Harbor
Children's Beach
A small protected in-town harbor beach with playground and lawn, ideal for toddlers. (Local note: Playground, café, calm shallow water for small children)
Nantucket · Town guide
Nantucket, Massachusetts
Nantucket sits thirty miles out to sea — far enough that the island runs on its own clock, its own weather, and its own rules. The cobblestones on Main Street are real, the gray-shingle uniformity is by design, and the ferry from Hyannis is how most of the world arrives.
Every place below is listed and verified by Cape Cod Certified.
Right now
56° · Sunny
High tide · Nantucket
12:36 PM
Sunset
5:43 PM
Where is everything in Nantucket?
26 verified places in Nantucket, 19 on the map. Tap a photo, pin or row for its details, or narrow the list by kind under the map.
Tap a photo to see details
- 'Sconset Beach (Sankaty)
- Brant Point Beach
- Children's Beach
- Cisco Beach
- Coatue Wildlife Refuge Beach
- Dionis Beach
- Great Point Beach (Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge)
- Jetties Beach
- Madaket Beach
- Steps Beach
- Surfside Beach
- Linda Loring Nature Foundation Trails
- Masquetuck Reservation
- Sanford Farm, Ram Pasture & The Woods
- Squam Swamp Interpretive Trail
- Tupancy Links
- Altar Rock & Middle Moors Trail
- Milestone Cranberry Bog Trail
- Head of the Harbor Trail (Nantucket Land Bank)
26 of 26 places shown
Outdoors
What beach should I go to in Nantucket?
11 of 11 verified beaches in Nantucket are free.
- Ocean / Atlantic
'Sconset Beach (Sankaty)
An east-shore Atlantic beach in Siasconset below Sankaty bluff, quiet with limited parking. (Local note: Small parking area, seasonal lifeguards, relatively easy access)
- Bay / Sound
Dionis Beach
A calm north-shore Sound beach backed by tall dunes, gentler and less crowded. (Local note: Calm water, restrooms, parking, family-friendly and peaceful)
- Ocean / Atlantic
Surfside Beach
A popular wide south-shore Atlantic beach with stronger surf, best reached by bike or shuttle. (Local note: Only ~60 parking spots — shuttle advised; heavier surf)
- Bay / Sound
Jetties Beach
Town's most amenity-rich harbor-side beach with calm water, walkable from town. (Local note: Calm surf, family-friendly, free parking, beach-wheelchair access)
- Ocean / Atlantic
Cisco Beach
A south-shore Atlantic beach with consistent surf, an on-site surf school and food trucks. (Local note: Surf school, food trucks, heavier waves, parking available)
- Ocean / Atlantic
Madaket Beach
A west-end Atlantic beach famed for sunsets; access restored via a bluff ramp, parking minimal due to erosion. (Local note: VERIFIED OPEN: erosion closed it in 2022, then town restored access with a ramp + lifeguards; parking extremely limited)
- Harbor
Brant Point Beach
A small sandy beach beside the iconic Brant Point Lighthouse at the entrance to Nantucket Harbor, with postcard lighthouse views and a front-row seat for ferries and boats. No lifeguard, and the adjacent harbor channel brings strong current and heavy boat traffic - better for sitting, photos and sunset-watching than swimming; families with small children should choose Children's Beach or Jetties instead.
- Bay / Sound
Steps Beach
A narrow sandy beach tucked below the bluffs on the north shore, reached by a long staircase from Cliff Road. Calm, protected water makes it popular with families and swimmers. Stunning views of Nantucket Sound.
- Bay / Sound
Coatue Wildlife Refuge Beach
A remote, undeveloped barrier beach forming the eastern arm of Nantucket Harbor. Accessible only by 4WD vehicle with an Trustees/Nantucket Conservation permit, kayak, or boat. Pristine dunes, abundant shorebirds, and near-total solitude. Swimming on the calm harbor side.
- Ocean / Atlantic
Great Point Beach (Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge)
The remote northern tip of Nantucket, home to the Great Point Lighthouse. A wild, 4WD-only strand within the Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge managed by The Trustees. Excellent fishing, seals, and shorebird nesting habitat. One of the island's most spectacular and desolate stretches.
Nantucket beaches with parking, sticker & dog rules
Where can I hike in Nantucket?
Nantucket has 8 verified trails, 7 of them easy. The longest is Altar Rock & Middle Moors Trail, at 3.5 miles.
- Easy
Linda Loring Nature Foundation Trails
Easy self-guided loops through a protected sandplain-grassland preserve (no dogs). (Local note: Sunrise-to-sunset access, ~1mi easy loop, dogs prohibited)
Linda Loring Nature Foundation for Linda Loring Nature Foundation Trails (opens in a new tab) - Easy
Masquetuck Reservation
A short easy walk through woods to a quiet Nantucket Harbor overlook off Polpis Rd. (Local note: Short easy harbor-side walk, dog-friendly)
Nantucket Conservation Foundation for Masquetuck Reservation (opens in a new tab) - Moderate
Sanford Farm, Ram Pasture & The Woods
NCF's flagship property with stacked loops crossing moors and farmland out to the south shore. (Local note: AllTrails confirms ~1.7mi loop / ~6mi ocean walk, dogs welcome, well-marked)
Nantucket Conservation Foundation for Sanford Farm, Ram Pasture & The Woods (opens in a new tab) - Easy
Squam Swamp Interpretive Trail
An easy interpretive loop through a rare island hardwood swamp and forest near Wauwinet. (Local note: ~1.7mi interpretive loop, forested wetland, family-friendly)
Nantucket Conservation Foundation for Squam Swamp Interpretive Trail (opens in a new tab) - Easy
Tupancy Links
A short easy loop across open former golf links to a bluff overlooking the North Shore. (Local note: AllTrails 115 reviews — ~0.9mi easy loop, top dog-walking and sunset spot)
Nantucket Conservation Foundation for Tupancy Links (opens in a new tab) - Easy · 3.5 mi
Altar Rock & Middle Moors Trail
A network of sandy tracks through the open heath of the Middle Moors, converging on Altar Rock — at 101 feet, one of Nantucket's highest points. Panoramic 360-degree island views, heathland wildflowers, and an eerie, open landscape unlike anywhere else on the island. The Milestone Cranberry Bog is adjacent.
Nantucket Conservation Foundation for Altar Rock & Middle Moors Trail (opens in a new tab) - Easy · 2.8 mi
Milestone Cranberry Bog Trail
A flat loop around the perimeter of one of the largest working cranberry bogs in the state. The trail circles active bogs, woodlands, and wetlands managed by the Nantucket Conservation Foundation. Spectacular fall color during the October harvest. Easy walking on packed-earth and grass tracks.
Nantucket Conservation Foundation for Milestone Cranberry Bog Trail (opens in a new tab) - Easy · 2.2 mi
Head of the Harbor Trail (Nantucket Land Bank)
A quiet Land Bank trail looping through coastal scrub oak and pitch pine to the marshy shores at the head of Nantucket Harbor. Excellent birding year-round with herons, egrets, and migrating waterfowl. Remote and lightly visited.
Nantucket Land Bank for Head of the Harbor Trail (Nantucket Land Bank) (opens in a new tab)
How should I plan a day in Nantucket?
All 1 guideStart with “Best Sunset Spots on Cape Cod: Bay Side, Harbor Views, and the Prettiest Endings to a Cape Day”. 1 guide on this site covers Nantucket; the rest are linked below the cards.
Visiting Cape Cod
Best Sunset Spots on Cape Cod: Bay Side, Harbor Views, and the Prettiest Endings to a Cape Day
Cape Cod's best sunsets happen on the Bay side — Skaket, Chapin, Gray's Beach, Provincetown harbor, and more. Local guide with timing, tides, and what to know.
Cape Cod Celebrations
What a Cape Cod Wedding Actually Costs in 2026: A Line-by-Line Budget
A transparent, line-by-line look at real Cape Cod wedding costs in 2026 — venue, catering, clambake, florals & more, with budgets for 50, 100 & 150 guests.
Living on Cape Cod
The Cape Cod Winter Closing Checklist for Absentee Owners (Print-and-Go PDF)
The print-and-go Cape Cod winter closing checklist for absentee owners: real freeze dates, insurance rules, plumbing shut-down steps, and 2026 caretaker pricing.
1 more Nantucket guide
Do I need a beach sticker in Nantucket?
No. Every Nantucket beach we list is free. The town's own rules are below.
Beach sticker info
Jetties, Surfside & Children's Beach have public parking and amenities (restrooms, food, seasonal lifeguards); NRTA seasonal beach shuttles also serve them.
Transfer station permits
Disposal free to Nantucket residents; confirm current sticker/permit with DPW (facility reportedly sold to Waste Options end-2024).
Town services, hours & phone numbers
Town Hall
Nantucket Town Hall (opens in a new tab)Senior Center
Nantucket Council on Aging / Saltmarsh Senior Center (opens in a new tab)81 Washington St, Nantucket, MA 02554
Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri 8:00am–3:45pm; Thu 8:00am–4:30pm
Transfer Station
Nantucket Solid Waste Facility (Madaket Road Landfill) (opens in a new tab)188 Madaket Road, Nantucket, MA 02554
Summer (May 1–Sep 30) Mon–Fri 7–3, Sat–Sun 8–12; Winter (Oct 1–Apr 30) Mon–Fri 8–3, Sat–Sun 8–12
Schools
Nantucket Public Schools (opens in a new tab)Beaches
From calm, family-friendly Jetties & Children's Beach near town to the open-ocean surf of Surfside; Madaket on the west end is famous for sunsets, and Sankaty/Sconset offers lighthouse views and bluff scenery. (opens in a new tab)Trails
Nantucket Conservation Foundation maintains miles of trails — including Tupancy Links (North Shore & harbor views); the Linda Loring Nature Foundation off Eel Point Rd preserves sandplain grasslands and coastal trails. (opens in a new tab)
Plan your visit
Where should I stay in Nantucket?
We haven't verified a place to stay in Nantucket yet. Browse verified stays across the Cape instead.
Stays
No Nantucket stays listed yet
We only list places we've checked. Browse lodging across the Cape in the meantime.
Browse all lodging →Where should I eat in Nantucket?
We haven't verified a place to eat in Nantucket yet. The Cape-wide restaurant list covers the towns nearby.
What is there to do in Nantucket this weekend?
All experiences7 experiences in Nantucket can be booked through Cape Cod Certified. Prices and availability come from each operator.
Beach DayKeep What You CatchNantucket Beach Fishing Charters
A private fishing charter out on the water with a local captain. Booked on Viator.
from $625
Check availability
Rainy DayNarrated · All AgesNantucket: Historical Landmarks Sightseeing Bus Tour
See Nantucket's historic and beautiful sights on this bus tour of the island. Make stops at a fishing village, an old mill, and a classic lighthouse. See quaint cottages and sweeping views of the sea.
$53 per person
Check availability
Cape ClassicsHidden History of NantucketBeyond the Cobblestones: Self-Guided Walking Tour of Nantucket
A self-guided walking tour through historic Nantucket. Booked on Viator.
from $10
Check availability
Cape ClassicsBeer + Wine + Spirits · Three Producers One StopCisco Brewers, Nantucket Vineyard & Triple Eight Distillery Tour
The iconic Cisco campus at 5 Bartlett Farm Road combines three producers in one visit: tastings from Cisco Brewers (beer), Nantucket Vineyard (wine), and Triple Eight Distillery (spirits), plus a souvenir tasting glass. Daily guided tours run 30–90 minutes. Day-of spots available first-come; advance reservations recommended.
from $25/person
Check availability
Cape ClassicsCobblestones & Whaling HistoryHistorical Tour of Nantucket
A sightseeing, history and culture experience. Booked on Viator.
from $57
Check availability
Luxury WeekendPro Photos · Same-Day DeliveryPrivate Professional Photoshoot in Nantucket
A private vacation photoshoot with a local photographer. Booked on Viator.
from $327
Check availability
Cape ClassicsGo at Your Own PaceNantucket Coast-to-Coast Self-Guided Biking or Driving Tour
A self-guided biking or driving tour across Nantucket. Booked on Viator.
from $13
Check availability
What can you do in Nantucket on a rainy day?
We haven't marked a rainy-day spot in Nantucket yet. Shops and cafés are the indoor plan for now.
Which Cape towns are closest to Nantucket?
Edgartown and West Yarmouth are the closest, about 23 and 26 miles away as the crow flies.
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Real estate offices in Nantucket
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See placementsCommon questions about Nantucket
Is Nantucket on Cape Cod?
No. Nantucket is an island. Thirty miles out to sea, by ferry from Hyannis and Harwich Port, or by air.
Which Nantucket beaches are free?
There's no fee at Children's Beach, 'Sconset Beach (Sankaty), Dionis Beach, Surfside Beach, Jetties Beach, Cisco Beach, Madaket Beach, Brant Point Beach, Steps Beach, Coatue Wildlife Refuge Beach and Great Point Beach (Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge), according to our beach records.
Are dogs allowed on Nantucket beaches?
Leashed dogs are allowed at 'Sconset Beach (Sankaty), Dionis Beach, Surfside Beach, Jetties Beach, Cisco Beach, Madaket Beach and Brant Point Beach. Dogs are allowed off-season only at Children's Beach, Steps Beach, Coatue Wildlife Refuge Beach and Great Point Beach (Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge).
How do I get a transfer station permit in Nantucket?
Disposal free to Nantucket residents; confirm current sticker/permit with DPW (facility reportedly sold to Waste Options end-2024).