Big parking lot, get there by 11. Water is warm and reasonably calm. Family oriented crowd. Beach is nice, a little bit rocky with shell pieces but not good. Restrooms nearby and food. I thnk this my fav cape cod beach overall. read more

Five in a row unclaimed! This is a nice beach but it seriously needs to be raked. Lots of debris that could easily be removed. $25 to park. Star knock for being unclaimed. read more

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Big sandy beach, there's a good bit of seaweed and jellyfish and crab shells to enjoy. Lots of parking and lots of space at this beach. The off-season is always good when there's no fees and there's plenty of room. Nice volleyball courts & food is across the street. If you want to get a lobster roll or burger and of course a great sunset they I'm enjoying it right now. read more

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I have not been here for a while, and one of the only things I remember is there was a lot of seaweed. Otherwise it's just a decent beach with nothing special. read more

Decent family beach, the majority of our party consisting of four families with 1-2 kids per party(age range 4-13 y/o) enjoyed this beach. Pros: - access to bathroom facilities(check times, the day we went was opened until 4:30 pm) -outdoor showers to rinse -parking lot relatively close to sand. Made it easy to make multiple trips to the car. - waters warm enough for kids -near restaurants(we didn't venture but good to know) Cons: -sand can be rough due to seashells. I used swim shoes which helped a lot - waves at times seemed a little rough at times and windy, but kids enjoyed it. Tips: Check parking lot price(which also lets you access to other beaches that day). We got to this beach around 9am on a Thursday during the summer. Had plenty of spots to choose. Not sure if this would be the case on the weekends. read more

Really wide beach with ample parking. Lots of seaweed though but kids could swim without having to do deal with major waves. Clean bathrooms as well! read more

Great beach for walking! You can walk up and down the beach for hours. Also, locals like to create seashell art and and cairns at the far end of the beach. There are usually some little creations to enjoy along your walk. During the summer, this beach can get very crowded, but during the Spring and Fall it's a great place to walk. read more

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Our second visit to a Cape Beach was a lot more satisfactory than our trip to the gravel pit that was Sandy Neck. There was sand here!! Not stones and rocks. It was $15 to park, but what was mind-blowing to me was how close the beach was to the parking lot -I mean four steps out of your car and you were walking on sand. The beach was scenic and pleasant. Some seaweed and shells as you approach the shoreline, but none of the horrible rocks we found at Sandy Neck. We were told that the water here was colder than at Sandy Neck, but I didn't find that to be the case at all. We were there on a Wednesday, arriving around 11:30 and staying until 3:30. The beach wasnt very crowded and everyine had plenty of room. There is a pretty big bath-house with OK facilities. There is no food service here, but there are two clam-shacks right across the street. There was one humorous thing I want to share with you. One of the lifeguards went on the loudspeaker to talk about jellyfish stings and how to treat them. He had a ton of personality, and not only was he informative, but he was also very funny and very entertaining. read more

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Great family beach with facilities. Bathrooms Showers and food across the street. Sandy beach great for walking read more

This would have been a two-star review because of how filthy the beach was and the amount of Jellyfish (can't be helped) but I gave a star just for a good restroom, showers and a change area which are hard to find. The town needs to pick up it's act cleaning up the space though! read more

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Our family has been coming to this hotel for years. We loved all the upgrades that were made with the new owners. I wish I could give the location ten stars because it's a very walkable distance to a beautiful beach. The world famous Four Seas Homemade Ice Cream is right across the street and the 1856 Country Store is one city block away. The free breakfast has everything we need from fun cereals to healthy oatmeal. The pool is very clean and is right next to a grassed area to sunbathe or even play corn hole. The rooms are very clean and downright cute with new quilts/bedding and the seem to be new TV's. I'm very sensitive to smells, especially smoking. I am very grateful they are so strict about not allowing smoking. My only wish would be for better WiFi service but a gentleman on line at Four Seas told me it's an issue on the whole Cape during the summer. I hope I don't regret pointing this out but this hotel is the least expensive of its kind in the area. Definitely stay at The Craigville Beach Inn. We might run into each other next July and then again in August. read more

With scandalous views of near-naked shorelines, soft crystalline sand and plenty of post-up space, this stretch has all the makings of Destination: BeachCore 2K12. But! A native Floridian cannot (and will not) condone a $20 tax to park at a natural attraction. I mean, you can watch California harbor seals hump for $8 by golly! I understand the need for preservation and maintenance, but tack on a pee fee or something at the bath house (which closes at 4:30p, as they announce via loudspeaker, ad nauseum). Still, a strong four for all the nature beauty. BUT! The list of "No _____" is a whale's tail long. A list that includes (but not limited to): paddle ball, football, volleyball, tennis ball tossing, frisbees, screaming, shouting, rough-housing, sitting or standing on shoulders, skim boarding and beach sex. Damn the man! Seriously though, I've seen my fair share of lifeguarded strips but never have I ever heard a whistle blown, let alone three times in as many hours here. Let mutual respect govern what's cool. Toss a bee until you knock over someone's "juice" or knick a skull - then you've gotta put it down. But so many blanket rules basically says "Come, pay, sit down, shut up and enjoy!" Fine for the theater, but kinda lame for a family-friendly beach. read more

stopped by this beach to eat some greek grub. after waiting in a line playing contact (a game where someone chooses a word and tells the other players what letter it starts with then the other people ask questions with the answer starting with that letter in hopes that another teammate will yell "CONTACT" and reveal the secret word) we arrived at this beautiful strip of sand. two words to describe this place: fireworks and mischief. read more

A few weekends ago my friend invited a group of us to his family's house on the Cape. During our stay we decided on making one day a beach day. I haven't been to the Cape in years and I'm not familiar with any of the beaches. So when it was time to decide on a beach , I went with what the majority decided. This beach ended up being a good choice. It wasn't noisy or crowded, and the water was so warm. Parking for the day was reasonable and in close proximity to the beach. This is definitely a good beach for the family or just to relax. read more

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Cape beaches range from rocky to smooth, small to large, busy to dead, and Craigville Beach meets the majority of the positive characteristics. Craigville Beach in Barnstable isn't the best beach on Cape, but for the area it is great. This long and smooth beach is a great place to sun bathe or dip your toes. I make it a point to either stop here or at Covell's Beach in the morning for a few minutes to watch the waves. Be prepared, as the majority of beaches on Cape, to pay an arm and a leg for parking during the summer. The only tip I have for visitors, find a friend with a beach sticker or get someone to drop you off. read more

Craigville Beach - Craigville Beach sign - Beaches Near Me - Centerville, Massachusetts

Perfect time of day to arrive? Mid-morning, Saturday of Labor Day Weekend. The young folks are still nursing hangovers from the night before, and families with lots of kids haven't made their way to the beach yet. We arrived at 10:30AM, well ahead of our check-in time at a local beach house we rented for the weekend. So, we decided to hit up Craigville Beach before making our way to the house to unload the car. Parking was $15, considerably cheaper than other beaches in the area (around $20-$25 for nearby locations), and was quite ample when we arrived. It was rather convenient for two seafood shacks to be right across the street - despite the overpriced burger and fried scallops we ordered, they hit the spot after a morning of sunbathing. Unfortunately, there were more pieces of shells than we would have preferred mashed in with the sand, which made walking barefoot difficult, especially when trying to navigate to the trash barrel that was so far away from the water line. And by noontime, the beach had gotten so crowded by bros and kids chasing seagulls that I forgot what the shoreline actually looked like. At least we were fortunate enough to have enjoyed a peaceful, quiet morning in the sun. read more

Craigville Beach - 10:30AM - Labor Day Weekend 2012 - Beaches Near Me - Centerville, Massachusetts

This beach is nice. Plenty of beach area. Very touristy and crowded though. I went back after the crowds and it was great.

Really nice beach that has easy parking with the beach right there. Not too many shells or seaweed and clean bathrooms right there with changing stalls. read more

Cute local beach in Centerville. We were in the area for Saturday's Hyannis I Sprint Tri. While the weather for the tri was lousy (rainy and windy), later in the day, the sun came out and Miss Mary and I got to sit in our beach chairs and enjoy a few hours late in the afternoon appreciating time at the beach. Compared to some of the beautiful southern Maine beaches like York Beach and Old Orchard Beach, Craigville's sand isn't as fine. But the beach is a decent one and recommended if you are in the area and love the ocean as much as we do. read more

Craigville isn't Barnstable's nicest beach, but it is the most popular one. As a kid my mom would usually take us to Covell's Beach (a residents-only beach next to Craigville). If you're in it for the people watching, volleyball, or the beach scene (whatever that means), Craigville is a solid choice. Otherwise, I'd consider Kalmus or beaches outside Barnstable. Craigville has rocky sand, but its not too bad. Due to the crowds, Craigville is also one of the dirtiest beaches (relatively easy to find trash in the sand). The nice drive down Craigville Beach Road is probably what sells many people. Parking is $15/day ($20 on weekends), or you can buy a $50/week pass at The Hyannis Youth & Community Center (site of the former green Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Rink building). If you are a resident of Barnstable, you can buy a cheap beach sticker for the entire summer that gets you access to Craigville and many other nicer residents-only beaches (e.g. Dowses). read more

Until this past Thursday, I had never actually been to the Cape. This was a sad, very sad thing. Knowing zippo about its beaches & small towns, we stopped by Craigville Beach simply because we saw a sign. A very alluring, captivating sign in all of its signess, but nevertheless, an ordinary road sign. As such, Craigville is an ordinary beach. No more, no less. And while I don't have any other Cape visits to compare it with, overall it was 'aite. The sand definitely ranks amoung some of the more painful beach memories (re: Jamestown) as it was totally and utterly mixed with thousands of sharp, coarse shell pieces that made for a teeth grinding experience. Swim-wise, I would definitely warn against letting small children go -very- closely unattended as the floor sharply drops off in the random areas. Also, as reported in Susan's 2009 review, the parking is still abnormally high at a whoppin' $15. I did find the upside down doors on the woman's dressing room ceiling to be extremely charming through and it was major excitement when the coast guard found a white shark less than a mile north along land while we were takin' a dip. Pretty damn cool so long as I'm not being dragged under water kicking and screaming. Overall I had a fab time but I definitely wouldn't give it 'beach of the year.' Should I have more time this summer I would love to check out other places the Cape has to offer. read more

Off season, the views cannot be beat. Took a van of students down after an appointment nearby.

I really can't review Craigville Beach, because I really didn't experience it. I was only in the area for the day and really just wanted to stop by for about 30 minutes to observe and appreciate, stick my feet in the water and leave. I wasn't willing to pay $20 to park for that. Womp womp. read more

Well I guess I can see that this beach USED to be a sweet location. Large parking lot, central accessibility to toilets / changing rooms. And no hike down a hill or stairs to get from your car to the water. Even at high tide there's tons of sand between lot and shoreline and seemingly unless it's packed you can find some privacy to stay out of ear shot of most other beach goers. I was happy to see this beach finally but the overall cleanliness was lacking. Toilets were ultra gross even early in the season and there are so so so so many shells within the sand , it's not a relaxing beach walk unless you walk almost In the water. It was rough on our dogs feet too. There is a generic beach food walk up window but you have to walk across the lot and street to safely access. This must be a nightmare in an already congested area at the peak of summer. It was almost no surf either so I had almost no desire to return almost as soon as we left. read more

Soft sandy beach with a very relaxed feel. Many locals come out here to go for a dip and hang out with their family. There is lots of space to sprawl out and not be disturbed by others' conversation. The beach is surrounded by little rental cottages and snack bars for ice cream. This is a quintessential Cape Cod beach. Only downside is the expensive parking ... around $15. read more

Now this is beach!! Huge amount of sand to spread out and water for miles until you cannot see. $20 to park and no entry fee onto the beach. Plenty of parking as it seems many people must walk. There are many shells which make walking super uncomfortable and sand isn't that soft at all. There were 0 waves but it must have been an off day because others said there are waves. We also saw many jelly fish and horseshoe crabs but it is the beach.. I would recommend this beach over any other near Falmouth. read more

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Let's get down to it. The biggest issue for this beach is PARKING! No one wants to drive around looking for parking for 30 minutes on a beach trip. There is ample parking, most is to a "hyannis beach club" the lot for the general public is really pretty small. Driving up was fun. The little cottages that line the streets are adorable- so much for to look at (for me!) feels like I am in a fairy tale. The beach, when we finally got to it, was really very crowded and the water was rough. Not very many people swimming because they water was so rough. I absolutely loved that the barnacle was right across the street. That please is awesome and really hit the spot. Details: Parking is $20, they have lifeguards, this is not a first choice for families, come early to get parking. read more

Craigville Beach - Fourth of July 2016 - Beaches Near Me - Centerville, Massachusetts

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A pretty neat spot, as far as public beaches are concerned. Fairly wide, in terms of street-to-water distance, nice views of the water, unmolested by loud boats or flight paths, directly across the street from a clam shack, with convenient parking. This is, as far as I'm concerned, the baseline for a decent beach, and Craigville Beach has got it all. Unfortunately, unless you either have a parking permit from the town of Barnstable or you feel like hoofin' it from wherever you're at in Hyannis, parking is pretty steep at $15, especially evident if you only feel like coming down for a small amount of time, lest you end up looking like a lobster after fifteen minutes. (I have bad tanning heritage, what can I say?) Additionally, bring a blanket and a chair: the prime seating areas are rife with quarter-sized shells, which is fun if you're into mindlessly digging for stuff in between chapters of Dan Brown or whatever you're reading this summer, but not so hot when you roll over and one of those buggers stabs you in the side. Also, the lifeguards are pretty militant about the whole "no ballplaying" rule. I get it, to an extent: people on the beach don't want to get run over by a pickup football game. But yelling at little kids in the shallow surf? Come on. All in all, Craigville Beach is a beach, with a lot of the usual ups and downs. Take from that what you will. read more

This is a great beach that was about a mile from our house. Water was a little chillier than I expected but very refreshing and not so crowded that you couldn't enjoy your day. Definitely different than the beaches I'm used to in California. Really enjoyed our afternoon. Friendly life guards. read more

MY FAVORITE BEACH ON CAPE COD!!! Craigvillle Beach (Centerville) has warm water, some waves, and clean fine sand. Close to many other cape spots, and everything from go-karts to night spots. I have been going to Craigville Beach for many years, and love it. Great for times I have gone as family, and as adults. Sand is great. Basic facilites, not much for snack bars (two small shops with so so food even for the beach), parking is easier than most places. Biggest plus for me is that the water is 10 degrees warmer than most other beaches. Like the waves too! The beach is a very long and fairly wide swath of nice sand with a gentle slope to the water. Once in, the slope is also gentle, no big drop offs. Waves, fun and not too big, but more than most beaches. Can get a little windy at times, due to being wide open. 75 to 90 minutes from Boston, and MUCH WARMER WATER than Cranes or other North Shore beaches and nearly all Cape beaches.. Harwichport is warm too, but no waves, and generally smaller beaches. Best to bring a cooler if you can, but again... you can get drinks and basic beach fare right there. Great place to spend the day!!. read more

Great peaceful beach. Love it.

clean & family friendly local beach $20 parking per car. beach has very coarse sand and shells so it is helpful to have flip flops. there are bathrooms and lifeguards on duty. no alcohol or ball playing. stop by to read, nap, or dip your toes in the ocean for an hour if you are within walking distance but no need to seek it out otherwise. read more

Came to the beach for a little over an hour. Parking was $20 all day in conjunction with a few other beaches listed on the back of the parking slip. It was a nice beach, but it had a lot of shells so it was a bit hard to walk/run. The water was also very cold, but it's also the middle of June. We played beach volleyball for a bit until the lifeguard told us we weren't allowed to play on the beach, but we could play in the parking lot... the group next to us was throwing a football back and forth, so lol. No alcohol allowed on this beach, but you could easily get away with that. read more

Kind of a chaotic zoo of people on a summer Saturday. Everyone is on top of one another, even in the water.. The snack bar is far and the parking is tricky. Go next door to Kalmus!!!! read more

Crowded but warm water. Very nice beach. Will come back in the future. What else can I say more to make this review a post instead of a tip? read more

Crowded and can get dirty. It's for a young crowd who are there to "show off" so to speak. But it does have food right across the street and it is a nice size beach. If you're close by and want a nice day in the sun I would check it out. Not my favorite beach on the cape, but since I am close by I will go every once in a while. read more

Decent beach. The water is very seaweedy and cold but it is pretty. I had fun here with my family and we normally spend a few hours at the beaches we go to. The sun feels great in the summer, and when you get hot, you can take a quick swim in the ocean and dry off in the sun. I love the beach and everything that has to do with it read more

Craigville Beach is a decent sized beach that is kept clean has good parking and has clean changing rooms. However there are two draw backs. One the water for the outside shower is ice cold. So if you want to wash some of the salt off do it quickly or you will freeze. And two there are very aggressive sea gulls in the area so keep an eye on your lunch or you will loose it. Other than that I would deffnatly recommend this beach. read more

Just returned from Craigville Beach & that will be the first & last time I will set foot there. I had remembered Craigville as a top-ranking beach so I was not expecting this... The bathhouse is gross-- filthy, old & downright creepy. The staff left much to be desired. The worst part about my experience, however, was the water... tons of seaweed - okay it's a beach - but after wading in the water for 20 minutes or so I felt bite marks all over my body. A creepy, crawly itchy biting sensation. I stepped out of the water and at least 40 centipede-looking bugs starting dropping off my body.They were everywhere. I ran to the shower at the bathhouse and stood under that thing for a long time, as I watched the ground being filled with these wiggling, disgusting bugs. My body was covered with itchy, red, raised bumps and welts. I am still scratching & will no double have nightmares tonight of being attacked by these horrid creatures. We packed our stuff & left this highly rated nightmare of a beach never to return. Oh, and it cost $20.00 to park in order to enjoy this experience. read more

At this beach you will experience easy to park in parking lots, lots of shells on the beach that feel splendid when you step on them and stay your foot, and best of all the rules. The rules are the best part very first rule is no alcohol, and that's a neat rule for someone that's on vacation, second rule is no ball throwing frisbee playing or kite flying really shooting down the fun for all age! It's a great decision to go here if you are really into standing and talking in the water or on the beach or starting at the sky. read more