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State Beach (Joseph Sylvia State Beach), Martha's Vineyard

Edgartown, MA

41.41914° N, -70.55049° W

Where: Beach Rd, Edgartown View Map

Water Type: Salt water

Type: Calm

  • local_parking

Good for: Fishing, Swimming, Walking, Kiteboarding, Windsurfing

About

One of the most popular beaches on the Island, State Beach is particularly attractive to families with young kids due to the fairly easy, free parking, warm quiet waters, and sandy, shallow waters. The beach runs along Beach Road between Edgartown and Oak Bluffs and was the setting for most of the beach scenes in the movie Jaws. There is a lifeguard at the Edgartown end of the beach and some mobile food concessions are usually near the Edgartown-Oak Bluffs line bridge. Beautiful Sengekontacket P

Reviews

11 rated reviews | 35 total reviews


2 reviews
Member since: Mar 2016

8/5/2023

State Beach is great with kids, limited waves and warm water.


Leominster, MA
2 reviews
Member since: Mar 2023

7/23/2022

Park on the road and walk to the beach. Multiple openings so the beach is not crowded. Ocean atmosphere without the crazy South Beach waves.


United States
3 reviews
Member since: Aug 2016

7/16/2022

It’s just a beautiful long stretch of beach perfect for families and there is always plenty of parking. Gentle surf, beautiful horizon. I sit there all day and read and swim.
I’ve been to almost all of the beaches on MV but this is still and will always be my favorite happy place!


United States
3 reviews
Member since: Aug 2016

7/16/2022

It’s just a beautiful long stretch of beach perfect for families and there is always plenty of parking. Gentle surf, beautiful horizon. I sit there all day and read and swim.
I’ve been to almost all of the beaches on MV but this is still and will always be my favorite happy place!


Bronx, NY
1 review
Member since: Jul 2022

6/26/2022

Family friendly and easily able to get on the beach.


United States
3 reviews
Member since: Aug 2011

9/8/2021

5-minute drive from the house [Edgartown Vacation Rental ID 9776], great swimming at this beach, perfect for kids with calm surf.


Newfield, NJ
2 reviews
Member since: May 2017

7/23/2021

This beach is great for kids. The water is calm and clear and the views are amazing.


Roslindale, MA
3 reviews
Member since: May 2020

9/18/2020

I adore State Beach (at the Bend) because of the calm walters and less wind & crowds than at South Beach - perfect for kids & adults alike!


Chestnut Hill, MA
2 reviews
Member since: Feb 2021

8/15/2020

Easy access, pristine, safe.


Walpole, MA
2 reviews
Member since: Mar 2021

7/27/2020

I have 2 young kids so the waves at other beaches can be too much. This is the perfect beach for my family to be able to sit, relax, swim, and just play. Plenty of room to spread out, have your "own space" and the kids and adults just have a blast. You can always get parking, might have to take a couple of passes but you always get a spot. Jumping off the jaws bridge is just an added bonus for the other kids.


USA
2 reviews
Member since: Jul 2019

7/28/2019

We tried a few of the beaches and on our 2nd day found State Beach in Edgartown. We went to post #13. We loved it because the waves were small and the beach was wide. It was perfect for us with small children. We are early risers and would go at 9am -- we had the beach to ourselves until about 11a when it started to get crowded (but never too crowded.) The water was clean and warm. We loved long walks and picnic lunches.


Franklin, MA
3 reviews
Member since: Jul 2018

7/13/2019

This was a beautiful, clean beach. Great for families. Water was on the warmer side compared to others on island. The "Jaws Bridge" was a hit with my kids aged 12 and 15!


Jamaica Plain, MA
2 reviews
Member since: Jan 2019

11/1/2018

State Beach is my most favorite because it is only 10 minutes away [Vacation Rental ID 31671] and it is always warmer than the other beaches. Off season, I walk to the lagoon to sit and read, and then watch the sunset with a glass of wine.


Bridgewater, MA
2 reviews
Member since: Mar 2009

8/4/2018

Great family beach for children of all ages. Quick ride from home [Vacation Rental ID 19453].


Washington, DC
2 reviews
Member since: Sep 2016

7/28/2018

This is our go to beach because it is so child friendly. We can set up and the kids will play safely for hours. Since it is such a good beach for kids, our kids always meet other kids and then we meet their families and often exchange tips on upcoming events or great places to eat and visit


United States
3 reviews
Member since: Jun 2017

7/25/2018

Calm water, family friendly, plenty of room to spread out and have personal space- downside: no rest rooms.


Burlington, MA
4 reviews
Member since: Nov 2017

6/23/2018

calm clean water, miles of sand so even when it's crowded you can always find a place to settle down. Close enough to OB and Edgartown that you can hop over there for a dunk without a long car ride.


Georgetown, MA
2 reviews
Member since: Aug 2017

7/15/2017

Close to the cottage [Oak Bluffs Vacation Rental ID 19701], easy in and out, very clean, sandy ocean bottom.


Ramsey, NJ
2 reviews
Member since: Jul 2017

6/26/2017

We visited numerous beaches during our stay, but this was our "go to" beach. The waves are calm so it was great for the kids. Parking is just a few steps from the beach, so access is very convenient (in particular if you're bringing lots of stuff).


United States
2 reviews
Member since: Nov 2015

8/7/2016

Great time with family and friend. Within waling distance to the Jaws Bridge, which was great.


Newton, MA
2 reviews
Member since: Mar 2011

7/23/2016

This beach is perfect for young kids because of the warm and calm waters. Always easy to find parking as long as you're there before 10am.


2 reviews
Member since: Aug 2016

7/23/2016

This is beach is a great place: it free, plenty of parking, public facilities, and very nice beach. The one at Aquinnah and the beach at the Wildlife Refuge are definite runner's up. You'll enjoy them all.


philadelphia
3 reviews
Member since: May 2014

7/4/2016

Excellent beach for families with young children. Water is clean and seaweed free. Minimal rocks.


Boston, MA
2 reviews
Member since: Apr 2016

9/9/2015

easy access, get there early..tough parking on beach days but well worth it,,dont forget to jump off the bridge, its an island tradition!


United States
2 reviews
Member since: Jun 2015

7/25/2015

Was shallow and gentle enough to swim out a distance.Not crowded.Very relaxing atmosphere. Easy parking on road with convenient, short paths through the dunes.Bike path along road--we parked, biked the path into Oak Bluffs for lunch,biked back and hit the beach!There are lots of smooth pebbles as you first walk into water. Would recommend water shoes, especially for small children or sensitive feet of any age.


Tuckahoe, NY
2 reviews
Member since: Feb 2014

8/16/2014

Waves are calmer and less rocky than other beaches. Great for little ones and very close to house [Property ID 22497]!


Urbandale, IA
1 review
Member since: Mar 2011

8/11/2014

The best beach for easy access, meeting up with friends and watching the day go by.


Middleton, MA
3 reviews
Member since: Feb 2014

7/11/2014

perfect for those who have small child. or just want a calm surf. easy parking as well.


Evanston, IL
2 reviews
Member since: May 2014

7/6/2014

The State Beach (Joseph Sylvia) was easily accessible from our location [Property ID 22593] on Lagoon Pond, and it is a wide, clean stretch of beach with clear, calm water in a postcard setting. Nearby "Jaws Bridge" was fun for the kids (and adult family members as well). We had plenty of room to spread out so despite the crowds we did not feel crowded, and being right along the bus route meant we could come and go easily without worrying about parking. Our kids' favorite as well.


Dracut, MA
2 reviews
Member since: Aug 2014

6/28/2014

This beach is calm and great for kayaking.


Watertown, MA
2 reviews
Member since: Sep 2013

7/13/2013

Great beach for little kids who have not learned to swim.


Wellesley Hills, MA
1 review
Member since: Feb 2013

Love this beach!
7/6/2013

If you're looking for a place to body surf, State Beach is not for you. But if you're looking for warmer water with hardly any surf and nice, soft sand, State Beach is the best! You can park all along State Road, so it's not a far walk from the car. Oh, and you can take the VTA shuttle bus, which drops you off or picks you up anywhere along the road/beach. The Oak Blufffs side of it, near the estuary and bridge, is where most of the beach scenes for "Jaws" was filmed, too!


Cambridge, MA
2 reviews
Member since: May 2012

6/29/2013

It is big and the sand is nice and the water fairly warm. Kids liked it so that made it great for me.


Shrewsbury, MA
2 reviews
Member since: Sep 2013

6/22/2013

In June, with 2 small children and piles of gear for a great full beach day, there is no safer, more convient beach


Brooklyn, NY
4 reviews
Member since: Jun 2008

8/15/2010

The town beach for Studio House [Property ID 22360] is Lambert's Cove beach, which is utterly beautiful. While we go there most often, we often also end up at public State Beach, which hugs the road between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown. Parking is right on the road and there are food trucks across the street if you didn't pack lunch. Swimming is great in its calm, shallow waters, and kids can jump of the big bridge or go hunting for hermit crabs in the surf late in the afternoon. it's always easy and fun.

Location