Travel & Leisure

Traveling to the island is part of the entire experience of Nantucket. Our distance from the mainland is an integral portion of our appeal. Transportation to Nantucket is either by boat or plane. You can buy tickets for a traditional steamship or a highspeed ferry. Either one will allow you to bring your bicycle and your pet! The boats dock in downtown Nantucket where you can walk to nearby shops, restaurants, and inns. You can also book a flight on a commercial airline to the island. Many flights to Nantucket originate in Hyannis on Cape Cod; however, there are also flights from Boston, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and more. The airport is a few miles outside of town but there are taxis and a public bus to transport you wherever you want to go once you land.

You can also get to the island with a private boat. Be aware that you will need advance reservations for a slip in the boat basin and that the town pier is for smaller craft and operates on a first come, first served basis. Likewise you can reach Nantucket via private aircraft and you should book your space in advance. There are landing, ramp, and fuel surcharges for private airplanes.

The only way to bring your car to Nantucket is on board the Steamship Authority’s steamship vessels and, especially in summer, reservations are often sold out well in advance. Parking is extremely limited on the island, particularly downtown, and the narrow streets pose a challenge for some drivers. The good news is that you really don’t need your car to get around the island. The Nantucket Regional Transit Authority operates a low cost bus shuttle service affectionately known as The Wave. You can ride The Wave to almost everywhere you want to go. There are also taxis lined up downtown and at the airport or you can call them for a destination specific pick up. If you would like a little exercise, a bike is a great way to get around the island. There are many places to rent them in town or you can bring your own from home. The relatively flat terrain and the miles of bike paths make Nantucket a bike friendly place.

Everyone needs information, even people on vacation! Nantucket has three local radio stations and a local television station. There are numerous online news sources that provide island information daily. Print journalism from weekly newspapers to monthly magazines offer varying perspectives of island life. Of course, the Nantucket Chamber of Commerce has numerous brochures, guides, and printed maps available free of charge at our Zero Main Street location. You can also subscribe to our Chamber newsletter and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. You are sure to find just about everything you need to make the very most of your Nantucket visit.