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Old King's Highway (Route 6A), Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Photo: Ted Kerwin · CC BY 2.0

Drives Massachusetts Boston, Cape Cod, Rhode Island and Connecticut

Old King's Highway (Route 6A)

MA 6A, Sandwich Road, Cranberry Highway · Sandwich → Orleans

Sweeping33 mi1 hr 10 min900 ft climbHigh point ≈ 100 ftOne way
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The drive

Route 6A, most of it known as the Old King's Highway, is described as Cape Cod's most historic and scenic highway. This drive runs east from the Sagamore Bridge end at Sandwich through Barnstable, Yarmouth, Dennis and Brewster to Orleans, and the road changes names by town, including Main Street, Old King's Highway and Cranberry Highway.

The Barnstable portion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Old King's Highway Historic District. This is a village road along Cape Cod Bay's north side.

The route is 32.7 miles and takes about 1 hr 10 min, with gentle curves and 900 feet of climbing.

Along the way

  1. Sandwich (Sagamore)
  2. Sandwich
  3. Barnstable Village
  4. Yarmouth Port
  5. Dennis
  6. Brewster
  7. Orleans
Elevation
900 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 100 ft
SandwichOrleans
Curves
Mostly gentle curves
SandwichOrleans
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • Route 6A changes names by town, including Main Street, Old King's Highway and Cranberry Highway.
  • Check Mass511 for current closures.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check MassDOT Mass511.

Questions about this drive

How long does Route 6A from Sandwich to Orleans take?

Route 6A from Sandwich to Orleans is 32.7 miles and takes about 1 hr 10 min.

What is the Old King's Highway?

It is the name for most of Cape Cod's Route 6A, described as Cape Cod's most historic and scenic highway.

Which towns does Route 6A pass between Sandwich and Orleans?

It runs through Sandwich, Barnstable, Yarmouth, Dennis, Brewster and Orleans.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.
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More drives near here

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Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Old King's Highway (Route 6A), from Sandwich to Orleans