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Woods Hole, Massachusetts

Upper Cape · Town guide

Woods Hole, Massachusetts

Woods Hole is the village at the southwest tip of Falmouth, where the Cape runs out of land (USGS GNIS — Woods Hole). It's small, it's busy, and it has a mix you won't find anywhere else on the Cape: Vineyard ferries loading on one side of the street and world-class ocean science on the other.

Every place below is listed and verified by Cape Cod Certified.

Right now

48° · Sunny

Wind 7 mph WNW

Sunset

4:37 PM

Today

Visitor beach parking

Sticker or day pass

Sticker prices and where to buy

Weather from WeatherAPI, updated 9:00 AM.

Where is everything in Woods Hole?

12 verified places in Woods Hole, 8 on the map. Tap a photo, pin or row for its details, or narrow the list by kind under the map.

Tap a photo to see details

Places without a checked location are in the list but not on the map.

12 of 12 places shown

Outdoors

Where can I hike in Woods Hole?

Woods Hole has 1 verified trail, 1 of it easy.
  • Nobska Light, Woods HoleEasy

    Nobska Light

    Friends of Nobska Light, Inc. (owner since the Coast Guard deed transfer)

    Nobska Light stands on a grassy rise at the end of Nobska Road in Woods Hole: a white tower with a gabled entry, a flagpole and a brick plaza with a compass rose set into it. Friends of Nobska Light, the nonprofit that received the deed to the station from the Coast Guard in July 2025, keeps the grounds open to visit and photograph from dawn to dusk all year. Parking is a handful of spaces in front of the tower, and the road runs through a quiet residential neighborhood, so come in a small car and be considerate of the neighbors. Volunteers lead tower tours on certain summer days; check the Friends' website for the current schedule.

    CCC Visited · Verified 2026-10-06

How should I plan a day in Woods Hole?

All guides
Start with “Best Sunset Spots on Cape Cod: Bay Side, Harbor Views, and the Prettiest Endings to a Cape Day”. 6 guides on this site cover Woods Hole; the rest are linked below the cards.

Do I need a beach sticker in Woods Hole?

Check the town's rules below before you go.

Beach sticker info

Falmouth sells resident/taxpayer and seasonal non-resident beach parking stickers; the town asks residents to buy online or by mail (application to Town Hall), and in season stickers are also sold at the Ellen T. Mitchell Bathhouse, 56 Surf Drive. Bring your car registration. The town lists Stoney/M.B.L. beach as sticker parking only. Sources: falmouthma.gov/152, falmouthma.gov/151. Confirm current rates with the town.

Transfer station permits

A disposal sticker (or single-trip payment) is required for access. Annual combined stickers ($40) cover the Waste Management Facility, Swap Shop, and Yard Waste & Leaf Compost Facility; single-trip stickers are $10. Buy online at https://falmouthstickers.townhall247.com/ or in person at the Town Clerk's office in Town Hall. No stickers are sold at the facility.

Town services, hours & phone numbers

Plan your visit

Where should I eat in Woods Hole?

Cape Cod Certified has visited and verified 4 places to eat in Woods Hole. Filter by what you're after, or open the full restaurant list.
  • Landfall Restaurant

    Seafood & Clam Shack

    On the Water

    Landfall sits right on Woods Hole Harbor on Luscombe Avenue, steps from the Steamship Authority ferry docks, serving fresh local seafood like lobster, swordfish, clams, scallops and seasonal fish. The dining room is built from wood taken from shipwrecks and boards from old buildings, with buoys, lobster pots and harpoons hung from the beams, and a seaside bar pours fresh-squeezed cocktails. Outside there's a brick patio under the big LANDFALL sign, Adirondack chairs against a buoy-covered fence, and a little clam shack window. The family-run restaurant has been here since 1946.

    9 Luscombe Ave, Woods Hole, MA 02543Verified
    See photos, map & directions
  • Quahog Republic Leeside Pub

    Bar & Brewery

    Casual Family

    The Leeside Pub is the Woods Hole outpost of the Quahog Republic crew, set on Railroad Avenue directly across from the Steamship Authority ferry terminal. It's a natural stop before or after the boat: grab a burger and a Mai Tai and take in the ocean views and maritime feel. The shingled building with its navy awning and big lobster-claw sign is easy to spot from the ferry lot, and there's a dedicated event space with water views for groups. Seating is first-come, first-served.

    29 Railroad Ave, Woods Hole, MA 02543Verified
    See photos, map & directions
  • Quicks Hole Taqueria

    Bar & Brewery

    Casual Family · Seafood & Clam Shack · Takeout

    Tucked right across from the Martha's Vineyard ferry dock in Woods Hole, Quicks Hole Taqueria is famous for originating the lobster taco on Cape Cod — a must-try if you're passing through. The menu blends fresh local seafood with bold Mexican-inspired flavors in a casual, come-as-you-are setting beloved by both regulars and day-trippers. It's a perfect pit stop before or after the Island boat.

    6 Luscombe Ave, Woods Hole, MA 02543Verified
    See photos, map & directions
  • Water Street Kitchen

    Date Night

    On the Water

    Water Street Kitchen is a dinner spot in a weathered shingle building right on the water at 56 Water Street in Woods Hole. Their menu changes with the seasons, made from scratch with global influences, and leans on locally and sustainably fished and farmed ingredients, with craft cocktails at the bar. Their own motto is "Food is Love," and the place aims to feel like the best home-cooked supper. Tables can be booked ahead.

    56 Water St, Woods Hole, MA 02543Verified
    See photos, map & directions

Which Cape towns are closest to Woods Hole?

Falmouth and Mashpee are the closest, about 3 and 13 miles away as the crow flies.

Common questions about Woods Hole

Is Woods Hole on Cape Cod?

Yes. Woods Hole is on the Upper Cape, along with Bourne, Sandwich, Falmouth and Mashpee.

How do I get a transfer station permit in Woods Hole?

A disposal sticker (or single-trip payment) is required for access. Annual combined stickers ($40) cover the Waste Management Facility, Swap Shop, and Yard Waste & Leaf Compost Facility; single-trip stickers are $10. Buy online at https://falmouthstickers.townhall247.com/ or in person at the Town Clerk's office in Town Hall. No stickers are sold at the facility.

9 verified places

Beaches, trails, restaurants and experiences in Woods Hole

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