40th Pole

Great for families and young children, this north shore beach has warmer waters and calm surf. However, there are no lifeguards here or on adjoining beaches. This is also a popular destination for fishing. The water is shallow and clear and in the summer the beach is usually wide and flat, with soft white sand and lots of seashells along the shore. Greenhead flies and mosquitos can be bothersome on days with little wind. There are seasonal restrooms at 40^th Pole, but no other amenities, so people planning to spend the day here should come prepared. This beach often ends up shoulder-to-shoulder crowded on hot weekend summer days and holidays. There are no trash receptacles on the beach so please bring any trash you create with you when you leave. Best access to 40th Pole is via 4WD vehicle (do not attempt to reach this beach in a low vehicle). Drive down Madaket Road to Eel Point Road and turn right. Continue as the paved road becomes dirt, past all the houses — it is approx. 40 telephone poles (1 mile). There is a dirt parking lot on the right: use Access 45 to access 40^th Pole, and use Access 45A or 46 to return.  Eel Point Beach can be accessed via 40^th Pole. 40^th Pole is open for beach driving year-round, unless it is closed for nesting shorebirds. 40^th Pole is slightly more forgiving in terms of driving over sand than some of Nantucket’s other beaches, like Smith’s Point and Great Point – the sand here tends to be more densely packed and not quite as soft, which makes for slightly easier driving. However, the access roads through the dune system are steep and very soft. There is no driving east of Emergency Access 45 as all property past this point is privately owned.