Pocomo Beach
Nantucket, MA
Pocomo Beach is a small, sheltered strip on Nantucket Harbor at the end of Pocomo Road, midway between town and the Head of the Harbor. The water is warm with almost no waves, which suits kids, kayaks, paddleboards, and beginner windsurfers. There are no lifeguards or restrooms, and beach driving is not allowed.
Warm, flat water makes it a go-to for beginners and families, but the tiny lot and the bugs keep it from being easy.
How we score beachesBring bug spray, since the beach can get buggy. If the lot is full, there is plenty of parking at Head of the Harbor just to the west.
The lot at the end of Pocomo Road is very small, and street parking nearby is restricted. Head of the Harbor, just west, has more room.
Check current signage for the path from the lot to the sand. There are no restrooms or other facilities on site.
Harbor water warms up faster than the open ocean, so July and August are the comfortable swimming weeks. Calm mornings are best for paddling.
More Atlantic Coast beaches

Coast Guard Beach
Eastham, MA · Atlantic Coast
A National Seashore beach backed by grassy dunes and a tidal marsh, with clean Atlantic surf and one of the Cape's most scenic approaches on foot from the parking area.

Surfside Beach
Nantucket, MA · Atlantic Coast
Open Atlantic swell and a wide sandy shoreline about three miles from Nantucket town, popular with locals for its bodysurfing waves and quieter, less commercial feel.

Jones Beach State Park
Wantagh, NY · Atlantic Coast
A classic Long Island beach with six and a half miles of shoreline, a landmark water tower, boardwalk, and a large outdoor amphitheater that hosts concerts through the summer.
