RVing Cape Cod For July 4th 2023
With the 4th of July weekend just around the corner, RVnGO invites you to experience it in one of the holiday’s biggest celebration destinations— Cape Cod!
Visiting the Cape on July 4th is like stepping back through time. The quaint seaside towns don’t just come alive in the summer, they practically burst at the seams.
It’s not just the parades and fireworks, although there are plenty of them. It isn’t the rich political history that surrounds some of the Cape’s most famous residents. And it isn’t the amazing beaches, although they’re some of the best on the entire East Coast. There’s a palpable spirit on Cape Cod during July 4th weekend that encapsulates all of these fabulous things, an irresistible energy that’s classic small town America to breathe in.
If all of this sounds a little overwhelming, have no fear! RVnGO is here to make your 4th of July weekend in Cape Cod the best holiday ever! Our guide will have you RVing Cape Cod like a pro.
RV Resorts In Cape Cod
Shady Knoll Campground
The popular no-frills site Shady Knoll Campground in Brewster immerses you completely in the woods during your stay. With numerous beaches nearby and Cobbs Pond next door, you won’t be far from any swimming holes.
As a fairly rustic resort, the campgrounds offer updated restroom, shower, and laundry facilities. Individual campsites have picnic tables and fire pits, and there is a playground available for children. What Shady Knoll lacks in higher end amenities it makes up for with its peaceful location. Situated right by the center of Brewster, you’re close to restaurants and shops for any of your vacation needs.
Shady Knoll supports full electric hookups and is pet friendly.
Old Chatham Road RV Campground
Situated between South Dennis and North Harwich, Old Chatham Road RV Campground offers a central location as your jumping off point on the Cape. Surrounded by trees, individual campsites are equipped with a cement pad/patio as well as a picnic table. Campground amenities include a swimming pool, restroom/shower/laundry facilities, a playground, and a clubhouse.
Old Chatham Road is conveniently nestled between a number of swimming holes that are popular with locals. Walkers Pond, Pine Pond, Follins Pond, and Swan Pond are all within 10-15 minutes drive, and are just a few of the reservoirs in the area.
Old Chatham Road is a 13 minute drive to Mayflower Beach in the north and a 15 minute drive to Bank Street Beach in the south. The campgrounds support full electric hookups and are pet friendly.
Atlantic Oaks RV Resort
Atlantic Oaks RV Resort is one of the larger RV campgrounds on Cape Cod, located in Eastham on the Outer Cape. Despite catering to over 100 sites, Atlantic Oaks maintains a sense of privacy and tranquility due to the trees and foliage around individual campsites.
The grounds are equipped with a general store/office as well as a game room and lounge. A dog walking area leads to the Cape Cod Rail Trail, a paved 25 mile bike trail from Yarmouth to Wellfleet.
The RV resort is also located nearly nextdoor to the incredibly popular Arnold’s Lobster and Clam Bar. For a taste of authentic Cape Cod lobster and clam rolls, be sure to walk down the street and dine with the locals!
Adventure Bound Camping Resorts – Cape Cod
Midway between Truro and Provincetown, Adventure Bound Camping Resorts – Cape Cod is ideally located to explore the northern section of the Outer Cape. The grounds themselves are spread out beneath the coastal pitch pines and black oak trees that are famous to Cape Cod.
Individual campsites feature a picnic table and firepits, while the grounds are outfitted with restroom/shower/laundry facilities and a camp store. However, what makes Adventure Bound special is its proximity to one of Outer Cape’s loveliest beaches, Coast Guard Beach. The dunes and tranquility of Coast Guard are within walking distance of the park, so you’ll never be far from the water during your stay.
Adventure Bound Camping Resorts – Cape Cod supports full electric hookups and is a particularly popular spot for dog owners.
Coastal Acres Campground
Provincetown (or P-town to the locals) is the northernmost point of Cape Cod and easily explored by Coastal Acres Campground. Located on the edge of Shank Painter Pond, Coastal Acres is a favorite for its distance to just about everything in P-town. While removed from the bustle of downtown, its peaceful campsites are less than five minutes’ drive to the sights of the main strip.
Because of its amazing location, the amenities on the grounds are limited to restroom/shower/laundry facilities and a camp store. As you may have guessed by now, Cape Cod is so full of things to do that the emphasis is on being out there to experience it, and relaxing in nature at home.
If you’re looking to spend most of your time in P-town or the upper Outer Cape, Coastal Acres is your best bet for location, location, location. The park supports full electric hookups and is pet friendly.
Things To Do In Cape Cod On July 4th Weekend
Wellfleet Cinemas Drive-In
The only drive-in on Cape Cod is located in Wellfleet just minutes from the beach! Wellfleet Cinemas has been serving up double features on the big screen since 1957, and has been lovingly preserved over the years.
The snack bar features popcorn, pretzels, cotton candy, pizza, hot dogs, and more! In addition to the movie, there’s a playground and mini-golf course just outside of the main area by the Dairy Bar.
While we celebrate our holiday weekend, stop by the drive-in to experience one of America’s classic pastimes.
Mayflower Beach
One of the most popular beaches on the Cape is located in Dennis, meaning you don’t have to travel deep into the peninsula to experience classic Cape views. Mayflower Beach is renowned for its miles of powdery white sand and vibrant blue water.
Although it’s an extremely popular spot on July 4th, the beach is big enough to accommodate everyone with plenty of space to stretch out. Because parking at many of the beaches in Cape Cod can be a hassle on this weekend in particular, we recommend taking an Uber to save yourself the headache.
Main Street Hyannis
The beating heart of Independence Day weekend on Cape Cod is by far Main Street in Hyannis. As the true gateway to the Cape (and islands, but more on that later), Hyannis is filled to the brim on July 4th as the first major stop in the region. Because of this, its main street, lined with incredible restaurants, ice cream parlors, and boutique shops, is a major destination for the holiday.
Even if you’re only there to window shop, we highly recommend taking a dive through Main Street if you’re staying in the Hyannis area.
Town Parades
July 4th would be incomplete with parades! For the full Independence Day spectacle, look for the following towns for parade routes:
- Barnstable
- Chatham
- Cotuit
- Hyannis Harbor Boat Parade
- Hyannis
- Orleans
- Sandwich
Day Trips To The Islands
Hyannis is a particularly busy destination for its port where you can catch a number of ferries to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket! Although these destinations are well worth spending the whole weekend on their own, if you’re able to set aside a day they’re more than worth it.
Bus routes on the island and electric scooters mean that you can get around easily without having to pay to bring a rental car over with you. Simply spend the afternoon riding along the gorgeous coastline and taking in the idyllic New England towns for yourself.
Fireworks Schedule
The main event for a lot of people; 4th of July fireworks! All throughout the Cape there are fireworks shows, some even on the Friday before the big day. Below is a list of times and places to watch fireworks on Cape Cod throughout the weekend.
Important to note: both Hyannis and Barnstable’s July 4th fireworks have been rescheduled to September 3rd due to its endangered piping clovers population.
Friday, July 1st
Where: Orleans – Rock Harbor,
When: Dusk
Where: Chatham – Location TBA
When: 9:00 PM
Monday, July 4
Where: Sandwich – Shawme Pond
When: 9:30 PM
Where: Falmouth – Falmouth Heights Beach,
When: Dusk
Where: Provincetown – Provincetown Harbor
When: Dusk
Where: Onset-Wareham – Onset Beach & Bay
When: Dusk
Where: Plymouth – Plymouth Harbor
When: 9:15
Final Tips For RVing Cape Cod On July 4th Weekend
Make Reservations ASAP
We know, if you’re reading this article now, chances are you’ve either already made your reservations— or you’re a tad late. If it’s the latter, that’s still okay! Just be sure to book everything for your vacation sooner rather than later.
And we do mean everything.
In addition to securing the best RV rentals and camping spots, we highly recommend you book your things to do and dining as far in advance as possible. While not all restaurants on the Cape will accept reservations for July 4th, it may be helpful to find ones that do and secure a spot there or risk waiting in long, long, long lines.
The same goes for activities like whale watches or movies at the drive-in. If it’s possible, plan out your day/weekend now and make reservations for what you can. Although you don’t have to keep to a rigid schedule (and honestly, nor should you— spontaneity is the spice of life!), if you don’t have any plans at all for what you’ll be doing, you may be left out in the crowd.
The very large crowd.
Expect Traffic and Plan Ahead
Because July 4th weekend is by far the height of Cape Cod’s peak tourism season, expect a good amount of traffic. Yes, even if you prepare to leave early in the morning.
This isn’t meant to scare anyone off, because any place worth visiting will likely have a lot of traffic and crowds for that very reason! But if you’re planning on doing day trips or entering/leaving the Cape at any given point throughout the weekend, be sure to get a good night’s sleep beforehand and leave at least by 7am the following day.
Leave The Pooches At Home
Unless your furry friends are very well socialized with crowds and unafraid of the sound of fireworks, it’s probably in your (and theirs) best interest to find someone to take care of them for the weekend.
However, if you can’t bear to leave your best friend at home, rest assured that the many dog friendly RV campgrounds on Cape will be there to accept them all the same.
RVing Cape Cod this year? Let RVnGO take care of your RV rental. Where will you go next?