West Dennis Beach
West Dennis Beach
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
122 reviews
Excellent
68
Very good
37
Average
10
Poor
5
Terrible
2
Robert D
Milton, VT24 contributions
Apr 2021
We were staying just down the road. This beach was our quick 'go-to' for sunrises or sunsets after a long day. The parking lot runs parallel to the beach and makes a short distance from the car to the water. Garbage cans were overflowing in April (minus one star) Recycling cans (the least you could do)?
There are so many shells here! We went to RacePoint, Herring Cove, Ballston, Coast Guard, and Paine's Creek. My kids got most of their collected shells from here. We awoke early to catch 2 sunrises with only a few other early risers. We also caught 2 sunsets here and drove all the way down to the end of the beach. Gorgeous!
There are so many shells here! We went to RacePoint, Herring Cove, Ballston, Coast Guard, and Paine's Creek. My kids got most of their collected shells from here. We awoke early to catch 2 sunrises with only a few other early risers. We also caught 2 sunsets here and drove all the way down to the end of the beach. Gorgeous!
Written April 21, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Susan L
90 contributions
Apr 2022
Very nice beach! Parking lot runs along the beach and is very close to the water. Great for people who can't walk far because of mobility problems . Lots of parking and has a measured mile for walkers.
Written April 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steven A
Peabody, MA531 contributions
Jul 2020
This beach is so clean and expansive. The water is lovely, and there is plenty of parking. What a great place to enjoy the sun, read a book and take time to yourself!
Written July 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NLTraveler2012
New London, NH46 contributions
May 2017 • Friends
I've been a Summer resident in Dennis for 65 years, and have going to West Dennis since I was a child. I learned to swim here, and developed my life long love of the beach here. However, the past several years, (since the dredging of Bass River) there is eel grass on the bottom most of the length of the beach. In addition, there is a ton of seaweed. The Town of Dennis totally ignores the problem, while charging outlandish daily fees. The problem is even worse at the beginning of the beach designated for town residents. The water is so warm and easy to get into, but the eel grass infestation, and the topical seaweed make it impossible. I no longer go to this beach, much to my disappointment. I've been going and taking guests to the Cape Cod Bay beaches in Dennis, or I head over to Harwich beaches after sticker watchers are there. It is a shame, that the town continues to ignore the issue because West Dennis Beach is a great resource, but it has been allowed to become nothing but a catchment for seaweed. I am ready to accept a certain level of seaweed, after all it is part of Nantucket Sound, but when you have seaweed piled high at the high tide line, and several inches thick in the water, that is not acceptable. Don't waste you money paying to enter this beach!
Written June 1, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
traveler38richmond
Richmond, VA406 contributions
Jul 2017 • Family
My wife and I vacationed in Dennis Port with family the week of 7/16, our first trip here in over 25 years. In a nutshell, it was not quite what I remembered.The beach itself is still beautiful with white sand and is very long. The public rest rooms are clean. The fact that you can back your car right up to the beach is great. Lots of parking.
That said, I was very disappointed with what we came for; the ocean. When entering the water near the main concession area, there were a ton of sharp shells. Would have used water shoes if we cam back to this particular area. We moved the next day to lifeguard station 8. Less shells. But, at low tide, the seaweed is overwhelming. I know it is nature but it makes it very uncomfortable.
So sad that it was not the positive experience that caused us to select Dennis Port for our vacatgion.
That said, I was very disappointed with what we came for; the ocean. When entering the water near the main concession area, there were a ton of sharp shells. Would have used water shoes if we cam back to this particular area. We moved the next day to lifeguard station 8. Less shells. But, at low tide, the seaweed is overwhelming. I know it is nature but it makes it very uncomfortable.
So sad that it was not the positive experience that caused us to select Dennis Port for our vacatgion.
Written July 30, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
travel3406
Nyack, NY37 contributions
Jul 2018 • Couples
The beach here is horrible. There is so much seaweed that the water looks black.
you can't even get into the water and the odor is absolutely disgusting. Was there last week and will not go back, now that I see this has been a problem for some time and the town doing nothing about it. Horrible for the local businesses.
you can't even get into the water and the odor is absolutely disgusting. Was there last week and will not go back, now that I see this has been a problem for some time and the town doing nothing about it. Horrible for the local businesses.
Written July 11, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Danielle H
Woodstock, NY75 contributions
Jul 2018 • Couples
Beach is pretty, nice, and long for walking. Water is warm, and parking is easy....but the seaweed ruined it for us personally.
Written July 1, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cam117
19 contributions
Aug 2017 • Couples
I always remember the beaches on the cape when I was a child and they were not like this so I was a little disappointed once I finally traveled there for what is supposed to be the best beaches around. We drove up from CT spent 2 days and ended up leaving and going to the beaches over in Narragansett RI. Rocks and shells make it hard to walk along the beach, not only West Dennis but every beach we visited this weekend. Seaweed everywhere and I mean everywhere!! After getting bitten by horseflies then trying to go for a walk we decided to go kayaking next door to a place attached to Light house Inn. I'm not really sure why we continued on but we did. The amount of seaweed over there in front of the inn and the stench alone from it was just gross. We got into our kayaks thinking once we got out there it would be nice and we can stop off at another beach. Out in the ocean was still a ton of seaweed and looked like some kind of film in the water. Stopped on a little outlet and put my beach towel down, went for a walk still a little rocky but not as bad. Came back and beach towel was infested with tiny little black bugs. They weren't on us or the kayaks just my towel which I put in a bag nod threw out. Still a ton of seaweed over there too. A lot of people in the water so I guess they don't mind it. Well in the end I ended up with cellulitis in my ankle and leg. Blew up dat after we got home. Said from bug bite on my ankle and bacteria from water entering in through it. Good times. Won't be back. But because I love the Cape maybe in the fall for the scenery and a whale watch but not the beaches or the Water. Sticking with the beaches in RI. Very few rocks & broken shells and a lot less seaweed.
Written August 23, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Angels lace
Harwich, MA169 contributions
Sep 2019
Long, beautiful, sandy, beach. The waves smoothly and calmly hit the shore. The gulls soar over head and the salt air tantalizes your senses. The Cape is full of amazingly beautiful beaches but this one sits in my heart as special to me. I love that you can just park and walk and walk and let your mind drift out into the sea..
My favorite time here is September after labor day. The water is so warm and the sun is still strong. Though the crowds have gone and returned my favorite beach to me.
My favorite time here is September after labor day. The water is so warm and the sun is still strong. Though the crowds have gone and returned my favorite beach to me.
Written October 2, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
veronica l
3 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
On Thursday July 27 my child and I drove to West Dennis beach to spend the day with some friends and their 2 children. When we arrived there was a $30 fee collected by teens covering the entrance of the parking lot. It wasn’t until we actually got to the beach that we noticed the dangerous high winds especially when we got out of the car. My child noted,”mom it feels like needles hitting my skin”. So we picked up my friend and quickly left!
Chairs, umbrellas and beach items were being blown into the street where cars were parked and driving through. Her husband had left to take the kids back home bc their 4 and 6 year old kids were getting pelted by sand so badly it hurt and was getting in their eyes. Exiting the car my kid commented that the beach was not enjoyable because the high winds blowing the sand into us hurt and felt like needles. Needless to say we scurried to help my friend gather her belongings into our suv in which my child ran into the street to grab hats and her beach items that were blowing away. With that said, we stayed a maximum of 10 minutes before getting the heck out of that situation.
In exciting the parking lot I asked the teen/s that took my money to kindly refund me the $30. Noting the dangerous high winds they were aware of making the beach experience extremely unpleasant. The teen/s advised they could not give refunds regardless of the situation or they will get fired. I kindly asked to speak with their supervisor noting again to her I was at the beach for 10 minutes to pick up a friend, we would have stayed longer but didn’t expect dangerous high winds to ruin our day at the beach. In a monotone scripted tone she repeated they do not give refunds and instruct the teens collecting the $30 parking fee to not give refunds to guests whatsoever or they will be fired. I was shocked that a supervisor of superior authority would have equal status to the teens running the joint. I kindly asked to speak with her manager and she gave me the business card to Dustin Pineau the Beach director. As I left the teens were mocking us with sarcasm and laughing. Male teen shouted “ Have a good day maam … hahaha lolol”
Friday the following day, I made a call to Dustin (Director) who patiently listened to my concern for a few minutes that quickly turned into him undermining me and taking his employees side. I explained how my friends husband took their kids home as a result of the beach conditions. The 10 minutes we were there was extremely unpleasant for a beach day and like any establishment you pay for you expect a service or experience we did not get or our money back. I explained beach chairs, umbrellas and misc beach items were flying into cars. Having a luxury car I wasn’t waiting to have my car damaged by flying debris . Dustin started to become hostile claiming I should have known the winds were high when I went through the center of town. Stating there have been high winds since 10am and that I should known. I explained I didn’t go through the center of town to get to the beach first if all and I was in a car and saw no such debris during my drive to the beach. He confirmed that management tells their staff not to give any refunds under any circumstances or they will be fired! So therefore, he will not honor me a refund. When I asked him to kindly take down my name , phone number and address in case he had a change of heart he advised, “ that’s okay I don’t need it!” I kindly asked him for his superiors name and he said, sure but know Gregory Roundsville (508 760 6164) is in charge of the town of Dennis and he is my close friend.”
West Dennis Beach failed to post a warning to the guest or verbally communicate with guests entering that there were dangerous high winds and that there was a non refundable non negotiable refund in situations like so. It was 230pm and they didn’t think about closing the beach for the day bc making a buck was more important to them.
Chairs, umbrellas and beach items were being blown into the street where cars were parked and driving through. Her husband had left to take the kids back home bc their 4 and 6 year old kids were getting pelted by sand so badly it hurt and was getting in their eyes. Exiting the car my kid commented that the beach was not enjoyable because the high winds blowing the sand into us hurt and felt like needles. Needless to say we scurried to help my friend gather her belongings into our suv in which my child ran into the street to grab hats and her beach items that were blowing away. With that said, we stayed a maximum of 10 minutes before getting the heck out of that situation.
In exciting the parking lot I asked the teen/s that took my money to kindly refund me the $30. Noting the dangerous high winds they were aware of making the beach experience extremely unpleasant. The teen/s advised they could not give refunds regardless of the situation or they will get fired. I kindly asked to speak with their supervisor noting again to her I was at the beach for 10 minutes to pick up a friend, we would have stayed longer but didn’t expect dangerous high winds to ruin our day at the beach. In a monotone scripted tone she repeated they do not give refunds and instruct the teens collecting the $30 parking fee to not give refunds to guests whatsoever or they will be fired. I was shocked that a supervisor of superior authority would have equal status to the teens running the joint. I kindly asked to speak with her manager and she gave me the business card to Dustin Pineau the Beach director. As I left the teens were mocking us with sarcasm and laughing. Male teen shouted “ Have a good day maam … hahaha lolol”
Friday the following day, I made a call to Dustin (Director) who patiently listened to my concern for a few minutes that quickly turned into him undermining me and taking his employees side. I explained how my friends husband took their kids home as a result of the beach conditions. The 10 minutes we were there was extremely unpleasant for a beach day and like any establishment you pay for you expect a service or experience we did not get or our money back. I explained beach chairs, umbrellas and misc beach items were flying into cars. Having a luxury car I wasn’t waiting to have my car damaged by flying debris . Dustin started to become hostile claiming I should have known the winds were high when I went through the center of town. Stating there have been high winds since 10am and that I should known. I explained I didn’t go through the center of town to get to the beach first if all and I was in a car and saw no such debris during my drive to the beach. He confirmed that management tells their staff not to give any refunds under any circumstances or they will be fired! So therefore, he will not honor me a refund. When I asked him to kindly take down my name , phone number and address in case he had a change of heart he advised, “ that’s okay I don’t need it!” I kindly asked him for his superiors name and he said, sure but know Gregory Roundsville (508 760 6164) is in charge of the town of Dennis and he is my close friend.”
West Dennis Beach failed to post a warning to the guest or verbally communicate with guests entering that there were dangerous high winds and that there was a non refundable non negotiable refund in situations like so. It was 230pm and they didn’t think about closing the beach for the day bc making a buck was more important to them.
Written August 14, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
love2travel90
washington
What time during the day do the stop charging for parking?
Little_PC
Cromwell, CT232 contributions
Here is some information from their web page: Beach Hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Restrooms open: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Lifeguards on duty: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Parking fees collected: 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
lighthouselady63
Boston, Massachusetts327 contributions
How's the water condition currently? Is it loaded with that stinky red/brown seaweed as others previously mentioned? Many beaches from Newport all the way up the Cape seem to have this problem now. And an over abundance of Great White sharks not making a day at the beach any more enjoyable.
FekusW
Merrimack, NH158 contributions
The ocean beaches often have seaweed in varying amounts depending on the winds, storms and other forces of nature. Great white sharks are looking for food; particularly seals. Luckily there are no seals on the ocean side at West Dennis beach. So no shark sightings or warnings posted this summer. The water is warm.
Can I pay to park in the morning and leave and come back the same day without paying again
Robert J S
Dennis Port, MA2,725 contributions
Once they are on the beach, nobody wants to leave is my experience.
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Claim your listingWest Dennis Beach - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Frequently Asked Questions about West Dennis Beach
- Hotels near West Dennis Beach:
- (1.11 mi) Captain Farris House
- (0.29 mi) Stunning waterfront home with furnished deck, dock & majestic views - dogs OK
- (1.15 mi) The Escape Inn
- (0.91 mi) Ocean Club On Smugglers' Beach
- (0.43 mi) "Sea Gypsy" Waterfront newly renovated, beautiful views, dock, beach!
- Restaurants near West Dennis Beach:
- (0.96 mi) Caffe Gelato Bertini
- (1.16 mi) Cape Cod Creamery
- (1.38 mi) Gerardi's Cafe
- (1.13 mi) Good Friend's Cafe
- (1.56 mi) Skipper Chowder House
- Attractions near West Dennis Beach:
- (1.90 mi) Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf
- (0.92 mi) Bass River Beach
- (1.09 mi) Bass River Kayaks and Paddle Boards
- (2.09 mi) Whydah Pirate Museum
- (0.70 mi) Judah Baker Windmill