North Shore -  Calmer beaches 

Jetties Beach: Close to town with a playground and the Sandbar restaurant. Good family beach. Parking, lifeguards and restrooms. 
Brant Point: Great to watch the boats and ferries round the point and the scenic lighthouse. Strong current so swimming is not recommended. Very limited parking, restrooms and NO lifeguards.
Children’s Beach: Closest beach to town, calm waters. Perfect for children with a playground, stage and Gyp-Sea Cafe. Lifeguards and restrooms.
Steps Beach: Picturesque beach between Dionis and Jetties Beach with views of the Nantucket Sound and Great Point. Very limited parking, restrooms and NO lifeguards.
Dionis: Calm, clear blue water, fantastic view of ferries and sailboats. It is a good place to paddle-board on a calm day and during low tide there is a shallow sandbar. Dionis is located relatively far out of town (3 miles). Changing rooms, outdoor spigots (for washing sand off) and vending machines with snacks and drinks. Large parking lot, lifeguards and restrooms.
40th Pole: Warmer waters and calm waves. The water is shallow and clear and in the summer the beach is usually wide and flat, with soft white sand and lots of seashells strewn along the shore.  Dirt parking lot, portable restrooms and NO lifeguards. Drive-on access allowed with vehicle permit and 4-wheel drive required.

South Shore – Surf Beaches

Nobadeer: Popular drive-on beach with larger waves. Parking, portable restrooms and NO lifeguards. Drive-on access allowed with vehicle permit and 4-wheel drive required.
Surfside: Family-friendly beach with shuttle services (WAVE), bike racks, snack bar and multiple food trucks. Parking, lifeguards and restrooms.
Miacomet: Less busy South Shore beach 2.5 miles from town, and close to Bartlett’s Farm. Heavy surf. Parking, lifeguards and portable restrooms. 
Cisco: Very popular beach with a surf school on-site and various food carts/trucks often on-site. Known for surfers with strong surf. Parking, lifeguards and portable restrooms.
Madaket/Smith’s Point: Famous sunset-watching destination down the street from Millie’s Restaurant & Millie’s Market. Small parking lot, lifeguards and portable restrooms. 

Eastern Shore – Moderate Surf Beaches

‘Sconset: Accessible by the WAVE shuttle or a 6-mile bike ride. Parking and lifeguards. Food and restrooms available nearby in ‘Sconset Village.
Quidnet: Typically a calmer water beach that borders Sesachacha Pond. Limited parking, NO lifeguards and no restrooms.
Pocomo: Warm water, great for kayaking. Limited parking, NO lifeguards and no restrooms.
Great Point Beach: Explore the furthest tip of the island and the famous Great Point Lighthouse. Great for all-day family picnics, fishing and possible seal sightings. Vehicle permit, or day pass, and 4-wheel drive required.