Surfside

Explore Surfside, Nantucket – A Popular Beach Destination for Fun and Sun

Surfside, one of the most popular beaches on Nantucket, is located just a short distance from Town and Mid-Island and is popular among swimmers, loungers, surfers, and fishermen. Surfside offers wide, flat beaches with rolling waves over sandbars. It is a great place for a full-day beach set up, and visitors typically enjoy beach games like volleyball, bags, grill-outs/picnics, or boogie boarding. (Tip: Grilling on the beach is allowed, preferably with a charcoal or propane grill).

The homes in Surfside range from small beach cottages to waterfront estates, many with paths straight to the ocean. Between the NRTA, bike paths, and sidewalks, Surfside is a very conveniently located area with many ways to get around.

Surfside Attractions

Ideally located, Surfside offers a few great places to stop and grab a drink or bite to eat on your way to/from the water or Town. 45 Surfside Cafe & Bakery offers delicious breakfast sandwiches and pastries and is a great option to load up on fare before an afternoon at the beach. You can also visit Yummy, a local cafe with great vegetarian and vegan options. Brix, a curated wine and cheese shop, has everything you need for the perfect post-beach happy hour. A favorite local hangout is Faregrounds, which offers casual American fare and a great outdoor patio and bar on the way to Surfside Beach.

Surfside Beaches

Surfside Beach is an excellent spot for families and offers beach rentals, restrooms, food, and drinks during the summer season. Some of our favorite food trucks to grab a bite at include Sushi Sean 1111 (check out their sushi handrolls) and The Green Taco Truck (their seafood tacos are amazing). Conveniently located, people love Surfside because of the beautiful waves, its food options, and it’s only 2.5 miles from the center of Town. There is a large parking lot with handicapped access, and lifeguards in season, making this destination easily accessible. The NRTA public bus offers frequent stops, and the beach itself is accessible via the Surfside Bike Path.

Fishermans Beach, quieter and less populated compared to Surfside, is situated between Nobadeer and Surfside. One of our favorite spots to spend the day reading, Fishermans offers the same great surf as Surfside and is a local favorite. In our opinion, Fishermans has the softest sand of anywhere on the island, with beautiful views of the sand dunes as you walk down the wooden steps onto the path to the beach. There is a small parking lot.

Nobadeer Beach is a popular beach with younger crowds and allows drive-on beach access with a steep incline. Due to the soft sand, it's recommended for experienced beach drivers only. Nobadeer is located just south of the airport and is a great spot to watch the planes fly overhead.

Browse Surfside vacation homes.

Distance to Town: 2.5 miles

Distance to the Beach: 0 miles