Nantucket Bike Paths > Biking To Dionis

Why bike to Dionis?

Dionis (pronounced Dye-oh-nis) is a lovely bike ride destination for a few reasons:

  • Dionis is easy to get to from Town, and you'll ride on quiet streets and bike paths the whole way there.
  • Dionis Beach is on the north shore facing the Nantucket Sound, meaning that the water is very calm and a good place to look for sea shells.
  • Since it's close to Town, Dionis is a great beach destination for riders who are more interested in exploring shops and historical sites. But it's also on the way out to Madaket so you can make it a pit stop for a longer ride, too.
Swimmer at calm.north shore waters of Dionis beach on the Nantucket Sound

Important Logistics

📍 How far is it:

~7 miles roundtrip

🕘 How long does it take?

1-2 hours roundtrip

🚽 Bathrooms:

A public restroom is available at Dionis Beach in-season

🚰 Water:

There are no water fountains on the route to Dionis but there are plenty of opportunities to grab a drink in Town

🍽 Food:

There are no food opportunities at Dionis Beach but there are plenty of opportunities to grab a snack in Town

Things to do

Young's Bicycle Shop map of Nantucket, complete with bicycle routes and detailed blow ups of specific parts of the island.

Download our famous map of Nantucket

Dionis is a quiet little beach on the north shore away from hotels and restaurants so there's nothing to spoil the view or the atmosphere. It's rarely crowded but it is popular with young families and beach goers who want a break from the waves and wind of the south shore.

If you're headed to Dionis:

  • Consider picking up some googles or a snorkel, especially if you have kids. The water is ofter clear enough to see shells, crabs, and fish.
  • Pack a lunch. Since there's no restaurants or food stands you'll want to grab some snacks in Town. You can't go wrong with Something Natural!

How to get to Dionis on a bike

Via Cliff Rd (3.5 miles, 1/2 - 1hr)

The route to Dionis is a pretty straight shot from our shop. With a quick right-left-right you'll be heading out Cliff Rd and on your way to a relaxing beach day.

Click to open map

Directions to Dionis Beach from Town

  1. From Young's, start by taking a quick right and riding up South Beach Street.
  2. At the first four way intersection, turn left onto Easton Street.
  3. Just past the Nantucket Hotel, turn right onto Cliff Road.
  4. Ride for about a half mile then hop on the Cliff Road bike path.
  5. The Cliff Road bike path runs for about a mile and it will pass a wide open grassy area called Tupancy Links before it veers to the right and starts heading up Eel Point Rd.
  6. Don't cross the street (that way takes you to Madaket) but stay on the path instead. The path turns north and leads you right to Dionis Beach.

 

Recommended stops and quick detours on this route:

  • Brant Point Lighthouse - instead of turning left onto Easton Street, you could turn right and ride a short 2 minutes to Brant Point at the entrance of Nantucket Harbor and watch boats and ferries sail by.
  • Something Natural - A great place to stop for sandwiches,  snacks, and drinks. It'll be on your left after a minute two once you turn onto Cliff Road. Look for the sign on the rock next to the wide gravel driveway.
  • Jethro Coffin House - The oldest home on Nantucket still in it's original site.
  • Steps Beach - A great photo opportunity, Steps Beach has a tall wooden staircase that brings you down the dunes to the shore of the Nantucket Sound.
  • Tupancy Links - What used to be a 9 hole golf course is now a large conservation area with a nice walking trail that leads to a cliff with views of the water.

Ready to ride?

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