Nantucket has some of the most beautiful and pristine shorelines in the world. For gentle surf, head to north shore beaches like Jetties, Steps Beach, Dionis, and Brant Point. For experienced swimmers who prefer heavier surf, visit Cisco, Surfside, Nobadeer, and Tom Nevers Beach. And if it’s adventure you seek, take your 4WD (with proper permits) and drive to Great Point and Coatue. Not all Nantucket beaches have lifeguards, and only a few have facilities.

If your family includes a senior member, Sconset Beach is among the easiest to access, though parking is limited. Jetties Beach is also easy to access, with a special walkway and more parking available. The Town of Nantucket has some beach wheelchairs available first-come, first-served at Jetties Beach, find them outside near the tennis courts.  To reserve a beach wheelchair, email the Department of Public Works at dpw@nantucket-ma.gov.

Have fun, but please be mindful of beach etiquette: it’s a shared space! Use reef-safe sunscreen, pack out your trash & belongings, and be careful where you shake the sand out of your towels so it does not land on the beachgoers at the next towel. Fill in any holes, ponds, and sandcastle moats you’ve dug (no one wants to twist an ankle while strolling the shoreline). Do not feed the seagulls, and protect any food you brought to the beach from these clever snack stealers.

Help us preserve the Nantucket’s fragile environment and the beauty of our island. Respect private property, and use only designated entry points. In areas where dune reclamation wildlife protection is taking place, please do not cross the rope or fence barriers protecting the dunes and nesting shorebirds.