Considering a Cape Cod Winter Getaway? You should! Cape Cod winters aren’t your typical Massachusetts or New England winters. The peninsula’s proximity to the ocean moderates the climate, leading to generally milder winters.
A Cape Cod winter getaway can be serene. This time of year the Cape is quiet, yet still beautiful and full of interesting activities and sites to see. You and can be enjoy the outdoors at trails like the Cape Cod Rail Trail or the bikeway that lines the Cape Cod Canal, or spend time indoors gallery or museum hopping in locations like Sandwich, Dennis, and Wellfleet. If you’re looking for a bustling environment with cheaper hotel rates, Provincetown is the ideal place to stop for your Cape Cod winter getaway.
Read on to find out more about general winter temperatures, fun things to do, and scenic places to stay for you Cape Cod winter getaway.
What is Cape Cod like in the Winter?
Cape Cod can get some snow accumulation in the winter months, though it doesn’t always last long. If you’re looking to cross country ski or sled, be sure to get out when the flakes are flying! Cold days generally don’t hit below freezing. Beaches are less crowded during the winter months and offer a picturesque spot to view the shoreline. It can be windy at times, so be sure to bundle up!
Indoor activities like fine dining and museum-hopping are an excellent way to spend the time from December-March.
With the cozy glow emanating from windows and white snow lining the ground, Cape Cod towns give the comfort of quaint, magical little villages.
Beaches in the winter months look breathtaking, with snow covering the sands, and the view of the shoreline with boats floating in half-frozen waters is a sight to see.
Although the water is too cold to swim in for most people, you can enjoy a quiet morning strolling on the sands since beaches are usually empty during these months.
Apart from crisp breezes and occasional snow in December-March, weather in Cape Cod doesn’t usually get too chilly.
Cape Cod Winter Temperatures
Winter in Cape Cod occurs from December-March, with temperatures ranging from 23-40 in January and February, 30-45 in March, and 29-43 in December.
The Cape is more temperate than nearby regions, which means it’s usually colder in the summer and warmer in the winter. This is due to the presence of nearby ocean waters that regulate the temperature of the land.
Often, you’ll have to pack up both heavy winter clothes and lighter clothes for the winter months. For example, January-March temperatures range from 23 up to 50 degrees. This means you’ll need to pack mostly for snowy as well as some warmer days. So, winter gear for all these months–like gloves, waterproof jackets, warm coats, and sweaters–is a must on your Cape Cod winter getaway.
Things To Do On A Cape Cod Winter Getaway
Cape Cod offers paved walks on the Cape Cod Rail Trail to off-road strolls along the National Seashore.
It also has several bakeries where you can grab a warm snack and theaters like the Barnstable Comedy Club, one of the oldest theaters in America.
There are plenty of museums, galleries, and lighthouses. Check out our recent listing of Cape Cod museums open in the winter.
Let’s break down your Cape Cod winter activities one by one.
1. Go Hiking
Enjoy a walk along the scenic Cape Cod Canal from Sagamore to Bourne bridge. Observe the boats that line the waters and the marshlands teeming with wildlife.
Take the Cape Cod Trail that winds through beaches and pastures, ending it with a steaming cup of hot chocolate at the Hot Chocolate Sparrow in Orleans.
Other walks at the Cape Cod National Seashore and along the quaint wintery markets in Chatham Main Street offer a lot in terms of the wonders of winter in Cape Cod.
2. Stop by a Bakery
Nothing takes the chill away like delicious food.
Enjoy a bite at some of the Cape’s most exquisite bakeries–from Buckie’s Biscotti in Dennis to Hole-In-One Doughnuts in Orleans; you won’t run short on warm food in homely eateries.
3. Go to the Theater
Whether you go to the Mosquito Story Slam in Provincetown, where audience members share 5-minute personal stories, or the Water’s Edge Cinema to watch an art-house film, the Cape offers a variety of theaters to enjoy all over the town.
The Barnstable Comedy Club is the oldest live community theater in Cape Cod. People visit on your Cape Cod winter getaway to enjoy musicals and plays.
4. Museum Hopping
You can enjoy a day out with the kids, looking at pirate treasure at the Whydah Pirate Museum.
View the sparkling glass displays at the Sandwich Glass Museum, or visit the notable John F. Kennedy Museum that honors the president and his family through their photographs, films, and oral histories.
With museums on everything–from history to pirates to whales–, you can enjoy a day hopping from one to another. Nantucket Whaling Museum, Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, and the Woods Hole Science Aquarium are some other places.
5. Provincetown
This bustling center contrasts the general quiet vibe of Cape Cod winters.
Enjoy the many cultural events, shopping centers, and fine dining this place has to offer.
6. Gallery Hopping
Provincetown is the heart of local artists. Experience the many art galleries in this cultural hotspot.
With the numerous galleries in Wellfleet lying in proximity on four main streets, it becomes easy to visit each one after the other.
7. Lighthouses
If you want to experience the Cape in its entirety, visit all the lighthouses in each of its towns.
Drive from Hyannis to Truro to spot the Nobska Light in Falmouth all the way to the Race Point Lighthouse in P-town.
8. Look for Antiquities
Cape Cod is a hub for historical sites and objects.
Sandwich is the oldest town on the Cape and has an Antique Center which houses relics from the ancient days.
The Antiques Center of Yarmouth also offers trinkets that you can admire and learn more about on your Cape Cod winter getaway.
9. Taste the Local Flavor
You could choose to run a mile to warm yourself in the chill or take the easy way out with a beer at some of Cape Cod’s breweries.
Enjoy a hearty swig at Cape Cod Beer in Hyannis or attend a special event–topped off with a drink–at Cisco Brewers in Nantucket or the Hog Island Brewery in Orleans.
Where to Stay During the Winter in Cape Cod
Provincetown is the best place to stay if you’re looking for affordable accommodation, a lively atmosphere, and year-round dining locations.
High Pointe Inn, West Barnstable
This cozy B&B is located in the heart of the Cape and offers convenient access to towns like Hyannis and Chatham.
The High Pointe Inn in Barnstable is in proximity to many towns like Hyannis and Chatham, which are only a short drive away.
The meals are healthy farm-to-table breakfasts and succulent three-course dinners.
The Sea Crest Beach Hotel, Falmouth
This hotel stays open on weekends all year, which means it’s the ideal Cape Cod winter getaway for short trips.
The hotel provides private access to part of the Old Silver Beach (Buzzards Bay), which is all the more charming because it’s less crowded in the winters.
To revitalize your skin from the wintery weather, you can visit the nearby Bellezza Salon Medspa in the old Falmouth village.
The Provincetown Hotel at Gabriel’s
Provincetown offers a cheaper getaway during the off-season winter months.
You can find yourself enjoying a stroll down Commercial Street or taking in the ambiance at one of P-town’s year-round restaurants.
This Hotel is perfect for intimate vacations, with its jacuzzis and warm hearths to protect you from the outside cold. The place offers hot cider, cookies, and breakfast for a toasty night in.
Sage Inn & Lounge
This cute little guest house is also located in Provincetown.
Guests can delight in arts-related events, like theater or film viewings, and you also get to enjoy private dinner choices.
What is the Coldest Month on Cape Cod?
The coldest month on the Cape in generally January, with average lows in the mid-20’s. The average high temps hover just below 40 degrees.
Since the Cape’s weather is warmed by the Ocean in the winter and cooled in the Summer, it doesn’t get too cold or too hot year-round.
However, the Cape may experience some freezing days during the months of December-March.
In the End
Whether you decide to enjoy a brisk walk along with the striking views of the towns that border Cape Cod Canal or follow a winding trail through quiet beaches ending with a hot drink at your favorite cafe, there’s something for everyone on a Cape Cod winter getaway.
If you’re an indoor person, you can enjoy many of the bakeries and museums that Cape Cod offers, while outdoorsy folks can visit the happening P-town or the lighthouses scattered around the Cape.
With gorgeous snows that turn the Cape into a real-life Winter Wonderland, this is the ideal place to plan that Cape Cod winter getaway you’re looking for!
