Where to Have a Bonfire in Provincetown
There are no bonfires allowed on town beaches. Bonfires are allowed throughout beaches at the Cape Cod National Seashore, including Herring Cove Beach, Race Point Beach, and beaches on the Off-Road Vehicle corridor.
How to Have a Bonfire in Provincetown
The Seashore requires a permit for each bonfire, and there is a limited number of permits available every day. You must reserve your permit by going to the Province Lands Visitor Center on Race Point Road, starting at 8:00am. (You can reserve via telephone at 508-487-1256, but park policy is to take reservations from those physically at the visitor center each morning before phone reservations are accepted.) The permit is free, but you need to apply for it three days before your bonfire, and pick it up at the Visitor Center by 3:30pm on the day of the bonfire. They will also give you a set of rules for safe bonfires.
In summer months when the demand for bonfire permits is high, the line for permits starts before the Visitor Center even opens at 8:00, so bear that in mind and get there early so you’re not disappointed. (ptownie tip: Mosquitoes are particularly bad in the early mornings, so if you’re standing in line waiting for your permit, make sure you have some repellent with you!)
If you’re applying for a permit for one of the off-road beaches, you need to apply for your permit at the Race Point Ranger Station.
If you enter the Seashore after 5:00 pm in the summer (or at any time in the winter), admission is free. You can bring your canine friends but they must stay on a six-foot leash.
The easiest beach to access while carrying a load of firewood and all your other campfire paraphernalia is the beach at Herring Cove. Wherever you do it, have fun—and remember to leave the beach exactly as you found it!