Madaket Beach

Ames Avenue, Nantucket, MA 02554

The far west end of Nantucket — heavy surf, strong rip currents, and the island's best sunset. Reachable by a 5.5-mile bike path from town; expect few amenities and a small lot that empties fast after sundown.

Great day for a beach walk.

Cool but workable

Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon

Sunny, with a high near 65. South wind around 8 mph.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 58. Southwest wind around 9 mph.

Weather

  • 65°F air — cool but workable
  • Sunny skies — clear conditions

Water

  • 61°F water — chilly — expect a gasp entering
63 /100
good
52 Swim
69 Sunbathe
80 Walk
80 Photo

Best for walking today

Air Temp
65°F
Clear
Wind
8 mph
S
Rain
1%
This Afternoon
UV Peak
8 Very High
High 11 AM–02 PM · burn in ~25m
Burn-free before 08 AM & after 05 PM
Tomorrow
67°F
Sunny
Water Temp
61°F
Cold
Barometer
30.14 inHg
1021 hPa
Water Quality
Clean
10 MPN/100mL · Enterococcus
USGS · sampled 9mo ago

Rip Current Risk · Regional Reference

No zone-specific NWS forecast for this beach (ANZ232)

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 Jun 3, 8:08 PM

Sunrise
5:09 AM
Sunset
8:08 PM
Moon · 87%
Waning Gibbous
Neap tides — smaller range
7-day chart →
Time Type Height
2:37 AM High 3.4 ft
8:54 AM Low 0.1 ft
3:29 PM High 2.5 ft
8:43 PM Low 0.8 ft
Today Jun 3
65°

Sunny

1%
67
Thu Jun 4
67°

Sunny

1%
67
Fri Jun 5
70°

Mostly Sunny

0%
67
Sat Jun 6
71°

Mostly Sunny

2%
67
Sun Jun 7
66°

Rain Showers Likely

63%
43
Mon Jun 8
61°

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

37%
15
Tue Jun 9
62°

Slight Chance Rain Showers

20%
49
  • critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 8 — very high

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

Parking

Free small lot at the beach entrance; fills around sunset.

Dogs

April 1 – August 31, dogs only permitted in lifeguarded areas before 9 AM and after 5 PM; must be leashed and licensed.

Entry Fee

Free

Address

Ames Avenue, Nantucket, MA 02554

lifeguards
Is Madaket Beach dog-friendly?

April 1 – August 31, dogs only permitted in lifeguarded areas before 9 AM and after 5 PM; must be leashed and licensed.

Is there an entry fee at Madaket Beach?

Entry to Madaket Beach is free.

Are there lifeguards at Madaket Beach?

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

What amenities are at Madaket Beach?

Amenities at Madaket Beach include lifeguards.

When is the water warmest at Madaket Beach?

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 Madaket Beach located?

Madaket Beach is in Nantucket County, MA, at Ames Avenue, Nantucket, MA 02554.

Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS

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