Nantucket has only three lighthouses, but each one earns its place in the conversation about the best lighthouse experiences in New England. Between 700 and 800 shipwrecks have been recorded in the shoal-laced waters surrounding the island, and the lights built to guard against that toll range from the most accessible in Massachusetts to one of the most remote. A short walk from the ferry dock, a moped ride to a clifftop in Siasconset, and a Jeep expedition across seven miles of barrier beach: that’s the full range of what visiting all three looks like. Plan accordingly.
The Three Lighthouses of Nantucket
Brant Point is the first thing most visitors see when arriving on Nantucket by ferry and the last thing they see when leaving, and that layered familiarity has made it one of the most beloved lighthouse images in New England. It’s also one of the most historically significant: a lighthouse was established here in 1746, making it the second lighthouse station in colonial America after Boston Light. The current wooden tower, 26 feet tall and painted white, is the tenth structure to stand on this site — predecessors burned down, blew down in storms, or were condemned over nearly 160 years of bad luck before the present tower was built in 1901.
Today it’s an active Coast Guard lighthouse and not open for interior visits, but the surrounding area is completely accessible year-round. Walk south from downtown Nantucket along Easton Street to reach the point. The lighthouse sits just steps from the harbor’s edge, with the ferry channel directly in front of it. There’s a local tradition of tossing a penny overboard as the ferry rounds the point, said to ensure a safe return to the island.
Best for: First-time visitors, ferry arrivals and departures, photographers looking for an accessible and iconic shot.
Sankaty Head is the most visually striking lighthouse on Nantucket: a 70-foot brick-and-granite tower with a distinctive red stripe around its middle, standing on the bluffs above the village of Siasconset on the island’s eastern shore. Built in 1850, it was one of the earliest lighthouses in the country to receive a second-order Fresnel lens, which made it one of the most powerful lights on the Atlantic coast at the time. That original Fresnel lens is now on display at the Nantucket Whaling Museum in town.
Erosion on the Siasconset bluffs eventually threatened the lighthouse just as it did Gay Head on Martha’s Vineyard. In 2007, the ‘Sconset Trust oversaw the relocation of the 400-ton tower 400 feet inland, a preservation effort that required years of fundraising and planning. The lighthouse remains an active aid to navigation and sits on the grounds of the Sankaty Head Golf Club.
Sankaty Head is open to visit year-round. The grounds are accessible daily, and the ‘Sconset Trust opens the tower itself for climbing on a limited number of days per year, typically four times annually. It’s a 20-minute drive from town, or a flat 7-mile bike ride along the Siasconset bike path, making it a natural anchor for a half-day excursion to ‘Sconset.
Best for: Cyclists, photographers, travelers who want to explore Siasconset village.
Great Point stands at the northernmost tip of Nantucket, where the currents of Nantucket Sound and the Atlantic Ocean converge at the end of a seven-mile-long barrier beach spit. A lighthouse was first established here in 1784, and the original wooden tower burned down in 1816. The stone replacement was built in 1817 and stood for over 160 years before being destroyed by a severe storm in March 1984. The current 60-foot granite tower was rebuilt in 1986 with federal funding secured in part by Senator Edward Kennedy, and is an exact replica of the 1818 original, though its rebuilt status means it is no longer listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Reaching Great Point is an adventure in itself. The lighthouse sits within the Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge, managed by the Trustees of Reservations, and the only vehicle access is by four-wheel-drive along the beach — a journey of roughly seven miles from the Wauwinet gatehouse. Visitors need a beach permit (included with most Jeep rentals on island) and must deflate their tires to 12 to 15 PSI before entering the refuge. The drive takes about 40 minutes each way and passes through remote habitat home to grey seals, nesting shorebirds, ospreys, and in winter, snowy owls.
For those who don’t want to self-drive, the Trustees of Reservations offer narrated oversand vehicle tours led by naturalist guides that run from the Wauwinet area. This is the most hands-off and educational option. Walking is also possible from the gatehouse, but the round trip covers nearly 14 miles of soft sand, so plan accordingly.
Note: The piping plover nesting season (typically April through August) can close sections of the beach to vehicles. Call the Wauwinet gatehouse at (508) 228-6799 before visiting in summer to confirm access conditions.
Best for: Adventurous travelers, wildlife enthusiasts, anyone who wants the most remote and memorable lighthouse experience on the island.
Planning Your Nantucket Lighthouse Visit
Getting to Nantucket: The Steamship Authority runs year-round traditional ferry service from Hyannis (approximately 2 hours, 15 minutes) and a high-speed ferry from Hyannis (approximately 1 hour). Hy-Line Cruises also offers high-speed service from Hyannis seasonally. Leave your car in Hyannis and rely on bikes, mopeds, and the NRTA Wave shuttle bus on island — it’s far less expensive and better suited to Nantucket’s layout.
Getting around: Brant Point is walkable from the ferry. Sankaty Head is best reached by bike (7 miles on the flat Siasconset bike path), moped, or the NRTA Wave bus on the Sconset Via Polpis Road route. Great Point requires a 4WD vehicle or a Trustees tour.
Renting a Jeep: Young’s Bicycle Shop and Affordable Rentals are the two most established Jeep rental operators in town. Most Jeep rentals include the beach permit needed for the Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge. Reserve well in advance for summer visits.
Best time to visit: Late May through October for the best combination of access and weather. Brant Point is worth seeing year-round. Great Point vehicle access can be restricted during peak shorebird nesting season in summer, so call ahead.
Nantucket’s three lighthouses reward travelers who are willing to work for them. Brant Point delivers its magic effortlessly; Sankaty Head requires a ride across the island; Great Point demands a full-day commitment. Together they cover the full range of what New England lighthouse travel can look like. For the neighboring island’s lights, the Martha’s Vineyard lighthouse guide covers Gay Head, Edgartown, and the others. For more Massachusetts lighthouse exploration, see the full Massachusetts lighthouse guide and the Cape Cod lighthouse guide. For the broadest regional overview, start with the New England lighthouse guide. And for a complete directory of Nantucket’s lights, see the Nantucket lighthouses guide.
