North Shore Beaches

Washing Pond Beach

Sometimes called “Water Tower Beach.” Tide pools, few waves, nice beach for children. No stairs, but must trek up and down dune path to reach the beach. No lifeguard; no facilities. Beach ends at a retaining wall. Good shelling. Parking for about 25 vehicles, partial bike path accessibility (right off of Cliff Road).

Steps Beach

Between Dionis and Jetties beaches; access from Cliff Road. No lifeguard, no facilities, very little parking. Gentle surf; sandbar. Many steep steps must be descended to get to the beach and ascended when you leave. Gentle surf. Lovely views of Nantucket Sound and Great Point. Nights during August and September, bioluminscent creatures can be seen in the water.

Brant Point Beach

Easy walk or bike ride from town. No lifeguard. Strong current and high boat traffic. Though technically a swimming beach – Brant Point is much more suited to sitting a watching the harbor traffic. Scenic beach with Brant Point Lighthouse, the second oldest lighthouse in the US. Here is where to go to wave goodbye to friends and family departing on the Steamship. Brant Point is one of the most photographed spots on the island and is a special favorite for wedding photos. It is also possible to have your wedding right at Brant Point, but be sure to get permission from the Coast Guard.

Children's Beach

Harbor Beach, an easy walk from town down So. 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 months.

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.

Francis Street Beach

This small beach is about a seven-minute walk from Main Street. Nice views of the harbor. Calm harbor waters for swimming; no lifeguard. Jungle gym, kayak rentals, restroom.

Jetties Beach

This beach is an easy bike ride from town, with bike racks. There’s a good amount of parking in 2 lots or take the NRTA shuttle bus in-season. Jetties Beach is ideal for families with young kids: the surf is very calm and the water warm (though beach shoes are a good idea). There are lifeguards in-season. Large sandbars are accessible at low tide.

There are public bathrooms (handicap accessible), changing rooms, showers, and a seasonal restaurant. The beach is wide and flat, and a good place to walk to find shells and sea glass. A plastic mat runs down the center of the beach to make it easier for those with limited mobility to access the beach, though it does not go all the way to the water. Beach accessible wheelchairs are available from the Town (call to reserve one: 508-228-7244, Mon.-Fri. from 7am-3pm). Windsurfing, sailboat, and kayak lessons and rentals available.

This beach is the venue for the annual Boston Pops concert in August and the annual Sand Castle and Sculpture Contest is held on the harbor side of the beach. Shorebirds nest on Jetties Beach, so avoid any areas marked restricted that delineate shorebird habitats.

Grilling on Jetties 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 allowed without a permit. Make sure you completely extinguish all fires.

Jetties is open for beach driving during the off-season ONLY with a permit. Access from the Jetties Beach parking lot. There is a second access located down a small trackway off Hulbert Avenue, across from Charles Street. Although the beach access strip is short, reduce tire pressure to between 12 PSI and 15 PSI and engage the “4 HIGH” setting in order to avoid getting stuck. Only 4-wheel drive vehicles should attempt to drive on the soft sand. A beach driving permit can be obtained from the Town of Nantucket Police and is required in order to drive onto Jetties Beach. There is a strict speed limit of 20mph when driving on the beach, reduced to 5mph within 100 yards of a pedestrian. Drive in established vehicle tracks: driving through dune vegetation or creating new trails is prohibited. Drivers may stop and park anywhere along the beach, but pull off the main track to not block traffic.

Dionis Beach

Sheltered by dunes, this beach along Nantucket Sound has calm waters for swimming, hard-pack sand, and lots of shells. It’s safe for children, with lifeguards in-season. There is a shallow sandbar, and many people paddleboard here. Dunes and beautiful harbor views of sailboats and ferries. Restrooms, changing room, and faucet for rinsing off the sand are available. There are vending machines in the parking area, but no concessions, so bring your own food and beverages. Accessing the beach requires a laborious walk along a narrow path over a soft-sand dune trail. A metal ramp at the end of the trail provides access down the bank onto the beach during the summertime. Grilling on Dionis 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 allowed without a permit. There are no trash receptacles on the beach so please bring any trash you create with you when you leave. This beach is three miles from town by bike on the north side of Eel Point Rd; off Madaket Road, look for the white painted boulder on the right marked “Dionis.” There is parking, but it tends to fill quickly in July and August and on holiday weekends. Beachgoers can take NRTA shuttle bus to Eel Point Road stop and walk. Lifeguard (in season). Sections of the beach may be closed during shorebird nesting season.