A Nantucket Day Trip - Fall 2024

A trip to Nantucket has been high (really high) on my New England bucket list. I'm a New England Native in love with the area. I'm a Weekend Wanderer out to explore as much of the northeast as my schedule as a mom/wife/business owner allows.  I've been to Martha's Vineyard, and spent a lot of time on Block Island, but Nantucket was the last one left on my "New England Island Trifecta". Most ACK visitors spend at least the weekend to take advantage of the island and the time it takes to get there. The island is small relative to its Vineyard neighbor, which means lodging is limited and you can expect to book far in advance, and spend a lot to do it. 

Nantucket charm

I toyed around with the idea of visiting Nantucket on a day trip and when a work opportunity came my way, I decided to make it happen. It's a lot of travel for the day, but the small size of the island makes it doable in a day trip and not having to worry about lodging is a second win. 

The work portion of the trip would take about 30 minutes while the travel to get to Nantucket would be four hours between the drive and the ferry, each way. Nantucket is the farthest east of the islands and is the southeasternmost town in both Massachusetts and the New England. This meant that if I was going to Nantucket, I was going to make the day of it and do the highlight reel on a sunny September day. I was also going in the shoulder season, after Labor Day when the crowds die down but warm enough to enjoy the sunshine and time outside on the island and it felt like the perfect way to experience Massachusetts island. 

Before I get into the details let me say a few things. I thought Nantucket was going to be overrated, that the island was more trendy and a socialite destination more than anything else and wouldn't be worth the expense and time required to travel there, especially for the day. Let me tell you no one was more pleasantly surprised than me. It took a little bit but I got the hype of the island, the vibe of Nantucket, and I can understand how special of a place it is, and why people head to this beautiful New England island in every single season. 

Nantucket Bike Path

(My) Island Experience

As you walk off the ferry and start to meander through, you will be inundated with topless vehicles galore, broncos and jeeps, most adorned with a beach permit and your typical safety equipment, shovels and such. The buildings sport iconic wooden shingles and bushes of hydrangeas line the roadways and sweeping harbor views. Perfectly manicured gardens compliment the ivy creeping up the sides of historic homes and American flags are flapping in the breeze. 

I stopped at the iconic Brant Point Lighthouse where sailboats passed by in the quiet morning. I walked the uneven brick sidewalks are filled with walkers and bike paths are packed with beach cruisers, almost entirely with baskets and smiling tourists soaking in the September Sun. I biked the famous Sconset Polpis Loop which is such an amazing way to see the island, taking you on a loop of the eastern part of the island almost entirely on bike paths, with a detour to Sankaty Head Lighthouse. I was immediately aware by just how much open space Nantucket had been able to preserve, that the island wasn't just lane after lane of tourist traps, but had so many elements of open space, wooded areas, sweeping views, and wildness. 

Cisco Brewery, a popular spot for locals and tourists alike, was also worth the hype. There is something for everyone from wine and liquor to beer, and its an experience to sit in the sunshine, sample the food trucks, and listen to live music. I ended the day with a 12 pack of Cisco Pumpkin in my bike rack and a stop at another famous stop, The Juice Bar for a very expensive ice cream cone that was worth the price. I hopped back on the ferry a little sad to be leaving, and wildly excited to visit again with Adam and the kids, happy to report that Nantucket is in fact, worth it. 

SeaStreak ferry out of New Bedford

Getting Here

You have a few options for visiting the island from flights to ferries. The ferries leave from New Bedford or Hyannis on the Cape. The New Bedford ferry is about 45 minutes closer coming from Connecticut, but has less options than the Hyannis ferry and a longer ride. I decided to opt for the New Bedford Sea Streak ferry to cut on my drive, knowing the longer ferry gave me some extra time to work on the boat. 
*Same day round trip tickets are also a little cheaper than round trip different day tickets. 

Sankaty Head Lighthouse in the fog

Costs

• Valet parking Sea Streak: $30
• Round trip same day ferry on Sea Streak out of New Bedford (September, 2024): $92.10
• Expect to pay a premium for everything in Nantucket, typical of any island. Budget a bit extra for food, shopping, and drinks. 

Taking the ferry out of New Bedford cut down on driving time for me, but did leave ferry times a little more limited. If you need more options to and from the island, consider taking the ferry from Hyannis, Cape Cod. This price also included the cost to bring a bike round trip

Nantucket Bike Paths, Image from Youngs Bicycle Shop

Day Trip Itinerary

• Plan on taking the first ferry to the island, and the last one off. For me that was a 10am arrival and 4pm departure. If you leave from Hyannis, you can buy some more time for your day trip. 
• Breakfast: Get off the ferry and grab a coffee and croissant - there are small shops and cafes downtown where the ferry terminal is
• Bike to Brant Point Lighthouse, it is the closest to downtown and should be a 15 minute walk or 5 minute bike ride. This is a beautiful place to enjoy breakfast to go. 
• Pick a bike loop on one of the many Nantucket Bike Paths - the Sconset Polpis Bike Loop is an 18 mile round trip ride and a popular route as it travels nearly 90 percent on protected bike lanes. The island is pretty flat with rolling hills and you should budget 2 to 3 hours for the ride. 
• Make sure you stop on the bike loop which does take you to the island's second and bigger lighthouse, Sankaty Head Lighthouse. I hit it in pure fog but it was still a lovely place to sit for a while and enjoy the views.
• Head to Cisco Brewery for a flight, food from the food trucks, and live music
• Stop at The Juice Bar to grab an ice cream before catching the last boat out. 

Other stops if you have the time: 

• With Kids: Children's Beach and playground right by the ferry, or Hinsdale Park & Discovery Playground (part of the Nantucket Land Bank)
• Whaling Museum, downtown shopping, Jetties Beach

The Juice Bar Ice Cream