dree

I caled the cape cod chamber of commerce and they said that the bay was COLDER than the ocean side. That goes against what I've heard from others. What do you guys think?

charli

Today's Cape Cod Times lists the water temperatures as follows:
Cape Cod Bay - 66 degrees
Nantucket Sound - 63
National Seashore - 61
It is cold regardless of which side of the Cape you are on.

cybor

It also depends on which town and what part of each town you're looking at, as well, due to the many micro climates and gulf streams down the cape.

My neighbor stuck his thermometer into our Truro water a couple days ago and got a 70 degree reading at one point and 67 at another.

I did go in for a couple quick swims - most refreshing.

karens

Our experience, in about 4 Cape Cod trips, is that the bay is ALWAYS warmer than the ocean.

We love Mayflower Beach on Cape Cod Bay in Dennis.

Pausanias

I grew up (somewhat) on the South Shore. We used to drive to the Cape to swim on the ocean side because we thought it was warmer. It sure felt warmer.

cybor

I also find the protected bay waters to be mostly warmer but there are a few protected warm pockets on the ocean side as well as an erratic gulf stream that passes thru.
Most of the cape is narrow enough for you to be close enough to gain access to both sides.

Gene

Cape Cod is a curving peninsula with beaches facing North, South, East and West.

The beaches facing west on Buzzardz Bay and those facing South on Nantucket Sound are generally considered warmest.

Beachest on the Atlantic ocean side from Chatham to Provincetown are considered the coldest followed by the
bayside beaches ringing Cape Cod Bay from Sandwich to Provincetown.

Our personal favorite Cape Cod beach is West Dennis beach. This beach offers a mile-long road along the beach with parking to the right and left.

The water temp is average and the surf/waves are just right.