Lighthouse Beach Edgartown: Visitors Guide

Fast Facts about Lighthouse Beach Edgartown

📌 Private/Public: Public
📍 Address: North Water St, Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard
💲 Cost: Free
🅿️ Parking: Street parking along North Water St
🛟 Amenities: Bike Stand
🩴 Best for: Families with small children, Day trippers to Edgartown
🚫 Not suitable for: Those with mobility issues
🐶 Dogs allowed?: Yes – leashed at all times

Lighthouse Beach is a public beach in Edgartown on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. I love this beach as it’s perfect for my kids to play safely. It also holds a special place in my heart as my engagement pictures were taken here!

It’s not as big as South Beach or State Beach and there is no rolling surf. The beach is protected by the calm, sheltered waters of Edgartown Harbor. You’ll see occasional small waves when a sailboat goes by, but strong currents or rip currents are not common at Lighthouse Beach.

You can swim here but personally, this is not my favorite beach for swimming. I have seen big groups of jellyfish here and the water doesn’t get particularly warm, even in the summer. It’s nice and shallow at the edge for kids to splash around though.

As you walk on to the beach, the sand is full of broken shells and small stones but once you get past the lighthouse, the sand becomes softer. I recommend keeping your shoes on until this point. 

The beautiful Edgartown Lighthouse is located right on the beach and you can go inside during the peak summer season.

Best time to visit Lighthouse Beach martha’s Vineyard

The best time to visit Lighthouse Beach Edgartown is in the summer months because the weather is ideal for beach activities. In summer, I like to take the kids there in the evening, as it’s cooler and a good place to expend some energy before going out to dinner in Edgartown.

Because the beach is East-facing, you have a great view of the sunrise from here

Another time to consider visiting Lighthouse Beach is in the fall months because this time of year is less crowded yet the weather can still be pleasant enough for a beach walk. This beach is very close to the Harborview hotel which is a great spot to warm up indoors after a brisk walk. 

In December, the lighthouse is beautifully decorated and lit up for the annual Christmas in Edgartown celebration.

How to get to Edgartown Lighthouse Beach

You can get to the beach on foot or by car, bus or bike. The closest bus stop is at Church street in Edgartown Village which is a 15 minute walk.

The main routes serving this stop are 1 (from Vineyard Haven), 13 (from Oak Bluffs) and 6 (from West Tisbury/Airport). One bus schedule operates from October to May then a new one starts in June so check the VTA website for the most up to date schedule.

For cyclists, there is no direct bike path to Lighthouse Beach. Once you get into the heart of Edgartown, the streets become narrow and it is best to walk your bike.

There are bike racks directly across from the Harborview Hotel where you can leave your bike and walk a short distance to get onto the sand. Or, you can take your bike right on to the beach and there is another bike rack by the trash cans near the lighthouse.

Here are the cycle times from key landmarks:

Black Dog store, Edgartown	3 minutes
Circuit Ave, Oak Bluffs	35 minutes
Steamship Authority, Vineyard Haven	40 minutes

As the beach is located in Edgartown, it’s really easy to walk to the downtown area so you don’t really need a car to get here.

However, if you want to drive, I usually head for North Water street (it’s one way) and park in one of the spaces there. Looks for spaces after the intersection with Morse St. The beach is located opposite the Harborview Hotel and there’s no street parking once you drive past the hotel. 

To drive to Lighthouse Beach from Oak Bluffs, take Beach Road or from Vineyard Haven take the Edgartown Vineyard Haven road all the way to Edgartown Main street. Then take a left onto North Water Street.

Lighthouse Beach Edgartown Parking

At the beach, a little parking is available along North Water Street. It is usually difficult to find a spot in the peak summer season. There is 5 minute walk from the street at the Harborview Hotel to the beach so park as close to the hotel as you can if you wish to reduce your walking time.

If you find a space closer to the Morse street end, it will take more like 10 minutes to walk to the beach from the parking area. If you can’t find a spot, check on Morse Street itself which has a few spaces.

Parking is free and does not need to be booked in advance, but one thing to note is that most spots on North Water street allow 2 hour parking only. Driving on Lighthouse Beach is not allowed.

Amenities

There are no bathroom facilities and no lifeguards on duty at Lighthouse Beach. It’s not accessible for wheelchair users or those with mobility issues. There are trash cans at the beach entrance.

Things to do near Lighthouse Beach Edgartown

On the beach, you can actually visit the Lighthouse and go inside. Tickets are $5 for adults and kids go free. The Lighthouse is managed by the MV Museum and opening hours are limited so check the museum website for details. 

If you would like to explore another nearby beach, take a left and follow the shoreline down to Fuller street beach. This is another one I recommend for young children due to the calm and shallow waters. 

As you’re in the heart of Edgartown, there is no shortage of things to do near the beach. A 10 -15 minute walk will bring you into the heart of the main shopping area where you can browse upscale clothing boutiques, jewelery stores, a bookshop and stylish homewares stores.

You can continue exploring by hopping on the Chappy ferry to Chappaquiddick Island or stay in downtown Edgartown for lunch or dinner.

Who is Lighthouse Beach best for?

Lighthouse Beach Edgartown is best for families with young kids or day trippers to the island.

The ocean water is very calm and there are lots of shells in the sand. My daughter loves to collect the shiny ones which are abundant on this sandy beach.

Day trippers will enjoy Lighthouse beach because it’s the easiest beach to walk to if you are only spending a short time in Edgartown and you don’t have a car. The lighthouse is also an iconic Martha’s Vineyard landmark to take pictures of.

People with dogs will love to hear that the beach is pet-friendly although dogs must be leashed at all times so as not to disturb the piping plover nesting grounds.

I don’t recommend Lighthouse Beach for anyone with mobility issues because from the street there is still a bit of a walk down to the beach over varying terrain. If you have a lot to carry you may prefer somewhere like Fuller st beach which is immediately accessible from the street. 

View of the Harborview Hotel taken from the path down to the beach

Hotels near Lighthouse Beach Edgartown

The closest hotel to Lighthouse Beach is the elegant and historic Harborview Hotel. It is immediately opposite the beach entrance, just a 5 minute walk from the sand.

These excellent Edgartown hotels are also close by. You can reach them in a 10-15 minute walk:

• The Edgartown Inn
• The Coco
• The Sydney
• The Christopher

🤩 Search for Hotels near Lighthouse Beach Edgartown

Other Edgartown Beaches

• Fuller Street Beach
• South Beach (Katama)
• State Beach (partially in Oak Bluffs)
• Bend in the Road Beach
• Chappquiddick Beach
• East Beach (on Chappaquiddick)
• Norton Point (OSV pass required to drive on the beach)

Wrapping up: Final words about Lighthouse beach

Lighthouse Beach in Edgartown is a popular choice for families, day trippers, and dog-owners because of its public access, calm waters and convenient location

Although it lacks amenities, its proximity to downtown means you won’t be far from stores and things to do. Ideal for summer and fall visits, the beach has calm waters for kids, stunning sunrise views and is a picturesque place for a stroll.

Dogs are welcome at certain times of the year but need to be kept on-leash. 

Join the conversation in our MV Travel Tips Facebook group to share your thoughts and ask other visitors about their favorite Martha’s Vineyard beaches.

Frequently Asked Questions about Lighthouse Beach Edgartown

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