Can you still get a rental this summer on Cape Cod? Yes, but here's what you should know.

Thinking of coming to Cape Cod this summer?

There are still options for last-minute vacationers, according to local rental agencies.

“There is not much open in July or the beginning of August,” Martha Murray, who runs Martha Murray Vacation Rentals, which manages 249 rentals in Dennis, Yarmouth and Harwich, said.

Rentals were at a high during the pandemic years of 2020-2023, but this year is seeing a return to pre-pandemic times, which has resulted in less traffic, according to a report from Cape rental agency We Need a Vacation.

“The reduced demand has also created greater availability and some softening of prices recently,” a company press release stated.

“We’re learning we have to come back to reality. There are a lot more options and less searches for Cape Cod,” Samantha Williams, director of client services for We Need a Vacation, said.

Marilyn McDonough, who rents a three-bedroom home near downtown and a beach in Harwich Port through We Need A Vacation, said it is rented through most of the summer.

The Times asked the following questions that potential renters might ask agents about Cape Cod. Here is a compilation of their answers:

Can you rent a house on Cape Cod?

Local Realtors and rental agencies and national companies like Airbnb and VRBO have a large range of houses for rent. WeNeedAVacation.com lists nearly 4,000 properties on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, from condos and cottages to all sizes of homes. One-bedroom units rent from $1,500 a week while large homes can go for as much as $25,000 to $35,000 a week.

What is the rental season on Cape Cod?

“The Cape rental season doesn’t start until June 29 and goes through mid-August,” Murray said, but several agency websites showed many places rented in June.

How many days do you need on Cape Cod?

All the agents agreed a week is enough. Visitors can experience enough of the Cape in a week, from day trips to night life, according to Liz Green of ERA Realty, which serves the Mid-Cape.

Is it expensive to vacation on Cape Cod?

“Everyone has a different idea of what’s expensive” but everything has gone up, including rents, Murray said. All the agents said the combined 14.5% state and local lodging taxes have caused the biggest increase since they were instituted in 2019.

What is the best time to go to Cape Cod?

“For a family, summer is the most amazing,” Williams said, but all the renters agreed September is optimal. “September is the best month on the Cape, when the water is still warm, everything is still open and fall is in the air,” Green said.

Cape Cod weather forecasts: The best month to go to Cape Cod, according to summer weather predictions

Is Cape Cod crowded in July?

The busiest time on the Cape is the last two weeks in July and the first two weeks in August, the agents agreed, but they said August before school starts is becoming more popular.

How busy is Cape Cod in June?

“June is tricky,” Williams said. “Kids are still in school. We get an increase in calls as soon as it gets warmer.”

Also, more homeowners may come in June before they rent their homes for the summer and families with pre-school children may come then, the agents said.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape Cod vacation rentals: Best time to go, how much to spend and more