Nantasket Beach is Boston's go-to surf spot—the closest consistent wave to a city of millions, accessible from downtown in under an hour. The northeast-facing beach catches nor'easter swells that miss south-facing breaks, providing an alternative window when the rest of New England goes flat. The water is cold year-round, the crowd is dedicated, and the rocky areas demand awareness, but Nantasket delivers surf to a metropolitan area that has no business having a surf scene. For Bostonians who refuse to let geography dictate their stoke, Nantasket is home.
Water temp
12°C
Wetsuit
5/4mm + boots
Difficulty
5/10
Crowd level
6/10
Access: Public beach south of Boston.
Forecasts are validated against real-time buoy data.
Peak: Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr
Nor'easters and hurricane swells.
Verified by Surfline spot guide
How well swell angle matches the spot
Wave height in the ideal range
Each spot has different period requirements. Points and reefs can handle longer periods than beaches.
Offshore/glassy conditions