Katama is mostly sky and low scrub, cut by channels like this one, straight and still, with the sky reflected on the water.
Katama is the open end of Edgartown on Martha's Vineyard. It is flat plains, a long Atlantic beach, a grass airfield and a great deal of open space.
The photos and notes here are our own, from time spent on the island.
History
The name Katama comes from the Wampanoag word often translated as "crab-fishing place." Katama grew into a seaside resort in the late 1800s and was the end of the line for the Martha's Vineyard Railroad, which once ran from Oak Bluffs to South Beach.
During World War II the military trained on the Katama plains because of all that open ground. Today Katama is still mostly open: grassland, scrub, fences and sky.
Finding Katama
The essentials in Katama
07 STOPSThe island's main Atlantic beach: miles of surf, soft sand and a wide shoreline. The undertow is real.
A 2.5-mile barrier beach that normally links Katama to Chappaquiddick; a breach that opened on January 1, 2026 has cut it, so Chappy is reached by ferry only for now. Managed by the Town of Edgartown since 2023, it has seasonal over-sand vehicle access (OSV), good birdwatching, and a lot of empty beach. OSV permits and tide awareness are required.
A working farm run by The Trustees, with educational programs, barnyard visits, farm tours, seasonal events and a farm stand with local products. Good for children.
A grass airfield since 1924, and one of the few of its age that still looks and works much as it always has. You can watch classic planes take off and land, or, from May to about mid-September, book a biplane ride over Katama Bay, South Beach and Edgartown.
The resort at Katama, with direct access to South Beach. It has dining, tennis, yoga, kids' programs, pools, a seasonal water taxi to Edgartown and a shuttle to downtown.
At Katama Airfield, 12 Mattakesett Way, run by a family of pilots: its own site lists breakfast from 8 to noon and lunch and dinner from noon to 9, with tables on a deck that looks out over the grass runway. The last day of the season isn’t posted, so it’s worth checking before you drive out in the fall.
Sandwiches, coffee, baked goods, picnic supplies, beach snacks and Vineyard-made products; the easy place to stock up before South Beach or Norton Point.
Katama Kitchen at Katama Airfield in October, the deck tables behind glass and an Open til Sunset sign by the door.
Edgartown Bay Road in Katama, with oaks leaning over both sides and not a car in sight.
A straight road with snow on the shoulders and the sun right on the horizon, empty in winter.
The board in summer 2026: egg sandwich $7.95, smash burger $9.95, pulled pork $14.95, lobster roll $29.95 and a $10 smoothie. You can order ahead from the beach and pick up at the window.
A 
B 
C A: a wide stretch of ocean beach on a gentle day; B: picnic tables on the patio at the Katama General Store; C: the road across the plains, split-rail fence and sky the whole way.
Know before you go
Late spring and early fall bring warm days and fewer people on the sand.
The bike path from Edgartown to South Beach is flat, easy, and good for families.
VTA Route 8 runs from Church Street in Edgartown to South Beach all year, four loops a day in the off-season, stopping at the Right Fork, the changing station and the Left Fork (stop locations can shift with the beach). The buses are fare-free through June 30, 2027.
If you plan to drive on Norton Point, check tides, surf conditions, and permit requirements with the Town of Edgartown, which has managed Norton Point since 2023.
Katama is out of the way and South Beach has few facilities, so sunscreen, water and beach gear are worth bringing.
South Beach dunes, Katama Bay overlooks, and the FARM Institute grounds are the picnic spots.
South Beach parking is free all year with hundreds of spaces; driving onto Norton Point needs an Edgartown sticker. More in our parking guide.
The road into Katama, with the South Beach parking area and the ocean just ahead.
Questions about Katama
What is the best time to visit Katama?
Late spring through early fall is beach season, and good for biking and exploring the plains too.
Are there accommodations in Katama?
Yes. The Winnetu Oceanside Resort is the resort at Katama, with beach access, restaurants, pools, fitness programs, a shuttle and activities for all ages.
What activities are available in Katama?
Swimming, sunbathing, beach walks, biking, over-sand driving at Norton Point, farm programs at the FARM Institute and flights from the Katama Airfield.
Is South Beach good for families?
All of South Beach faces the open Atlantic, with strong surf and rip currents, so in summer the lifeguarded stretch is the place to swim, with small children close by. For calmer water, families usually head to the Nantucket Sound side instead, such as Lighthouse Beach in Edgartown or Joseph Sylvia State Beach.
A beach path in winter: snow between the sand fences, the wide beach ahead and a band of orange light low over the ocean.
The Record
Fun facts about Katama
A red biplane banking low over Katama Airfield in late October, with the windsock out by the houses at the edge of the field.
A long Atlantic beach with nothing behind it but dune grass, and the sun going down along the shore.
Katama on film
From Our Lens Grass, surf and a very long horizon. 31 photographs · View the Katama gallery
+27 More photos: our Katama gallery.
Four free downloads · 2026 The Beach Guide, the Fall Guide, Where to Stay and What It Really Costs Every beach, the fall season date by date, every town and price band for a stay, and the budget guide: four PDFs, free with the island letter. No spam, one click to leave. See a sample first More of Katama and South Beach on film
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