Is Nantucket Good for a Beach-Only Vacation?

Nantucket boasts a wide variety of activities ranging from visiting museums and historic sites, boating, world-class dining, shopping the many boutiques in town, active pursuits, and taking in live music at one of the island’s many lively venues. But one of the main draws to Nantucket is the collection of stunning beaches that frame our sandy island. Many people ask if a vacation can be planned solely around beach time, and I would answer an emphatic YES. I was born and raised on Nantucket and after over 40 years of seeing the ocean every single day, I have found that there is a little something for everyone here. 

Generally speaking, the north shore and harbor beaches are good for those seeking calm waters, sandcastle making, or floating in shallower areas. Dionis, Steps, Jetties, and Children’s Beaches are all great for kids. All with the exception of Steps have bathroom facilities and lifeguards, and Jetties and Children’s have playgrounds and restaurants. The Sandbar Restaurant at Jetties is a favorite for both the kids menu along with great food and cocktail offerings for adults during those beautiful golden hours in the late afternoon. Summer sunsets are spectacular from Dionis, Steps, and Jetties as well. Children’s Beach has a bandstand with live music and entertainment on select evenings with a big yard in front, perfect for laying out a family picnic on a blanket. It’s very walkable from town and a great place to watch boats come and go.

Next, there are several beaches along the inner harbor that are well-suited for kayaks and standup paddle boards. Francis Street Beach is the host of Sea Nantucket Paddle Sports, offering rentals from a convenient location in town. Monomoy and Cathcart Beaches are located across the Creeks from Francis Street Beach and are great spots for observing wildlife such as crabs, small fish, shellfish, and birds. Further up harbor is Pocomo Beach, a popular spot for kite surfing. Pocomo is a bit of a haul from town so it makes for a great addition to a day discovering the east end of the island.

Now onto the beaches with more wave action that are more well-suited for experienced swimmers. Eastern shore beaches such as Wauwinet, Squam and Quidnet are generally quieter as they take a bit of effort to get to. Wauwinet has beaches facing both Nantucket Sound as well as the Atlantic, and leads to Great Point and Coatue, which is the harbor’s barrier beach. Please note, these two beaches require a 4×4 vehicle and paid beach access sticker, and occasionally have closures due to nesting shorebirds. Great Point and Wauwinet are favorite beaches for anglers looking to hook striped bass, bluefish, false albacore and bonito, among others.

Moving to the southeast, there are two beaches close to Sconset: Codfish Park and Low Beach. Codfish Park is accessible right from the Village and has a lifeguard and nearby bathrooms. Low Beach is further to the south and accessed off Low Beach Road and is a bit quieter due to its located further removed from town. Next is Tom Nevers, which has a variable beach size due to erosion. There is a small parking lot beyond the town ballfields but this is generally one of the least popular beaches on the island due to its remote location and lack of facilities. Beyond Tom Nevers coming back toward the west is Madequecham, a favorite among surfers and those looking to avoid the crowds. There are multiple beach access points in this area, but the most common parking area is at the end of Russells Way. 

Finally, to the coveted south shore. Here you will find moderate waves at the most popular beach locations from east to west: Surfside, Miacomet, Cisco and Madaket. All of these beaches have parking lots and bathroom facilities. Surfside has a takeout restaurant and beach equipment rentals, Cisco offers food trucks and surf lessons, and Madaket is the home of the famous Millies Restaurant and boasts great sunsets. There are handfuls of smaller beach access points in between these big four – especially behind Miacomet Golf Course and Bartlett’s Farm. 

So grab some takeout at any of the islands delicious sandwich shops and have yourself a day! Here are my 5 tips for making it a great beach day:

1. Bring shade and SFP. Don’t let the cool breezes fool you, and remember – even a hazy day can cause a sunburn! 
2. Leave only footprints. Please take out what you brought in, including picking up after your dog.
3. Beach fires require a permit. Please don’t leave them burning or simply bury them in the sand. They should be fully extinguished with water, because they can smolder all night under the sand and burn our feet well info the following day.
4. Respect the ocean. Be mindful of tides and rip currents that can carry you swiftly offshore, and only swim in guarded areas if you’re not sure of yourself. The lifeguards also post wildlife warnings for hazards such as sharks and jellyfish.
5. Don’t swim in the ponds when there are posted harmful algae blooms.

Please find the Town of Nantucket’s beach access map here:

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