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.
1 Review on “Jetties Beach”
Great beach for little kids, with shallow water and few waves. But the amount of seaweed can be overwhelming. There are bathroom facilities, plenty of parking, and a small playground. The restaurant here is very expensive, and the food is not great. But it is a great location to enjoy cocktails at sunset, and their buck-a-shuck (when they offer it) is a good deal.