80°
Areas Of Smoke
81%
38
Barnstable County, MA · Atlantic Ocean
Sandy Neck Beach Park
425 Sandy Neck Road, West Barnstable, MA 02668
A six-mile barrier beach on Cape Cod Bay backed by one of the largest dune systems in New England, with a guarded swim area (Bodfish Beach) and an extensive ORV trail behind it.
Today's Conditions
Skip the beach today.
81% rain · NWS alert active · 80°F air
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
Rain showers likely and areas of smoke before 5pm, then areas of smoke and showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 80. South wind around 16 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tonight
Areas of smoke and showers and thunderstorms likely 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 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 70. Southwest wind 10 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Weather
- 80°F air — ideal beach weather
- 81% rain — wet day — beach day is off
Water
- 74°F water — swimmable, refreshing
Safety
- NWS alert active — small craft advisory issued july 18 at 12:41pm edt until july 19 at 12:00pm edt by nws boston/norton ma
24 /100
skip
20 Swim
21 Sunbathe
31 Walk
37 Fish
60 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.
Small Craft Small Craft Advisory
Small Craft Advisory issued July 18 at 12:41PM EDT until July 19 at 12:00PM EDT by NWS Boston/Norton MA
Full NWS statement
* WHAT...Southwest winds 15 to 25 kt with gusts up to 30 kt and seas 3 to 5 feet. * WHERE...Portions of Massachusetts coastal waters and Rhode Island coastal waters. * WHEN...Until noon EDT Sunday. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
Atmosphere
Air Temp
80°F
Light Rain
Wind
16 mph
S
Rain
81%
This Afternoon
UV Peak
5 Moderate
Peaks 12 PM · burn in ~40m
Burn-free before 09 AM & after 02 PM
Tomorrow
82°F
Sunny
Water
Water Temp
74°F
Swimming weather
Next Low Tide
10:38 PM
-0.1 ft · in 1.5h
Wave Height
2.3 ft
S swell
Barometer
29.85 inHg
1011 hPa
Water Quality
Clean
20 cfu/100mL · Enterococcus
USGS · sampled 10mo ago
Rip Current Risk · Regional Reference
No zone-specific NWS forecast for this beach (ANZ231)
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
5:22 AM
Sunset
8:12 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
82°
Sunny
8%
84
81°
Sunny
0%
86
82°
Partly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers
33%
69
79°
Showers And Thunderstorms
87%
4
78°
Chance Rain Showers
51%
58
76°
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny
23%
77
What to Bring Today
- recommended Sturdy umbrella + sand anchor 16 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).
Best Fishing Times Today
Solunar theory: fish activity peaks at moon transits (major) and moonrise/moonset (minor). All times local.
Minor
9:50 PM - 10:50 PM
Major
3:10 AM - 5:10 AM
Minor
9:50 AM - 10:50 AM
Major
3:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Beach Info
Parking
Day pass $20, weekly $80, seasonal $275. Fee charged Memorial Day weekend – Labor Day, 8 AM – 5 PM; free after 5 PM.
Dogs
No dogs on Bodfish (lifeguarded) Beach May 15 – September 15. Permitted on the ORV beach and trails year-round; must be leashed.
Entry Fee
$20 daily parking
Address
425 Sandy Neck Road, West Barnstable, MA 02668
Amenities
Frequently Asked
Is it safe to swim at Sandy Neck Beach Park today?
Sandy Neck Beach Park 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 Sandy Neck Beach Park dog-friendly?
No dogs on Bodfish (lifeguarded) Beach May 15 – September 15. Permitted on the ORV beach and trails year-round; must be leashed.
Is there an entry fee at Sandy Neck Beach Park?
$20 daily parking
Are there lifeguards at Sandy Neck Beach Park?
Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Sandy Neck Beach Park during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.
What amenities are at Sandy Neck Beach Park?
Amenities at Sandy Neck Beach Park include lifeguards, restrooms, showers, snack bar, ORV trail, fishing.
When is the water warmest at Sandy Neck Beach Park?
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 Sandy Neck Beach Park located?
Sandy Neck Beach Park is in Barnstable County, MA, at 425 Sandy Neck Road, West Barnstable, MA 02668.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS