Harwich Port
The charming waterfront village of Harwich — home to Wychmere Harbor, Saquatucket Harbor (ferry to Nantucket), Bank Street Beach, and the heart of Harwich’s Nantucket Sound coastline.
History & Overview
Harwich Port is the most visited and commercially active of Harwich's villages, located along Route 28 and Nantucket Sound on the town's south side. The village has been a maritime center since the 1800s, when it served as a base for fishing, coastal trade, and later the cranberry industry.
Today, Harwich Port is a charming village with two harbors (Saquatucket and Wychmere), a walkable stretch of Route 28 with restaurants and shops, and some of the best Nantucket Sound beaches in the area. The Saquatucket Harbor expansion, completed in recent years, added the Freedom Cruise Line ferry service to Nantucket — a major addition to the village's transportation and tourism infrastructure.
Voting & Polling Location
🗺 Harwich Port
Check the MA Secretary of State voter lookup for your polling location, or contact the Harwich Town Clerk at (508) 430-7516.
Harwich uses Open Town Meeting. All registered voters can attend and vote at the Annual Town Meeting, typically held in May.
Your Elected Officials
Your state legislators represent this community on Beacon Hill. Check which precinct you are in at sec.state.ma.us to confirm your exact representatives.
Key Locations & Landmarks
Saquatucket Harbor
Harwich's primary marina and ferry terminal. Home to the Freedom Cruise Line ferry to Nantucket, charter fishing boats, and recreational slips. Recently expanded with new facilities.
Wychmere Harbor
A picturesque, sheltered harbor popular with small sailboats and photographed extensively. One of the most iconic views on Cape Cod.
Route 28 Village Center
A walkable stretch of Route 28 through Harwich Port with restaurants, galleries, antique shops, and the Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank building.
Public Beaches
🌊 Bank Street Beach
A popular Nantucket Sound beach near Wychmere Harbor. Warm, calm waters and soft sand. Resident sticker required. Restrooms in season.
🌊 Red River Beach
A spacious Nantucket Sound beach at the end of Uncle Venies Road. Family-friendly with lifeguards, restrooms, and a playground nearby. Resident sticker required.
🌊 Earle Road Beach
A small neighborhood Nantucket Sound beach. Quiet and less crowded. Resident sticker required.
Local Favorites & Useful Spots
Harwich Port is a quintessential Cape Cod village — small harbor, walkable center, and the kind of spots locals keep coming back to year after year.
Bud's Go-Karts
A Route 28 institution since the 1960s. Go-kart racing, bumper boats, and mini golf in a setting that has barely changed in half a century. Cash-friendly, family-owned, and the smell of exhaust and popcorn is part of the charm.
Sundae School Ice Cream
The original Sundae School location on Route 28 in Dennis Port is nearby, but their Harwich location on Main Street is equally beloved. Homemade ice cream, old-fashioned candy, and a screen door that bangs shut behind you.
Cape Cod Lavender Farm
Tucked off Route 124, this working lavender farm offers U-pick lavender in season, a gift shop with handmade products, and walking trails through the fields. A peaceful stop that feels a world away from Route 28.
Nearest Medical Care
Fontaine Medical Center — 525 Long Pond Road, Brewster (Exit 11 off Route 6). Walk-in urgent care. About 10 minutes north.
Cape Cod Hospital — 27 Park Street, Hyannis. Full ER. About 20 minutes west.
Essential Services
| Service | Location | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Police | 183 Sisson Rd, Harwich | (508) 430-7541. Website |
| Fire | Harwich | (508) 430-7546 |
| Harwich Port Post Office | Harwich Port | ZIP: 02646 |
| Harbormaster | Saquatucket Harbor | Website |
Demographics Snapshot
How to Stay Involved
- → Select Board Meetings — Town-wide policy decisions. Agendas & Minutes
- → Planning Board — Zoning, development, and land-use planning. Meeting Info
- → Conservation Commission — Wetlands, coastal, and environmental oversight. Meeting Info
- → Finance Committee — Reviews the town budget and advises Town Meeting. Meeting Info
- → Board of Health — Public health, housing codes, and environmental health. Meeting Info
- → Town Meeting — Direct democracy where voters decide budgets and bylaws. Learn More