Ride or drive across Nantucket from Madaket to Sconset with a GPS-guided audio tour that highlights lighthouses, historic homes and coastal panoramas. Download the Drives & Detours app, bring your own bike (or take it by car), and expect 3–6 hours of exploration.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
You start at the corner of Broad and South Beach Street, the harbor’s salt breeze pushing at your jacket and gulls cutting the sky. The town’s clapboard roofs and narrow lanes give way quickly to long, open roads where dunes lean toward the sea and the island unfolds—Madaket’s low skyline to the west, Sconset’s bluffs and lighthouse to the east.
Difficulty
moderate
Duration
3–6 hours
Fitness Level
Suitable for most riders and drivers; cyclists should be comfortable on mixed paved roads for 10–20 miles with light rolling grades.
Wildlife
History
Nantucket rose to prominence in the 18th–19th centuries as a global whaling hub; later cranberry farming and summer tourism reshaped the island’s economy and landscape.
Conservation
Many coastal areas are protected to preserve nesting shorebirds and fragile dunes—stay on designated paths and respect closures to limit erosion and disturbance.
Reserve your spot on the Nantucket Coast to Coast Self-Guided Biking or Driving Tour today and enjoy a trusted, highly rated experience designed to help you make the most of your adventure.
Download the tour in advance
Cell service can be spotty—download the Drives & Detours tour to your phone before you arrive and enter access code JTV552.
Bring a basic repair kit
If you bike, carry a spare tube, pump and multi-tool—roads are paved but remote stretches can be windy and exposed.
Check museum hours and fees
Museums like Maria Mitchell and the Whaling Museum have separate admissions—plan stops around opening times to avoid closed exhibits.
Watch the wind and sun
Sustained crosswinds and intense coastal sun can make a short ride feel long—start early or late and bring sun protection.
Helmet
Protects against falls and is required for safe on-road cycling.
Phone with Drives & Detours app and charger
Runs the GPS-triggered audio tour and stores your access code for offline use.
Hydration (1–2L) and snacks
Keeps energy steady across exposed stretches with limited services.
summer
Light wind shell and layered clothing
Coastal winds and quick temperature shifts make layers useful year-round.
spring