Nantucket had been on my travel list for years. I’ve read almost every Elin Hilderbrand book, so before visiting, I could already vividly picture the gray shingle houses, blooming hydrangeas and bike baskets filled with beach towels. Despite being so well-versed in Elin’s plot lines, none of them talked about visiting Nantucket with kids. For my birthday last year, we decided to plan a Nantucket trip with my three-year-old, and let me tell you, we loved it!

We explored Nantucket with a stroller, timed our beach days around nap time, stayed at a hotel with plenty of room for our son to run around, found a bunch of great family-friendly restaurants and realized very quickly that this island is great for family travel.

If you’re wondering whether Nantucket with kids is worth it, or how to plan it, this guide is for you! It includes everything we learned from where to stay and eat to the best activities for families.

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Is Nantucket good for kids?

Yes! If you’re wondering if Nantucket is family-friendly, the answer is absolutely. While the island is often known for romantic getaways and summer escapes, it’s also great for kids. Here are a few reasons why:

• It’s a super walkable historic town
• The beaches are calm and family-friendly
• There are bike paths to explore (some hotels offer bike rentals!)
• Early dinner is not a faux pas, so you can enjoy a great dinner and be home for bedtime (see my favorite kid-friendly restaurants!)
• Summer is the high-season, and has the most options for activities. We visited in the shoulder season (early June) when we knew things would be open but it would be less crowded. 

Best things to do in Nantucket with kids

If you’re researching things to do in Nantucket with kids, you’ll quickly realize the island is surprisingly family-friendly and offers a mix of outdoor adventures, beaches and charming small town experiences.

Beaches

Nantucket is located in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Massachusetts. This means that it’s surrounded by beach and coastline and there are many options for beach days. The best beaches for families visiting Nantucket are Children’s Beach and Jetties Beach because of their calm waters, proximity to Town and playground availability. 

Bike and Side Paths

Nantucket has over 35 miles of sidepaths, so plan on lots of stroller walks while you’re visiting! If your kids are old enough to ride a bike, definitely plan to rent bikes and explore the island on two wheels. It’s a great way to see different parts of the island, and there are plenty of places where you can rent bikes. You can rent bikes for your entire stay, or just for a day. Island Bike Company, Young’s Bicycle Shop and Cook’s Cycles are great options, and offer both adult and kids bikes and toddler trailers. Some hotels offer bike rentals as well, so look into this as you’re booking lodging. 

Museums & Educational Stops

Whaling Museum

For a glimpse into Nantucket’s whaling history, make sure to spend an hour or two at the Nantucket Whaling Museum. The main attraction is a 46-foot sperm whale skeleton, and there are a ton of other exhibits that feature boat models, whale teeth and other historic artifacts. The Discovery Center is a kids play area with Nantucket inspired books and toys. I’d recommend saving this for last. My son could have played here all day!

Maria Mitchell Association

Made up of several science-based museums, the Maria Mitchell Association offers great learning experiences for kids. On our visit, we went to the Aquarium, which is great, especially for toddlers. It offers a close up look at the sea life that surrounds Nantucket and even has a touch tank. Most of the creatures are catch and release, and released on the schedule that works best for the creature. For example, if one doesn’t thrive in captivity, they only hold onto it for a couple days. One permanent resident is Clementine the lobster. She’s an incredibly rare orange lobster. Orange lobsters are found 1 out of every 30 million lobsters! 

In addition to the Aquarium, other Maria Mitchell Association museums include a science museum, a couple observatories, and a discovery playground. 

Boat Experiences

Nantucket offers a bunch of options for boat and harbor cruises; however, there is one clear recommendation that I’d make to any family visiting Nantucket. The Critter Cruise is a one hour kids fishing charter that we absolutely loved. The first half is spent emptying traps that have crabs, fish, lobsters and other sea creatures. The charter leads bring the critters onboard so kids can see them up close, and they’re either released at the end or given to the Aquarium. In the second half of the charter, kids get to fish off the boat. The staff ensures all kids get the experience of catching a fish and are so hands-on and helpful. Read my Critter Cruise review and make a reservation for your family.

Best Beaches in Nantucket for Kids

One of the best parts about visiting Nantucket with kids is how many beautiful beaches there are. If you’re looking for the best beaches in Nantucket for kids, these are the ones that work especially well for families, especially if you’re traveling with toddlers.

Children’s Beach

This was our favorite beach when we visited Nantucket because it felt like a one-stop shop for everything we needed. There’s a playground, a cafe with meal, snack and coffee options, the water is really calm, it’s really close to Town, and it has an incredible view of Nantucket harbor. 

Jetties Beach

Jetties Beach is very similar to Children’s Beach in that it’s a popular option due to its proximity to Town, has calm and shallow water, a restaurant and playground. If you’re looking to spend a day at the beach, this is definitely a great place to do so. 

Surfside Beach

Surfside Beach is another popular beach option on the south side of the island, close to the airport. The surf can be a bit stronger here vs. at Children’s Beach or Jetties Beach, so keep that in mind as you’re choosing what beach to visit. I’d recommend this beach for families with older kids who are better swimmers. 

Where to stay in Nantucket with kids

Deciding where to stay in Nantucket with kids? Here are a few tips!

If you’re visiting Nantucket in the summer, expect hotel prices to be high, so plan and budget for your trip accordingly. The vibe of almost every hotel in Nantucket is laid-back, coastal and refined, so no matter where you stay I don’t think there’s a bad choice. 

If you want to stay in Town, the White Elephant and The Nantucket Hotel & Resort are great options. The White Elephant is very high-end. It has a lot of adult-focused amenities, and it also has great options for kids too. Some examples are their poolside ice cream cart, beach toys, check-in gifts for kids, and kid-friendly activities like scavenger hunts. The Nantucket Hotel & Resort is also great for families looking for luxury, and offers kid-focused amenities like a children’s pool, evening s’mores, and a kids club. 

If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option like we were, the Nantucket Inn was great. While it doesn’t have as many amenities as the hotels above, it had both an indoor and outdoor pool (which was great since we visited in early June when the weather was still cool), tennis courts, on-site restaurant and bar, and a shuttle to Town. Read more about our stay at the Nantucket Inn.

Search all Nantucket hotels

Where to eat in Nantucket with kids

My son was 3 when we visited Nantucket, so we opted for more casual restaurants overall for this trip (Brant Point Grill, you’re on my list for next time though!). Below is a quick summary of the kid-friendly restaurants in Nantucket that we loved. Read more about Nantucket restaurants with kids.

• Provisions: Great for lunch, has amazing to-go sandwiches and even a kids menu!
• Brotherhood of Thieves: Set in a historic 1840s whaling bar, American/bar fare
• Straight Wharf Fish: Beautiful views of the harbor, great for seafood (get a lobster roll!)
• Nantucket Tavern: Great for kid staples like mac and cheese, good cocktails for parents, and right in the center of the action near Straight Wharf
• Rose and Crown: Get a burger and chef’s fries – trust me!
• Bar Yoshi: This one isn’t quite as kid-friendly, but has incredible sushi and small plates. I wanted to go here for my birthday dinner and luckily my son slept the whole time!

Do you need a car in Nantucket with kids?

One of the most common questions when planning a trip to Nantucket with kids is whether you need a car on the island. The answer depends on what you’re looking to get out of your stay.

For most families who want to spend time at the beach, strolling and shopping through Town, and dining at Nantucket’s great restaurants, I’d say the answer is no, you do not need to rent a car when visiting Nantucket. The main attractions are all in a very compact and walkable area, and the island offers ride share services like Uber and Lyft for transportation to and from the airport or other longer distances. Here are some suggestions on how to skip the rental car when visiting Nantucket.

If you want to explore more of the island, consider renting a car at least for a day. Areas of the island like Sconset and Madaket are further from the main hotels, and if you want to explore these areas, I’d recommend renting a car. 

Getting to Nantucket with kids

One of the first things to figure out when planning a trip to Nantucket with kids is how you’ll get to the island. The two main ways to get to Nantucket are by airplane or ferry. Which option you choose depends on where you are coming from and potentially how long you’re staying, as the ferry offers the option to bring your car.  

Ferry Options

The Steamship Authority is one of the most popular ferry options for visiting Nantucket. The ferry departs from Hyannis in Cape Cod, and there are two options, either a high speed ferry with a travel time of one hour, or the standard ferry which takes just over two hours. You can travel with or without your vehicle. If you’re planning to bring a vehicle, book reservations early in advance as this option can fill up quickly. Traveling with a vehicle is also quite pricey, so consider if you really need to bring your vehicle if your stay is shorter. 

Flights

If you’re planning to fly to Nantucket, there are options from large East Coast airports like New York, Boston, Newark and Dulles. If you’re traveling from somewhere else, expect to have a layover in one of those cities. Many major airlines, like Delta, American, United and JetBlue, service Nantucket, so choose the carrier that you’re most loyal to or prefer. Nantucket’s airport is very small and not busy, so it’s quick to get in and out of. The departure space is also small, so consider timing when to go through security. If there isn’t seating available, you won’t want to be standing around with kids for too long. Also, once you go through security, the only options for snacks or drinks are vending machines, so make sure your kids have full bellies beforehand. 

Nantucket with toddlers

Visiting Nantucket with toddlers can feel a bit different than visiting with older kids. However, the laid back vibe makes Nantucket a perfect trip for families with little kids. Here’s the three main reasons why:

• Stroller friendliness: With miles of walking and bike paths and a vibrant town area with sidewalks, Nantucket is very stroller-friendly. Here’s a list of some of my favorite travel strollers that would be perfect for a trip to Nantucket. 
• Nap logistics: If your budget can accommodate it, staying in Town allows you to easily head back to your room at nap time, take some downtime, and head back out after. Because of Nantucket’s laid back vibe, stroller naps are a great option as well and nap time could be the perfect time to take advantage of exploring the island on foot. 
• Playground options: Many of the beaches, like Children’s Beach and Jetties Beach, have playgrounds. Both are close to Town, so a convenient stop if kids need a break to get some energy out. 

If you’re traveling to Nantucket with a toddler specifically, this guide is for you.

Nantucket Family Itinerary

When we visited Nantucket, we stayed for four days, which I think was the perfect length of time. Of course, I’d theoretically always love to be on vacation and never want them to end. However, in 4 days, I felt like we could see all the main attractions, eat at some great restaurants (although there are still a few on my list that we didn’t get to!), and have time for relaxation and downtime. 

If you’re looking for a detailed Nantucket family itinerary, this is exactly what we did. I shortened it to three days if you’re just going for a long weekend, but I’d recommend sprinkling in more relaxation or beach time if you’re going for a longer stay. 

Best time to visit Nantucket with kids

When is the best time to visit Nantucket with kids? The answer to that question is that it depends on what you’re looking to experience. We visited in early June, and I honestly loved it. The pros were that hotels were more affordable, it wasn’t crazy busy yet, and the weather was cool and perfect for strolling. The biggest con was also that the weather was cool, which meant the outdoor pool wasn’t open at our hotel yet and it was a bit rainy. 

I’d love to go back mid-summer to really experience summer in Nantucket with hot beach days, but I think I’d also find the crowds more challenging and would need to be more intentional about making restaurant reservations. I wouldn’t recommend going in the winter as many of the businesses close for the season and you wouldn’t be getting the true Nantucket experience. 

FAQ: Visiting Nantucket with kids

• Is Nantucket expensive for families? I’m not going to sugarcoat this answer. Yes. Nantucket is pretty expensive, even if you try to do it on a budget (which can be done – see my recommendations here!). Expect that activities and meals will be on the pricier side, and plan accordingly. 
• Is Nantucket stroller-friendly? Yes! Nantucket is so stroller friendly! There are miles of walking paths throughout the island, sidewalks in Town, and the overall calm vibe of the island makes it perfect for pushing a stroller around. 
• Are there playgrounds in Nantucket? Yes! There are so many playgrounds on Nantucket. Our favorite one is at Children’s Beach, which is very close to Town so it is convenient to stop after a day of shopping or a meal, and the views are amazing!
• Do you need a car in Nantucket with kids? If you’re traveling to Nantucket with kids for a long weekend, you do not need to rent a car, especially if you’re staying in Town. If you’re staying for a longer trip, you may want to consider it, especially if you want to visit areas of the island that aren’t as walkable or that shuttles don’t accommodate. Here’s more information on transportation in Nantucket.

Looking back, visiting Nantucket with kids was the perfect summer trip. 

Yes, the days revolved around snack breaks, sandy clothes and evenings that ended earlier than they would have years ago. But it also meant experiencing the island through my son’s eyes, watching him awestruck by all the boats and ferries, running along the beaches and of course indulging in ice cream.

If Nantucket with kids is on your travel list the way it was with mine, I hope this guide shows you that Nantucket is not only doable, it can be incredibly special.

And if you have questions about planning your own Nantucket with kids adventure, from ferries to where to stay to building an itinerary that works beautifully with little ones, send me a message! I’m always happy to help.