Dog-friendly beaches on Martha’s Vineyard

June 19, 2018 11:31 AM

We’re going to be staying in Oak Bluffs at a cottage and will have our dog with us. I’d like to take him to the beach a few times and I understand that on some beaches you can let your dog off leash at certain times, although I’m having trouble pinning down which beaches are good for this.

There are some websites out there that say you can generally go off leash before 8am and after 6pm, but I don’t see anything officially listed. Where does the truth lie and which beaches in or near Oak Bluffs would be best?

posted by fso to Pets & Animals (2 answers total)

Beaches around the Cape and islands, including Martha's Vineyard, are often partially closed to vehicles and off-leash dogs from May-August (24/7) to protect nesting endangered shorebirds. People who say you can let your dog run free before/after certain times are getting around the overworked staff who have to enforce the restrictions, and that does not make them great humans imho.
You can get up-to-date information about beach restrictions through a 24-hour recorded hotline at 508-627-8390 for Chappaquiddick and 774-310-1110 for Norton Point. Not sure about Oak Bluffs, but I would just assume most beaches are not ok for off-leash dogs until late August. Scout your beach ahead of time and if you see symbolic fencing or plover-related signs anywhere, please reconsider!
posted by Freyja at 1:54 PM on June 19, 2018 [3 favorites]

This looks official:
https://www.oakbluffsma.gov/157/Parks-Recreation

Looks like no dogs at all 7 or 8 - 5, and "dogs must be under control," which might mean leashes aren't strictly required, but only a very well trained dog could go off leash.
posted by Jasper Fnorde at 1:51 PM on June 20, 2018