Nantucket Transportation & Accessibility

As far as reaching Nantucket is concerned, this can be achieved either by boat or by plane. Despite being an island, the ferry trips are not always as frequent as you might imagine, and are usually very crowded. Once you have planned to reach the island, you may consider the job done, but you will need to plan your journey away from Nantucket just as carefully, since it will certainly do you no good to simply turn up at the docks and expect to be able to get on the ferry. Booking ferry tickets in advance is essential.

Although it is possible to take your car on a ferry and use it on the island, this is both discouraged, and largely unnecessary. It is strongly discouraged by the tourist board because the island can become extremely crowded during summer months, and cars cause damage to old cobbled roads, and pollution in built up areas. Cars can also cause problems where natural reserves are concerned too, and easily damage delicate ground and beaches. Since the island is only three miles wide, it can be crossed in under an hour, and there are so many beautiful tracks and paths that to try to travel by car would simply prevent you from appreciating as much that this beautiful island has to offer. Walking or hiring a bicycle is by far the better choice, and this is certainly much kinder to the island itself too.

Photo by Terry Pommett

Although the island does have an airport, it is hardly a large affair, and is little more than a field at best. Small planes arrive and take off at fairly frequent times, and at only half an hour’s flight from Boston is easily accessible this way. Despite the very large number of flights each day during peak summer season, you will still need to book well in advance. The airport is well situated close to the town, and plenty of taxis will be waiting to collect you. The average price for a taxi journey from the airport to Nantucket Town is about twelve dollars – although don’t forget to add a tip. Taxis are very reasonably priced in Nantucket, and you may decide to take advantage of these to speed up your exploration of the island. Each additional passenger in the taxi will cost $2. The very largest taxi fare you might be expected to pay is to go from one end of the island to the very extreme other end, which will probably cost you no more than $44.

Photo by Terry Pommett

However, it has been said before, but it is important to emphasis just how appropriate it is to consider hiring and using bicycles on the island. Much care has been taken to provide a wealth of suitable tracks for you to enjoy, and there are plenty of bikes to hire, along with all necessary equipment. Remember to wear suitable bike clothing, and that helmets are required to be worn by law. Certainly by hiring a bicycle rather than using a car or taxi you will be helping to keep the island unspoilt, as well as giving yourself far more of an opportunity to enjoy the sights and sounds of this incredible island, many of which would be entirely missed if you stuck purely to drivable roads.