Coast Guard Beach, Atlantic beach in Eastham, United States.
Coast Guard Beach is a wide Atlantic beach in Eastham, Massachusetts, within the Cape Cod National Seashore. It faces open ocean and is backed by tall sand dunes covered in beach grass, with tidal flats and salt marshes stretching behind the dune line.
This stretch of coast saw many shipwrecks over the centuries due to shifting sandbars and powerful Atlantic storms. A Life-Saving Service station was built here in the late 19th century, and it later became a Coast Guard station, giving the beach its current name.
The beach takes its name from a former Coast Guard station that still stands nearby and is now used as a visitor center. It sits within Cape Cod National Seashore, a protected area that has kept this stretch of shoreline free from development.
In summer, parking near the beach fills up quickly and a shuttle bus runs from a larger lot a short distance away. Arriving early in the morning gives you more space and easier access before the crowds build up.
This beach was named one of the best in the United States by a well-known survey in 1975, which brought it widespread attention and a lasting reputation. What few visitors notice is how much the shoreline shifts each year due to erosion, so the beach looks noticeably different from one season to the next.
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