About the Trustees Great Point Pass

Purchased either in person or online the Trustees Great Point pass provides the majority of Nantucket Beach driving. Covering all of the roads north of Wauwinet, there is a serious amount of area to explore. 

The Trustees property at Great Point on Nantucket provides some of the most stunningly picturesque scenery in all of New England. With miles of trails to explore and seemingly endless clear blue water, Great Point is a truly beautiful place to Oversand. Additionally, the seasonal Trustees Great Point pass has the Iconic Nantucket Oversand Sticker, not a bad bonus! The Trustees are sticklers for speed limits on the beach, they patrol the property in White F150s and will pull you aside if they see anything dangerous. Unlike other areas in New England, the Trustees here are fairly relaxed about required gear. In my history of going Oversanding at Great Point, I’ve never been asked about my gear. With that said, it is always important to have a Tow Strap, Jack, Baseboard and Shovel just in case you or a fellow Oversander needs a helping hand. This is by far my favorite place to Oversand.

Where can I drive with the Trustees Great Point Pass?

Great Point
Permit: Trustees Great Point Pass
GPS Address: 107 Wauwinet Rd, Nantucket, MA 02554

Great Point (aka Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge) is the holy grail of beach driving on Nantucket. It is a vast undeveloped barrier beach extending from the tip of Nantucket, and is home to the iconic Great Point Lighthouse. Stretching approximately 7 miles, it serves as the exclusive gateway to Coatue. Boasting diverse ecosystems such as the ocean, maritime oak forests, and rolling red cedar savannah, Great Point is a haven for naturalists and bird enthusiasts. Anglers frequent the area, which is renowned for offering prime viewing opportunities of Grey Seals. Expect lots of soft, sandy beach to drive along, as well as an extensive network of inner trails to explore in your vehicle. It is the perfect place to drive out to with a large group for a beach day, just be sure to bring all you need as the ride back to town takes more than 30 minutes.

How to purchase Trustees Great Point OSV Pass

Purchase online

Passes can be purchased online at: the Trustees website. Navigate to ‘Purchase an OSV Permit’ or ‘Purchase a day pass’ depending on user need. Keep in mind, iconic Nantucket Oversand Vehicle Permit stickers are only given out for seasonal permits, not for day pass customers. From either of these sites, select the day you are likely to arrive at the Wauwinet Trustees Gatehouse (107 Wauwinet Rd). You will collect your season sticker or day pass at the gatehouse when you arrive. Note: the Trustees do not ship permit stickers or day passes out, you must be at the Wauwinet Gatehouse with your vehicle to collect your permit or day pass.

Purchase at the Trustees Wauwinet Gatehouse (107 Wauwinet Rd)

Passes can also be purchased on-island at the Trustees Wauwinet Gatehouse. Upon arrival, the Trustees will provide a Wifi Network and QR Code to use to purchase your pass. They will gladly walk you through the entire process to make sure you are getting the permit or pass you need. Once purchased via your smartphone they will ask to see the purchase confirmation and for your license plate state and number. 

Collecting Your Permit or Pass at the Trustees Wauwinet Gatehouse (107 Wauwinet Rd)

Whether you purchased online or in person, the Gatehouse attendant will ask for your name and vehicle plate information (state and number). For seasonal permits, they will write that information on your Permit Stickers. The Trustees will stick the permit to your vehicle unless requested otherwise. In the event you ask to put your own sticker on, they will request to oversee sticker application (ensuring the stickers are non-transferable). 

Heading out onto the sand at Great Point and Coskata-Coatue

The Trustees ask drivers to air their vehicle tire pressures down to between 15 and 8 PSI. The Great Point and Coskata-Coatue nature preserve features areas of extreme soft sand (mostly on the interior and west coast of the property) that require thick sidewall, low PSI tires. Low-profile street tires will not be sufficient in these deep sand areas. Take caution when driving down the west coast of the property. The East coast of the property features interior and exterior roads with ample space to park-up and enjoy a day on the beach. While the beach varies week to week, the east coast of the property typically features a two lane OSV corridor with room to pull off toward the ocean to set up for the day. Depending on the day, the Trustees may shut down certain areas of the property for either Bird Nesting or Tide. Typically Early June to Mid July, the Oversand roads are limited due to endangered nesting shorebirds. In cases of full moon high tide, the road out to the Great Point Lighthouse mat be closed due to water breaching the spit. For daily closures, call the Trustees Gatehouse to get up-to-date information on where you can drive your OSV.