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All South Shore Beaches
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Showing South Shore Beaches 1-10 of 13

Ladies Beach

Located south of Bartlett Farm and within the Smooth Hummocks Coastal Preserve, this beach features excellent body surfing and boogie boarding during low tide. There is a nearby parking area and footpath through the dunes for beach access. The waves and current along the south shore make this beach ideal for strong swimmers and surfers.
  • Ladies Beach Website

Ladies Beach

Located south of Bartlett Farm and within the Smooth Hummocks Coastal Preserve, this beach features excellent body surfing and boogie boarding during low tide. There is a nearby parking area and footpath through the dunes for beach access. The waves and current along the south shore make this beach ideal for strong swimmers and surfers.

Western Avenue Beach

Across from what used to be the Youth Hostel, this beach is maintained by the Nantucket Land Bank. There is parking for just 3 vehicles, but it is a short walk from Surfside Beach.  There are benches near the start of the beach entry path. Getting to the shoreline here involves a long set of stairs (gradual, not steep), and a hike along a path over dunes that is impractical for anyone with any mobility issues.
  • Western Avenue Beach Website

Western Avenue Beach

Across from what used to be the Youth Hostel, this beach is maintained by the Nantucket Land Bank. There is parking for just 3 vehicles, but it is a short walk from Surfside Beach.  There are benches near the start of the beach entry path. Getting to the shoreline here involves a long set of stairs (gradual, not steep), and a hike along a path over dunes that is impractical for anyone with any mobility issues.

Stone's Beach

Stone’s Beaches has the dunes, dune grass, and the surf that beachgoers on the south side of Nantucket love. small parking lot, so bike or walk to the beach is ideal. Steep steps lead down to the beach. Stone’s Beach has a Little Free Library for trading favorites, with a small look out and bench just right of the steps leading to the beach. No lifeguards, no bathrooms, no food service. Surf can be rough, and watch out for undertow.
  • Stone's Beach Website

Stone's Beach

Stone’s Beaches has the dunes, dune grass, and the surf that beachgoers on the south side of Nantucket love. small parking lot, so bike or walk to the beach is ideal. Steep steps lead down to the beach. Stone’s Beach has a Little Free Library for trading favorites, with a small look out and bench just right of the steps leading to the beach. No lifeguards, no bathrooms, no food service. Surf can be rough, and watch out for undertow.

Miacomet Pond

Fresh water pond on Nantucket. Good for young children. Parking; no lifeguard, no facilities. Snapping turtles may be encountered.
  • Miacomet Pond Website

Miacomet Pond

Fresh water pond on Nantucket. Good for young children. Parking; no lifeguard, no facilities. Snapping turtles may be encountered.

Surfside Beach

This is one of the most popular beaches on Nantucket. It is very family friendly, though the surf can get heavy at times. You’ll occasionally find surfers here, and the waves are usually good for boogey boarding.  Lifeguards are on duty here in-season. The wide beach is good for picnics and beach games. Kite flying west of Surfside Beach is acceptable: for safety reasons, do not fly kites east of Surfside toward the airport. Due to the number of people who frequent Surfside Beach during the day, it is inadvisable to fly kites during the peak beachgoing hours. Surfside Beach is good for shelling in the early morning, and it’s a popular beach in the evenings for surfcasting. There are restrooms at this beach with diaper changing station, showers, a food concession, and outdoor seating.  Getting to the shoreline from the parking lot requires a long walk through gently sloping, soft sand. Grilling on Surfside Beach is allowed with a charcoal or propane grill (be sure to properly dispose of ash and do not leave used charcoal on the beach). Small, enclosed cooking fires located away from any flammable material or dune vegetation are permitted. Make sure you completely extinguish all fires. Off-season, when the beach is cold and quiet, Surfside is a good place to walk dogs. Surfside Beach is located at the end of Surfside Road, a 3-mile ride on paved bike path. In-season, the NRTA Shuttle offers trips to Surfside Beach from their Washington Street station. There’s plenty of parking in a lot near the beach. Surfside Beach is open for beach driving with a permit during winter months; during the summer, beach driving with a permit is limited on this beach to night-time. NOTE: the sand on this beach is soft: recommended tire pressure is between 12 and 15 PSI and be sure to operate in the “4 HIGH” setting. If your vehicle is equipped with a “traction control” setting, turn it off to prevent interference with the 4WD system. This beach has a strict speed limit of 20mph, reduced to 5mph within 100 yards of a pedestrian. Watch for restrictions due to erosion, nesting birds, or resting seals. Stay out of the dune vegetation and stay within existing established vehicle tracks. If you stop to park along the beach, be sure to pull off the main track so you do not block traffic.
  • Surfside Beach Website

Surfside Beach

This is one of the most popular beaches on Nantucket. It is very family friendly, though the surf can get heavy at times. You’ll occasionally find surfers here, and the waves are usually good for boogey boarding.  Lifeguards are on duty here in-season. The wide beach is good for picnics and beach games. Kite flying west of Surfside Beach is acceptable: for safety reasons, do not fly kites east of Surfside toward the airport. Due to the number of people who frequent Surfside Beach during the day, it is inadvisable to fly kites during the peak beachgoing hours. Surfside Beach is good for shelling in the early morning, and it’s a popular beach in the evenings for surfcasting. There are restrooms at this beach with diaper changing station, showers, a food concession, and outdoor seating.  Getting to the shoreline from the parking lot requires a long walk through gently sloping, soft sand. Grilling on Surfside Beach is allowed with a charcoal or propane grill (be sure to properly dispose of ash and do not leave used charcoal on the beach). Small, enclosed cooking fires located away from any flammable material or dune vegetation are permitted. Make sure you completely extinguish all fires. Off-season, when the beach is cold and quiet, Surfside is a good place to walk dogs. Surfside Beach is located at the end of Surfside Road, a 3-mile ride on paved bike path. In-season, the NRTA Shuttle offers trips to Surfside Beach from their Washington Street station. There’s plenty of parking in a lot near the beach. Surfside Beach is open for beach driving with a permit during winter months; during the summer, beach driving with a permit is limited on this beach to night-time. NOTE: the sand on this beach is soft: recommended tire pressure is between 12 and 15 PSI and be sure to operate in the “4 HIGH” setting. If your vehicle is equipped with a “traction control” setting, turn it off to prevent interference with the 4WD system. This beach has a strict speed limit of 20mph, reduced to 5mph within 100 yards of a pedestrian. Watch for restrictions due to erosion, nesting birds, or resting seals. Stay out of the dune vegetation and stay within existing established vehicle tracks. If you stop to park along the beach, be sure to pull off the main track so you do not block traffic.

Cisco Beach

Four-mile bike ride to end of Hummock Pond Road. Heavy surf; lifeguard (in season). No facilities. Occasionally foggy. Parking. Rip currents can be strong. Soft sand. This beach is very popular with surfers and young adults. Lack of facilities might make it less attractive to families with children, but be careful of undertow and rip tides.
  • Cisco Beach Website

Cisco Beach

Four-mile bike ride to end of Hummock Pond Road. Heavy surf; lifeguard (in season). No facilities. Occasionally foggy. Parking. Rip currents can be strong. Soft sand. This beach is very popular with surfers and young adults. Lack of facilities might make it less attractive to families with children, but be careful of undertow and rip tides.

Fisherman's Beach

Nobadeer to the left and Surfside to the right, Fisherman’s and Stone Beaches are quieter than either but still have the dunes, dune grass, and the surf that beachgoers on the south side of Nantucket love. Little parking, so bike or walk to these beaches. Steep steps lead down to the beach. Stones Beach has a Little Free Library for trading favorites. No lifeguards, no bathrooms, no food service. Surf can be rough, and watch out for undertow.
  • Fisherman's Beach Website

Fisherman's Beach

Nobadeer to the left and Surfside to the right, Fisherman’s and Stone Beaches are quieter than either but still have the dunes, dune grass, and the surf that beachgoers on the south side of Nantucket love. Little parking, so bike or walk to these beaches. Steep steps lead down to the beach. Stones Beach has a Little Free Library for trading favorites. No lifeguards, no bathrooms, no food service. Surf can be rough, and watch out for undertow.

Madequecham Beach

Parking, no restrooms, not bike path accessible, no lifeguards. The road to get there is a long, narrow, windy sand road. Do not attempt in a wide vehicle, and be prepared to move to the side for opposing traffic. Perfect place to get “Nantucket pinstripes.”
  • Madequecham Beach Website

Madequecham Beach

Parking, no restrooms, not bike path accessible, no lifeguards. The road to get there is a long, narrow, windy sand road. Do not attempt in a wide vehicle, and be prepared to move to the side for opposing traffic. Perfect place to get “Nantucket pinstripes.”

Tom Nevers Beach

Also called “Pebble Beach.” No lifeguard; no facilities. Surf at this beach can be heavy; very coarse sand. Sometimes foggy. This beach is rarely crowded. Excellent surfcasting. Access onto the beach can be difficult. Limited parking.
  • Tom Nevers Beach Website

Tom Nevers Beach

Also called “Pebble Beach.” No lifeguard; no facilities. Surf at this beach can be heavy; very coarse sand. Sometimes foggy. This beach is rarely crowded. Excellent surfcasting. Access onto the beach can be difficult. Limited parking.

Nobadeer Beach

Lifeguard, occasional food service by food truck. This beach is popular with youth. Located near the airport. Parking is limited. This beach can be difficult to access due to steep incline. Plenty of surf. The wide beach is good for picnics, beach games, surfing, and surfcasting.
  • Nobadeer Beach Website

Nobadeer Beach

Lifeguard, occasional food service by food truck. This beach is popular with youth. Located near the airport. Parking is limited. This beach can be difficult to access due to steep incline. Plenty of surf. The wide beach is good for picnics, beach games, surfing, and surfcasting.