Aquinnah · Bay / Calm
Lobsterville Beach
Parking: Roadside, limited
Toilets: Not listed as available · Showers: Not listed as available
Approach: soft sand walk. Confirm individual access needs and current conditions.
Martha's Vineyard · Village guide
Aquinnah
Find your starting point. Choose a few places worth your time.
Photo: Lobsterville Beach · Sandrine Dreeny
The Vineyard’s westernmost town — Wampanoag tribal land, the famous Gay Head clay cliffs, and the lighthouse at the island’s western tip.
Get oriented
Aquinnah is a village within Martha's Vineyard. Locations do not imply walking access between stops.
Village markers are approximate centers. Beach markers identify locations, not verified entrances. No routes or travel times are shown.
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Open the beach-selection map →Choose a beach
2 beaches in this guide · compare access as well as character.
Aquinnah · Ocean / Surf
Moshup Beach (public)
Parking: Town lot $20/day, shuttle from Gay Head Cliffs overlook
Toilets: Listed · Showers: Listed
Approach: long walk. Confirm individual access needs and current conditions.
Before you go
- Check parking eligibility, current fees and seasonal restrictions for each beach. Unknown information is not a guarantee of access.
- Confirm opening hours, admission and individual access needs with each venue.
- Plan transport between separate stops; town membership alone does not establish a walking connection.
More about Aquinnah
Read the town background
Aquinnah (formerly Gay Head) is the Vineyard’s westernmost town and is partly tribal land of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head. The clay cliffs and the relocated 1856 lighthouse anchor it. Moshup Beach below the cliffs is the public Atlantic-side beach (with a long walk from the lot); Lobsterville faces the Sound on Menemsha Pond’s mouth.
Aquinnah beach FAQ
Do I need a beach sticker in Aquinnah?
Parking rules vary by beach and season. Check the named beach’s official information for visitor eligibility, permits and current fees. Missing fee information does not mean parking is free.
Which Aquinnah beaches allow dogs?
Lobsterville Beach and Moshup Beach (public) are listed as allowing dogs in the catalog. A catalog dog-friendly label does not guarantee access today, including seasonal exclusions and leash rules.
Which Aquinnah beach is best for families?
Moshup Beach (public) has toilets listed in the catalog, which may help narrow your choice. Confirm facilities, access and posted water conditions; catalog descriptions do not establish swimming safety or individual suitability.
How warm is the water in Aquinnah?
Sound-side and bay-side shorelines are different settings in this guide. Catalog seasonal notes such as 65-70°F (July–Aug) are not current measurements.
How many beaches does Aquinnah have?
Aquinnah has 2 beaches in this guide. This is a catalog count, not a claim to include every shoreline access point.