I love researching hotels, so looking up the best Nantucket hotels for families, and which one we wanted to stay at, ended up being one of my favorite parts of planning our trip.
Nantucket is a destination that on the surface might not seem kid-friendly (but that’s where I come in!).
While some hotels are more boutique or have amenities tailored towards adults, others are incredibly kid-friendly with some pretty posh perks for little ones.
Now that I’ve been to Nantucket, I have an even clearer picture of what to prioritize when choosing where to stay with kids, and have tips for how to pick a Nantucket hotel when you’re visiting for a family vacation.
If you’re in the thick of Nantucket trip planning and don’t enjoy hotel research as much as I do, consider this your resource for picking the perfect hotel for your family.
This guide covers my top Nantucket hotels for families, why these hotel recommendations are perfect for visiting with kids, and where I stayed (and would absolutely stay again!).
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The Best Nantucket Hotels for Families
How to Choose the Best Nantucket Hotel for Families
Before I get into my actual hotel recommendations, I wanted to share a few things to consider in terms of what is most important to your family when booking a hotel in Nantucket with kids.
The first, and maybe most important, is cost.
Nantucket is a very expensive destination. We love luxury hotels, but some of the options in Nantucket were out of our price range.
Before you book, decide if you want to stay in a hotel (even if it’s pricey), or if you’d rather book a vacation rental home, which can be more affordable and convenient with kids.
Walkability is another thing you’ll want to consider.
Town is the main area in Nantucket, and many of the higher priced hotels in Nantucket, MA are located here making them very walkable to shopping, dining (check out our favorite restaurants!) and activities.
We stayed at The Nantucket Inn, which is a 5-10 minute drive from Town, so walkability isn’t good.
Since we were budget-conscious, we traded the convenience of walkability for a nice hotel at a good price. They offered an hourly shuttle to Town, so we never felt inconvenienced!
Space is another thing to consider when traveling to Nantucket with kids.
At some of the boutique hotels, rooms can be small and wouldn’t be a great choice for bigger families. If you plan to do a lot of exploring and won’t be in your hotel very much, this could be okay.
When we’re on vacation, we like to start our days slow, so want extra space to hang out and play. This was another reason we liked The Nantucket Inn, which had spacious rooms and lots of courtyard space to play outside.
The Best Hotels in Nantucket for Families
The Nantucket Inn
The Nantucket Inn is located just a few minutes from downtown Nantucket (Town), and is a great choice for families who want a comfortable stay and has nice amenities without the ultra-high Nantucket price tag.
The lobby has a breakfast/lunch restaurant, which serves pastries, fresh fruit, sandwiches and coffee.
We grabbed lattes and breakfast there every day! If my son was hungry later, The Nantucket Inn also has a small gift shop with treats and snacks.
There’s a bar which opens in the afternoon and evenings. It was a great place for my husband and I to grab a glass of wine and had plenty of comfortable seating where my son could play and draw.
The Nantucket Inn is the only hotel with an indoor pool in Nantucket, which actually may come in handy more than you’d think!
We visited in mid-June and it was cool and rainy for almost our entire trip. As a result, the outdoor pool wasn’t open and we swam in the indoor pool every day.
The rooms are clean, airy and modern. If you’re traveling with little kids, I’d recommend asking for a first floor room.
There are no elevators to the second floor and hauling gear up and down the stairs is never enjoyable!
We booked the standard queen room, and it was definitely enough space for the three of us. We didn’t use a crib, but there would have been room to use one.
The Nantucket Inn also offers a larger room, but the standard room offers plenty of space and I wanted two queen beds (the larger room is either 1 king or 2 doubles).
Our room had an extra sink outside of the main bathroom (handy when everyone is getting ready), a mini fridge and plenty of storage (full closet, large dresser, lots of bathroom counter space).
Even though The Nantucket Inn isn’t located right in Town, they offer a complimentary hourly shuttle which we used frequently.
And another thing we loved was how expansive the property was, so there were tons of beautifully landscaped courtyards for my son to run around and play.
Book your stay at The Nantucket Inn, or read more about our stay.
The White Elephant
This is where I wish we stay one day! The White Elephant is one of the best Nantucket hotels for families and has a ton of amenities for both kids and parents.
Not only do they offer basic kid-friendly amenities like a pool and close beach proximity, they also have luxury-level amenities like a poolside ice cream cart, kids’ check in gifts, scavenger hunts and more.
If you’re looking for Nantucket luxury hotels, The White Elephant is the one. The property offers a ton of different room options, with everything from standard hotel rooms to garden cottages surrounded by Nantucket’s famous hydrangeas.
It’s a very dreamy and relaxing hotel, but the price tag reflects it, especially during peak summer months.
If it’s within your budget, I’d highly recommend staying here (and then please tell me all about how much you loved it and let me live vicariously through you!).
Book your stay at The White Elephant.
The Brant
The Brant is another high-end Nantucket luxury hotel (another on my ever-growing hotel bucket list!).
It’s located just north of Town and steps away from Children’s Beach. We loved the playground there!
They offer quintessential Nantucket amenities, like complimentary bike rentals, an outdoor pool, access to beach essentials like chairs and umbrellas, and complimentary continental breakfast.
Rooms range from standard hotel rooms to one- and two-bedroom suites with kitchenettes and dining space.
This is another hotel I’d highly recommend if your budget can accommodate it and you too like to stay in luxurious family-friendly hotels!
Book your stay at The Brant.
Harborview Nantucket
The Harborview Nantucket is a great option for families who want extra space beyond just a hotel room.
The property is made up exclusively of cottages, which include conveniences like a full kitchen and washer/dryer.
The Harborview Nantucket is located in Town. It’s just steps away from the Maria Mitchell Association Aquarium, (one of our favorite kid-friendly activities!), plenty of dining options and the Stop & Shop grocery store in Town.
Like the name suggests, since it’s on the water, it has a small section of beach and waterfront access. So convenient when you want a simple and easy beach day!
The property is made up of only 12 cottages, so you’ll need to book early if it’s where you want to stay. And be aware, it does not have resort-style amenities like an on-site pool or restaurant.
Book your stay at Harborview Nantucket
What Nantucket Hotel Would I Personally Choose
I don’t regret anything about our trip to Nantucket and loved our stay at the Nantucket Inn!
But looking back, there are a couple things I’d love to do differently on my next visit and more Nantucket hotels that I’d love to experience.
First, if budget wasn’t an option, I’d definitely stay in Town for the convenience and walkability.
Town is where almost everything is located in terms of shopping, dining and activities. When I was researching Nantucket hotels for families, being able to walk right out my door was one of the top considerations I weighed.
Second, this didn’t impact my trip, but this feels like an appropriate spot to caution you to book early, especially if there’s a property you really want to stay at.
Nantucket fills up fast, especially during the peak season, so book early if you have a specific property and dates.
With so many kid-friendly hotel properties in Nantucket, the hardest part about booking your trip will be having to choose only one option!
