1st timer to Nantucket--car or no car?

We%26#39;re traveling to Nanctucket this summer for the first time and need some advice as to what to do about out car?

Can we schelp suitcases and bikes on the ferry? Are there plenty of taxis to get us to our rental house? The house we are considering renting is near Surf Beach on the south side of the island. I have no real sense of how close this is to Town.

I appreciate and advice or suggestions!

1st timer to Nantucket--car or no car?

Hi,

I would definitely not bring the car. You can get around the island via bicycle or the island shuttle. You can park your car at the HyLine ferry parking lots for $17 per day. There are two types of ferry service to Nantucket. The fast ferry takes 1hr. and costs $71 roundtrip per adult, 50 for kids 5-11 and free for under 5. The traditional ferry takes 1hr 50 minutes and costs $39 adults, 20 kids and free under 5. You can bring your bicycles on either ferry and both charge $12 roundtrip per bike.

I%26#39;ll leave the lodging questions to someone who knows.

Have a good trip.

1st timer to Nantucket--car or no car?

I would definitely leave the car behind. I just visited Nantucket 2 weeks ago and gas was already 4.04 a gallon. It%26#39;s probably 4.50 by now. The island is 14 miles long by 9 miles wide. I think I read that there are shuttle buses to take you around the island plus you can also do bicycles or a taxi. Have fun. It%26#39;s a beautiful place.

Could depend on how long you%26#39;re going for ....... but if its only for a week or two ..... then as other posters have suggested ... leave the car behind

Its very expensive to get a car on the ferry ... that is if you can even get a reservation!

Also .... gas prices very high, ...... and there are no traffic lights on the island and with the increased amount of traffic on the island during the summer ..... traffic (at intersections) is a nightmare.

The island has a good shuttle bus service that you can use and taxis are also common. The shuttle goes out to where you are staying ..... Surfside.

The island, over the last few years, has really improved its bike-path system, making it much easier and safer to bike around the island.

Surfside is about 2 to 3 miles from Nantucket town.

Surfside beach is about 3 miles from town. There%26#39;s a shuttle between the beach and the town, but I think it only runs during beach hours - 10:00 to 5:00 or so. As others have said, bringing a car is expensive and reservations are often made months in advance. You can take a lot of taxi rides for $400 - and save the hassle of trying to drive and park in the town. Taxis are waiting near the docks when the ferries come in. You can also call them. See http://www.wheelsheelsandpedals.com/wheels and click on taxi info. The island has pretty good cell phone coverage. Many taxis are mini-vans and have bike racks. The shuttle buses have bike racks, too.

You put your luggage onto a cart at the dock, and they wheel the cart off at the other end. There%26#39;s a small extra charge for bicycles.

Surside is not close to town, so your question about the car is a good one. It depends on how many of you are in the ';we';. The shuttle is the best way to go, and it goes EVERYWHERE, with bikes accomodated. Traffic lights are non-existent, like a previous poster said, but the unwritten, oh-so-polite rule of the island is that at 2 or 4 way stops, it%26#39;s you go, then I go, then you go, etc. Keep it, if you bring your vehicle, which is only a good idea if your stay is longer than a week.