Surfside Beach

One of Nantucket's most popular beaches, Surfside is a wide, flat south-shore strand with rolling surf over a shallow sandbar, shared by swimmers, surfers and bodyboarders. Lifeguards are on duty in summer, but rip currents and heavy surf build on windy days, so check conditions before you go in. The Wave shuttle runs from Washington Street in town to the beach.

Directions

Photo: Andre Carrotflower · CC BY-SA 4.0

Get your personalized SwimScore

Latest reading · SwimScore 62/100 (Good swim) for a typical swimmer: air 14°C, wind 31 km/h, waves 2.8 m, UV 1. Updated 23 Sept, 22:00 UTC.

Know before you go

Best conditions: Surf is usually moderate over a shallow sandbar at low tide; it can be heavy on windy or storm-surge days.
Getting in: At the end of Surfside Road, about 2.3 miles from town; reachable by bike and, in summer, by The Wave bus from Washington Street. Beach access number 19.
Parking & transport: Large paved lot with accessible spaces; expect a long walk over soft sand to the water.
Lifeguards: Lifeguarded in summer by Nantucket's USLA-certified seasonal lifeguard program.
Water quality: Nantucket's health department samples beach water weekly in summer with Massachusetts DPH, analyzed at the Barnstable County lab; a beach is closed if levels exceed limits two weeks in a row.
Season: Lifeguards and concession in summer; beach driving is limited to 10 p.m.-6 a.m. in summer.
Watch for: Rip currents and heavy surf, especially on windy days; lifeguards report frequent rips on south-facing beaches
Stinging jellyfish in season; Portuguese man o' war rarely
Surfers share the water
Facilities: Concession stand · Seasonal restrooms · Changing rooms with showers