Hours & Fees
The Cape Cod Rail Trail is open sunrise to sunset, every day of the year, and it's free to use. DCR's etiquette notes put it as "open dawn to dusk" and say that if you have proper lights, riding outside those hours is at your own risk. The only fee is for parking at Nickerson State Park in Brewster; every other DCR trailhead lot is free.
DCR doesn't list a closing season, so the trail stays open through the winter. What changes with the seasons is everything around it: rental shops, food stops, beach fees and some restrooms.
Hours and Fees at a Glance
Fees
- Riding or walking the trail: free.
- Parking: free at every DCR trail lot except Nickerson State Park, which charges $5 for Massachusetts plates and $20 for others in season. See parking.
- Nickerson State Park's general day-use fee is higher: $8 for Massachusetts plates and $30 for others, May 23 to October 12. The lower rail trail rate applies only at the rail trail access lot.
- National Seashore beaches you might ride to (Coast Guard Beach from the Nauset trail, Race Point and Herring Cove in Province Lands) charge seasonal entrance fees. In 2026 the Park Service listed $25 a day per private vehicle and $60 for a season pass.
Riding Early or Late
DCR lists the hours as sunrise to sunset. Sunrise and sunset move by hours across the year, so check the times for your date. If you ride at dawn or dusk, use front and rear lights; DCR says riding with lights outside the posted hours is at your own risk.
Winter on the Trail
DCR lists cross-country skiing among the trail's activities, so the trail is used in winter. DCR doesn't say whether it plows. Expect quiet weekdays, many seasonal businesses closed, and fewer open restrooms. Rental shops cut their hours after the summer; Rail Trail Bike & Kayak, for example, lists shorter hours from November to December.
Visitor Center and Restroom Hours Along the Way
- Salt Pond Visitor Center, Eastham (National Seashore): open year-round, daily 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 5 p.m. in summer.
- Province Lands Visitor Center, Provincetown: open seasonally, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Cape Cod Canal recreation areas: flush toilets from mid-April through Columbus Day weekend, portable toilets after at most locations.
- DCR lists restrooms among the rail trail's facilities. Where they are is on the trail map.
Best Time to Go
Search interest in the trail peaks in August at more than twice the yearly average, so expect the busiest lots then. Spring and fall weekdays are a quieter choice while most businesses are still open. More on timing and crowds is on plan your visit.
Checking for Closures
Construction, storm damage or events can close a section. DCR posts trail information on its Cape Cod Rail Trail page, and the trail is run from the Nickerson State Park office, (508) 896-3491.
Hours and Fees FAQ
What are the Cape Cod Rail Trail hours?
Sunrise to sunset, every day. DCR says riding outside those hours with proper lights is at your own risk.
Is the Cape Cod Rail Trail free?
Yes. The trail is free, and so is parking at every DCR trail lot except Nickerson State Park, which charges $5 for Massachusetts plates and $20 for others in season.
Is the Cape Cod Rail Trail open in winter?
Yes. DCR lists no closing season and includes cross-country skiing among the trail's activities. Many shops and restrooms along the way are seasonal.
Can you ride the Cape Cod Rail Trail at night?
DCR lists the hours as sunrise to sunset. Its etiquette notes say that with appropriate lights you may ride at your own risk.
Is the Cape Cod Rail Trail open today?
It's open daily from sunrise to sunset. For a closure on a particular section, check DCR's Cape Cod Rail Trail page or call the Nickerson State Park office at (508) 896-3491.