Parking & Directions

Day visitors to Nickerson State Park pay a parking fee from May 23 through October 12: $8 for cars with Massachusetts plates and $30 for all others. Parking at the park's Cape Cod Rail Trail access lot is $5 or $20. The entrance is at 3488 Main St., Brewster, MA 02631, on Route 6A, and the park is open sunrise to sunset.

Day-Use Parking Fees

DCR charges by the car, and the license plate decides whether you pay the resident or non-resident rate. These are DCR's current rates for Nickerson:

• Massachusetts plates: $8 a day.
• Non-Massachusetts plates: $30 a day.
• Cape Cod Rail Trail access lot: $5 for Massachusetts plates, $20 for others.

Fees are charged May 23 through October 12 this year. Outside that window, DCR doesn't list a day-use fee. The season changes from year to year, so check DCR's page if you're visiting near either end of it.

Passes That Cover Parking

• Massachusetts state parks annual parking pass: covers day-use parking at DCR parks that charge.
• Lifetime senior parking pass, for Massachusetts residents. DCR links it from the Nickerson page.
• Veterans Parking: DCR has set aside 8 spaces in total between the rail-trail lot at Nickerson and the park itself. A veteran plate is required.

Free Parking for the Rail Trail

If you're only riding the Cape Cod Rail Trail, DCR lists free trail parking at several other trailheads on its rail-trail page. The one in Brewster is on Route 137. Others are in Harwich, Orleans Center, South Dennis and South Yarmouth, and at the Cape Cod National Seashore in Eastham and Wellfleet.

One more conflict to know: DCR's Nickerson page gives the fee season above, while its rail-trail page says the Nickerson lot is charged from Memorial Day through October 31. If you're parking there in late October, check DCR's pages before you go.

Directions

From Route 6 (Mid-Cape Highway)

ReserveAmerica's directions: once on Cape Cod, take Route 6 east to Exit 89 in Orleans. Turn left off the ramp onto Route 6A West and follow it 2 miles. Nickerson State Park is on the left.

By GPS

Use the street address, 3488 Main St., Brewster, MA 02631, or the park's coordinates, 41.77444, -70.03194.

By bike

The Cape Cod Rail Trail connects to the park's paved bike path, so you can ride in from other Cape towns.

Where to Park Inside the Park

Day visitors use the parking areas DCR marks on its trail map. For the Little Cliff Pond loop, DCR's hiking sheet says to park at the end of Flat Pond Road (see hiking). The same sheet warns that trailhead parking can be limited: don't block other cars, and don't leave valuables in yours.

Accessibility

DCR lists Nickerson as wheelchair accessible, with accessible camping, a beach wheelchair and beach mat, and access to the Cape Cod Rail Trail. Call the park office at (508) 896-3491 for details before your visit.