This spring, during a brief visit home from Florida, my grandmother and I spent a day exploring Nantucket. Although she’s lived her entire life in Massachusetts, it was her first experience on the island. Visiting Nantucket in spring offered us a quieter, gentler experience of the island—streets lined with blooming flowers, shops gradually reopening, and plenty of space to stroll without the summer rush. If you’re considering a trip outside of peak season, this itinerary offers a thoughtful way to experience the island as it begins to wake up.

Nantucket in Spring: Quiet Charm

Late April and May bring a slower rhythm to Nantucket. The Daffodil Festival kicks off the season, and by mid-spring, the island is gradually coming to life—window boxes fill with blooms, shopkeepers return, and the weather settles into a crisp but comfortable range of mid-50s to low 60s°F (12–17°C). It’s a lovely time to wander without crowds or full itineraries.

Style Tip: Pack light layers you can add or shed as the weather shifts. See our Nantucket Spring Outfit Guide for inspiration.

Morning Ferry from Hyannis

We boarded the Steamship Authority ferry from Hyannis—a smooth, scenic ride that remains one of the easiest ways to reach the island. As of May 2025, same-day round-trip tickets are available for $60. After parking just a short walk from the terminal, we arrived on the island around 11 AM, with a full afternoon ahead.

Hy-Line Cruises: Hy-Line Cruises offers high-speed ferry service from Hyannis to Nantucket during the peak season. The trip takes about 1 hour and costs $89 per adult roundtrip. Our Italian Greyhound, Luna, traveled for free. What we really loved about Hy-Line was the flexibility to change your departure time. On both our arrival and departure days, we were able to adjust the ferry time free of charge (as long as you are traveling on the same day).  

Steamship Authority: The Steamship Authority operates a year-round ferry service from the mainland ports of Hyannis and Woods Hole to Nantucket. The journey from Hyannis takes around 2 hours, while the Woods Hole route takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Seastreak: Seastreak provides seasonal high-speed ferry service from New Bedford, Massachusetts, to Nantucket. The journey typically takes around 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Brunch at Lemon Press

Lemon Press, just minutes from the ferry dock, was our first stop. My grandmother had a classic breakfast plate—eggs, sausage, and toast—while I opted for the French toast and a London Fog tea. The space was bright and relaxed, with seasonal florals in the windows and a steady hum of morning conversation.

I’m a tough breakfast critic, but Lemon Press stood out. The menu strikes a thoughtful balance between sweet and savory, with dishes that lean into Mediterranean and European flavors while still feeling light and fresh. Nothing felt overly heavy or fussy—just clean, well-composed plates that let the ingredients shine. The atmosphere, like the food, is quietly elevated. Lemon Press feels perfectly at home in Nantucket.

Walk to Brant Point Lighthouse

We took a scenic walk from downtown to Brant Point Lighthouse, one of Nantucket’s most photographed landmarks. The route winds along the harbor and offers easy views of the shoreline. Along the way, we browsed shops like Nomad and a handful of others—some still closed for the season, but many already welcoming early visitors.

Walking: Many of Nantucket's main attractions and downtown areas are easily accessible on foot.

Biking: Nantucket is a bicycle-friendly island with numerous bike paths and scenic routes. Most hotels offer free bikes to use, or you can rent with local outfitters, like Young’s Bicycle Shop, Nantucket Bike Shop, or Easy Rider Bicycle Rentals.

Ride Share with Uber or Lyft: Uber and Lyft are both available on Nantucket, but be warned: prices are high, and wait times are long with limited available drivers.

Island Tour by Car

To see more of the island without overexerting, we booked a casual Lyft ride across Nantucket. From Brant Point to Madaket, then out toward Sankaty Head Lighthouse, the tour gave my grandmother a sense of the island’s varied landscape—windswept beaches, wide moors, and tucked-away neighborhoods. A simple but special way to take it all in.

Adjusting Afternoon Plans

We’d hoped to spend part of the afternoon at the beach, but mid-May was still a bit too brisk. Madaket felt mostly shuttered, and the beach was empty. If you’re visiting in early spring, I’d suggest keeping your plans closer to downtown, where more cafés and shops are open and walkable.

Packing Tip: Bring a windbreaker or jacket you don’t mind wearing all day, plus comfortable walking shoes.

Dinner Recommendations

CRU, one of my favorite spots for lobster rolls, was closed early in the week. A local recommended the Nantucket Lobster Trap as an alternative for takeout. We brought rolls aboard the ferry for dinner, but the quality didn’t quite justify the $45–50 price tag. If you’re after a memorable meal, it’s worth waiting for CRU or exploring other downtown options with more atmosphere.

There’s something special about visiting Nantucket before summer fully arrives. Fewer people. More stillness. The feeling that you’re catching the island in a quiet moment. If you plan ahead and build in a little flexibility, spring is a rewarding time to see a softer, more local side of Nantucket—one well worth returning to.

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