Nantasket Beach

At a glance

About this spot

Exposed beach break south of Boston in Hull — cold water, needs a strong groundswell or storm.

Location

42.3017, -70.8750

Photos

Trip overview

Nantasket Beach is Boston's nearest real surf — a long, east-facing strand of sand running the length of the Hull peninsula, a thin spit of land jutting into Massachusetts Bay about 25 minutes south of the city. For most of the year it is flat or knee-high and useless to a traveling surfer; Hull sits inside a sheltered window, shadowed by Cape Cod to the south and the long reach of the Gulf of Maine to the north, so it only switches on when a North Atlantic storm or a tracking hurricane throws a NE-to-ENE groundswell straight down its throat. When that lines up with a west or northwest offshore wind, the south end of the beach can produce long, punchy, occasionally hollow walls that draw surfers from across eastern Massachusetts — and the rest of the time those same people are checking three other forecasts and going elsewhere.

This is a cold-water, storm-chasing spot, not a vacation wave. The sweet season is roughly September through April: hurricane swell in the fall (Erin in August 2025 lit the whole South Shore up and had instructors teaching safety in chest-high sets) and relentless nor'easters through the winter, when the water drops toward the high 30s Fahrenheit and a 5/4 or 6/5 hooded suit with boots and gloves is mandatory. March is statistically the most consistent month. Mid tide is the call, and the bottom is forgiving sand — though cobblestone pushes up at the south end, where the better banks tend to form.

What makes Nantasket worth a guide despite the inconsistency is everything wrapped around it: a genuine working surf shop and school on the beachfront, a half-mile boardwalk, a 1928 carousel that's the last ghost of the old Paragon Park amusement empire, family-run seafood shacks that have been frying clams since the 1940s, and a Boston-commuter ferry that means you can reach the sand from Logan without a car. Come on a forecast, not a whim — but if a storm swell is on the chart and you're anywhere near Boston, this is where you go.

Local vibe & lineup etiquette

Nantasket's south-end peak is the prime bank and it gets genuinely crowded on the rare good storm/hurricane days, when surfers drive in from across eastern Mass. The lineup is known for the usual New England cold-water-crew dynamic: a recognizable regular pack, real respect for priority and wave-counting, and limited patience for visitors who paddle straight to the inside and snake the main peak. Say hello, wait your turn, sit a little wide of the pack until you've read the rotation, and it's a fair, friendly lineup.

In the lineup: The better, more organized banks form toward the south end of the beach, which is also where cobblestone pushes up at the tideline — watch your footing on entry/exit and expect rounded rocks underfoot. Mid tide is the call. On a real swell there's rip and longshore current; if caught, let it carry you out, then paddle parallel to the beach to escape. The northern end has fewer stones and easier access but is usually softer and less defined.

Hull is a long, skinny, working-class beach town on a peninsula — faded-amusement-park nostalgia (the carousel, the boardwalk, the old Paragon Park footprint), clam shacks and dive bars, three-deckers and beach cottages packed tight, and a fiercely local year-round community that swells with day-trippers each summer. It's unpretentious, salt-stung and a little ragged around the edges in the best way: more South Shore townie than chic coastal retreat, and proud of it. In winter it empties out to the regulars and the surfers.

Getting there

Fly into Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) — about 23 miles from the break, ~35 min free-flow; 45–60 min in Logan/commuter traffic. Boston Logan is effectively the only sensible airport — it's the major New England hub with the broadest schedule. T.F. Green (PVD) in Providence, RI is ~75 min south and occasionally cheaper, and Manchester (MHT), NH is ~90 min north, but both add a long drive for no real upside.

• rental car$45–90/day~35–60 min self-drive

  Pick up at Logan and take the I-93 S / MA-3 S corridor to Route 228 (Exit 35, Hingham/Hull) into Hingham and Hull, ~22–23 road miles. A car is by far the most practical way to chase a swell window and check the south end vs the rest of the beach. Roof rails or soft racks if you want to move boards around.

• ferry$9.75 one-way per person~35 min boat to Hull (Pemberton Point), then a 20-min local bus or short taxi to the beach

  The MBTA Hingham/Hull commuter ferry stops at Logan Airport and runs to Pemberton Point at the tip of Hull. From Pemberton it's the 714 bus (~20 min) or a short rideshare down the peninsula to Nantasket. Cheap and scenic, but board bags are awkward on a commuter boat and weekend/off-peak frequency is thin — confirm the current schedule at mbta.com.

• rideshare$45–75 per car~35–60 min

  Uber and Lyft both serve Logan and run to Hull, but it's a long fare and you'll be carless once there — surfable for a single dawn strike, painful for a multi-day swell. Surcharges spike during storms and holidays. Confirm the driver's car fits your board bag.

• taxi$70–110 per car~35–60 min

  Logan taxis will run to the South Shore on a metered or flat tourist rate — more expensive than rideshare and rarely worth it unless app coverage is spotty. A wagon or SUV is needed for anything over 6'6".

Getting around

A rental car (US$45–90/day from Logan) is the realistic choice — it lets you check the better south-end banks, bail to Scituate or the North Shore if Nantasket's not working, and carry a winter quiver. Carless travelers can use the MBTA ferry plus the 714 bus down the peninsula and rideshare for evenings, but Uber/Lyft coverage thins out on the lower Hull spit. The main DCR beach lots along Hull Shore Drive charge a flat daily fee in season (roughly late May through early September) — about $15/day for Massachusetts residents and $40/day for out-of-staters, card-only via the YODEL app or kiosk (no cash) — while street and lot parking is free and easy in the cold-water off-season when you'll actually be surfing.

Boards: Most rentals are sedans or small SUVs — request roof rails or bring soft racks and straps for moving boards along the peninsula. Rideshares and taxis vary wildly on whether they'll take a board bag; a fish or shortboard with fins off usually fits a sedan, but call ahead for a longboard or a quiver. On the ferry, a single board bag is doable off-peak but unwelcome on a packed commuter run.

Where to stay

• Nantasket Beach Resorthotel$$ high-end

  Across Hull Shore Drive from the sand — walking distance · The only full-service oceanfront hotel on the beach (45 Hull Shore Dr): ~105 rooms, most with balconies and ocean views, fireplaces, an indoor pool with a retractable roof, and the on-site Boathouse Bistro. The obvious surf base if you want to roll out of bed and check the bank — priciest option in town, and reviews flag inconsistent housekeeping, but the location is unbeatable. (Direct (nantasketbeachresort.com), Booking.com, Expedia)

• Ocean Inn on Nantasket Beachhotel$ mid-range

  On Nantasket Ave near the beach — short walk · A mid-range motel-style inn (formerly the Nantasket Beach Hotel) a block or two from the sand. Simpler and cheaper than the resort, fine for a no-frills swell strike when you just need a warm bed and a hot shower after a winter session. (Direct (nantaskethotel.com), Booking.com, Tripadvisor)

• Beachfront Nantasket vacation rentals (Airbnb/Vrbo)vacation rental$ mid-range

  Varies — beachfront cottages on Hull Shore Drive to walk; village rentals a drive · Hull's deepest lodging pool is short-term rentals: renovated beach cottages, condos and apartments, many steps from the surf, several reviewed 4.9+. The practical pick for a group or a multi-day storm chase splitting costs, with a kitchen so you're not at the mercy of off-season hours. Book early for hurricane-season weekends. (Airbnb, Vrbo)

• Anchors Away Innvacation rental$ mid-range

  About a one-minute walk across the street to the beach · A small, well-reviewed private apartment-style stay (2BR/1BA) a minute's walk across the road from the sand, with a kitchen, fire pit and outdoor shower — a homier, self-catering alternative to the resort for a couple or small crew on a swell strike. Books on Expedia/Airbnb. (Airbnb, Expedia)

• Hingham / Weymouth chain hotelshotel$ mid-range

  ~20–30 min drive inland · Hull itself has only a couple of true hotels, so for guaranteed availability and consistent quality many travelers base in neighboring Hingham, Weymouth or Quincy (chains near Route 3 / Derby Street) and drive in for dawn patrol. Less charm, but reliable in winter when Hull's seasonal places shut down. (Booking.com, hotel direct sites)

Eat & drink

• Jake's Seafood Restaurant & Fish Marketrestaurant$ mid-range

  Fried clams, lobster roll, chowder — Family-owned since 1949 and the South Shore institution on Nantasket — waterfront tables, an attached fish market, and clams that have been voted among New England's best. The post-session sit-down dinner when you want real Massachusetts seafood and a view of the bay.

• Daddy's Beach Clubbar$ mid-range

  Burgers, pizza, wings, cold draft — The beachfront local hangout and bar-grill steps from the sand — rock-and-roll dive energy, surf chatter, and exactly the kind of cheap warm food and a beer you want after a freezing winter session. Lively in season, an institution year-round.

• Nantasket Seafoodrestaurant$ budget

  Fried clams and scallop rolls — Quick, no-frills fried-seafood counter a block from the beach parking — the cheap, fast option when you want a clam roll without the sit-down wait. Classic salty-air beach-shack comfort.

• Boathouse Bistro (Nantasket Beach Resort)restaurant$$ high-end

  Coastal New England plates and cocktails — The resort's full-service restaurant and lounge with ocean light and a casual-upscale menu — the most reliable winter dinner option on the beach when the seasonal shacks have closed, and the easiest walk-back if you're staying on Hull Shore Drive.

• Stir Coffee Co.cafe$ budget

  Coffee and a quick bite — Coffee shop in the Nantasket Beach Resort lobby — the convenient pre-dawn caffeine stop before you suit up, and one of the few things open early in the cold months.

• The Village Market delicafe$ budget

  Deli sandwiches — The full-service grocery in Hull Village runs a deli counter (sandwiches, prepared food) and is open 7am–9pm daily year-round — the dependable cheap-fuel and grab-and-go option in the off-season when most beach spots are shuttered.

Cooking for yourself

• The Village Marketsupermarket

  Hull's main full-service grocery at 505 Nantasket Ave (the former Riddles location): fresh produce, full deli, meat, baked goods and beer/wine/liquor, open 7am–9pm daily. The reliable year-round stop for self-catering a rental — Hull has no large chain supermarket on the peninsula, so this is it.

• Stop & Shop (Hingham / Weymouth)supermarket

  For a big-box stock-up — wider selection, lower prices, full pharmacy — the nearest large supermarkets are the Stop & Shop stores ~15–25 min inland in Hingham and Weymouth. Worth a stop on the drive in from Logan if you're cooking for a group all week.

Surf shops & rentals

• Northeast Surfingboard rentalwetsuitslessonswaxapparelBoards ~$20 (1–2 hr) to ~$35 end-of-day; wetsuit ~$10/2hr or ~$65/5-day

  The real deal: a proper surf shop, rental fleet and NSSIA-certified school right on the beachfront at 99 Hull Shore Drive. Boards, daily-cleaned wetsuit rentals, wax, sundries, plus private/group lessons and an adult surf academy. Seasonal hours (busiest summer, roughly 8am–5pm daily in season; call 781-925-9283 before an off-season visit). Note retail surf hardware (fins, leashes, ding kits) is thin everywhere on the South Shore, so cold-season strike surfers should arrive fully self-sufficient with a winter quiver, spare leash and gloves.

• Echui Surf School (East Coast Hui)lessonsboard rentalLesson/rental packages — confirm current rates

  Surf school and rental operation running lessons and board/SUP rentals at Nantasket (and at Peggotty Beach in Scituate), with a Hull surf camp for kids 7–17. A good lesson option for summer beginners; book ahead via eastcoasthui.com as it's seasonal and camp-focused.

When you're not surfing

• Paragon Carouselculture~$3/ride, ~$25 for 10 rides

  The lovingly restored 1928 Philadelphia Toboggan Company carousel — 66 hand-carved horses and two chariots, the last surviving piece of the old Paragon Park amusement empire that ran here 1905–1984. A charming, very Hull flat-day stop right by the beach.

• Nantasket boardwalk & beach walknaturefree

  The half-mile boardwalk and three-mile sweep of sand is the obvious between-sessions wander — long flat-tide walks, coastal views, and people-watching in summer. Off-season it's empty, windswept and ideal for checking the bank up and down the beach.

• MBTA ferry to Bostonday trip$9.75 one-way

  The Hingham/Hull commuter ferry from Pemberton Point puts downtown Boston ~35 minutes away by boat — an easy car-free flat-day trip into the city for the Aquarium, North End food or a Sox game, then back to the beach.

• Hull lighthouses & Boston Harbor Islandsnaturefree (lighthouses); island ferries $20–40

  Hull is ringed by historic lighthouses (Boston Light on Little Brewster is the oldest in the US), and the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area is reachable by seasonal ferry from the area — kayaking, hiking and Civil War fort ruins on a flat day.

• Mini-golf, arcades & sunset cruisesadventure$10–40

  The Nantasket strip keeps a bit of its old amusement DNA — mini-golf, arcades, and boat charters / sunset and fishing cruises run out of the Hull/Hingham marinas in season. Family-friendly filler when the surf's flat.

• World's End / Wompatuck day tripsnaturefree–$10 parking

  Two excellent nearby outdoor reserves: World's End in Hingham (Olmsted-designed drumlin peninsula with harbor-view carriage paths) and Wompatuck State Park's miles of mountain-bike and hiking trails — both ~15–25 min inland for a flat-day reset.

Practical notes

Know before you go — United States

Other passports: entry rules differ — check the official source before booking.

Frequently asked questions

Guide researched and verified 2026-06-17. Details change — confirm bookings and entry requirements before travel.

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