Dukes County, Massachusetts
Lucy Vincent Beach
Lucy Vincent Beach is the best-known clothing-optional beach on Martha's Vineyard, on the island's south shore in Chilmark.
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About this place
Lucy Vincent Beach is the best-known clothing-optional beach on Martha's Vineyard, on the island's south shore in Chilmark. The beach faces the Atlantic with strong surf and dramatic bluffs on either side — the clay cliffs here run in different hues of rust, tan, and grey, and they're actively eroding, so the topography changes from year to year. The clothing-optional section is the western portion of the beach, beyond the main swimming area.
The beach is technically a Chilmark town beach, meaning primary access is restricted to Chilmark residents and guests with a sticker. Non-residents can access the C/O section by walking the beach from adjacent public access points, but this involves a walk of half a mile or more. The practical approach for non-residents is to park at the nearby Waskosim's Rock Reservation trailhead or arrange an overnight in Chilmark — the town limits visitor access to protect the beach, and the system is enforced.
The beach has a long and locally celebrated history as a gathering place for artists, writers, and Vineyard summer regulars. The clothing-optional tradition dates to at least the 1960s. The crowd tends to be older, well-traveled, and comfortable with the informality. Summer weekends are busy by Chilmark standards; the beach is quieter on weekdays and September.
Visitor notes
Contributed by ClothingOptional.org Editorial Team
Who visits
Chilmark residents and longtime Vineyard summer visitors — the crowd skews older and established. Some younger visitors who know the beach through word of mouth. Genuinely local feel; not a tourist destination in the typical sense.
How to find it
Non-residents: take the ferry to Martha's Vineyard (from Woods Hole, 45 minutes; seasonal ferries from Hyannis and New Bedford). Drive or bike to Chilmark. Non-resident beach stickers are required for the main lot; alternative is to park at a public trailhead and walk the beach west, or stay in Chilmark.
Things to watch out for
Sticker enforcement is real — the Chilmark beach attendant will turn away non-sticker vehicles. The surf can be strong; check conditions before swimming. The bluffs are actively eroding — don't stand or walk near the cliff edges.
Last updated
Etiquette & ground rules
The C/O section has been established custom for decades. Keep west of the main swimming area. Respect the town-beach nature of the space: this is not a public nude beach and the community maintains it through courtesy rather than regulation.
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