Nantucket Harbor sits about 26 nautical miles from Hyannis on Cape Cod across Nantucket Sound. That is roughly 30 statute miles or 48 kilometers in a straight line. A fast center console at 28 mph makes the run in about an hour; a trawler at a steady ten knots takes closer to three. The Sound is shallow and shoal-strewn with strong tidal currents, so the smart move is to run the marked channel and time your crossing with a fair tide.
Cape Cod to Nantucket distance
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Straight-line distance | 26 nautical miles |
| Statute miles | 30 miles |
| Kilometers | 48 km |
| Typical on-the-water routing | about 27 nautical miles |
Most boaters run from Hyannis, the busiest jumping-off port, straight across Nantucket Sound to Nantucket Harbor. The water is shallow the whole way and laced with shoals, so the rhumb line is not always the safe line. Stay in the marked channel on the approach to Nantucket and mind the tide rips where the current sets across the bars.
How long does it take, and how much fuel, by boat type
These are real numbers from the same engine that powers our boat fuel calculator, run over the 26 nautical mile crossing at a steady cruise. Plug in your own boat in the calculator below to get your exact figure.
| Boat | Cruise | GPH | MPG | Trip time | Fuel | Fuel cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 ft center console (twin 150s) | 28 mph | 17.2 | 1.6 | 1 hr 04 min | 18 gal | $83 |
| 38 ft express cruiser (twin gas) | 26 mph | 43.0 | 0.6 | 1 hr 09 min | 50 gal | $223 |
| 50 ft trawler (single diesel) | 10 mph | 21.7 | 0.5 | 3 hr 00 min | 65 gal | $292 |
Fuel cost assumes $4.50 per gallon. Wind against tide builds a short, ugly chop in the Sound that knocks miles per gallon down hard, so do not just scale from the table: run your own hull and load.
Estimate the fuel for your own boat
The calculator below is pre-loaded with this crossing. Change the engine, horsepower, load, cruise speed, and tank to match your boat and it recomputes the fuel, range, and time instantly.
Best season and weather for the crossing
Best window: June through September, when the Sound is at its most settled.
Nantucket Sound is shallow and shoal-strewn with strong tidal currents, so run the marked channels and time the tide rather than fighting it. Wind against tide builds a short, steep chop that makes an easy crossing miserable, so check the tide table along with the wind. Fog is frequent out here, so carry radar or a good chartplotter and know how to use it before you leave the dock.
Route notes
- Departure: Hyannis Harbor. Clear the harbor and set a course across the Sound for Nantucket.
- Nantucket Sound (about 10 nm): strong tidal current here, so time it with the fair tide and watch the set across the shoals.
- Nantucket Harbor (26 nm): mind the shoals on the approach and stay in the marked channel all the way in.
- Fuel: top off in Hyannis. Carry the round trip plus a real reserve in case the tide or fog turns a quick run into a long one.
Gear to sort before you go
- A fuel system you trust: clean filters, a known tank gauge, and a real reserve calculation, not a guess.
- Ground tackle sized for the Nantucket mooring field and for a fair-weather hook if you have to wait out the fog.
- A hull and gelcoat in good repair before a shoal-water run; fix the soft spots and chips at the dock, not aground on a bar.
Need to get the boat crossing-ready first? See our fuel tanks and systems and marine gelcoats for the repair and maintenance supplies that keep a shoal-water run uneventful.
Plan the rest of your trip
Nantucket from Cape Cod: frequently asked questions
How far is Nantucket, MA from Hyannis, Cape Cod, MA?
Nantucket, MA is about 26 nautical miles from Hyannis, Cape Cod, MA, which is roughly 30 statute miles or 48 kilometers in a straight line. A typical on-the-water routing runs about 27 nautical miles.
How long does it take to get from Hyannis, Cape Cod, MA to Nantucket, MA by boat?
A 24 ft center console (twin 150s) cruising at about 28 mph covers the 26 nautical mile run in roughly 1 hour 4 minutes. A slower trawler takes much longer, and a fast express cruiser a little less. Use the fuel calculator on this page to plug in your own boat.
How much fuel does the Hyannis, Cape Cod, MA to Nantucket, MA trip use?
The 24 ft center console (twin 150s) burns about 18 gallons on the 26 nautical mile run at roughly 17.2 gallons per hour and 1.6 miles per gallon. Your number depends on horsepower, load, and cruise speed, so run your own boat through the calculator below.
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