Cape Cod Self-Guided Tour: Scenic Beauty and History

Embark on a self-guided driving tour of Cape Cod, exploring its rich history and stunning beaches. Purchase one tour per car and listen together!

Duration: 5 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Cape Cod Visitor Center - Begin the journey into America’s rich history at the Cape Cod Visitor Center. Dive into the story of the Pilgrims, the nation’s origins, and the long history of the Cape. As the drive through picturesque Massachusetts towns begins, learn about the Nauset tribe, their legends, traditions, and their cautiousness when unfamiliar ships appeared on the eastern horizon.

Note: This 65+ mile-long tour covers the essentials of Cape Cod in 2-3 hours.

  • Scargo Tower - An optional detour leads past the fish-shaped Scargo Lake. According to Nauset legend, this lake was created by a great chieftain to comfort his daughter, who mourned over three dead fish. Learn about the Nauset party who first spotted the Mayflower and their fears about its approach.
  • Harwich - Another optional detour takes us to Harwich, a charming Cape town known for its numerous beautiful beaches. If a swim is desired, this is one of the best places on the Cape for it!
  • Cape Cod Lavender Farm - While in Harwich, visit the Cape Cod Lavender Farm, a secluded estate that’s as beautiful and fragrant as it sounds. Walk any of the woodland trails for free, enjoy the lavender aroma, and pick up a few souvenirs!
  • Bank Street Beach - Next, the Harwich detour leads to Bank Street Beach, the perfect place to relax or dip toes into the Atlantic.
  • Eastham - Continuing the drive, enter Eastham, a perfectly picturesque little Colonial town. Hear about the first encounter between the Pilgrims and the Nauset, the daring assistance offered by Squanto, and the very first Thanksgiving, where the Pilgrims and Nauset celebrated a truce.
  • Salt Pond Visitor Center - A little farther on, arrive at the Salt Pond Visitor Center. This miniature museum is the perfect opportunity to catch up on some extra Cape history, use the bathroom, or just stretch your legs.
  • Nauset Light Beach - As the drive continues up the Cape, spot the Nauset Light, the quaint little lighthouse featured in every quintessential Cape Cod photograph. Learn about its importance and how the Cape’s rough waters earned the nickname “ocean graveyard” before the lighthouse was built.
  • Nauset Lighthouse - As the drive continues up the Cape, spot the Nauset Light, the quaint little lighthouse featured in every quintessential Cape Cod photograph. Learn about its importance and how the Cape’s rough waters earned the nickname “ocean graveyard” before the lighthouse was built.
  • Three Sisters Lighthouses - Continuing the drive, come to three squat white lighthouses called the Three Sisters Lighthouses. What’s peculiar about these lighthouses is that they’re not on the coast at all! They’re actually nestled among a thicket of trees pretty far inland. Hear about why that is and how they came to be there. Learn about how the Cape transformed from Nauset land to Colonial fishing towns, and then from fishing towns to a tourist hotspot.
  • Mass Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary - Another optional detour takes us to the Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary. With five miles of trails through four different biomes, and more species of birds and other critters than can be counted, this stop is bound to delight nature enthusiasts, bird watchers, and avid hikers alike.
  • Marconi Wireless Station - As the drive continues, pass Marconi Station, the first radio station to ever send a wireless message across the Atlantic! The station also played a pivotal role in an infamous oceanic tragedy: the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. Learn how a radio station hundreds of miles away saved lives on that fateful day!
  • Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail - The next optional detour takes us to the Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail, a perfect spot for hikers of all experience levels to stretch their legs and take in Cape Cod’s varied terrain. Within a single, short mile lies a beach, a freshwater marsh, a deciduous forest, and a salt plain! Continuing the drive, also hear about Cape Cod’s former whaling industry.
  • Pilgrim Spring Trail - As the drive continues, pass the Pilgrim Spring Trail, a short hike leading to one of the first places the Pilgrims came after landing on the Cape. Here, the weary travelers found their first freshwater spring—an essential find in helping them survive. Afterward, continue on toward Provincetown.
  • MacMillan Wharf - As the drive continues through P-Town, arrive at Macmillan Pier, where thousands of ships have launched over the years. Here, see how past and present really intermingle on the Cape. These days, the pier is mostly used to launch whale watching expeditions.
  • Pilgrim Monument & Provincetown Museum - The penultimate stop is the Pilgrim Monument: the tallest all-granite monument in the entire country! Every year since its completion in 1910, thousands of tourists climb the steps of this 250-foot colossus to get a panoramic view of the ocean from the top. It’s well worth the trek! Next, hear about the Mayflower Contract, the rough set of laws the Pilgrims set for themselves upon landing in the New World.
  • Pilgrim’s First Landing Park - Finally, end up where it all began: the site where the Mayflower first struck land. Explore the park and imagine what it must have been like for the settlers, after ten harrowing weeks at sea, to step onto Nauset soil right here on November 11th, 1620. The tour officially ends at this historic stop.
What's Included
  • Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
  • Great value: purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!
  • Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
  • Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
  • Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
  • Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
  • Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
  • Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!
What's Not Included
  • Attraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations
Additional Information

Explore Cape Cod’s scenic beauty with this self-guided driving tour. Visit the Cape Cod Visitor Center, then ascend Scargo Tower for breathtaking views. Discover Harwich and its picturesque Cape Cod Lavender Farm. Relax at Bank Street Beach, and delve into history at Eastham’s First Encounter Beach. Stop by Salt Pond Visitor Center, marvel at Nauset Light, and visit the Three Sisters Lighthouses. Enjoy nature at Mass Audubon Wellfleet Bay, the Marconi Wireless Station, and serene trails.

Purchase one tour per car, not per person.

After booking, check your email to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. These steps require good internet/Wi-Fi access. From there, follow the audio instructions and the route.

New, extra validity — now yours for an entire year! Use multiple times over multiple trips!

This isn’t an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.

  • How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email with instructions. Follow the instructions right away: • Download the separate app • Enter the password • Download the tour • MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular.
  • How to start the tour: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction. • Go to the starting point. (Note: no one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided). • The audio will begin automatically at the starting point. If you face audio issues, visit the FAQ. • Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
  • Amazing Savings: why pay for an expensive, crowded, and limited bus tour — priced per person! — when you can have ONE amazing audio guide on your OWN phone for your WHOLE group?
  • Flexibility and Convenience: • Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. It’s perfect for tailoring your exploration and revisiting your favorite spots on future trips. • Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace, free from the constraints of a group.
  • Comprehensive Tour Experience: •The app provides a full itinerary, travel tips, narrated audio stories, scripts, images, videos, and recommendations for additional activities. • Enjoy a private experience without the crowds, ideal for personalized stops and photo opportunities.
  • Ease of Use and Accessibility: • The app is hands-free and activates stories via GPS, offering support through call, chat, or email. • There is no need for a continuous cell or Wi-Fi connection as the GPS map works offline.
  • Memorable Keepsakes: • Utilize the app’s images to create a photo book or share on social media, ensuring you have high-quality, crowd-free memories from your trip.
  • Preparation: • After booking, download the app and the tour using a strong Wi-Fi connection. • Review the tour at home before your trip for a better experience.
  • Starting the Tour: • Open the app upon arrival at your destination. • Select the appropriate tour based on your starting point. • Head to the starting location; the audio will begin automatically. • Follow the suggested route and adhere to the speed limit for an optimal experience. • By following these instructions and taking advantage of the app’s features, users can enjoy a personalized, flexible, and in-depth exploration of their destination at their own pace and convenience.
  • Minimum Mobile OS Requirement: iOS 14 or later / Android 9 (Pie) or later. It is compatible with iPad models that have a GPS chip.
Location
Cape Cod Visitor Center
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
3.7
(14 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Alexandra_s
Aug 25, 2022
The tour gives you a... - The tour gives you a great chance to drive and get bits of history at the same time. First encounter between Pilgrims and Native Americans was truly awesome.
Review provided by Viator
Kellyr
Jul 10, 2023
Good tour to guide your trip to the Cape - Took a little work to get the tour going after buying on Viator—had to download the Viator app and then the third party app and it felt like a lot of steps to get to the tour. Once it was up and running, it worked well. I didn’t have any problems with the app or the tour. In terms of the tour itself, it was good. We found a few places we probably wouldn’t have found or stopped at ourselves that were really fun and I’m glad we did it. I do wish there were more pieces of information along the way. It felt like we drove in silence a little bit too much. I would have appreciated more stories or history during those places and a couple of the stops were a little short on info. Overall, though, a well done tour that is very helpful to learn the Cape. A few tweaks would make it great.
Review provided by Viator
Sandy
Jun 15, 2023
Enjoyable - Listened to this as we drove from Dennisport to PTown. Interesting facts. Only complaint was that the GPS with it was sometimes confusing and slow to point out whennwe needed to make turns. But glad we ised it on the drive. Saw things we might have missed.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Angieax7646ml
Apr 10, 2023
Overall, great audio tour!! Easy navigation, solid narration, and interesting facts! - Overall, great audio tour...and I've been on many!! Easy navigation, solid narration, and interesting facts! There's 1 planned restroom break, which was necessary and thoughtful, altho I wish there were more. Having never gone to PTown, I got way more from this tour than I bargained for. It's the off season, so it was mellow and chill. I had no issues with parking and crowds. I couldn't imagine doing this tour in the thick of the season tho. I do wish there were recommended food and touristy venues included in the tour too. While the map showed a ton of places, was hard to know which to choose. The recommendations I'd give to other patrons doing this tour are 1. Beware of the traffic. Leaving the cape was a nightmare of traffic and slow moving. I didn't think it'd be that bad on a Sunday off season. 2. Plan for more driving time if you do any of the detours which are also nice. I started skipping a few because I wanted to get to the good stuff. 3. Take the Pilgrim monument tour, I missed out. It looked like it would be great. 4. If I had it to do all again, I'd do it over multiple days and really enjoy the beaches and what Ptown has to offer. Hope your experience is great! Highly recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kporter9876
Mar 27, 2023
I'm glad I did it, but... - Let me start by saying that 2-3 hours is not accurate unless you don't do any of the detours. I did most of them and it took me about 6 hours. This was a pro for me because it filled my Sunday afternoon. And it was nice that there were additional narrations within the detours. However, this was two to three times more than I've paid for other self-guided tours, and therefore, I would've expected it to be pretty perfect. But there are a few things that need to be fixed. First, because I was doing this solo, it got tricky finding my way along the route and detours at times. Second, there was no "go to this stop" button like it said to get you back to Google Maps, which would've been incredibly helpful in finding my way back after the detours when I needed to keep my eyes on the road, especially on tricky/rural roads. Third, some of the narrations weren't timed well and a couple of them said to turn with no or almost no warning, and others cut off because the next stop approached and the narration changed. So, I'm glad I did it but I've done amazing self-guided that were much cheaper, so this one should be updated.
Review provided by Viator
Steven_p
Nov 1, 2022
Great although a little glitchy - A really good app tour. It follows your course and locates where you are before starting each point/section. It can be a little glitchy sometimes and start the next section before finishing the previous one so you may miss a bit. Would recommend it less for solo travellers as trying to drive and keep control of the app can be a little difficult. Great way of exploring though. Oh, and allow a minimum of 4 hours!
Review provided by Viator
Terryp421
Jun 7, 2022
Drive to Provincetown - The audio tour was interesting and informative. The street directions were a bit hard to follow. We saw some great sights.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kathy_o
Apr 4, 2022
Not as I expected - Things were not as expected. We ended up traveling by 6a instead of 6 so for the first part of the trip did not use. I used at later sites but things were closed or not there anymore such as Wydah Museum in Provincetown. Even though things such as beaches were supposed to be open restrooms were closed often.
Review provided by Viator
Christine_w
Aug 14, 2024
Frustrating!! - We did not use the audio tour - we found it very frustrating to use the app - we would like a refund for the $16.99 we spent to purchase it!! Due to this we had to change our plans for the day!!! It was a horrible experience - I DO NOT recommend purchasing the Cape Cod Self Guided Audio Tour!!!
Review provided by Viator
Brad
Jun 14, 2023
Garbage - Could not get this to work. Absolute waste of money Just kept asking to book after I had paid and followed the cryptic instructions
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Select Date and Tickets
up to 4 guests
1
Traveler
October 2024
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Today