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Major city · United States

NantucketNantucket, Massachusetts

Give Nantucket 2–3 nights in June–September or a single long day on foot; skip the car, book the fast ferry and beds weeks ahead.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Nantucket is a 3.5 by 14 mile island 48 km off Cape Cod, reached only by ferry or plane. The historic town is walkable in an afternoon; the beaches, bike paths and lighthouses are what fill two or three days. Summer is crowded and expensive, winter is quiet with fewer ferries and restaurants open.

basic guide: no trip line yet
More
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Jun–Sep; late Apr for the Daffodil Festival, Oct for the Harvest and Arts festivals
avoid Jan–Mar (many ferries, restaurants and shops closed); peak July–August weekends for crowds and prices
Airport
ACK
Nights
2–3

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide for Nantucket: no airport-to-bed path, walking clusters or day plans yet. Fares and schedules here are unverified. What this page does cover
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide

Checking your follows…
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Nantucket911 ▾
  • Police, fire, ambulance911

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Nantucket, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$4–7
  • Sit-down mealRestaurant dinner main$25–45
  • Museum or sight ticketWhaling Museum adult ticketabout $17
  • Budget bedHostel or shared-room bed, a night, per personUS$60
  • Mid-range bedInn or hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$350
  • High-end bedInn or hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$700

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$120 · Mid US$220 · High US$450

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Whaling Museum and the old whaling portCobblestone Main Street and 1800s housesBrant Point LightCisco, Surfside and Madaket beachesBike paths to Siasconset and Madaket
Airports
ACK Nantucket Memorial Airport (Cape Air and Nantucket Airlines to Hyannis and New Bedford; JetBlue seasonal from JFK; most major-airline regional flights are summer-only. About 5 km (3.1 mi) from town.)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    4°C (39°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    4°C (39°F)

  3. Mar

    Avoid

    7°C (45°F)

  4. Apr

    Best*

    11°C (52°F)

  5. May

    not flagged

    16°C (61°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    21°C (70°F)

  7. Jul

    Care

    25°C (77°F)

  8. Aug

    Care

    25°C (77°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    22°C (72°F)

  10. Oct

    Best

    17°C (63°F)

  11. Nov

    not flagged

    12°C (54°F)

  12. Dec

    not flagged

    7°C (45°F)

Best: Apr, Jun, Sep–Oct. Mixed: Jul–Aug. Avoid: Jan–Mar. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (25°C (77°F)), coolest Jan (−3°C (27°F) low), wettest Jan (11 rain days), driest Jul (8). Averages, not a forecast.

* only part of the month (early, mid or late).

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Nantucket: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

4°C (39°F)

−3°C (27°F)

11 rd

Feb

4°C (39°F)

−3°C (27°F)

9 rd

Mar

7°C (45°F)

0°C (32°F)

10 rd

Apr

11°C (52°F)

4°C (39°F)

10 rd

May

16°C (61°F)

9°C (48°F)

10 rd

Jun

21°C (70°F)

14°C (57°F)

9 rd

Jul

25°C (77°F)

18°C (64°F)

8 rd

Aug

25°C (77°F)

18°C (64°F)

8 rd

Sep

22°C (72°F)

15°C (59°F)

8 rd

Oct

17°C (63°F)

10°C (50°F)

9 rd

Nov

12°C (54°F)

5°C (41°F)

10 rd

Dec

7°C (45°F)

0°C (32°F)

11 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Walk in town: Main Street is cobblestone and hard on bikes. The NRTA 'The Wave' shuttle covers the island, about $1–2 each way, with beach routes about 10:00–18:00 and other routes about 07:00–23:30. Paved two-way bike paths run beside every major road — Madaket 9.6 km, Siasconset 11.25 km, Surfside 5.6 km, Polpis 26.5 km — and shops rent bikes near the ferry docks. A car is not needed: parking is limited and time-checked, and town traffic is slow.

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Siasconset and Sankaty Head Light

go

Door to door: About 1 h by bike

Bike the Milestone Road path, 11.25 km (7 mi), about 1 h one way; or NRTA shuttle

Water at the rotary; the bluff-top lighthouse is a short walk from the village.

Madaket

go

Door to door: About 45 min by bike

Bike path 9.6 km (6 mi), about 45 min one way; or the Madaket shuttle

West-end beach and sunset; rest areas and water fountains on the path.

Great Point and Coatue

caution

Door to door: Varies

4WD or boat only; no paved access

Soft sand tracks; go with an operator, not a rental car.

Hyannis and Cape Cod

go

Door to door: About 1 h fast ferry, 2 h 15 min traditional

Steamship Authority or Hy-Line ferry from the town docks

The mainland link; Freedom Cruise Line also runs from Harwich Port.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Nantucket town (Main Street and around)

Walk to the Whaling Museum, ferries, shops and restaurants; highest prices and the only real base for a short trip.

Brant Point and the north shore

Quieter, near Children's and Jetties beaches; 10–20 min walk from the ferry docks.

Mid-island and Surfside

Cheaper motels and rentals near the south beaches; you need a bike, shuttle or car to reach town.

Siasconset (Sconset)

East-end village, 11 km (6.8 mi) from town on the Milestone bike path; very quiet, few services.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$120–180 excl. bed
Mid
$180–320 excl. bed
High
$320+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Inn or hotel double room1 × 2 nights × US$350US$700
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$220US$880
Fast ferry from Hyannis, both ways2 × US$90US$180
Bike rental, one day2 × US$40US$80
NRTA shuttle day of beach hops2 × US$6US$12
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$188
Trip total≈ US$518 per person per day, bed includedUS$2,070

2026 estimate in US dollars; ferry and flight fares excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$4–7
Lobster roll$25–35
Restaurant dinner main$25–45
NRTA shuttle ride$1–2 each way
Bike rental, one day$35–50
Whaling Museum adult ticketabout $17
Oldest House adult ticketabout $6

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Nantucket is a low-crime island and children move around town freely. The real risks are deer ticks, rip currents on the south beaches, cobblestones after rain and the cost of a last-minute summer bed.
  • Deer ticks carry disease: use repellent and check yourself after walking in grass or dunes.
  • Vehicle ferry space sells out in summer — Steamship Authority reservations are essential, walk-on passengers do not need one.
  • South-side beaches (Cisco, Surfside, Madaket, Siasconset) have heavier surf than the north side; swim near lifeguards.
  • Off-season means fewer ferries and many closed restaurants and shops — check before booking a winter trip.
  • Summer lodging and restaurant prices are high; book beds and fast-ferry seats weeks ahead.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

NantucketNantucket, Massachusetts

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911

Embassy

No embassies on the island; nearest consulates are in Boston.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Steamship Authority, Hyannis → Nantucket: fast and traditional service, walk-on and vehicle; check current fares and times
  • Hy-Line Cruises, Hyannis → Nantucket: high-speed or traditional, slightly higher rates, first-class seating available
  • NRTA shuttle in town or to a beach: about $1–2 each way

Say or show

  • Where is the ferry dock? — Where is the ferry dock?
  • One ticket, please — One ticket, please
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Is this seat taken? — Is this seat taken?

Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% taxis.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Nantucket. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Jun–Sep; late Apr for the Daffodil Festival, Oct for the Harvest and Arts festivals · avoid Jan–Mar (many ferries, restaurants and shops closed); peak July–August weekends for crowds and prices · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Ferry-and-flight contract for ACK: last fast ferry from Hyannis, Cape Air and JetBlue seasonal seats, weather-cancellation fallback.
  2. Four walking clusters with anchors: Main Street and the Whaling Museum, the ferry docks and Brant Point, the north beaches, the south beaches by shuttle.
  3. Place pages with verified hours and ticket prices (Whaling Museum, Oldest House, Old Windmill, Maria Mitchell Aquarium) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Storm and off-season fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources

Ask about Nantucket

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