Surfside Beach
Nantucket, MA
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.
A real local bodysurfing spot away from the town crowds, though the open Atlantic swell can be rough for casual swimmers.
How we score beachesA shuttle bus runs out from town in season if you'd rather skip the parking search altogether.
Leashed, licensed dogs are allowed on Surfside Beach outside of summer, but face time restrictions (before 9am and after 5pm) or full bans on the lifeguarded beach during the peak June-September season.
Nantucket's exposed position offshore means the water lags the mainland by a couple weeks on both ends of summer, staying chilly into June and cooling fast after Labor Day. Late July through August is the reliable stretch for actually swimming rather than just bodysurfing in a wetsuit.
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