We are going to Boston Friday Sept. 15 to Tuesday Sept. 19 and would like to spend a day/night outside of the city. We would love to see Nantucket. We are looking for great dining, beaches, and shopping.

Is this too much for only four nights? How long is the actual trip to Nantucket?


Thanks in advance!

From Hyannis the slow ferry takes 2 1/4 hours, the fast ferry takes 55 minutes and by air it is 15 minutes. The ferries berth in Nantucket and you are in the center of everything. The airport is about 10 minutes outside of town and you would need to take a cab. If you want to see the whole island you really need your car.

It is almost two hours to Hyannis from Boston. The traffic is usually not too bad this time of year.

Are there car rentals on Nantucket? I thought that I had read there were not...

Ofcourse you can rent a car (or Jeep) on Nantucket. I'd guess that at that time of year, you may find some places (esp. shops) only open on the weekend.

I didn't think there were car rentals on Nantucket actually. I could be wrong.

But to answer your question, yes too much for a day trip. You'd at least have to stay overnight in my opinion. Although if you can book a flight from Boston, maybe.

http://www.nantucketchamber.org/visitor/gethere.html

http://www.budgetcar.com/

http://www.discovernantucket.com/app...ROUND/60614005

http://www.discovernantucket.com/app...ROUND/60614006

There are car rentals on the island. Its much more difficult to get a car on the ferry though.

mclaurie- thanks so much for the links!

My next question- what is the best way to get to the Hyannis port from Boston? We would rather not have to drive- are there trains?

There is not a train that will get you all the way to the Cape.

Have you considered other locations than Nantucket? You could explore the Cape, shoot up to Marblehead or Salem. Any of these could be a day trip....

There is bus service Boston/Hyannis. But I agree, you might enjoy somewhere easier to get to -- how about Cape Anne, or take the ferry to Provincetown?

You would catch the Plymouth and Brocton (www.p-b.com) bus at South Station. Round trip is $38. You can walk from the bus station in Hyannis to the Hyline to catch the fast ferry www.hy-linrcruises.com . It is $69 round trip.

Taking the ferry to PTown is a good idea and certainly easier.

Whoops...www.hy-linecruises.com

Consider Newburyport - far more accessible than Nantucket.

Beaches - there's Plum Island where there is a national wildlife reserve - 7 miles of beaches to stroll.

Restaurants - lots of options - seafood, casual etc

Shopping - lots of art galleries, antique stores, clothing, and giftshops.

Take the train or drive.

consider Newport RI. Easy 1.5 hr drive from Boston and has all that you could want.
Nantucket is doable for a (long) daytrip. Drive to Hyannis and take the Fast Ferry. Check the schedules. Unless you want to go to the beach, you don't need a car on the island. Everything is walkable.

Here's our 2 cents worth.
Nantucket in September is fantastic.
We go every Sept. and love it.
We park behind the ferry building for $10 per day and walk our bikes (excellent bike trails go everywhere)onto the fast ferry. Sometimes we just book a B&B right at the visitors center when we dock. Midweek even has lower rates in Sept.