Nantucket, MA, known for its charming cobblestone streets, historic lighthouses, and stunning beaches, is a paradise for humans and our pups. Whether you and your dog love strolls, splashing in the surf or dining out together, this island offers many dog-friendly activities and spots. I was thrilled to take my pup, Puka, for an adventure in Nantucket during my travel speech pathology assignment in New England. This post brings you the ultimate dog-friendly Nantucket guide. So, pack your bags (and a few treats) for your Nantucket getaway.
Getting to Nantucket with a Dog
Flying or taking the ferry are your two options for traveling to Nantucket.
The high-speed ferry offers the most comfortable travel for pups to Nantucket and allows all dogs of all sizes. Dogs travel for free without any restrictions on breed or size. The sole requirement is that they are kept on a leash. I took the Hyline Ferry with my pup and enjoyed a relaxing ride. You can also take the Steamship Authority Ferry. The two lines run back and forth from Nantucket to the mainland all day. What I enjoyed about taking the ferry was the process was easy to navigate. I didn’t need a ticket for my dog and didn’t need to show any paperwork, i.e., proof of vaccinations.
Delta, JetBlue, United, and Cape Air have flights to Nantucket for air travel. Cape Air is most flexible with its dog policy. You can contact the airline directly as they report that they allow dogs not to be in a carrier on a first-come, first-serve basis. The other airlines have stricter dog policies and may allow you to bring smaller dogs as a carry-on if they can fit in a carrier in the seat in front of you.
Dog-Friendly Hotels in Nantucket
Brass Lantern Inn: Puka and I stayed there during our Nantucket visit, which was the perfect choice. Situated in the middle of Nantucket town, the Brass Lantern was a 5-minute walk from the ferry and close to everything you need. The Brass Lantern had dog beds in each room, water and food bowls, toys, treats, towels, and dog blankets. In the backyard, they had a gated off-leash dog run. A $25 pet fee per day per dog is added to your stay.
In addition to having great dog amenities, I also enjoyed my stay here. They had breakfast services, coffee, tea all day long, and afternoon tea. Parking was free (but limited), and there was plenty of outdoor space to relax.
Faraway Nantucket offers pet-friendly rooms. Up to 2 pets are allowed per room, and a $75 pet deposit is required.
The Cottages at Nantucket Boat Basin have pet-friendly rooms. Up to 2 pets per room are allowed, and a $65 pet fee per night.
Dog-Friendly Nantucket Activities
When it comes to splashing around and hiking with your pup friend, Nantucket has a lot of outdoor-friendly options. Before this trip to New England, I was in San Francisco for several months, with many dog-friendly beaches and trails. It was surprising to come to New England and read about the rules and restrictions on pups at the beach and on trails. Nantucket is an exception to that rule. During the high season, dogs are allowed on most beaches as long as there isn’t a lifeguard present (9 am to 5 pm from April through October) with some expectations.
Nobadeer Beach
Nobadeer Beach is one of the exceptions, where dogs are allowed all day and can be off-leash. Puka enjoyed romping in the sand and playing fetch in the ocean. Surprisingly, he was the only pup on the beach the whole time we were there.
Tupancy Links
Tupancy Links is a quick 0.9-mile loop that is dog-friendly, and dogs can be off-leash. Filled with dogs, it feels like an unofficial dog park. The trail is gravel, and there isn’t shade, making it a place you want to visit before or after peak sun hours. I made the mistake of walking here from town (1.5 miles) as the sun was getting higher in the day. While you can walk to Tupancy Links from town, the path to get to it is not entirely shaded, and you have to zig-zag across the street to follow the sidewalk at several points.
Sanford Farm
After learning my lesson about exposed trails at Tupancy Links, I got to Sanford Farm right at sunrise to avoid the harsh sun, and I’m glad I did. Sanford Farm has miles of off-leash dog-friendly trails. Puka and I did a 6-mile loop that took us to the ocean, where he romped in the water before heading back. Sanford Farm is also very exposed to the sun, so make sure to go early or late and bring lots of water and sun protection.
I also highly recommend tick prevention and tick checks. Tupancy Links and Sanford Farm have high grass and deer, making them a haven for ticks. Puka takes a tick preventative, plus I gave him a topical tick spray before walks and checked him for ticks afterward. Since he’s a hairy black dog, I also shaved him down quickly for the summer months.
Strolling Around Town
Shops in Nantucket were highly dog-friendly. As a courtesy to the shop, I always look for a sign regarding dogs before I enter and ask if it’s okay to bring a dog when I walk in. However, The Black Dog is one spot that is always dog-friendly and often has treats for your pup. Of course, I have a special place in my heart for this brand since I have a black dog myself.
Dog-Friendly Nantucket Restaurants
During our stay in Nantucket, Puka and I had no difficulty finding yummy eats and pup cups from the many dog-friendly restaurants and cafes in Nantucket. Here are our human + dog favorites:
Cisco Brewery
Cisco, the iconic Nantucket brewery, is exceptionally dog-friendly. You can bring your pup, get a drink, grab food from one of the many food trucks on the property, and chill while listening to live music. I got to Cisco mid-day and found a spot to hang out and comfortably listen to jams with Puka. By the time I left around 5 pm, it was extremely crowded. I recommend getting there early if you want some space. Also, if you don’t want to drink alcohol, you’ll be thrilled to know that Cisco has a fantastic non-alcoholic IPA.
Something Natural
Something Natural is a perfect stop when walking to and from Tupancy Links. Stepping into Something Natural feels like walking into a neighborhood park rather than a restaurant. There’s a window to order food, a pick-up window, and a field filled with picnic tables and shady trees.
The menu at Something Natural is simple. You primarily build your sandwich. Portions run large. I ordered a half-sized sandwich and left feeling full. I ordered Puka “half of a dry cheese sandwich,” he loved his pup lunch as much as I loved my sandwich.
Millies
Millies is synonymous with dog-friendly Nantucket eats. Millie’s Market serves ice cream for humans and pup cups for dogs. The staff was so excited to help Puka get his pup cup that they repeatedly exclaimed how much they love dogs.
Millie’s Madaket restaurant serves fresh seafood with a flair for flavor. I ordered scallop tacos and yellowtail poke, both full of unique flavor nodes that enhanced, yet didn’t overburden, the fresh taste of the seafood itself. Millie’s was my favorite meal on Nantucket. To order pet-friendly takeout, I ordered online and sat at one of their picnic tables next to the market.
Jack and Charlie’s
Jack and Charlie’s is a coffee shop/cafe/ice cream shop that will have you questioning if it’s too early to get ice cream at 9 am. Traveling via the Hyline Ferry, you’ll pass Jack and Charlie’s to and from the boat dock. I stopped multiple times and enjoyed their coffee, ice cream, and pup cup. They make an ice cream pup cup for the dogs, but I substituted whipped cream for ice cream since it tends to be too much sugar for Puka.
Sandbar at Jettie’s Patio
Sandbar at Jettie’s is an iconic beachfront restaurant with front views of Jettie Beach. It’s about a mile from town and a perfect locale for sunsets. The fish tacos were highly recommended, and they lived up to the hype. After lunch, Puka and I took a stroll down to the beach, where there wasn’t a lifeguard on duty, so we dipped our paws in the water.
Final Thoughts
As our journey through dog-friendly Nantucket comes to a close, I hope you’ve discovered how welcoming this island is for you and your pup. From beaches where your dog can romp in the waves to oceanfront cafes that happily provide a water bowl and a treat, Nantucket is a haven for dog lovers. Safe travels and happy tails!
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