13 Best Cape Cod Hotels, From Falmouth to Provincetown

To drive over the Sagamore Bridge onto Cape Cod is a transformative experience, even for those who do it all the time. There’s a real sense of arrival as this spectacular bridge shoots you up and over the Cape Cod Canal before coming to ground again. And if you journey all the way down the peninsula along Route 6 to Provincetown, you'll see that the Cape is many things to many different people.

Some 69 Wampanoag tribes called this land home and praised it for its rich fishing waters; it was here that the Pilgrims signed the Mayflower Compact, and that the post-World War II prosperity boom and rise of car culture in the 1950s brought droves of families to the beach forevermore. This destination has long been a summer favorite, as quintessentially New England as Ben Affleck starring in Dunkin’ commercial. Since the pandemic, more people than ever are becoming “year-rounders,” which means that good food, fun, and hotels are easier to find than ever. 

Here are some of our favorites—read on to learn more about the best Cape Cod hotels, or jump straight to the area you’d like to stay in.

• Upper Cape: AutoCamp Cape Cod | The Coonamessett | Woods Hole Inn 
• Mid-Cape: Bluebird Dennisport | Pelham House Resort | Red Jacket Beach Resort 
• Lower Cape: Candleberry Inn | Ocean Edge Resort | Wequassett Resort & Golf Club | Chatham Bars Inn | The Chatham Inn 
• Outer Cape: The Anchor Inn Beach House | AWOL Provincetown

What are the best parts of Cape Cod for a vacation?

The beauty of Cape Cod is that in driving end-to-end, which only takes just over an hour, you’ll encounter a number of different communities, each on with a unique vibe and offering. Stay near Upper Cape if you’re traveling as a family. You’ll want the convenience of multiple restaurants, mini-golf courses, antiques in nearby Sandwich, and proximity to trails and nature reserves. Further out you’ll find the less busy Mid-Cape communities of Dennis, Yarmouth, and Harwich, where some Boston-area families tend to have their own beach houses. Dennis, in particular, is considered the Cape’s cultural hub, with art galleries, museum exhibits, and live theater to explore.

The Lower Cape’s communities of Chatham and Brewster are home to some of the Cape’s fanciest hotels, and offer close proximity to the Cape Cod National Seashore for whale-watching and eco-adventures. Further “down” the Cape—which in reality is further north—is the Outer Cape. Its towns like Provincetown and Wellfleet have long attracted artisans, beatniks, and the LGBTQ+ community for their unparalleled natural beauty and anything-goes atmosphere. 

What makes Cape Cod so special?

Oh, what doesn’t make Cape Cod so special? The beaches, the history, the nature preserves—it’s all here, and all relatively close together. If you’re not staying physically on a beach, it’s almost never more than a 10-minute drive to plant your toes in the sand. Aside from beaches, there is a ton to explore here: popular dive bars, award-winning restaurants ranging from fine dining to quintessential clam shacks, activities for the kids, historic sites, and, of course, beautiful hotels.

What's the best time of year to visit Cape Cod?

Peak season runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day, but especially the months of July and August. That’s when you’ll have the longest, warmest days followed by comfortable, breezy nights. Locals know that while the hottest temperatures level off by Labor Day, you’ll still find beautiful weather and the occasional beach day through early October. And while a number of restaurants will close after the holiday season, there is still a die-hard contingent who enjoys winter’s quiet charms. There’s really no bad time of year to visit Cape Cod.

All listings featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you book something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The vibe: Funky, kitted-out Airstreams
Location: Falmouth
Top amenities: A midcentury-modern Clubhouse with views of Buzzards Bay
Nearby attractions: Falmouth’s 10-mile Shining Sea Bikeway abuts the property

Recreate the nostalgia of camping with all the creature comforts of home at AutoCamp Cape Cod. Having opened during the pandemic, this newcomer to the Cape’s hotel scene offers a mix of tented accommodations, refurbished Airstreams, and standalone suites, all situated on a quiet piece of land offering views over nearby Buzzards Bay. Take it all in from the comfort of your private firepit, or—better yet—borrow one of the house bikes and go for a cruise on the nearby Shining Sea Bikeway, which runs through beaches, cranberry bogs, and groves of Cape pines. 

The vibe: A small hotel with a residential feel, overlooking a quiet pond 
Location: Falmouth
Top amenities: Solé cruiser bikes, complimentary breakfast of small plates
Nearby attractions: Ice cream at the must-visit Ben and Bill's Chocolate Emporium

Sometimes you just need to get away, and the Coonamessett, which got a light refresh during the pandemic, is just the thing. It has the idyllic exterior of a cedar shake Cape Cod home, but features a gorgeous interior draped in nautical whites, neutrals, and a dash of black. You won’t find over-the-top amenities like house boats or Michelin-starred dining here, but what you will find is a spacious lawn filled with hammocks, a beach within walking distance, and plenty of room to catch your breath on your next Cape escape. 

The vibe: Off-the-beaten-path
Location: Woods Hole
Top amenities: Claw-foot soaking tubs, super comfy beds, coffee from the roasting company next door
Nearby attractions: The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, one of the foremost ocean research institutes in the world

Visit the Cape’s “elbow” at Woods Hole and you’ll discover a quaint village where time seems to stand still. It may not have the unending offering of mini-golf courses you’ll find in the busier mid-Cape, but what it lacks in gimmicks it makes up for in charm. The award-winning Woods Hole Inn Bed & Breakfast is the place from which to discover this quieter side of the Cape. Originally built in 1887, this B&B has been updated to offer guest rooms with generous square footage, private decks, restored hardwood floors, and cast iron tubs. Breakfast is, of course, a highlight of each stay (make sure to try the delicious homemade quiche). From here, it’s possible to catch the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard for the day—the ferry terminal is right across the street.

The vibe: Great for groups and families not looking to blow the budget
Location: Dennisport
Top amenities: Indoor and outdoor pools
Nearby attractions: Art galleries and theater in neighboring Dennis

A newcomer to the Cape hotel scene, Bluebird Dennisport has quickly carved out a niche for itself—it’s a more elevated experience than the roadside motor lodges of the past, but isn’t overladen with expensive five-star amenities you probably won’t even end up using during your stay. If you’re traveling with kids, or in a group, or are just looking for a reasonable option that still feels curated and well-designed, check this one out. There are a number of room categories but the two-bedroom cottages in particular feel perfect for groups or those traveling with little ones.

The vibe: Elevated yet approachable waterfront resort
Location: Dennis
Top amenities: Live music by the pool every Thursday through Sunday
Nearby attractions: Kayaking and paddleboarding down the road at Swan River

There are plenty of hotels that take themselves too seriously on the Cape, and thankfully Pelham House is not one of them. Don’t get us wrong, there are plenty of bragging rights to be found here—rooms with ocean views, a private beachfront with beverage service, a gorgeous ocean-view pool area, the Roof Deck restaurant which is as fun as it is delicious—but managing partner John McCarthy keeps the atmosphere light and humorous for all too enjoy (just check out Pelham House’s Instagram for proof). With complimentary yoga three times a week, live music Thursdays through Sundays, and an ever-changing roster of dining events and goings-on, it’s impossible to get bored at the Pelham.

The vibe: Plop down on the beach and let the good times roll
Location: South Yarmouth
Top amenities: The only on-the-sand-itself F&B service on mid-Cape
Nearby attractions: Artistic history at the Edward Gorey Museum, local goodies at The Lighthouse Keepers Pantry

Unpretentious and completely lovable, the Red Jacket Beach Resort is the quintessential accessible beach resort which has catered to generations of New England families. Tons of rooms, a number of F&B outlets, cocktail and food service on the beach, activities like beach volleyball, a fleet of house bikes, live entertainment, a kids club—sure, it’s near a number of other mid-Cape attractions, but why leave the property when you have everything at your fingertips? 

The vibe: Historic, luxurious, full of charm
Location: Brewster
Top amenities: Two heartwarming owner-operator innkeepers
Nearby attractions: Cape Cod Museum of Natural History

The Candleberry Inn is a critically-acclaimed B&B run by the type of innkeepers that B&B dreams are made of. Marco and Angelo are present, engaging, know when to offer space, and cook up one hell of a breakfast. Each of the picturesque accommodations inside this lovingly restored 1790s Georgian style sea captain’s home is unique, with some offering fireplaces, patios, seating areas, and soaking tubs. Just six bedrooms in the main house keep the atmosphere intimate and the service personal, and an adjacent three-bedroom carriage house is a good option for groups to book. It’s the kind of place where you’ll want to make your return reservation before check-out.

The vibe: Historic, with all the comforts of modern day
Location: Brewster
Top amenities: A beachfront tiki bar, the Cape’s only Jack Nicklaus–designed golf course
Nearby attractions: Work’n in the Dirt Farm, a charming antiques shop that doubles as a farmers market

History can be found around every turn in this neck of the woods, but Ocean Edge is one property that wears theirs just a little louder and prouder than their peers. A recent inductee into the Historic Hotels of America, this is the type of resort, for example, that (new for this year) offers a “Party Like It's 1899” prix-fixe dining experience, where everything from the menu to the wait staff's attire and room decor reflect how the original owners’ would have dined in the late 19th century. Don’t worry, the ghosts aren’t too bothersome here—there are plenty of modern touches across the 429-acre resort including paddle boarding, oyster bed tours, and a Beach Bar which on clear days offers views across Cape Cod Bay all the way to Provincetown. 

Read a full review of The Villages at Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club.

The vibe: Your fabulous friend’s extravagant Cape estate
Location: Harwich
Top amenities: Shuttle service to explore the nearby towns
Nearby attractions: The Captains Golf Course, one of the best public golf courses in New England

Pulling into the Wequassett’s hydrangea-lined drive, there is a palpable sense of release. The property is tucked away—just minutes from all that Chatham and Harwich and Orleans have to offer—but stands worlds away from the traffic and tourist crowds. The restaurant, Twenty-Eight Atlantic, is among the best fine dining on the Cape, and the pool area overlooking a private bay is, simply put, some of the most beautiful real estate in the region. New for this year, the Wequassett will forgo seasonal closures and open year-round to accommodate the Cape’s growing demand for luxury accommodations in the off-season. Luckily, they’ve also just launched a fabulous partnership with legendary British coat maker Barbour, through which all resort guests will have access to a lending closet of wax jackets and Wellies for those brisk off-season walks.

The vibe: The grande dame of Cape Cod luxury resorts
Location: Chatham
Top amenities: A small fleet of house boats for fishing trips or excursions to the National Seashore
Nearby attractions: The Chatham Fish Pier, a popular spot to watch fishermen and seals

The Chatham Bars Inn, considered a benchmark of luxury and service on the Cape, manages to reinvent itself over and over again to keep up with the times. If you’re looking for a full-service resort with all the bells and whistles and then some, this is it, including an eight-acre private farm to sock the resort’s numerous dining and drinking outlets; one of the better spas on the Cape; an expansive pool deck with F&B service; a private quarter-mile beachfront; tennis courts with lessons available; and a 24-hour gym. 

Read a full review of this hotel.

The vibe: A romantic, intimate adults-only sanctuary
Location: Chatham
Top amenities: Frette towels, Matouk linens, Bulgari bath amenities
Nearby attractions: The Chatham Squire, an iconic dive and Cape Cod institution

Smaller hotels don’t always have the luxe touches that some travelers expect these days, and larger resorts can easily lose that feeling of intimacy and individual attention. Neither are the case at the Chatham Inn—with just 18 guest rooms and suites, this hidden gem manages to deliver the luxury and amenities of something much larger, but still keep its exclusive atmosphere. Whatever you do, make sure to book (at least one) dinner at Cuvée, where chef Isaac Olivo (previously of Jean-Georges in New York City) offers up some of the finest fine dining you’ll find on the entire Cape. 

The vibe: Salty, old-school P-town, just the way we like it
Location: Provincetown, in the heart of the action
Top amenities: One of the only hotels in town to offer parking (for a fee)
Nearby attractions: Every bar, shop, restaurant, and tea dance in town

We’re not going to sugarcoat it: The Anchor is about as straightforward as they come. Yes, it’s in a beautiful historic home, and the rooms are clean, quiet, and quintessentially New England, but people don’t stay here for luxury. They stay here for the location: Most rooms offer views of the water, and the premises is smack-dab in the middle of the action on Commercial Street, literally steps to the Boatslip, where Provincetown’s most popular tea dance takes place.

The vibe: Nouveau P-town, with a contemporary vibe
Location: Provincetown, just beyond Commercial Street
Top amenities: A gorgeous outdoor firepit area, complete with s’mores kits
Nearby attractions: The hotel overlooks Provincetown’s moors, a short bike or walk to downtown

A quintessential saltbox Cape bed and breakfast, AWOL Provincetown is not. The modern, Scandinavian–style design here prioritizes minimalist lines, clean finishes, and the occasional natural touch, such as super-soft microfiber bedding and straw light fixtures. All the better to frame P-town’s natural surroundings. First-floor rooms come with outdoor hammocks, and second-floor rooms come with outdoor day beds. You’d never know you were just a short bike ride or walk away from all the (often rowdy) action of Commercial Street.