Passing Cape Cod’s waterways, you can’t help but notice many people using stand-up paddleboards (SUPs).
While this sport certainly isn’t new, as evidence suggests early forms of SUPs have been in use for over 5,000 years, experts trace modern usage to Hawaii in the 1940s.
Still, paddleboarding didn’t take off in the mainland United States until about ten years ago, but by 2013, it was one of the country’s fastest-growing sports for first-timers.
Today, you can’t go more than a few minutes without seeing a stand-up paddleboard on the Cape’s rivers, streams, bays, and ponds. The sport is even popular in the fall when the waterways aren’t as crowded, and people can explore for miles without anyone else around.
If you’re visiting the Cape and want to rent a paddleboard, there are a few places where this is possible.
Provincetown Aquasports
Up in P-Town, Provincetown Aquasports has short, standard, and premium paddleboards for rent from its Commercial Street location. It costs $50-70 to rent a board for the day, depending on which option you choose, and half-day and multi-day rentals are also possible.
Once you have your board, you can head out into Provincetown Harbor or the Herring Cove Salt Marsh to explore the sights. Guided tours are available, too. It’s also possible to have them deliver your board to other areas you wish to explore, including Pamet Harbor in Truro.
Jack’s Boat Rental
Wellfleet is home to all kinds of great places to paddleboard, such as Chipman’s Cove, Duck Creek, Long Pond, and Great Pond. When looking to rent your boat, search no further than Jack’s Cape Cod Boat Rental on Route 6.
The great thing about Jack’s is that they will provide foam blocks and tie-downs if you want to throw the SUP on top of your vehicle. They’ll also deliver everything you need for a nominal fee if you rent for three or more days.
Paddleboard rentals are $60 for the day, $120 for three days, $180 for four days, and $240 for six days. They have canoe, kayak, surfboard, sailboat, and boogie board rentals if you want to try something different.
Cape Cod Waterways
There are two places to rent SUPs from Cape Cod Waterways: Bass River Park in West Dennis and Swan Pond River in Dennis Port.
The West Dennis location makes it easy to explore the Bass River or check out the nearby marinas. The rental storefront is on a bay, so you can even tour around there if you aren’t comfortable with the river’s boat traffic. Rates start at $25 for 90 minutes, and you can also rent kayaks there.
The shop in Dennis Port is right on the Swan Pond River, from which it’s a leisurely paddle to Swan Pond. There are marshes you can check out, too, and the river has far less traffic than the Bass River. Rates here start at $27 for 90 minutes, and they have pedal boats, canoes, and kayaks for rent, as well.
Rideaway Adventures
Rideaway Adventures has locations in Mashpee and Sandwich, offering you a couple of different options to consider.
The Mashpee shop is near Popponesset Bay, so you’ll have the chance to explore some of the protected waters overlooking Nantucket Sound. Remember, however, that paddleboards don’t do well in the open ocean, so you’ll want to stay in the area behind Thatch Island.
The Sandwich store is on Scorton Creek, which leads into Cape Cod Bay. Stick to the creek and harbor because, once again, meandering into the ocean isn’t a great idea on a paddleboard.
Rentals at Rideaway Adventures start at $34 for an hour, with daily rentals running you $70 and weekly rentals costing $255.
Cape Cod Kayak
You might find the location of Cape Cod Kayak a bit odd, as it isn’t near any busy water bodies. Don’t worry about it, though, as the staff from this Pocasset shop will deliver your SUP anywhere on the Upper Cape.
As for the cost, Cape Cod Kayak does daily rentals for $40, weekend rentals for $50, and weekly rentals for $250. You can also get a premium paddleboard for a little bit more.
Various kayaks are available, too, which you can also get delivered anywhere you wish to paddle.
Making the Most of Your Time Outdoors
Your Cape Cod vacation is sure to be full of adventure, and renting a paddleboard for a few hours, multiple days, or a whole week makes it easy to get in the water.
Stand-up paddleboards are a great way to explore some of the Cape’s calmer waterways because they’re inexpensive and straightforward to operate. Most participants get the hang of this sport very quickly, too.
As long as the weather isn’t freezing, paddleboarding is feasible in fall, spring, and summer, and an easy activity to try when heading out from your Cape Cod vacation rental.
