pretty good job with East Coast/New England whimsical prints.
I’ve created a few New England fashion mood boards with outfit ideas you can use for inspiration. Most of these are screenshots from my own wardrobe to give you an idea of how I mix similar colors and patterns that will compliment each other to make packing more functional.
Please keep in mind that there are no links to products, simply because I know how quickly things sell out, and the links will be broken within a few weeks or months. Use these for inspiration, and then go from there.
Also keep in mind that you should dress however you feel comfortable. You don’t have to dress any certain way for any vacation, and you should always feel like yourself.
What Is Cape Cod Casual Attire?
Cape Cod casual attire is pretty relaxed, and similar to most beach-casual attire in most destinations. Shorts, t-shirts or tank tops, sandals, sundresses and baseball or sun hats would fall into Cape Cod casual attire. Generally speaking, most people only wear swimsuits and cover-ups at the beach or at a beach bar. It’s not common to see people walking around town in beachwear, so definitely keep that in mind.
What To Wear On Cape Cod in May
May on the Cape can be a bit chilly and rainy, or warm and sunny, so it’s sometimes a challenge to decide what to wear on Cape Cod in May. The truth is, you really never know until about a few days, or a week before what kind of weather you’ll experience. Be sure to check the forecast a few days prior, and then begin to pack based on average temperature and rain predictions.
Generally speaking, you’ll want to consider packing these items when deciding what to wear on Cape Cod in May:
- Pants (jeans, khakis or chinos) – You’ll likely wear these the most in May unless it’s unseasonably warm.
- 1 pair of shorts if the weather is predicting warm weather during the day.
- Sundresses – these are also a great option if you prefer them over pants, as you can pair them with sweaters.
- T-shirts and tops – Unless it’s very warm, you’ll likely want to stick to t-shirts and tops with short sleeves. You may also want to consider 1-2 long-sleeved tops for evenings, or if you plan to spend some time at the beach for sunset.
- Sweaters, sweatshirts and jackets – A waterproof or rain jacket is a good idea for the month of May, and I would suggest packing one casual sweatshirt, as well as 1-2 sweaters. You’ll likely need them every night.
- Hats – A baseball hat and a sun hat to keep the sun out of your face on nice days.
- Sandals and shoes – You’ll still likely want to pack sandals for May, but you may want to consider a pair of walking sneakers in addition to 1-2 pairs of sandals. Pack athletic sneakers for nature walks and hikes if you plan to do any.
- Swimsuit – only pack a swimsuit for a May Cape Cod trip if you’re brave! The water will still be very cold at this point.
What To Wear On Cape Cod In September
September weather on Cape Cod can still very much feel like summer and can get a bit chiller later in the month. A few days prior to leaving, double check the weather and pack accordingly based on temperature predictions. For the most part, you’ll want to pack similarly to summer, but swap out 1 pair of shorts for pants, and pack an extra sweatshirt or sweater for evenings.
Water temperatures in early to mid September are often the warmest, so definitely pack a swimsuit!
During the day in September, it will often still feel like summer, so just plan for chillier evenings, and you should be all set. And as always, remember that New England weather can fluctuate from year to year, so be sure to check the weather predictions prior to packing to make sure you’re prepared, in case it’s unseasonably warm or cold.
What To Pack For Cape Cod In The Fall
Packing for Cape Cod in the fall will be similar to my suggestions for May (see above). In early-mid October, it’s possible that if September was warm, the water will still be warm enough for a swim (but will definitely be colder!), so take a look at water temperature reports a few days prior to packing to see if you should consider packing a swimsuit.
If you’re planning to visit mid-late October through November, I wouldn’t suggest a swimsuit unless you have a wet suit (or are very brave!).
Packing for Cape Cod in the fall season (late September – November) should include:
- Pants (no shorts needed!)
- Tops – T-shirts and long-sleeved tops to match your pants
- Dresses – Sundresses can be considered based on weather (just be sure to pair them with a sweater)
- Footwear – 1 pair of sandals if you’re expecting warmer days in early fall, 1 pair of casual sneakers, 1 pair of athletic sneakers if you plan on doing any hikes or nature walks and 1 pair of espadrilles or nice shoes for dinners out (if needed). If you’re planning to visit in late fall, I suggest you swap the sandals for duck boots for beach walks.
- Sweaters and sweatshirts – 2 sweaters that can be worn with your pants/tops and dresses. You’ll also want to throw in one casual sweatshirt.
- Jackets – For October-November, I’d pack 1 jacket that’s medium warmth in case it gets too cold for just a sweater.
- Hats, gloves and scarves – It’s possible you’ll experience some colder days in late October through November. You’ll want to look at the weather and decide if you need these. At minimum, I would pack a hat and scarf, especially since the beach will be colder than elsewhere.
Click here to read about all the best things to do on Cape Cod in the fall!
You may also find these posts helpful:
- Best Time To Visit Cape Cod
- Best Ice Cream On Cape Cod
- Best Lobster Rolls On Cape Cod
- Ultimate List Of The Best Things To Do On Cape Cod
- Unique Things To Do On Cape Cod
- Best Things To Do On Cape Cod For Adults
- Best Scenic Walks & Hikes On Cape Cod
- Best Waterfront Restaurants On Cape Cod
- Best Things To Do On Martha’s Vineyard
- Best Beach Towns In New England
- Ultimate Guide To The Cape Cod National Seashore Beaches
And here are some guides I’ve created on Cape Cod towns you may also find helpful:
- 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 What To Pack For Cape Cod
Now you should feel ready when it comes time to decide what to pack for Cape Cod! Of course, adjust as necessary based on how long you stay, your type of accommodation, and your personal preference. But I wanted to make a comprehensive list for everything you may need to have an easy and comfortable trip to make sure you don’t forget anything.
And of course, since Cape Cod is a residential area as well as being a vacation destination, should you forget anything, there are plenty of places you can go to pick up clothing, groceries and toiletries.
