Day Trip To Nantucket: 8 Of The Best Things To Do

Nantucket is a one-of-a-kind location that’s well worth a visit. Idyllic beaches, historic cobblestone streets, well-preserved architecture, and rich maritime history make this an iconic vacation destination.

While a weekend here would be ideal, it’s not always possible. A day trip is a great way to enjoy a quick getaway and capture a glimpse of the island’s highlights.

Below I’ve included everything you need to know about planning your day trip to Nantucket. This closely follows a day trip I took during my Cape Cod vacation.

Note: Towards the bottom of this post, I include detailed information regarding how to to get to Nantucket from various starting points, and how best to get around. Most day trippers will arrive by ferry and will not bring a car, therefore, this itinerary is catered towards that scenario.

Things To Do During Your Nantucket Day Trip

Explore Nantucket’s Downtown Area 

Distance From Ferry Port: .1 Miles

The Nantucket ferry port is centrally located, so you’ll be right in the thick of downtown upon exiting the ferry. 

Stepping onto Nantucket is like stepping into a different world.

This former whaling town has an incredible amount of charm, from the uneven cobblestoned streets and brick sidewalks, to the historic homes and steepled churches.

In fact, thanks to the incredibly well-preserved architecture, the island was designated by the National Park Service as a National Historic Landmark District back in 1966.

It’s difficult to put into words just how stunning this island is.

During my time downtown I enjoyed browsing the shops along Easton Street, the town’s main drag, as well as wandering the surrounding neighborhoods, filled with seemingly endless rows of adorable, historic homes.

If visiting in summer, be sure to also checkout the yachts and sailboats docked at the Nantucket Boat Basin.

You could easily spend your entire day trip to Nantucket just hanging out downtown.

Whaling Museum

Distance From Ferry Port: .1 miles

Consider visiting the Whaling Museum during your day in Nantucket.

During the late 18th and early 19th century Nantucket was the whaling capital of the world. Even in-part inspiring Herman Melville to write his famed novel, Moby Dick. 

The museum features nine exhibition galleries, with thousands of artifacts representing the island’s stories over the past 4 centuries. 

The museum is also home to a 46 foot sperm whale skeleton, and a rooftop deck with beautiful views of the Nantucket Harbor.

The museum is open year-round at about $25 / adult during the summer months.

Tip: If you enjoy museums, you may also like the Nantucket Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum or the Museum of African American History.

Go For A Walking Tour

Walking Tour Meeting Point Distance From Ferry Port: .1 miles

The Whaling Museum offers walking tours of the downtown area, in addition to a historic homes & architecture tour.

The hour long tours showcase the fluctuation of people to Nantucket, all while discussing the island’s two primary industries over the past 400 years: whaling and tourism. Each of which has shaped the island in its own way. 

Tours are offered seasonally for about $25 / adult. 

Check availability at: Nantucket Historical Association Tours.

Go For A Swim At Jetties Beach 

Distance From Ferry Port: 1 mile

Jetties Beach is only a mile from downtown, so I chose to walk here and relax on the calm, sandy beach for a few hours during my day trip to Nantucket. 

Jetties sits on the island’s north shore, facing the Nantucket Sound. This means it’s got gentle waves and sandy beaches with seashells and pebbles mixed in. 

If you wish to swim in Nantucket, the north shore is a great option. Here, the water is slightly warmer and safer for swimming than the south shore, which is directly exposed to the Atlantic. 

If you’re hungry (or thirsty for a beach cocktail) stop by the popular Sandbar at Jetties Beach Bar & Restaurant.

Relax At Surfside Beach 

Distance From Ferry Port: 3.6 Miles

For bigger waves and softer sand, you’ll want to head to the island’s south shore. 

There are numerous beaches here but Surfside Beach is a favored south shore option thanks to its close proximity to downtown.

Enjoy sunbathing, beach games, and swimming at this free beach. Swimmers, however, need to be wary of large waves and strong currents. 

The beach is just over 3 miles from the ferry port. There’s a bike path all the way to the beach and The Wave Shuttle has a bus stop here. 

Tip: Madaket, Cisco, and Madequecham are also popular south shore beaches in Nantucket — just to name a few! 

Visit The Sankaty Head Light

Distance From Ferry Port: 9.4 Miles

The Sankaty Head Light, built in 1850 and still in use today, is the island’s most iconic lighthouse. 

This is a great area to walk around and enjoy the views with the picturesque lighthouse in the distance.

The 7 acres surrounding the lighthouse are free and open to the public from dawn until dusk.

The lighthouse is 2 miles from the nearest bus stop, but bikeable and walkable from nearby Siasconset.

Sconset Bluff Walk & Village Of Siasconset

Distance From Ferry Port: 8.2 Miles

Just two miles from popular Sankaty Lighthouse, are the Sconset Bluffs.

These bluffs are some of the most picturesque in Nantucket and definitely worth a visit.

Take a stroll along Sconset Bluff Walk, which is a 2 mile footpath along the bluffs leading all the way to the Sankaty Light Head.

The Sconset Bluff Walk is located at the easternmost point of the island, in the Village of Siasconset.

If time permits, also explore the Village of Siasconset, which is said to be one of the most beautiful parts of Nantucket.

Here there’s a few restaurants and shops, in addition to tons of beautiful, historic homes and a popular beach.

Siasconset and the Sconset Bluffs are accessible by bus.

Sip A Cold One At Cisco Brewery 

Distance From Ferry Port: 2.7 miles

Since 1995 Cisco has been bottling up local brews in Nantucket. While they now serve greater New England, there’s still something special about having a beer at their original location.

Stop by to enjoy food trucks, games, and live music with a cold beer amid their outdoor seating.

In addition to brewing beers, they also run a vineyard and distilling company, so there’s something here for everyone.

There’s a free shuttle which takes visitors from Chestnut & Federal Street in downtown Nantucket to Cisco Brewery and back. The van runs from noon to about 6 pm, Wednesdays through Sunday, seasonally.

The shuttle runs every 20 minutes and can fill up quickly, especially during peak hours. Bring cash to tip the driver.

Tips For Your Day Trip To Nantucket

Below are a few additional tips to enjoy your day trip to Nantucket:

• Bring cash, the public shuttle and many local businesses operate on cash only.
• Wear comfortable walking shoes, Nantucket has very jagged cobblestone streets. 
• Dress warm or bring a jacket, the temperature will be cooler here than on the mainland. 
• Bring a portable phone charger. Between the so-so cell service and number of photos I took, my iPhone battery was drained by the afternoon, and I still needed it to show my return ferry ticket. 
• Be aware that many businesses close outside of summer months, or offer limited off-season hours.

Getting Around Nantucket 

Bringing your car to Nantucket is very pricey, so leave it behind.

Plan to get around the island by foot, bike, moped, Uber, taxi, or by utilizing Nantucket’s shuttle system, The Wave.

Do You Need A Car On Nantucket?

For a day trip, definitely not. 

Nantucket is small, at only 14 miles long and 3.5 miles wide, making it very easy to navigate without a car.

Bring Your Bike To Nantucket 

For a small fee you can take bikes with you on the ferry.

Biking is a great way to get around Nantucket, thanks to the island’s small size and ample bike trails.

Bike Rentals In Nantucket 

Upon exiting the ferry, you’ll immediately find bike shops offering day rentals.

Prices vary, expect a one day fee of about $40 – 50 for a standard bike, and roughly $30 for a child’s bike. 

Nantucket Bike Shop is located closest to the ferry, and allows you to reserve your bike in advance or rent day of. 

Rent Mopeds/Scooters In Nantucket 

Mopeds are also a popular way to quickly get around the island without a car.

A moped will set you back about $120 for the day (more during peak weekends).

This option allows the most mobility without requiring public transportation, Uber, or taxis. 

Check out Nantucket Bike Rentals or Affordable Rentals.

Mopeds should be reserved in advance. 

The Wave Nantucket 

Nantucket has a year-round public transportation option called The Wave. It’s very convenient and affordable, check out the schedule and fares here NRTA The Wave. Be aware, you will need cash. 

The Wave buses are equipped with bike racks, but have limited availability.

Getting To Nantucket

Below I’ve included information regarding getting to and from Nantucket from various destinations.

Please keep in mind, prices are based on same-day, round trip rates (without vehicles, bikes, etc.) and are an estimate.

Transit times listed will also vary.

Tip: Allow plenty of time to find parking at each ferry port, and be aware that most ferries require riders to arrive 30 minutes before departure time.

Ferry From Cape Cod To Nantucket 

If visiting Nantucket for one day, the fast ferry is your best choice.

There are fast ferries departing from both Hyannis and Harwich. 

Harwich is more centrally located on Cape Cod and provides free parking for day trippers. It averages about $100/ adult for a round trip ticket and takes 1 hour and 20 minutes in each direction.

Hyannis is on the upper Cape (closest to the mainland) and is the larger of the two ports. You’ll find many more ferry options here.

Parking will require a fee and is limited (allow yourself some extra time!). 

Round trip tickets are about $70 – 100 per adult and the transit time is 1 hour and 15 minutes each way.

I booked the fast ferry with Steamship Authority out of Hyannis.

This was the most affordable option and their schedule worked best with ours. 

Day Trip From Boston To Nantucket

If you’re wondering, ‘Can you do a day trip to Nantucket from Boston?‘ The answer is yes!

From Boston you’ll utilize the above ferry options out of Cape Cod.

To reach Hyannis from Boston, plan to drive, ride the bus, or take a train.

If driving, plan for about 1.5 hours, plus $30 for parking in Hyannis, depending on the time of year (allow extra time to find parking here!).

There are a number of bus options. They typically require about 2 hours from Boston and are roughly $50 – 75 round trip per adult. Most buses allow you to travel with a bike.

On weekends from Memorial Day – Labor Day, the CapeFlyer offers direct train service from Boston to Hyannis for $40 round trip.

The ride is about 2.5 hours each direction and allows bikes.

The bus and train will both drop you off within walking distance of the Hyannis ferry port.

Day Trip From Rhode Island To Nantucket

If planning a day trip from Rhode Island to Nantucket, take the ferry from New Bedford, MA.

This seasonal route, via Seastreak Ferry, takes about 2 hours and costs around $105 round trip for same-day travelers.

To get to New Bedford, plan to drive or take a bus from Providence.

If driving, allow at least 40 minutes from Providence. Parking for the day is $15 – 30.

The bus will cost about $40 per adult round trip and requires about 2 hours. Be aware, departure times are limited. Most buses will allow you to bring your bike.

Day Trip From Martha’s Vineyard To Nantucket 

Day tripping from Martha’s Vineyard to Nantucket?

The ferry between Martha’s Vineyard (Oak Bluffs) and Nantucket takes 1 hour and 10 minutes and is about $80 round trip.

How Much Time Should You Spend In Nantucket?

In a perfect world, you’d want to spend at least 3 days in Nantucket, a week would be even better.

But that’s not always an option.

If visiting for a day, I recommend allowing a minimum of 5 hours on the island (plus ferry transit time, including time to load and unload).

Plan for even more time if you wish to explore the outer edges of the island, such as Sankaty Head Light or Sconset Bluffs. 

Nantucket Weather 

No matter the time of year, Nantucket will be colder than the mainland.

Evenings can get quite cold, even in the warmer summer months.

• January – 36° / 23° (High / Low F°)
• February – 37° / 24°
• March – 43° / 31°
• April – 51° / 37°
• May – 60° / 46°
• June – 69° / 56°
• July – 76° / 61°
• August – 75° / 63°
• September – 68° / 56°
• October – 61° / 49°
• November – 51° / 37°
• December – 40° / 28°

What To Wear & Bring To Nantucket For A Day Trip

Below are some items you may need for your day trip to Nantucket:

• Cash
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Casual attire
• Light jacket
• Backpack
• Reusable water bottle
• Snacks
• Sun protection such as sunglasses, hat, sunscreen
• Phone charger and/or portable battery
• Print ferry tickets if worried about your phone dying before your return trip home.

Is A Day Trip To Nantucket Worth It?

The ferry to Nantucket can be a bit time consuming and costly.

It’s easy to question whether or not a day trip to Nantucket is worth it (I sure did!).

However, Nantucket is pretty incredible and worth the hassle. There’s not many other US destinations comparable to this island.  

Nantucket vs Martha’s Vineyard Day Trip

If choosing between a day trip to Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard, I was told by locals that Nantucket is best.

The reasoning: Nantucket is smaller and easier to get around in one day.

As you can see, there are so many great things to do while spending a day in Nantucket.

I hope you found this information helpful in planning your day trip to Nantucket. Happy travels!

Any questions? Please leave a comment below or reach out on social media.

Looking for more ideas? Check out my additional Nantucket at Cape Cod guides below.