Massachusetts - Beaches in Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket

Siasconset Beach
East Shore
Nantucket (on the island of Nantucket), MA  02554

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Scionset, on the eastern shore of the island, is a beautiful beach (especially for early risers who catch the sunrise). It often has rougher waves because it faces out into the open Atlantic. Lifeguards watch over the beach and food is available.

Squibnocket Beach
Martha's Vineyard, MA  02535

Squibnocket faces the Atlantic and is known for heavy surf. In fact, it may have the most consistently powerful surf of all the Martha's Vineyard beaches. A well-established local surf spot, the beach if fairly rocky. A Town of Chilmark residential permit is required here for beach access during the summer season. No public parking is available. Directions: Located in Chlmark, Squibnocket is accessible via seasonal shuttle bus service.

Surfside Beach
Surfside Road
Nantucket, MA  02554

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Surfside is one of the most popular beaches with families and children. It is located at the end of Surfside Road. People often picnic, fly kites, build sandcastles, and surfcast for fish on this beach. Amenities include lifeguards, restrooms, showers, and a food shack.

Swimming Holes

Swimming holes can be found in or near rock quarries, streams, gorges, and waterfalls. Most are pristine, uncrowded, and surrounded by beautiful woods and forests. For details, see the web site www.SwimmingHoles.info

Tisbury Town Beach (Owen Little Way Town Beach)
Owen Little Way
Vineyard Haven (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA  02568

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Just moments away from Vineyard Haven, this small stretch of shorefront is nice for swimming and sunbathing. There's limited parking, but it's right next to town, with access from Main Street. Located next to the Vineyard Haven Yacht Club.

Wasque
Wasque Road
Edgartown (Chappaquiddick Island, near the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA  02539
Phone: 508-627-7689

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One-half mile of over-sand vehicle trails and 4.5 miles of walking trails and sandy roads in upland area. Bird watchers can observe many species, including ospreys. Facilities include public restrooms, picnic tables, bike rack, soda machine at Wasque Gatehouse. Fresh water by hand pump in the parking area. Limited handicapped-accessible transportation; call 508-627-3255 for details. Natural history tours are offered by expert guides. See also the entry on this page for Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge, Wasque Reservation, East Beach

Jetties Beach
Bathing Beach Road
Nantucket (on the island of Nantucket), MA  02554

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Just a short walk from town, this beach has tennis courts, a skateboard park, and a playground. Since it is on the north shore, the waves are not very large. It is a nice family beach. The annual Boston Pops concert is held on Jetties. This beach has lifeguards and restrooms.

Joseph Sylvia State Beach (also called Bend in the Road Beach)
Seaview Avenue
Edgartown (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA  02539
Phone: 508-627-6145

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Two miles of mild beach along Beach Road between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown. Gentle waves and sandy bottom. Popular with families and young children. The Edgartown end of this beach is known as Bend-in-the-Road Beach. Lifeguards in season.

Katama Beach (also known as South Beach)
Katama Road
Edgartown (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA  02539

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Three miles of barrier beach on the south shore at the end of Katama Road. Fine surf on one side, protected salt-pond on the other. Open to all. Vehicles with permits allowed on marked trails.

Lake Tashmoo Town Beach (Herring Creek Beach)
End of Herring Creek Road on Lake Tashmoo
Vineyard Haven (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA  02568

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You won't have to battle the crowds at this small sandy beach (just 2.5 acres), overlooking the Vineyard Sound. Take Franklin Street to Daggett Avenue and turn left. Follow the road to the end of Herring Creek Road.

Lambert's Cove Beach
Boghouse Way
Vineyard Haven (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA

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Walk about a quarter of a mile through forest before reaching this lovely beach, which features protected sand dunes and the Sound. Restricted to West Tisbury residents and renters.

Lighthouse Beach
Starbuck’s Neck Road, off North Water Street
Edgartown (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA  02539

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A lovely spot with calm water and scenes of sailboats, the Chappy ferry, and fishing boats. Gentle waves on the outer part of the beach are safer for small children. Seldom crowded and a short walk from North Water Street. Just a short distance from downtown, offers pleasant swimming conditions and a view of the harbor and lighthouse. Take North Water Street to Starbuck's Neck.

Lobsterville Beach
Lobsterville Road
Aquinnah (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA

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A calm north shore beach with good shells and sea glass. Pleasant and protected. Very limited parking.

Long Point Wildlife Refuge
Off Long Point Road
West Tisbury (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA
Phone: 508-693-7662

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At more than 600 acres, Long Point is one of the largest publicly accessible properties on Martha's Vineyard. It encompasses beach, dune, and woodland. Popular in summer, the property is also an off-season treasure, especially for birders and other nature-watchers. The property has 2.1 miles of flat trails through woods and open areas, plus beachfront. Easy walking. Hours: Mid-June to mid-September, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (gate closes at 6 p.m.). Mid-September to mid-June, daily, sunrise to sunset. Allow a minimum of two hours. Facilities: Public restrooms. Picnic tables. Bike rack. Small visitor center.

Lucy Vincent Beach
Lucy Vincent Road
Chilmark (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA  02552

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Located off a dirt road in Chilmark, there are 2,390 feet of prime south shore beachfront at Lucy Vincent Beach. Far away from the maddening crowd, this beach is restricted to Chilmark residents.

Madaket Beach
Madaket Road
Nantucket (on the island of Nantucket), MA  02554

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As far west as you can go, six-mile bike ride on scenic, paved bike path, or take the shuttle bus. Heavy surf, lifeguard, restrooms. Famous for its incredible sunsets.

Menemsha Public Beach
Next to Dutcher’s Dock, Menemsha Harbor
Chilmark (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA  02552

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Has a nice sandy beach on the North side of Martha's Vineyard. There is limited public parking, and public restrooms with showers. There is gas and fuel available for both car and marine use. The harbormaster's office, a small market, shops, a couple of fishmarkets, fishing shacks, thriving fishing charters, restaurants, deli and transient boat docking make Menemsha a popular summer destination.

Miacomet Beach
End of Miacomet Road, South Shore
Nantucket (on the island of Nantucket), MA  02554

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At the end of Miacomet Road. Surf and rip currents can be dangerous. Parking. No facilities or food service. Families with very young children may prefer Miacomet Pond.

Norton Point
Edgartown (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA
Phone: 508-627-7689

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This 2.5-mile-long strip of sand and dunes served as a vital link between Martha's Vineyard and the island of Chappaquiddick until 2007, when a major ocean storm caused a breach in the barrier beach. This beach provides opportunities for shellfishing, swimming, bird watching, and picnicking. In the autumn, the extensive sandflats are used by migrating shorebirds for feeding and resting. Due to recent beach erosion, there is only 1.8 miles of oversand-vehicle trails. There are 4.5 miles of walking trails and sandy roads in the upland area.
The western end of Norton Point Beach abuts the state-owned bathing beach, South Beach, which has lifeguards and seasonal restrooms and changing areas. The eastern side of Norton Point Beach abuts Wasque Reservation, owned by The Trustees of Reservations, which is also connected to Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge.
Open year-round, daily. Dogs must be kept on a leash at all times.Free for pedestrians. Oversand vehicle (OSV) permit fees: Annual permits are $100 if vehicle is not registered on Martha's Vineyard; $60 if vehicle is registered on Martha's Vineyard. Permit is valid April 1 to March 31. Daily OSV passes are available at the gatehouse only; $30 if vehicle is not registered on Martha's Vineyard; $20 if vehicle is registered on Martha's Vineyard.

Oak Bluffs Town Beach
Town wharf and Steamship Authority dock
Oak Bluffs (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA  02557

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Calm, shallow water. The beach begins near the Steamship Authority dock and terminates at the first jetty heading toward Edgartown, at the end of the breakwater, marked by a fence. The beach continues again about one mile southeast of the small inlet flowing into Sengekontacket Pond, and ends at Joseph Sylvia State Beach. Open to all.

Owen Park and Beach
Owen Park Way
Vineyard Haven (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA

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This harbor beach also offers quick access to Vineyard Haven. Situated at Owen Park. Off Main Street, near the center of town. Open to all.

Dionis Beach
Eel Point Road
Nantucket (on the island of Nantucket), MA  02554

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Located on the western side of the north shore, Dionis Beach is more remote than Jetties Beach. This beach is loaded with seashells (and seaweed). Waves are generally small and the beach is very long. Many families like this beach. Lifeguard, restrooms, showers, parking.

Eastville Beach
Beach Road
Vineyard Haven (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA  02568

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At the bridge between Oak Bluffs and Vineyard Haven is this small beach area, just about a half-mile outside of Oak Bluffs downtown area. It's good for swimming or fishing.

Francis Street Beach
Francis Street
Nantucket (on the island of Nantucket), MA  02554

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Five-minute walk from Main Street. Calm harbor waters for swimming; no lifeguard. Jungle gym, kayak rentals, bathroom.

Fuller Street Beach
End of Fuller Street near Lighthouse Beach
Edgartown (on the island of Martha's vineyard), MA  O2539

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At the end of Fuller Street near Lighthouse Beach. Open to all.

Gay Head Public Beach (also called Moshup Beach or Aquinnah Beach)
off Moshup Trail
Aquinnah (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA

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See entry on this page for Aquinnah Beach

Aquinnah Beach (also known as Moshup Beach or Gay Head Beach)
Off Moshup Trail
Aquinnah (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA  02535

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Surf beach off Moshup Trail. The beach is approximately a ten-minute walk from the parking lot on a cleared trail. There is a $15 parking fee in summer. Climbing on cliffs is not allowed.

Bend-in-the-Road Beach (Joseph Sylvia State Beach)
Beach Road
Edgartown (on the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA

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Here you’ll find two miles of calm beach along Beach Road between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown. This is a very popular beach, so parking can be tough. There are lifeguards at the beach in season (from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend). This is an excellent beach for families.

Brant Point Beach (on the island of Nantucket)
Easton Street
Nantucket, MA

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Located right at the Brant Point Lighthouse, this is not really a beach for swimming. There is some sand but the currents are very strong with lots of boat traffic and no lifeguards or restrooms. This is a nice place to sit and watch the boats go by or the artists painting the lighthouse, but swimming is not recommended.

Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge, Wasque Reservation, East Beach
Dike Road (on Chappaquiddick Island adjacent to Martha's Vineyard)
Edgartown, MA  02539
Phone: 508-627-7689

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Chappaquiddick Island’s eastern edge is a barrier beach that extends for seven miles from Wasque Point past the Cape Poge Lighthouse to the Gut. The refuge offers 14 miles of beachfront and oversand vehicle and walking trails. Facilities include picnic tables, bike rack, restrooms, which are open May 30 to October 30. Fresh water is available by hand pump at the Wasque and Mytoi parking areas. Annual over-sand vehicle permits available for qualified vehicle owners. Tours include a natural history tour, a wildlife kayak or canoe tour, a fishing discovery tour, and Cape Poge Lighthouse tour. Entrance fee May 30 to October 15; free to pedestrians off season. Open year-round, daily, 24 hours. Gatehouse open May 30-October 15, daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Chappy Point Beach
Chappaquiddick Road
Chappaquiddick (adjacent to the island of Martha's Vineyard), MA  02539

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Just across the harbor from Edgartown is with 705 feet of sand and splendid views of the harbor on Cahppaquiddick. There are two beaches; one faces the inner harbor, the other looks out toward the outer harbor and Nantucket Sound. Both offer small lapping waves. Not suitable for swimming due to harbor traffic. Take the Chappaquiddick ferry to gain access to the beach.

Children's Beach (or Harbor Beach)
Harbor View Way
Nantucket, MA

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Harbor Beach, an easy walk from town down South Beach Street and off Harbor View Way. Flotation devices are not permitted within the guarded area. Ideal for small children; park, playground, and bandstand; lifeguard, restrooms, showers, food service, picnic tables. Food, playground, and rest room are all accessible. Activities sponsored by Park & Recreation Commission are often held at this beach during the summer.

Cisco Beach
Hummock Pond Road
Nantucket (on the island of Nantucket), MA  02554

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Located on the western side of the south shore at the end of Hummock Pond Road, this beach is known for surfers and soft sand, very soft sand. The surf is very strong and there are limited lifeguards and restrooms.

Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge
Wauwinet Road
Wauwinet (on the island of Nantucket), MA  02554
Phone: 508-228-5646

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Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge is known for its historic lighthouse, white sand beaches, and world-class fishing. Rolling maritime dunes cover more than 200 acres. Refuge includes 16 miles of over-sand vehicle and walking trails and beach front. Gray and harbor seals feed in the Great Point riptide. Facilities include public restrooms between the Wauwinet Gatehouse and Great Point Lighthouse and at the lighthouse. Both are open May 1 to October 31. Bike rack at the Wauwinet Gatehouse. Seasonal tours of the Great Point Lighthouse and the natural wonders of the refuge. Hours: Year-round, daily, 24 hours (10 p.m.-5 a.m. - fishing access only). Cost: Free to all pedestrians and boaters.