78°
Rain Showers
81%
40
Barnstable County, MA · Atlantic Ocean
Coast Guard Beach
A National Park Service beach in the Cape Cod National Seashore at Eastham. Often ranked among Dr. Beach's top US beaches. No private cars at the beach itself — visitors park at Doane Rock and take a shuttle. Open Atlantic surf, towering dunes, the old Coast Guard station on the bluff.
Today's Conditions
Skip the beach today.
81% rain · NWS alert active · 78°F air
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
Rain showers and areas of smoke. Cloudy. High near 78, with temperatures falling to around 72 in the afternoon. South wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Tonight
Rain showers likely and areas of smoke before 8pm, then areas of smoke and a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8pm and 9pm, then areas of smoke and showers and thunderstorms likely between 9pm and 10pm, then patchy smoke and showers and thunderstorms likely between 10pm and 1am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 1am and 5am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Southwest wind 12 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Weather
- 78°F air — ideal beach weather
- 81% rain — wet day — beach day is off
Water
- 74°F water — swimmable, refreshing
Safety
- NWS alert active — rip current statement issued july 18 at 12:40pm edt until july 19 at 8:00pm edt by nws boston/norton ma
26 /100
skip
21 Swim
23 Sunbathe
32 Walk
61 Photo
Best for photography today
Water level 0.9 ft above predicted
Observed water level is running higher than the astronomical tide prediction. Expect a narrower beach, faster-rising water, and stronger near-shore currents than the tide chart suggests.
Rip Currents Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 18 at 12:40PM EDT until July 19 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Boston/Norton MA
Full NWS statement
* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents expected. * WHERE...Washington, Southern Bristol MA, Barnstable MA, Dukes MA, Nantucket MA, and Newport RI Counties. * WHEN...From Sunday morning through Sunday evening. * IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water.
Weather alert in effect
Air Quality Alert issued July 17 at 6:08PM EDT by NWS Boston/Norton MA
Atmosphere
Air Temp
78°F
Mostly Clear
Wind
15 mph
S
Rain
81%
This Afternoon
UV Peak
5 Moderate
Peaks 11 AM · burn in ~40m
Burn-free before 09 AM & after 03 PM
Tomorrow
76°F
Mostly Sunny
Water
Water Temp
74°F
Swimming weather
Next Low Tide
10:38 PM
-0.1 ft · in 1.6h
Wave Height
2.3 ft
S swell
Barometer
29.85 inHg
1011 hPa
Water Quality
Elevated
87 MPN/100mL · Enterococcus
USGS · sampled 10mo ago
Rip Current Risk · Regional Reference
No zone-specific NWS forecast for this beach (ANZ254)
The BOX office's Surf Zone Forecast doesn't cover this beach's forecast zone directly. Nearby coastal zones it does cover are listed below — regional reference only, not a substitute for the conditions at this specific beach.
- MAZ022 Barnstable MA — Chatham, Eastham, and Provincetown n/a
- MAZ024 Nantucket MA — Nantucket n/a
- MAZ023 Dukes MA — Edgartown and Aquinnah n/a
- MAZ020 Southern Bristol MA — Westport, Dartmouth, and New Bedford n/a
- RIZ007 Newport RI — Newport, Middletown, and Little Compton n/a
- RIZ006 Washington RI — Narragansett, Charlestown, and Westerly n/a
- RIZ008 Block Island RI — Block Island n/a
- MAZ019 Eastern Plymouth MA — Cohasset, Duxbury, Hingham, Kingston, n/a
- MAZ015 Suffolk MA-Eastern Norfolk MA — Boston, Chelsea, Revere, Winthrop, n/a
- MAZ007 Eastern Essex MA — Beverly, Gloucester, and Newburyport n/a
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
5:20 AM
Sunset
8:11 PM
Moon · 18%
Waxing Crescent
Neap tides — smaller range
Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:29 AM | High | 5.9 ft |
| 10:22 AM | Low | -0.5 ft |
| 4:07 PM | High | 5.3 ft |
| 10:38 PM | Low | -0.1 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 4:24 AM | High | 5.5 ft |
| 11:08 AM | Low | -0.4 ft |
| 4:59 PM | High | 5.3 ft |
| 11:33 PM | Low | -0.0 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 5:20 AM | High | 5.1 ft |
| 11:55 AM | Low | -0.2 ft |
| 5:52 PM | High | 5.2 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:30 AM | Low | 0.0 ft |
| 6:18 AM | High | 4.7 ft |
| 12:42 PM | Low | -0.0 ft |
| 6:45 PM | High | 5.1 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:29 AM | Low | 0.0 ft |
| 7:18 AM | High | 4.4 ft |
| 1:32 PM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| 7:39 PM | High | 5.1 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:27 AM | Low | 0.0 ft |
| 8:16 AM | High | 4.1 ft |
| 2:22 PM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 8:32 PM | High | 5.0 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:23 AM | Low | -0.0 ft |
| 9:13 AM | High | 4.0 ft |
| 3:12 PM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| 9:24 PM | High | 5.0 ft |
High/low predictions from NOAA station 8447435, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
76°
Mostly Sunny
10%
81
76°
Sunny
0%
85
77°
Partly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers
26%
74
80°
Showers And Thunderstorms
87%
4
78°
Rain Showers Likely
55%
54
77°
Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny
27%
75
What to Bring Today
- recommended Sturdy umbrella + sand anchor 15 mph wind
- optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 74°F
- recommended Rain cover + dry bag 81% chance of rain
Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).
Beach Info
Parking
No direct parking; mandatory shuttle from Little Creek lot off Doane Rd, mid-June through Labor Day. $15/vehicle Cape Cod National Seashore daily pass.
Dogs
Dogs prohibited on protected-piping-plover beach July 1 – mid-September. Leashed access permitted otherwise.
Entry Fee
Cape Cod National Seashore vehicle pass: $25/7-day or $60/annual.
Address
Doane Rd, Eastham, MA 02642
Amenities
Frequently Asked
Is it safe to swim at Coast Guard Beach today?
Coast Guard Beach shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. Seasonal lifeguards patrol the swim area in summer — follow their flags. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.
Is Coast Guard Beach dog-friendly?
Dogs prohibited on protected-piping-plover beach July 1 – mid-September. Leashed access permitted otherwise.
Is there an entry fee at Coast Guard Beach?
Cape Cod National Seashore vehicle pass: $25/7-day or $60/annual.
Are there lifeguards at Coast Guard Beach?
Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Coast Guard Beach during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.
What amenities are at Coast Guard Beach?
Amenities at Coast Guard Beach include lifeguards, restrooms, showers, shuttle service.
When is the water warmest at Coast Guard Beach?
Atlantic water temperatures peak in August. Northern beaches (ME, NH, MA) run cool — typically 60-68°F at the summer peak. Mid-Atlantic (NJ, DE, MD, VA) hits 74-76°F. The Carolinas and Florida Atlantic warm into the 80s and stay swimmable from May through October.
Where is Coast Guard Beach located?
Coast Guard Beach is in Barnstable County, MA, at Doane Rd, Eastham, MA 02642.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS