How can someone give nature a bad review? In this case, nature is nature, and the conditions of the wind and cold weather in the middle of summer are of course unpredictable. I will say we got here early by around 9ish and the parking lot was still pretty empty. We were only coming for like 2 hours so I do wish there was some sort of a different rate if you're not here for a full or even a half day. It was super chilly and windy even though it was the end of July, but we did enjoy laying down and getting some salt water breeze and just the sound of the water was enough to be able to enjoy. Some parts of the sand are rocky but we landed in an area that was pretty flat and sandy. As we were leaving, the parking lot was packed and I can imagine this being a place that gets filled and booked up if you don't come by a certain time. Pro tip: If you hike/walk/ride into the park, you can avoid the $25 parking fee. Other than that, be sure to bring your coral reef safe sunblock, pickup after yourself (and others if you love turtles), bring plenty of snacks and stay hydrated. Would I come to this beach as my main destination, probably not. For sure a one and done but absolutely enjoyed getting some beach and relax time. read more

This beach is very hard to walk to its a huge hill to get down from parking lot so carrying everything is very tough. They do have a nice area to purchase food and bathrooms. The beach is so rocky you Must wear water shoes . There is a very small area of soft sand. They charge $30 not a beach worth that will not return. They should remove the rocks and bring in soft sand and build a staircase with landing pads so its not that steep for elderly and older folks to get up and down from the beach. read more

Long Beach walk but only negative is it's a rocky beach. Hard for my dog to walk on off season. read more

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The ocean is very blue and nice. One ridiculous thing for me is that car driving on the beach is allowed. I hope the nature will be isolated and peaceful. It is nice to come here in winter or spring but not summer since it will be too crowded. read more

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So we largely came to this beach due to its being dog friendly year-round. Dogs are NOT allowed in the lifeguard areas during the summer months, but are allowed on the vehicle beach during the whole year. To get there, you park at the guard house and can walk about half a mile down the vehicle access road to the beach (you enter the beach and turn right - there will be signs immediately to your left designating the "no dog" portion of the beach). Goes for miles from the look of it. You can alternatively walk down the access trail, which is about a mile walk. It turns into loose sand pretty quickly and is a pretty rough and hot hike down to the beach, and then leaves you about half a mile up from where the access road brings you - though that's a much more stable walk. Overall the beach was super busy, with cars, campers, and trailers every few feet along the water. The beach itself was quite rocky towards the water, and pretty uncomfortable to actually walk into the ocean. A fun time, for sure, but you need to know what you're getting into. read more

The positives- 1) the water is tranquil and the scenery is gorgeous. .2) parking is plentiful (Yes it costs $15) 3) The snack bar and changing rooms are very nice The negatives- If you equate going to the beach with walking across a gravel pit to take a dip in the Polar Ice Cap- this is your place. The absolute rockiest beach I have ever seen. Not rough sand by any stretch of the imagination-but a beach ranging from pebbles to medium rocks to baseball sized rocks. It was a hoot watching the beachgoers limp across the huge stretches of rocks, with shocked looks of disgust and disbelief on their faces. So if you stay on your lounge chair (no blankets on the rocks for me) and put your sandles on to traverse the lunar surface of the beach to take a dip up to your ankles - you'll be OK. If you want more, there might be better options. read more

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Desolate beaches. The polarity of an early evening here can be extreme, with your time spent being buried neck-deep during low tide by Leslie Nielsen (Yeah, I'm looking at you, Ted Danson) to cruising largely undisturbed stretches of dune protected, practically pristine sands studded with stones polished by decades of a lapping surf. Fortunately, we had the latter. There's not much to talk about during the off-hours: parking is free, otherwise bored kids are getting ice cream at Four Seas and you'll have the place to yourself. Marvel at the washed ashore shark eggs, a jelly or two and a veritable chess set of crab skeletons, all while the occasional four-wheel drive cruises by at low speeds. (We only saw park vehicles, but the public is allegedly allowed to spit up sand in their Jeeps and what have you.) If a beach with few amenities is overcrowded and obnoxious, the scene gets old quickly. But Sandy Neck is large and long enough to relax and contemplate the grandeur of nature in the comfort of your selfness. Added benefit? Nobody can you see you shedding tears at the beauty of life. Softy. read more

Sandy Neck Beach Park - Wear your flops! - Beaches Near Me - Barnstable, Massachusetts

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NOPE. Nope nope nope. Sorry to be a Debbie Downer but this place is not worth it. The view is wonderful; the ocean is blue and all but the sand is non-existent. When I think of a beach I think of sand and water. This had water. Like all the other reviews will state: ROCKS. Rocks all over. You can't enjoy any sort of games (i.e. frisbee, volleyball, football, etc.) , and you most certainly can't walk barefoot. The beach itself is free, but parking is $15. Just go somewhere else. read more

Sandy Neck Beach Park - It doesn't look as bad as it is. Really rocky and hurts your feet :/ - Beaches Near Me - Barnstable, Massachusetts

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Just not feeling this beach. It's bayside. So no surf. Rocks are everywhere. So no going barefoot. Rocks are everywhere - so no sunbathing in the sand. I guess you could go for a walk here. But you need to wear shoes. Thick soled, steel toed boots will probably protect your feet. In October the ranger station is open to sign in hunters. Not sure if I was at risk of getting shot. Good thing I was wearing fuschia pink sneakers. read more

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There is a fee to get in, it was like $150 to get a permit to drive on the sand which we did not do. We drove down to the parking lot by the beach. There is a bathroom and food shack right there. The beach wasn't bad however a lot of stones. If you wanna make a Sandcastle this is not the place to do it. Not many people were there probably because of all the stones read more

Love this beach! It is my favorite! The only less than lovely thing are the flies. It is my go-to-the-end-of-the-day beach. Staff is friendly, beach is clean, and Yeah! LOVE THE ROCKS! Snack bar has the best fish sandwich ever! read more

Terrible experience trying to park. Lot was full, but you're not allowed to wait even though 10 cars left while talking with the unhelpful staff. Such a waste of a beautiful day to be told we couldn't come in. As we turned around they then let several cars in. Pick a different location and don't waste your time. read more

They promised water and camp wood at the site that never appeared. Over booked sites. It was a stressful disaster. Better off camping g on beach no staff to monitor. read more

GROSS WATER! If i could rate this 0 i would. This place shouldn't even exist. I went there to camp with my boyfriend and our friend and it was the worst experience. Not only were the employees rude and inconsiderate, but the walk to the campsite is absolutely ridiculous. We got there after 1 hour and a half walk with 1 backpack because someone offered to take our stuff down(very nice of those people who were not associated with the gatehouse employees). Employees actually got very angry when I told them someone did that for us. Told us we could have a dog then later on freaked out that we had a dog. The water they gave us was filled with gross stuff and algae or something was growing inside it. Never will we ever go anywhere in Barnstable again and no one should ever waste their time going there for their rocky ass beach or their shitty campsites with their unexplainable customer service. read more

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Sandy Neck rocks! If you're a tourist without a beach sticker and you are visiting Barnstable for more than a few days, then make sure to get the weekly beach pass. You can pick those up at The Hyannis Youth & Community Center for $50 (site of the former green Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Rink building). Otherwise, you'll pay $15. Don't expect to go swimming, unless you're from Canada. Sandy Neck is a bay-side beach so the water is f-f-freezing. If it's one of those rare 90+ degree days, Sandy Neck might be one of the best beaches on Cape to go to. Unfortunately, you will still have to deal with the rocks that cover the shoreline. Bring some shoes or water shoes if you plan on walking the shoreline. So if it's rocky and the water is freezing... why 4 stars? Well, Sandy Neck is home to some of the prettiest dunes and protected land on the Cape. There are ORV trails for Jeeps, RVs and trucks. There's a huge parking lot and a good snack bar. If you're into stargazing, Sandy Neck has very little light pollution. If you're looking for a beach for swimming, try the ocean side. But, I'd still put Sandy Neck on your list of must-see sights on the Cape. read more

I think they intentionally named it "Sandy" to attract visitors bcz it is anything but (like really BIG men named tiny). THERE ARE ROCKS EVERYWHERE! I've never seen a beach so rocky. There's no way you could have a relaxing day here. It's horrible! One good thing I must admit is bathrooms are up to date and very clean. Otherwise, avoid this place unless you have great insurance bcz not only will you be miserable here but you will probably end up tripping on a rock and hurting yourself. AVOID!!! We left and drove 20 minutes west to Scusset Beach which was beautiful and everything you'd expect for a day at the beach. read more

Best beach on Cape Cod. The most beautiful sunsets. Great for the family. There's a Kindness Rocks Project there as well which is great. Been coming here my whole life with my family. read more

clean restrooms. Little play area for kids with toys right by the snack shack. Outdoor showers. Parking is $20 pretty steep but we parked down true street with a neighbors permission. Be careful if you plan to do that with all the no parking signs. Then we biked to beach where there is a spot to lock up by snack shack. Lifeguards galore. The actual beach is very clean but few sandy spots, lots of rocks but smooth and not seaweedy. Lots of room to spread out, not crowded at all. read more

Sandy Neck Beach Park - Bathrooms, outside showers - very clean - Beaches Near Me - Barnstable, Massachusetts

Sandy Neck. Or as I like to call it, Rocky Neck. Rocks, rocks everywhere! I have been to beaches all over the Atlantic coast in the U.S. and Canada and this is by far one of the rockiest beaches I've ever seen. Water is cold, but you're in New England, what did you expect? There are also a lot of rules. One yelper posted a picture of the rules sign. The positives? Alright snack bar/restrooms, gorgeous scenery, mostly calm atmosphere, interesting wildlife. Even the rocks can be a positive if you're a beachcomber. read more

Nice dune trail for hiking. The beach is very rocky, even at low tide. Once you cross the Barnstable/Sandwich line, the beach is covered in trucks and trailers. We call this "The Redneck Riviera." In the busy season, you cannot even see the lovely sand dunes that give this beach its character. It is taken over by the sound of generators, the fumes and other unpleasantness that come with ugly trucks and trailers on the beach. Visit in the Fall and wear water shoes or sneakers. read more

Beautiful, clean BUT cold. The water is colder than the other Cape beaches that I have been too. I also suggest you bring water shoes. The first few feet are filled with rocks. The rocks are beautiful and were fun to collect. Bathrooms are clean and there is a snack bar. read more

This is a really beautiful beach and not crowded. Bring shoes because it is not sandy, rocks everywhere and you can't walk on the beach without shoes. The water is great but can be cold. Very deep water so parents need to really watch the kids!! Great facilities, clean bathrooms and changing rooms, outdoor showers, great concession stand with lots of good food. If you are a rock collector this beach is a goldmine ;-)) If you want a sandy beach go elsewhere. Bring water shoes too, rocks in the water. read more

I go there it's summer with my family but my brothers and it's a fun time with my family I don't get it and I love Sandy neck but I am leaving school read more

beautiful beach..north wind days like today bring in some gentle rollers...I go off season and could walk for miles..but sometimes I just sit at gaze and the coastline and smell the salt air... read more

Had a great time here during a winter walk- almost reminded me of the Cape Cod National Seashore. The dunes are beautiful and you can get in a 16 mile loop run if you want to be next to the ocean the whole time. I'll have to wait for the summer to see how crowded it gets, which might change my opinion. read more

What a wonderful, peaceful, and beautiful beach and experience! Parking was simple, the beach was beautiful and clean, and the snack bar had fantastic food! read more

Best place for Sunday Funday in the summer!! Good friends, friendly neighbors with sun and fun all day! Even when it rains it's a good time! :-) read more

I've been here a handful of times while visiting Sandwich. It's a nice hangout spot for all ages. We usually take the jeep out and build a fire & watch the sun set. The view is breath taking while enjoying s'mores with friends. Even when the beach is crowded, you don't feel crowded at all! The only con was that the ports potties were absolutely horrid. But I guess the rest made up for it! read more

Beautiful beach. Very rocky. Boats are lined at a distance. Not sure if they are fishing or waiting on the Sunset. I went to watch sunset but it was an overcast night. I still went just to take in the beach scenery. Many bonfires. I believe you need to get a permit to make a bonfire here. Also, only authorized vehicles can enter a path along the beach. There is a parking lot that is free after 5 PM. The water gets deep quick. Many were enjoying the cool waters this muggy night. Many mosquitoes....bring bug spray. If it wasn't for the rocks i'd give it a 5 star. But mother nature is nature. Just way too many rocks and un avoidable. Also, many small waves. Will try and return off season to watch the sunset, I hear it's the best place in the Cape to view the Sunset. read more

I liked this moderate bike/walking trail. After that tough sandy walk I and a friend just loved coming out to dip our toes in the beach waters down at the bottom of 1 of the hikes. The park staff were friendly and will offer free maps if you ask. We found parking to be free near the staff station, and then proceeded on the walk. We noted many RV's, etc. that permit folks to get very close to the water, and I saw what appeared to be the best tailgate party views ever. Great area to visit, for those biking what appeared to work for a couple was bikes with fat tires given all that sandy terrain. read more

Me favorite beach, hands down. Beautiful location with hiking trails among the sand dunes. Water is on the cold side, yes and there are a lot of rocks, but if you get here at or near low tide the sand is exposed and you can walk out for quite a ways. Love this place! read more

Lots of pebbles and rocks on the sand. It costs $20 on weekends to come into the park. If it's bad weather then there's not much to do in the area. If you can go somewhere else, do that instead. read more

Love this beach!!! I also love how they have a wooden boardwalk and a mat that goes pretty far onto the sand. Makes it a lot easier for handicap and elderly. read more

One of my favorite beaches! Water is refreshing clean and the sand is nice too! It's not too crowded on weekdays. Clean bathrooms are well maintained. read more

Beautiful location on Cape Cod!! You can drive out and park on the beach. Yes the beach, park there and have a great time. Beaches are here to be enjoyed, what rocks all I see is sand and water and the SUN!!!! read more

Unfortunately the name is a misanomer, it should really be called Rocky Neck Beach. The public parking lot ($20) drops you off in front of a convenient bath house with a short walk to the beach albeit a beach covered in rocks. However, if you venture north about 500 yards, away from the life guards, you will be able to salvage the day on a nice sandbar (provided it is low tide). read more

It s my favorite beach during the spring and fall. The rocks are beautiful and the dunes breathtaking.

The beach is a bit on the rocky side. The water is beautifully clear with low seaweed, unfortunately the temperature of the water is frigid. I bought the over the sand permit and took my truck out on the beach. Very nice once you get over all the motorhomes out on the beach. You can have an evening fire on the beach which is real cool. It does lead to a bit of a drunk crowd when it is time to fill the tires with air and leave at 11 PM. read more

Beautiful views and nice for covered feet walkers. Snack bar and dressing/ bathrooms are nice and available with admission price. Based on other reviews may this place should be called Rocky Neck Beach as bare feet are exposed to more small rocks than sand. Speaking of rocks one wonderful highlight is a small exhibit of colorfully painted rocks with inspirational messages near one of the paths going on to the beach. Signage indicate visitors are free to take a rock and can replace the decorated rock with one of their own creations. read more

Yes it is rocky. It is also gorgeous, in the right spots. We sat on our beach chairs and listened to the waves in our own little world for hours. Then we hiked along the Marsh Trail and through the dunes - neat scenery but did not enjoy having to walk back past a line of noisy RVs parked on the beach. If you want to hike, take the Marsh Trail out and back and detour through the dunes rather than taking the loop back along the beach. $20 to park on the weekend. Nice new shower facility. And pretty decent selection of beach food including barbecue, bratwurst, ice cream. read more