Over Sand Permit Cape Cod MA
 

Has anyone ever done this before? does anyone do it every year?

https://www.nps.gov/caco/planyourvisit/orv-permits.htm

Oversand Beach Driving and ORV trails on Cape Cod

Basically from what I have heard and what I can tell from the websites above you can get a license for the season and then drive on the beach in certain places on the cape, picnic, swim, bring your dog (huge plus for me) and if you're so inclined even camp. It's a bit of a hassle it seems and a little bit of cash to do it, I know it's early but I am considering going down at the end of April to get a permit. looks like fun, has anyone in the T4R crowd done this? thoughts on the experience? here is a cool video that makes it look amazing... but is it really??

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFvXCa1JjKg

I have not been to Cape Cod before, but I did get a permit for Assateague Island a few years back. Beach driving is pretty cool and I would recommend doing at least once just to see if you like it. However, the open sections at CC look very small compared to Assateague. It looks like CC is mainly just for getting your beach stuff to your base for the day. I found this pic on google maps.
https://www.google.com/maps/@42.0605...!7i6144!8i3072

So I have driven on the beach, as a passenger on Martha's Vineyard which if I wanted to take the car ferry over this pass would allow me to do and as an adult and driver I have driven a jeep on the beach down in NC, down there at least at the time 2002-05 you didn't need a permit, we would go camping down at Carolina Beach State park and we'd drive on the beach out there.

the cape is a pretty narrow stretch of land so naturally the area you can drive on the beach is equally narrow I have heard that there is a trail system that this permit allows you access to so you could technically drive from basically Chatham to Provincetown without touching pavement. not all on the actual beach, the trails take you inland to go around the tourist spots etc. Race Point is way at the end and where you go to get the permit.

My parents live out that way and they schlep an unreasonable amount of stuff out to the beach, and complain about the walk (ages 66 and 71). My sister has two little kids and again, there's a lot of "kit" that comes with a 5 and 7 year old going to the beach. My wife and I, somewhat ironically as we would have the permit and the only vehicle capable enough to have one, are in our mid 30's and basically bring a towel and bottle of water. So going out where there are less people and not having to carry the kit would make several members of the family very happy. for us it's all about the pup, most of the tourist beaches don't allow dogs, pretty much anywhere you're allowed to drive/camp you can have your dog. I have never seen a photo like the one you shared, all of the stuff I have seen there was the guy taking the pic and maybe one other... which was super appealing. that photo you shared looked a little crowded for my taste. I had hoped that for $150.00 and perhaps more crucially the need for pre planning, as unlike in NC you need to go fetch a permit, I could buy some isolation in an otherwise crowded area.

I did this with a small group at the end of last September.
There was a very limited stretch of beach open, maybe 5 miles. Most locals can't remember the last time the entire nationals seashore road was open for an extended period of time.

There is no over night camping, unless you have an self contained vehicle- RV.

No alcohol allowed.

I was more a scenic experience than anything. We were lucky enough to have warm weather, spot a seal, whales, etc.

I plan on taking my niece and nephew (2 and 4yrs old) out there when they visit from IL. It makes a nice day trip to get out there and camp up for the day, have a fire, cool lunch and walk along the beach. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...4eb2e60de3.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...c6d9e88cf2.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...fb4c99a1d8.jpg


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That looks nice, thanks for the response, great pics. Lemme guess Piping Plovers? I was lucky enough to chat with a "real" person that works out of our Boston office that lives towards the cape. He drives an FJ, he told me he used to do it every year back when the permit was $80.00 and you could drive right in front of the beach comber. He also explained that they basically locked it down for several years, changed a bunch of the rules etc. and he just quit buying passes. I would be able to use it pretty regularly from may all the way through oct. is the plover thing all the time or just for part of the year? do you know? or when one section is closed is another section open? I want to try it but I am a little terrified the "romantic" notions in my head are going to be torn to shreds by reality.

2018 Permits
 

So these permits became available yesterday, anyone get one? Anyone intend to get one?

I have never done it, I just found out recently that this was a thing. I'd love to do it. Need some tires first

Nice, I just had a set of BFG AT KO2s in 275 put on April 9th my intention was to get out to race point and get this done, I'll do it, by the end of April, or May. I figure if I don't get out by Memorial day I'm toast. What part of MA are you in? on cape? close? If you do it let me know!!

interesting, thx

Im in chelmsford, 10 min south of Nashua. I hope to make it down there some time this year. Need tires first was going the K02 route just trying to determine size. This is my first off road vehicle so Im completely new to this, and had no idea you could drive on the beach especially in Mass.

I have only driven on the beach down south in North Carolina, I lived in Virginia and owned a Jeep Cherokee, this is my first serious off roader while living in New England. I went 275 on the tires, I am very pleased.

Do you imagine you'll be doing any off roading in NH? I mean you're right over the boarder. My Mother lives on the South Coast can almost see the Bourne Bridge from the town she lives in, so getting the over sand permit seems like a great idea.

I'm moving to Mashpee this summer and I'm looking at doing this. However with my new job I won't be home much in the summer so I'm unsure if I will do it the first year. Lots of projects to do on the new house.

Anyone else on Cape Cod know where there is any wheeling? The power line trails got locked down so I think I'm screwed.

you can actually drive on the beaches from like April through the beginning of November. We get a place down there every year the week AFTER labor day. it's great all the kids are back at school, the massive vacation rush dies down. greens fees drop and the water is still warm. we will be in Brewster for I think 10 straight days. that's 90% of why I'm getting the permit. So don't despair about being around for the summer, the cape is cool year round!!

Anyone have any off road trails in MA to try out? I dying to get the truck off road.

so living MA and with the restrictions like residents only etc etc.. I go off-roading down south like carolina's , florida .. drive on beach in 4wd LOW.. love it .. IN MA I also do not register my boat here , because of resident only use of ramps/parking ...

I do love Rhode Island lived there for a time during the war.. great place next to the bay and beaches back then.