Cape Cod Towns: A Guide to Every Village Along Route 6A

Cape Cod towns each have their own personality, and that's exactly what makes driving Route 6A, the Old King's Highway, so rewarding. In about seventy miles, you'll pass through ten distinct villages, each shaped by centuries of fishing, whaling, and art.

Whether you're planning a full drive from Sandwich to Provincetown or just picking a few favorites, here's a real look at the Cape Cod towns worth knowing before you go.

TAKE A SELF-GUIDED TOUR OF CAPE COD

Want the stories playing automatically as you drive through each village?

Take our Old King's Highway: Cape Cod Driving Tour. It's a self-guided, GPS-triggered audio tour that starts at the Cape Cod Visitor Center near the Sagamore Bridge and follows Route 6A and Route 6 all the way to the tip of the Cape.

Along the way you'll discover:

• The Wampanoag history behind these waters

• How whaling captains built the mansions still standing along 6A

• Why the Pilgrims landed here first, weeks before Plymouth

Stories play automatically as you drive, so there's no group and no schedule to worry about, all the way to Pilgrims' First Landing Park in Provincetown.

Check out our Old King's Highway: Cape Cod Driving Tour here.

THE UPPER CAPE: SANDWICH AND BARNSTABLE VILLAGE

Sandwich is where the Cape's story begins, founded in 1637 and still the oldest town on the peninsula. From there, Barnstable Village picks up the thread with Federal-style homes, quiet streets, and the Sturgis Library, one of the oldest public libraries in the country. Both towns set the tone for what's ahead: historic, unhurried, and proud of it.

THE MID CAPE: YARMOUTH PORT, DENNIS, AND BREWSTER

Yarmouth Port holds onto its sea captain history with grand old mansions and historic churches that once anchored one of the world's great maritime centers. Just past it, Dennis Village mixes galleries and boutiques into one of the Cape's prettiest town centers, while Brewster stays quieter, known for its tidal flats and peaceful pace along Route 6A's least crowded stretch.

THE OUTER CAPE: ORLEANS, EASTHAM, WELLFLEET, AND TRURO

Orleans marks the turning point where Cape Cod bends toward the open Atlantic, with easy access to Nauset Beach and a mix of history and shopping.

Eastham follows with the Salt Pond area, where the Pilgrims had some of their earliest encounters on Cape Cod, before the road slides into Cape Cod National Seashore.

Wellfleet is famous for its oysters, farmed in these cold harbor waters since the 1600s, alongside a thriving community of working artists.

Truro closes out the outer stretch with rolling dunes and quiet forest, one of the least developed towns left on the Cape.

THE LAND'S END: PROVINCETOWN

Provincetown sits at the very tip of Cape Cod, where the Pilgrims actually landed before continuing on to Plymouth weeks later. Today it's one of New England's most distinctive seaside towns, known for Commercial Street's galleries and shops, the towering Pilgrim Monument, and some of the best whale watching departures on the East Coast.

TIPS FOR TOWN-HOPPING ALONG ROUTE 6A

• Route 6A is the scenic choice; Route 6 is faster if you just need to get to Provincetown

• Fall offers the best combination of foliage, mild weather, and thinner crowds

• Budget more time than you think, since every town invites at least one stop

• Parking is easiest early in the day, especially in Provincetown during summer

PLAN YOUR TRIP

Ready to see all these Cape Cod towns for yourself?

Check out our Cape Cod travel guide for tips on where to eat, where to stay, and how to plan the perfect day (or two) along Route 6A.