Where is Onset and why is it called the
"Gateway to Cape Cod"?
Onset is technically a CDP or Census Designated Place within the town of Wareham Ma. Folks here refer to Onset as a vilage, not to be confused with Onset Village which is a section of Onset. Before delving into this, let’s look at Onset on a map first. It is easy to see its proximity to the coast and Cape Cod.
Onset, part of Wareham, is the last town before you cross the bridges onto Cape Cod. Those would be the Bourne and Sagamore Bridges, and if you've ever sat in summer traffic trying to get over them, you know the pain. That's why Wareham launched the campaign: *“It’s better before the bridges.”* And honestly? They’re right.
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This charming seaside town offers far more than just a pit stop on your way to the Cape. With a lively downtown full of unique shops, great restaurants, cozy ice cream stands, antique stores, and miles of soft, sandy beaches, Wareham—and especially Onset—is a destination in its own right.
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The best part? You skip the nightmare traffic that’s become a hallmark of Cape travel. We're talking hours of bumper-to-bumper gridlock every summer weekend—both heading in *and* out. And if it’s a holiday? Bring gas, snacks, and serious patience.
But when you stay in Onset, you can enjoy the beach town vibes without the travel stress. And if you still want a taste of the Cape, you’re only about 20 minutes (with no traffic) from places like Sandwich and Falmouth—just time your trip right and you’re golden.​
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Onset is Alive with Spiritual History
Excerpts from a Boston Glob article by William A. Davis. Photo by David Evans from Onset, Ma. Facebook group
One of the best-preserved Victorian beach resorts in the country, Onset long has been known as "The Gateway to Cape Cod." Word is getting around, however, that the village, which has a unique history and one of the state's finest ocean beaches, is also a great destination in its own right.
Onset (named for a local Indian chief) sits beside a beach-rimmed bay at the head of Buzzards Bay. It has a small year-round population that more than doubles in the summer.
Most villages claim to have spirit, but in Onset's case, spiritualists also helped make it what it is today. The core of the village is a 150-acre tract acquired in 1877 by the Onset Bay Grove Association, a group of Boston businessmen who wanted to create a spiritualist summer resort. In the years after the Civil War, when millions of Americans were still mourning fallen soldiers, interest in spiritualism -- the belief that it is possible to communicate with the dead -- was widespread.​
Despite all the new things happening, Onset hasn't entirely forgotten its origins. There is still a spiritualist church here, and the distinctive octagonal wooden chapel of the Onset Wigwam Spiritualist Camp, built in 1894, is a village landmark.
