Family Week: About Provincetown
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Nestled at the tip of Cape Cod and affectionally known as Ptown, Family Week in Provincetown promises a vacation like no other. Whether you’re a local resident, a returning visitor, or a first-timer, the resources on this page are sure to help you explore the wonder, fun, and joy that Family Week in Provincetown has to offer.
Provincetown is about 2.5 – 3 hours driving from Boston. You can also get to Provincetown by air, ferry, or bus.
By car
Provincetown is 2.5 – 3 hours driving from Boston, MA. Or 5 – 5.5 hours from New York. Peak traffic times are Saturday and Sunday after 9 am. If possible, reaching the Bourne or Sagamore Bridges on to Cape Cod before 9 am will help minimize long waits in traffic getting over the bridges.
There are paid parking lots throughout Provincetown. Parking at the Provincetown Inn is free for guests and people using the space for Family Week events or to enjoy the public pool/beach area.
By ferry
You can take the ferry from Boston to Provincetown. We recommend Boston Harbor Cruises, long-time supporters of Family Week. Boston Harbor Cruises offers a fast ferry (95 minutes) from One Long Wharf in Boston to Macmillan Wharf in Provincetown. You have the option of bringing bikes along for an additional fee.
The ferry from Boston to Provincetown departs at 9AM (arriving in PTown at 10:35AM) and 2:30PM (arriving in PTown at 4:05PM). From Thursday to Sunday, there’s an additional ferry that departs at 7PM (arriving in PTown at 8:35PM).
The ferry from Provincetown to Boston departs at 11:30AM (arriving in Boston at 1:05PM) and 5:30PM (arriving in Boston at 7:05PM). From Thursday to Sunday, there’s an additional ferry that departs at 9PM (arriving in Boston at 10:35PM).
By bus
The Plymouth & Brockton Street Railway Co. (P&B Bus) offers bus service between Provincetown and Boston (both South Station and Boston Logan Airport).
By air
Cape Air flights from Boston take only 20 minutes and flights from New York during the summer. The Provincetown Airport is on Race Point Rd, only minutes from the center of town.
Once you’ve made it to PTown, there are plenty of ways to explore! Review this map to learn more about parking, public restrooms, and handicap-accessible places.
Looking for public restrooms and water bottle filling stations? Click here.
Rentals Available for Your Visit
Do you need a stroller, beach chairs, toys, baby/pet gate, or other equipment during your stay in Ptown? No need to try to pack them in your suitcase!
Get your strollers, cribs, and more from our friends at Sidekicks.
Sidekicks is located at 331 Commercial Street in Provincetown. They’re open daily at 10am.
For more information, contact them here.
Bike rentals
Make getting to events a breeze with our friends at PTown Bikes!
PTown Bikes is located at 42 Bradford Street in Provincetown. They’re open daily from 10am – 5pm, and they have a 24-hour bike return.
Options for kids include:
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“Big Kids Bikes with Speeds”
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“Burley Trailers”
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“Lil Kids Bikes”
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“Burley Tagalongs”
Provincetown shuttle
The Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority (CCRTA) has a regional shuttle which runs 7 days a week, every 30 minutes during the summer. You can find the shuttle schedule on their website.
Children aged 5 or young ride free with an adult and all fixed routes are free every day.
Cart rentals
A new way to explore Provincetown! Check out these stylish, low-speed electric vehicles from PTown Carts! They’re comfortable, safe, and fun with seatbelts, headlights, turn signals, and more.
PTown Carts is open daily from 8am – 10pm. They offer easy pick-up and drop-off.
Taxis
There are several taxi options in Provincetown during the summer.
Pedicabs
Pedicabs are fun ways to get around town. There are a couple pedicab companies in town. You can call for a ride or find someone around Town Hall all day and night.
Hungry? No problem! PTown’s got you covered! Check out the info below to explore your options, including a few who are offering special Family Week discounts!
Groceries
Looking for groceries for the week? Check out:
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Provincetown Educational Farmers’ Market at Town Hall & Rhyder Street (Open Saturdays from 9AM – 1PM) | Nutrition incentives are accepted.
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Angel Foods at 467 Commercial Street (Open 7AM-8PM, hours subject to change)
- Stop & Shop at 56 Shank Painter Road (Open from 6AM – 11PM) | SNAP/EBT accepted
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Cumberland Farms at 100 Shank Painter Road (Open from 5AM – 12AM) | SNAP/EBT accepted
Food assistance
- Helping Our Women at 34 Conwell (Open Mon – Friday from 9AM – 4PM) | Provides to-go bags for anyone in need of pickup/delivery. Call ahead to arrange pick-up 3-7 days in advance or utilize the request form linked at the bottom of their website.
- Provincetown IB Schools at 12 Winslow Street (Pick-up from 12PM – 2PM every Tuesday and Friday) | Provides Grab-and-Go meals for all families with children 18 years or younger.
Family Week offers all-day programming for families of all ages — but the amazing beachside haven of #PTown has a lot to offer too!
Need a break from the sun? Check out these fun indoor activities and discounts!
The Provincetown Museum is perfect for checking out the LGBTQ+ History of Provincetown exhibit and the Our Story: The Complicated Relationship of the Indigenous Wampanoag and the Mayflower Pilgrims exhibit. The museum is open Sunday – Friday from 10am – 5pm and Saturday from 10am – 2pm
Note: Wheelchair-accessible parking and restrooms are available at the Provincetown Museum. For a verbal description tour with a staff member, please contact Ruby.
The Provincetown Film Cinema provides family-friendly showtimes and films all week long!
Note: Wheelchair-accessible restrooms and space are available. There are two assisted listening devices available — request upon arrival.
Medical resources
- Outer Cape Health Services Provincetown Health Center & Pharmacy at 49 Harry Kemp Way | Provides urgent care services, sexual health services, and linkage/transfer to higher levels of care when necessary.
- Cape Cod Hospital at 27 Park Street in Hyannis, MA
Mental health hotlines (24/7 assistance)
- Suicide and Crisis Lifeline – 988 | 24/7 suicide and crisis prevention service. Call, text, or chat with a 988 Lifeline counselor for help during difficult moments anytime, day or night.
- Samaritans Statewide Helpline – 877-870-4673 | 24/7 helpline for individuals in the state of Massachusetts needing emotional support relating to suicide and grief.
- BlackLine – 800-604-5841 | A helpline for BIPOC LGBTQ+ community members. Helping the most-impacted folks through crisis, abuse, and mistreatment. One call at a time.
- DeHQ Helpline – 908-367-3374 | A helpline for LGBTQ+ South Asians provided by trained South Asian LGBQ/TGNB+ peer support volunteers.
- Trans Lifeline – 877-565-8860
| Provides trans peer support for our community that’s been divested from police since day one. We’re run by and for trans people. - The Trevor Project – 866-488-7386 | 24/7 crisis intervention and suicide prevention service. You can also text “Trevor” to 1-202-304-1200 for support or access the online chat feature here.
- The Network/La Red – 800-832-1901 | Provides support, information, and safety planning to anyone in the LGBTQ community who are being abused, or have been abused, by a partner.
- Boston Area Rape Crisis Center – 800-841-8371 | For survivors of sexual violence ages 12 or older. Also available to friends and family of survivors along with other professionals.
Substance use/12 steps groups
- Massachusetts Substance Abuse Helpline – 800-327-5050 | Provides free and confidential information for finding licensed and approved substance use treatment and recovery services. | Hours: Monday – Friday from 8AM – 10PM; Saturday – Sunday from 8AM – 6PM.
- AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod | 12 Step meetings are available every day at various times in Provincetown and virtually. Check out thei website to find one that matches the best with your needs.
Provincetown Police Department
26 Shank Painter Rd, Provincetown, MA, 02657
(508) 487-1212, Hours 24/7
Provincetown Fire Station
4 Johnson St, Provincetown, MA, 02657
(508) 487-7023, Hours 24/7
Recognizing the Mashpee Wampanoag at Family Week
As we welcome families to Family Week, we acknowledge the Native Land that Family Week takes place on, as well as the impact of the history of colonization.
It is imperative to begin by acknowledging that Family Week is taking place on the ancestral land of the Mashpee Wampanoag [wahm-puh-noh-ag] People. Provincetown is the starting point for colonization of the occupied land known as the United States. The Pilgrim Monument commemorates the first invasion of the Pilgrims in 1620. By being here today we continue to occupy the land, and we must commit to exploring our place in that history.
We recognize the indigenous lives lost on this land and the continued fight for sovereignty for the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe in Mashpee, MA. By saying this, it does not absolve us from our continued commitment to indigenous people and decolonization. We are each accountable for our place in history, and we must commit to respecting the land and uplifting the work of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe. We also stand in solidarity with the indigenous peoples of the areas from which we traveled to be here.
The land that many call Provincetown is actually the land of the Mashpee Wampanoag People. The early colonization that took place in 1616 affected the entire Wampanoag Nation, from Provincetown to Narragansett Bay, where the Nation lost a multitude of people to yellow fever. This harsh impact of colonization continued on in 1620 when the Mayflower first arrived in Provincetown.
Colonization is not a singular moment in time, it is a constant that continues to affect the surviving indigenous communities, who are still tirelessly fighting to reclaim and protect their cherished land. The Mashpee Wampanoag are not just a part of history; they are an existing element of our current society.
We encourage all Family Week attendees to take action in supporting the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe, as well as the tribes whose land you occupy at home. Suggested actions include:
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Supporting the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe while at Family Week:
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Take the time to stop by Mashpee Wampanoag Museum on your way to or from Ptown! Engage in family discussions about what you’ve discovered. You can find information about the museum here.
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Visit the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe’s website.
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Learn about how you can support the Native Land Conservancy.
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Steps to take at home:
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Find out what Native land your family resides on, and have conversations with your loved ones about the significance of indigenous history.
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Pay an annual voluntary land tax to a Native-led organization where you live and encourage your community to do the same.
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Learn about Landback initiatives and how you can support them.
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Enjoy Illuminative’s virtual photo gallery, A Celebration of Indigenous Queer Intimacies, with your family.
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