South Shore Beaches

Ladies Beach

Ladies Beach is located south of Bartlett Farm and within the Smooth Hummocks Coastal Preserve. The beach features body surfing and boogie boarding during low tide. There is a nearby parking area and a 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.

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

Miacomet Pond is a 43.5-acre freshwater pond stretching 1.5 miles long on the south shore of Nantucket. This glacial outwash pond is home to painted and snapping turtles, as well as yellow perch, pickerel, bass, and bluegill. Visitors may observe ducks, swans, swallows, egrets, and red-winged blackbirds foraging around the pond. It is an ideal spot for kayaking, canoeing, and hiking. The pond is good for young children, and parking is available. There is no lifeguard on duty and no facilities on site.

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.

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

Madequecham Beach sits on the southeastern shore of Nantucket, accessed via Madequecham Valley Road — a long, narrow, winding dirt road that leads to a parking area and path to the beach. Wide vehicles should not attempt the road, and drivers should be prepared to pull aside for opposing traffic. The waves and current along the south shore make this beach ideal for strong swimmers and surfers. There are no restrooms, no lifeguards, and no bike path access.

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.