Surfside Beach (Nantucket)

Surfside Road, Nantucket, MA 02554

Nantucket's most popular south-shore beach: wide, with real Atlantic surf and a long soft-sand walk down from the parking lot. Concessions, lifeguards, and a paved bike path from town make it the default family choice on the island.

Ideal for a beach walk.

74°F water · 75°F air

Full NWS forecast for Today

Sunny, with a high near 75. Northeast wind around 9 mph.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 65. Southeast wind 2 to 7 mph.

Weather

  • 75°F air — ideal beach weather
  • Sunny skies — clear conditions

Water

  • 74°F water — swimmable, refreshing
83 /100
great
82 Swim
82 Sunbathe
86 Walk
82 Photo

Best for walking today

Water level 0.7 ft above predicted

Observed water level is running higher than the astronomical tide prediction. Expect a narrower beach, faster-rising water, and stronger near-shore currents than the tide chart suggests.

NOAA station 8449130 · Observed 3.43 ft · Predicted 2.77 ft

Air Temp
75°F
Clear
Wind
9 mph
NE
Rain
0%
Today
UV Peak
8 Very High
High 11 AM–03 PM · burn in ~25m
Burn-free before 08 AM & after 05 PM
Tomorrow
76°F
Sunny
Water Temp
74°F
Swimming weather
Next Low Tide
4:17 PM
0.2 ft · in 1.0h
Barometer
30.13 inHg
1020 hPa
Water Quality
Elevated
111 MPN/100mL · Enterococcus
USGS · sampled 10mo ago

Rip Current Risk · Regional Reference

No zone-specific NWS forecast for this beach (ANZ255)

The BOX office's Surf Zone Forecast doesn't cover this beach's forecast zone directly. Nearby coastal zones it does cover are listed below — regional reference only, not a substitute for the conditions at this specific beach.

  • MAZ022 Barnstable MA — Chatham, Eastham, and Provincetown n/a
  • MAZ024 Nantucket MA — Nantucket n/a
  • MAZ023 Dukes MA — Edgartown and Aquinnah n/a
  • MAZ020 Southern Bristol MA — Westport, Dartmouth, and New Bedford n/a
  • RIZ007 Newport RI — Newport, Middletown, and Little Compton n/a
  • RIZ006 Washington RI — Narragansett, Charlestown, and Westerly n/a
  • RIZ008 Block Island RI — Block Island n/a
  • MAZ019 Eastern Plymouth MA — Cohasset, Duxbury, Hingham, Kingston, n/a
  • MAZ015 Suffolk MA-Eastern Norfolk MA — Boston, Chelsea, Revere, Winthrop, n/a
  • MAZ007 Eastern Essex MA — Beverly, Gloucester, and Newburyport n/a

NWS SRF · BOX · Issued Jul 12, 8:10 AM

Sunrise
5:17 AM
Sunset
8:13 PM
Moon · 5%
Waning Crescent
Spring tides — bigger range
Time Type Height
4:26 AM Low -0.2 ft
10:53 AM High 2.8 ft
4:17 PM Low 0.2 ft
11:04 PM High 4.3 ft

High/low predictions from NOAA station 8449130, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.

Today Jul 12
75°

Sunny

0%
84
Mon Jul 13
76°

Sunny

0%
81
Tue Jul 14
79°

Sunny

2%
72
Wed Jul 15
82°

Sunny

4%
71
Thu Jul 16
79°

Mostly Sunny

6%
83
Fri Jul 17
78°

Mostly Sunny

9%
82
Sat Jul 18
78°

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny

18%
78
  • critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 8 — very high
  • optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 74°F

Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).

Parking

Large public lot; arrive early. Also reachable by bike path or the seasonal NRTA "Wave" shuttle from town.

Dogs

No dogs on Surfside Beach June 15 – September 15. Otherwise leashed and licensed.

Entry Fee

Free

Address

Surfside Road, Nantucket, MA 02554

lifeguardsrestroomsshowerssnack bar
Is it safe to swim at Surfside Beach (Nantucket) today?

Surfside Beach (Nantucket) shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. Seasonal lifeguards patrol the swim area in summer — follow their flags. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.

Is Surfside Beach (Nantucket) dog-friendly?

No dogs on Surfside Beach June 15 – September 15. Otherwise leashed and licensed.

Is there an entry fee at Surfside Beach (Nantucket)?

Entry to Surfside Beach (Nantucket) is free.

Are there lifeguards at Surfside Beach (Nantucket)?

Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Surfside Beach (Nantucket) during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.

What amenities are at Surfside Beach (Nantucket)?

Amenities at Surfside Beach (Nantucket) include lifeguards, restrooms, showers, snack bar.

When is the water warmest at Surfside Beach (Nantucket)?

Atlantic water temperatures peak in August. Northern beaches (ME, NH, MA) run cool — typically 60-68°F at the summer peak. Mid-Atlantic (NJ, DE, MD, VA) hits 74-76°F. The Carolinas and Florida Atlantic warm into the 80s and stay swimmable from May through October.

Where is Surfside Beach (Nantucket) located?

Surfside Beach (Nantucket) is in Nantucket County, MA, at Surfside Road, Nantucket, MA 02554.

Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS

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