Even since I moved from Boston to London to travel the world, Nantucket is still one of my favorite places in the world. It’s one of those magical destinations I always dream about, and you only need a day to see the best of the island! When the roses and hydrangeas start blooming in June and July, you would think you’re in a real-life Disney fairytale. Nantucket is that beautiful! One of the advantages of taking a day trip to Nantucket vs Martha’s Vineyard or even visiting the Cape is that it’s a smaller island. Many of its highlights are near the main part of town, right where you disembark the ferry. After visiting this island countless times, here are all of my best recommendations and everything you need to know to plan a perfect day trip to Nantucket!
Is a Day Trip to Nantucket Worth It? How to plan the perfect day
Can you do Nantucket as a day trip?
Nantucket is the perfect destination for a day trip because it’s a relatively small island with many of its highlights in the center of town, right where you will disembark the ferry. Nantucket is famous for its historic downtown, quaint neighborhoods, beautiful beaches, and unique lighthouses.
Is going to Nantucket worth it?
It is 110% worth going to Nantucket, and even though the ferry tickets and the island in general may seem expensive, there are plenty of free and low-cost things to do on Nantucket. In one day, you can explore the downtown, find the storybook neighborhoods, get your toes in the sand, and visit a lighthouse. The only word I can use to describe Nantucket is magic, and you’ll feel it as soon as you step on the island. Keep reading for how to plan a perfect day trip to Nantucket. I promise you won’t regret it!
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What’s the best time of year for a Nantucket day trip?
The best time to visit Nantucket is during the summer months, especially July and August. During this time, the island’s famous hydrangea flower will be in bloom, and certain parts of the island look like a magical, storybook village. May, June, and September are also great months to visit, as the weather can still be mild or even warm. Towards the middle to end of June is when you’ll find roses in bloom. If you’re trying to visit Nantucket on a budget, I recommend visiting before the start of the summer season in May, or after it in late September or October.
Here’s a list of where to find hydrangeas on Nantucket and Cape Cod! If you time your day trip to Nantucket towards the end of June, you’ll be able to find BOTH roses and hydrangeas in bloom!
Best Things to Do in Nantucket
Since Nantucket is one of my favorite places in the world to visit, I have a comprehensive guide for the best things to do in Nantucket. For this post and planning a day trip to Nantucket, you probably won’t be able to see it all in one day. Continue reading for my recommendations for the perfect itinerary.
Morning: Visit the Magical Village of Sconset
Sconset or Siasconset is one of the most magical places on the island, and if you’re planning a day trip to Nantucket, you should start your day here. In this neighborhood, you’ll find quaint New England homes and summer cottages, a coastal lighthouse, and a beautiful footpath along the ocean. If you want to grab coffee or a pastry before heading out to Sconset, I recommend Lemon Press! You’ll find this spot not too far from where you disembark the ferry, and there are plenty of cute shops along this Main Street as well!
The best way to get to Sconset
The best way to get around Nantucket Island is by bus or by bike. You can find the exact location of Nantucket’s bus (called ‘The Wave’) to Sconset at ‘Downtown Washington Street, Greenhound Stop’. There’s also an information office here if you have questions.
Insider tip: Each bus ride costs a few dollars, and they only accept cash and can’t offer change if you don’t have the exact amount. There’s also a bike rack on the front, if you bring a bike with you! The bus runs on different schedules depending on the season and time of day. The information office will have a timetable. There is a direct route to Sconset via Milestone Road during high season, but year-round, you can use the Old South Road route.
Find the Sconset Bluff Walk
Regarded as one of the most scenic paths and one of the best things to do in Nantucket, the entrance is a bit hidden. At the beginning of the Bluff Walk, you’ll pass adorable summer cottages along a path paved with white seashells. You’ll then continue on a small path along the ocean, you’ll feel as if you’re walking in residents’ backyards, but don’t worry, you’re not! You can easily find the entrance to the path on Google Maps. I would advise starting at the corner of Broadway and Front Street and walking north until you find the marked entrance. If you’re only taking a day trip to Nantucket, I highly recommend walking part of this path, but you don’t have to walk the entire way if you don’t have time!
Visit Sankaty Lighthouse
You will need around an hour to walk most of the Sconset Bluff Walk, and if you have time, you can extend your walk to Sankaty Lighthouse. There are a few exits out of the Bluff Walk, but the walk will end at the lighthouse. You can also exit the path and walk along Sankaty Road for a glimpse of some quaint, New England coastal homes.
Try Claudette’s sandwiches
After you’ve seen the Sconset Bluff Walk, I’m sure you worked up an appetite! One of my favorite sandwiches ever is Claudette’s ‘turkey salad sandwich’, but they also serve breakfast sandwiches. Take some time to walk around this neighborhood, or take the Sconset Bridge to Sconset Beach and have a picnic lunch oceanfront!
Claudette’s is one of the best restaurants on Nantucket. Here are some other oceanfront restaurants on Cape Cod and Nantucket.
Best Places to Stay in Nantucket
Even though you may only be planning a day trip to Nantucket, here are some of the incredible hotels and best places to stay in Nantucket.
Overall Best Place to Stay on Nantucket: White Elephant Hotel
5-Star luxury Hotel and Spa on Nantucket: Blue Iris by Life House
Best Central Location: Faraway Nantucket is one of my favorites!
A perfect Resort for Families: Nantucket Hotel and Resort
Best Value: Jared Coffin House
Things to do in Nantucket without a car
Afternoon: Take a Bike ride around Downtown Nantucket
One of the best ways to get around Nantucket is by bike. The downtown Nantucket area is quite quaint, and there are many lovely neighborhoods along Centre Street, which turns into Orange Street, Cliff Road, and Main Street, which turns into Gardner Street. There are plenty of bike rental shops downtown, very close to where you’ll disembark the ferry. Even if you want to bike out to Sconset, keep in mind it’s around eight miles from town. To make the most of your day, I would recommend renting an electric bike. Even if you spend your morning and early afternoon in Sconset and don’t want to bike back to town, you can take the bus and use the bike racks!
Even though there are bike paths throughout the island, there aren’t as many bike paths getting in and out of the downtown and central areas of Nantucket. Be cautious when biking in these areas as the roads are very narrow and have little room for bikes. You know another island that’s great to bike around? Here’s a guide for a day trip to Martha’s Vineyard!
Visit Brant Point Lighthouse
After renting a bike, head to Brant Point Lighthouse. You don’t necessarily need a bike to get to Brant Point Lighthouse, it is about a mile from downtown Nantucket. Make sure to take a walk on the beach and watch all the ships passing in the bay.
Continue to Steps Beach
If you’re taking a day trip to Nantucket, this is one of the most beautiful beaches to visit that’s not far from town. Only about another half mile from Brant Point Lighthouse and less than a mile and a half from downtown is Steps Beach. This beach is named for its famous steps that descend to the beach. Keep in mind, you won’t see the beach right away when you arrive. There’s a narrow pathway that leads to the top of the steps, and a smaller sign to mark the path, so keep an eye out!
This is one of the best beaches in Nantucket, and of course, I’ve included it in this post on the best beach towns in New England!
Evening: Have dinner at Jettie’s Sandbar or Downtown
If you visited Steps Beach, Jettie’s Sandbar isn’t far away. This restaurant is very casual and describes itself as the ‘quintessential beachfront Nantucket experience’. One of the best restaurants in Nantucket is Galley Beach, a more upscale dining experience on the beach. You won’t need reservations for Jettie’s Sanbar, but you will need reservations for Galley Beach. I celebrated my birthday at Galley Beach a few years ago, and the cocktails, food, dessert, as well as the incredible sunset that kept us company, were divine.
Best Restaurants Downtown for a day trip to Nantucket
Some of my favorite restaurants in downtown Nantucket are The Proprietors Bar & Table, serving worldly small plates. Cru is an upscale, waterfront seafood restaurant. Straight Wharf is another great seafood restaurant option. If you’re looking for something more casual, Provisions has excellent sandwiches, and the Brotherhood of Thieves is a historic American bar.
Get Ice cream from Nantucket Juice Bar
You can’t leave this island or take a day trip to Nantucket and not miss a visit to the Nantucket Juice Bar. This is one of the most famous ice cream shops on the island, despite the name. Some of my favorite flavors are the ‘strawberry dark chocolate chip’ and the ‘chocolate PB cookie dough’.
Unique things to do in Nantucket
One of the most unique things to do in Nantucket is to wander around the Nantucket Boat Basin. You can find plenty of lovely boats docked here, and the views are beautiful.
Before you board the ferry, make sure to also wander around Old South Wharf and Straight Wharf. You can find plenty of boutique shopping here, but not large chain stores. If you continue past the restaurant Cru on Straight Wharf, you can walk out to some of the docks. You’ll find where some of the largest yachts visiting the island will be parked. You’ll also have fabulous views of Brant Point Lighthouse.
Nantucket’s Cisco Brewers
Even though you might not have time to visit this brewery during a day trip to Nantucket, they have the most unique setup! There is a free shuttle that can transport you from downtown. In the summer, you’ll find plenty of food trucks, a large outdoor seating area, and even some lawn games to keep you entertained. They also offer tours of their brewery and distillery!
How do you get to Nantucket?
You can only reach Nantucket by ferry or plane. I recommend, when taking a day trip to Nantucket, to drive to the ferry terminal and park your car before boarding a passenger-only ferry. Due to its small size and historical infrastructure, the island discourages non-residents from bringing cars. Car ferry tickets are also quite expensive, and book out at least six months in advance.
How long is the ferry ride from Cape to Nantucket?
The ferry ride from Hyannis, Cape Cod, to Nantucket takes around one hour by fast ferry and two hours by regular ferry. If you’re traveling from Martha’s Vineyard to Nantucket, it will also take one hour. If you’re only planning a day trip to Nantucket from Boston, I highly recommend getting one of the earliest ferries. This will make for a long day but I promise it will be worth it! Keep reading for what ferry tickets you should book.
Traveling from Boston to Nantucket
The best way to get from Boston to Nantucket is to drive to Hyannis and board the high-speed Hy-Line passenger-only ferry or Steamship Authority high-speed car ferry. Both of these ferry terminals are in Hyannis, but I recommend Hy-Line’s high-speed ferry. I recommend choosing a high-speed ferry because it will only take one hour from Hyannis to Nantucket. If you add the driving time from Boston to Nantucket, it will take almost 3 hours one way, since the drive from Boston to Hyannis can vary based on traffic. Without traffic, the driving time from Boston to Hyannis is around 1.5 hours.
Other ferry options include Seastreak Ferries. Keep in mind Seastreak Ferries leaves from New Bedford, Massachusetts, and not Cape Cod.
Day Trip to Nantucket from Boston
Here’s an insider tip- If you’re driving to Cape Cod from Boston to board a ferry, the drive will take around one hour. Keep in mind that during the summer, the population of Cape Cod increases drastically, and if you’re driving during peak hours, you will run into traffic. Plan your trip ahead of time, accounting for time to drive to the ferry terminal and park your car. Ferry companies offer parking, but some parking lots may be off-site and require a shuttle transfer. Research parking options when booking your ticket and allow yourself extra time to park.
Traveling from New York to Nantucket
The best way to get from New York City to Nantucket is by fast ferry or plane, and Seastreak Ferries is the best option. Since the ferry takes quite a bit longer, it would be difficult to do a day trip to Nantucket from New York.
Is Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket better for a day trip?
If you’re deciding to visit Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard, here’s my advice as a local Bostonian. You can still visit Martha’s Vineyard on a day trip, but my preference is Nantucket. Martha’s Vineyard is twice the size of Nantucket, so a bike is required to get around the island. When you disembark the ferry at Oak Bluffs in Martha’s Vineyard, it is quite touristy, and there’s not much to do. I would recommend biking to Edgartown, which feels similar to the authentic and historical downtown of Nantucket, but still has lots of shops catering to tourists. From Edgartown, you can also walk or bike to Edgartown Lighthouse, similar to finding lighthouses in Nantucket. Martha’s Vineyard may be a bit more budget-friendly than Nantucket, and one of the reasons some choose this island instead.
If you want to spend one day in Martha’s Vineyard, check out my comprehensive guide!
What to wear for a day trip to Nantucket
If you’re wondering what to wear for a day trip to Nantucket, I highly recommend comfortable and secure shoes for the cobblestone streets and biking, and a light and airy outfit with a hat. If you want some ideas, you can shop all my outfits here!
Here are a few other posts you may enjoy:
Best Things to Do in Nantucket: A Weekend on Nantucket comprehensive guide
One Day in Martha’s Vineyard: How to get to Martha’s Vineyard
An Epic Weekend Getaway to Cape Cod: A LOCAL’S guide!
Best Waterfront Cape Cod Restaurants: Top 10 Restaurants with a view!
28 Best Beach Towns in New England: A Guide from a Local!
Best Day Trips from Boston: A Summer in New England
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The best information yet!!!! We are definitely going to visit!!
I’m so glad you think so, I definitely think you guys would love it there! The fall at the end of September and October would be a great time to visit too!