What are the best beaches on Martha's Vineyard? The beaches of Martha's Vineyard are among the most varied, beautiful, and beloved on the entire East Coast. The Island's coastline stretches across two distinct shores: the north-facing beaches along Vineyard Sound, where the water is warmer, calmer, and gentler, and the south-facing Atlantic beaches, where the surf rolls in long, powerful swells and the coastline can feel genuinely wild.
Between those two shores there is a beach on Martha's Vineyard for every visitor — the family with young children looking for calm, shallow water; the surfer chasing a swell; the walkers wanting nothing but soft sand and a long horizon; the angler at first light. This guide covers the Island's named public beaches and many of the resident-access beaches, with full notes on what makes each one special, who can access it, and what to know before you go.
For a full interactive map of Martha's Vineyard beaches, visit mvy.com/explore/beaches.
Aquinnah Beaches
Aquinnah occupies the far western tip of Martha's Vineyard, and its beaches sit at the foot of one of the Island's most extraordinary natural landmarks, the Gay Head Cliffs. The light here in the late afternoon is unlike anywhere else on the Island, and the sense of remoteness and ancient beauty is palpable.
Aquinnah Public Beach (Moshup Beach)
Best for: Dramatic beach setting; scenic approach walk; visitors wanting to experience the Gay Head Cliffs up close
Access: Open to all year-round
Parking: Daily parking fee in summer; contact Aquinnah Town Hall at 508-645-2300 for current rates
Facilities: Full restrooms at parking lot; portable restrooms at beach entrance
Location: Along Moshup Trail, Aquinnah
Moshup Beach, named for the legendary Wampanoag giant Moshup, whose stories are woven through the landscape of Aquinnah, is the public beach at the foot of the Gay Head Cliffs, and it is spectacular. Visitors approach via a scenic ten-minute walk along a cleared path from the parking lot on Moshup Trail, with a convenient drop-off point for beach gear at the start of the trail. The walk itself is part of the experience: the cliffs reveal themselves gradually, their layered bands of red, white, and ochre growing larger and more dramatic with each step.
Once you arrive, the beach delivers dramatic seascapes, the open Atlantic to the south, the towering clay cliffs to one side, and the kind of raw, elemental beauty that makes you understand immediately why this place has drawn people for thousands of years.
Lobsterville Beach
Best for: Surf fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding, Sound-side swimming
Access: Open to all year-round; limited parking
Parking: No parking permitted on Lobsterville Road; arrive early or plan accordingly
Location: Lobsterville Road, Aquinnah
Lobsterville Beach stretches two glorious miles along Vineyard Sound, facing north toward the Elizabeth Islands with calm, clear water and long views across the channel. The beach is backed by rolling dunes along Lobsterville Road. The calm Sound-facing water makes Lobsterville a favorite for kayakers and paddleboarders, and it is a well-known surf fishing spot striped bass run the rip at the western end regularly throughout the season.
The important note: parking is prohibited on Lobsterville Road and available spaces are extremely limited. Getting here requires planning, arrive early, use a bicycle, or arrange a drop-off.
Philbin Beach
Access: Aquinnah residents and lease-holders only; beach sticker required
Location: Below Moshup Beach, Aquinnah
Situated just below Moshup Beach along the Aquinnah shoreline, its position relative to the cliffs makes it a dramatic stretch of beach.
Chilmark Beaches
Chilmark's beaches are the stuff of Island legend, wild south shore surf beaches framed by dramatic clay cliffs, and the calm harbor sands of Menemsha, where the fishing boats come in and the sunsets are something else entirely.
Lucy Vincent Beach
Best for: Natural beauty; dramatic landscape; surfers; photographers
Access: Chilmark residents and renters only ; open to all during off season.
Parking: large free parking area
Location: South shore, Chilmark
Lucy Vincent Beach faces the open Atlantic, and the beach is dramatic in every sense: pale sand studded with smooth, polished stones; rust-red clay cliffs rising behind the dunes; rock formations worn into extraordinary shapes by centuries of tidal action. The surf here can be powerful, and the scenery is unforgettable at any hour, but particularly in the early morning, when the cliffs catch the low light and glow amber against the blue-grey Atlantic.
Menemsha Public Beach
Best for: Best sunset on Martha's Vineyard; pairing a beach swim with fresh lobster and seafood; fishing from the jetty; accessibility
Access: Open to all year-round
Facilities: Public bathrooms
Parking: Available near Menemsha Harbor; limited in peak season — arrive early or consider taking the Vineyard Transit Authority’s (VTA) Menemsha Sunset Bus (Route #12) in the summer season.
Location: Next to Menemsha Harbor, Chilmark
Menemsha Beach is one of the most famous beaches on the Island for one reason above all others: the sunset. Tucked beside the working fishing harbor of Menemsha on the Island's western shore, this compact beach faces true west over Vineyard Sound, and on clear evenings the sky puts on an extraordinary show. Think deep pinks, burning oranges, long washes of gold so vibrant that boaters honk their horns and beachgoers burst into spontaneous applause when the sun slips below the horizon.
But Menemsha is wonderful at any time of day. The water is bright and clear, the beach is gentle and welcoming. Menemsha does have lifeguards during the summer months. The iconic shacks and fish markets just steps away make it easy to turn an afternoon into a full, deeply satisfying experience.
Squibnocket Beach, or “Squibby”
Best for: Surfboarding, swimming and bodysurfing
Access: Chilmark residents and renters only : Open to all in the off season
Parking: Parking at the site
Location: South shore, Chilmark
Squibnocket Beach is Chilmark's dedicate south shore surf beach, sitting near the edge of the remarkable Squibnocket Pond. The Atlantic here rolls in with full force, making Squibnocket a genuine surf beach, popular with bodysurfers and those who want their beach day to have some energy and movement to it.
Oak Bluffs Beaches
Oak Bluffs beaches are easily accessible, close to the ferries, close to the restaurants and ice cream and all the joyful activity of this classic New England beach town. The water along this stretch of Nantucket Sound is calm, warm, and ideal for swimmers of all ages.
Eastville Beach
Best for: Easy access from Vineyard Haven or Oak Bluffs; calm, wading, swimming and fishing
Access: Open to all year-round
Parking: Parking at site
Location: At the drawbridge between Oak Bluffs and Vineyard Haven
Eastville Beach sits at the causeway bridge connecting Oak Bluffs and Vineyard Haven, where the tidal channel between Vineyard Haven Harbor and the open Sound creates a gentle, brackish beach popular year-round. It is a small, unpretentious spot, the kind of beach you stumble onto and decide to stay at for the afternoon. Easy to reach, open to all, and calm enough for young swimmers and waders.
Oak Bluffs Town Beach
Best for: Families with young children; wheelchair accessibility; calm, warm, swimming close to town
Access: Open to all year-round
Accessibility: Handicap-accessible ramp located at the first jetty heading toward Edgartown
Location: Beginning near the Steamship Authority dock, Oak Bluffs
Oak Bluffs Town Beach is the quintessential family beach of the Island's down-Island shore — calm, shallow, warm, and lined with the gentle activity of a summer beach day. The beach begins just steps from the Steamship Authority ferry dock in Oak Bluffs and runs southeast to Inkwell Beach toward Edgartown. A handicap-accessible beach ramp is located at the first jetty heading toward Edgartown. The calm Nantucket Sound water is ideal for children, beginning swimmers, and anyone who prefers their beach experience unhurried and gentle.
Inkwell Beach
Best for: easy walking access, calm gentle waters which are handicap accessible.
Access: Open to all year-round
Parking: free public parking along the seawall
Location: Oak Bluffs State Road
Inkwell Beach, located steps from the ferry and center of Oak Bluffs. It features gentle, calm waters with a spectacular eastern view. It hosts the iconic “Polar Bears” early morning swim group. Inkwell Beach is ideal for swimmers of all skill levels.
Joseph Sylvia State Beach
Best for: People not using a car (VTA and bike accessible); long walks; calm Sound-side swimming; the classic Martha's Vineyard beach-road experience
Access: Open to all year-round; accessible by bicycle path
Parking: Roadside parking along Beach Road; fills quickly in summer
Location: Beach Road between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown
Joseph Sylvia State Beach, or simply "State Beach" to locals, is a beloved and accessible beach. Two miles of clear, mild beach stretch along Beach Road between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown, with calm Nantucket Sound water on one side and the shimmering surface of Sengekontacket Pond on the other. A dedicated bicycle path runs the full length of Beach Road.
The section of the same beach that falls within Edgartown's town boundary is known as Bend-in-the-Road Beach. Both sections are open to all. Bend-in-the-Road has lifeguards during the summer season.
Vineyard Haven Beaches
Vineyard Haven, officially the town of Tisbury, has several welcoming, accessible beaches clustered around its harbor and the beautiful tidal lake of Lake Tashmoo. These are year-round community beaches, and easy to reach from the ferry terminal.
Lake Tashmoo Town Beach
Best for: Calm, unique dual-water experience (pond and Sound); families; easy walk from Vineyard Haven center
Access: Open to all year-round
Location: Herring Creek on Lake Tashmoo, Vineyard Haven
Lake Tashmoo Town Beach sits at the outlet of Lake Tashmoo, a large, sheltered tidal lake on the northwest edge of Vineyard Haven where a narrow channel opens to Vineyard Sound. The result is a beach with a unique dual character: calm, warmer pond water on one side and the cool, open Sound on the other. You can swim in the creek channel and picnic on the grassy banks above the sand. It is a quiet, genuinely lovely spot, and easy to reach from the center of Vineyard Haven.
Owen Park Beach
Best for: Ferry arrivals wanting a quick first swim; families; harbor views; special events; walkable from the center of Vineyard Haven
Access: Open to all year-round
Parking: Small amount of parking at the site
Location: Off Main Street, near the center of Vineyard Haven
Owen Park Beach is tucked into a small harbor cove just off Main Street in the heart of Vineyard Haven, it is a short walk from the ferry terminal and a perfect first-day-on-the-Island stop. The beach is small and calm, the harbor view is beautiful, and the park behind the beach provides shade and space for families. A classic, accessible, down-Island beach.
Tisbury Town Beach
Best for: A quieter alternative to busier down-Island beaches; calm harbor swimming
Access: Open to all year-round
Location: Owen Little Way, next to the Vineyard Haven Yacht Club
Tisbury Town Beach sits on a quiet lane beside the Vineyard Haven Yacht Club, offering calm harbor water and a relaxed, local atmosphere. It is less visited than Oak Bluffs Town Beach and State Beach, which makes it a wonderful option when the more popular beaches are at their busiest. Small, peaceful, and entirely welcoming.
West Tisbury Beaches
West Tisbury is the Island's agricultural heartland, a town of stone walls, open meadows, and working farms, but it also holds some of the finest north shore beaches on the Island. Lambert's Cove Beach in particular is considered by many to be the most beautiful beach on Martha's Vineyard's Sound side.
Lambert's Cove Beach
Best for: Finest sand and clearest water on the north shore; dog-friendly (in permitted seasons/hours); West Tisbury renters; a quieter, more local beach experience
Access: West Tisbury residents and renters only; beach sticker/pass required ; open to all in the off season.
Location: North shore, West Tisbury
Lambert's Cove Beach is consistently described by those who know Martha's Vineyard well as one of the Island's finest: the sand here is among the palest and finest on the north shore, the water is clear and warm, and the dunes behind the beach are lush and undeveloped. Facing Vineyard Sound, the beach is sheltered from the open Atlantic, making it particularly well-suited for families and those seeking calmer water. It is also welcoming for dogs and their owners during permitted hours.
During the summer access is limited to West Tisbury residents and renters. If you are staying in West Tisbury, Lambert's Cove is the beach your hosts will tell you about on your first morning. Check out the nearby James Pond Preserve for public access to this shoreline.
Long Point Wildlife Refuge
Best for: Freshwater pond swimming combined with ocean access; nature lovers
Access: Open to all; reservations required and admission fee applies through the Trustees of Reservations
Parking: Summer access via Waldron's Bottom Road
Location: South shore, West Tisbury
Long Point Wildlife Refuge is a rewarding natural destinations, a protected landscape of heath and wetlands managed by The Trustees of Reservations, with both freshwater and ocean swimming available. Visitors can swim in the calm, warm waters of Long Point Pond or walk through to the south shore beach on the Atlantic. The landscape here is stunning in all directions. An admission fee applies, and reservations are required in season.
Edgartown Beaches
Edgartown's beaches range from the spectacular and remote, like East Beach on Chappaquiddick (or “Chappy”), to the dramatic waves of South Beach in Katama, to the graceful and close-in harbor beaches within walking distance of the town center. The lighthouse beach walk is one of the most beautiful strolls on the Island and the diversity of offerings in town means there’s something for everyone.
East Beach (Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge and Wasque Reservation)
Best for: Remote and unspoiled beach ; surf fishing; shorebird watching; adventurous visitors will take the “On Time” ferry to Chappaquidick
Access: Open to all; subject to Trustees of Reservations regulations
Location: Chappaquiddick Island off of Edgartown
Managed by: The Trustees of Reservations
East Beach on Chappaquiddick stretches along the Atlantic side of Chappaquiddick Island within the Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge and Wasque Reservation, this is a beach of wild, unspoiled beauty, with miles of open ocean shoreline and no development in any direction. The surf can be powerful, the shore birds are extraordinary (Cape Poge is a significant habitat for piping plovers and other nesting species), and the sense of remoteness is remarkable given how close it is to Edgartown.
Getting here requires taking the “On Time” ferry, the tiny, three-car cable ferry from Memorial Wharf in Edgartown to Chappaquiddick, followed by a drive or bike ride to the refuge. The Trustees of Reservations manages the land and seasonal regulations apply.
Fuller Street Beach
Best for: A quiet harbor swim near the Edgartown Lighthouse
Access: Open to all
Location: End of Fuller Street, near Lighthouse Beach, Edgartown
Fuller Street Beach is a small, quiet harbor beach at the foot of Fuller Street near the Edgartown Lighthouse, open to all. It is a gentle, unhurried spot that is good for a morning swim, a sunset walk, or a first look at the harbor. Located in one of Edgartown’s residential neighborhoods, the surrounding streets of historic homes and gardens make the walk to the beach a pleasure in itself.
Katama Beach (South Beach)
Best for: Big waves; long open Atlantic swims; oversand beach driving with permit, fishing
Access: Open to all; off-road vehicles with permits allowed on marked trails, accessible by VTA
Parking: Large lot at the end of Katama Road; fills quickly in peak season — arrive early
Location: End of Katama Road, Edgartown
Katama Beach, universally called South Beach by Islanders, is the great open Atlantic beach of Martha's Vineyard, and it is magnificent. Three miles of barrier beach stretch along the south shore at the end of Katama Road, with the full force of the Atlantic Ocean rolling in on the ocean side and the calm, shallow waters of Katama Bay protecting the inland edge. This double-sided landscape makes South Beach one of the most versatile beaches on the Island: swimmers, surfers, and bodysurfers find what they are looking for on the ocean side, while families with young children and those who want flat, warm, protected water settle on the bay side.
The beach is open to all, and a large parking lot at the end of Katama Road provides access. Oversand vehicle driving with appropriate permits is allowed on marked trails at adjacent Norton Point Beach, a beloved tradition for anglers and longtime Island visitors. In peak summer season, the lot fills early; arriving by mid-morning or planning around the afternoon is advised.
Lighthouse Beach
Best for: A scenic walk to a beach; harbor swimming; the classic Edgartown lighthouse view; year-round accessibility; weddings and family photos
Access: Open to all year-round
Location: Starbuck's Neck, off North Water Street, Edgartown
Lighthouse Beach is the sandy harbor beach that leads to the Edgartown Lighthouse. From the end of North Water Street, a narrow strip of sand arcs out along the harbor's edge past wild roses, dune grass, and the lapping of the sheltered harbor water, arriving at the red-capped white lighthouse that stands sentinel at the entrance to Edgartown Harbor. The beach itself is calm and harbor-protected, ideal for a peaceful swim or a long walk.
Whether you are looking for dramatic surf for an adventure or calm waters for the family or a walk along the shore, the Vineyard has a beach for you. These natural treasures are why the Vineyard continues to be a favorite seaside destination.