How to Choose the Best Gym on Nantucket
TL;DR: Nantucket has more gyms than you'd expect for a 14,000-person island, and the right one depends on what you're after: classes, machines, open floor space, or a place that stays open after the Summer season. Below is a straight rundown of the main options and where they are, plus the questions to ask before you pay. Full disclosure: I own Werdum Training Center on. I think we win on three things that matter out here. We have an outdoor training area, a lot of usable space, and prices are great and transparent (day passes are $40, gym membership runs $90 to $159 a month).
Training on Nantucket isn't like training in a city. Our year-round population sits around 14,000, then swells past 50,000 in July. A gym that feels empty in winter can be elbow-to-elbow by summer. Factor the season into your choice, not just the equipment.
Before you sign anything, ask four things. What are the actual winter hours? Can you buy a day pass without a membership? How far is it from where you sleep? And how much open floor do you get once the machines and a class or two fill the room? That last one catches people. A small studio looks great in photos and feels cramped the second six people show up.
One more island thing: a lot of places here run on a seasonal calendar. Summer rates, summer hours, summer crowds, then a quieter winter setup that not every gym advertises clearly. If you live here year-round, ask what the place looks like in January, not just August. If you're here for the season, ask whether they do weekly or short-term passes so you're not buying a membership you'll use for six weeks.
Here are the main places and where to find them. The Nantucket Club sits downtown at 77 Easton Street, a full fitness facility with a spa, close to the wharves. EZIA Athletic Club, at 117 Orange Street, is a private wellness club built around structured, longer-term programs. Nantucket Cycling & Fitness on Young's Way is the island's class-based spot, strong on cycling and group workouts. Studio Nantucket, at 23 Federal Street, runs barre, bootcamp, and Pilates reformer classes right in town. CRFIT, out on Tomahawk Road, is a strength gym with private and group sessions. And we're at Werdum Training Center, 4 Lovers Lane, doing jiu-jitsu, MMA, Muay Thai, capoeira, kids' classes, and gym with equipment both indoor and outdoor.
Every one of those is good at something. Want a reformer class, go to Studio Nantucket. Want to spin, Nantucket Cycling & Fitness. Prices and winter hours change, so call ahead and check their current rates yourself instead of trusting numbers in a blog post.
To other criteria. Start with space. We're not a storefront wedged between two shops downtown. We've got a big mat floor, a gym floor, and an outdoor training area you can use the moment the weather turns. That outdoor piece is unique here. Most island gyms are indoor-only, and on an island this pretty, half the appeal is training outside instead of staring at a mirror.
Then price. Ours are posted and flat. A day pass is $40. Gym membership is $159 a month, $90 if you're a student, and $130 if you're a parent who trains while your kid is in class. No sign-up fee in a costume, no seasonal activation. You know the number before you walk in, and for Nantucket, it's a low one.
The staff is always friendly and ready to help you. This is the reason why we maintain straight five star reviews on Google maps.
Last, room to grow. Because jiu-jitsu, MMA, Muay Thai, capoeira, and the kids' program all run under one roof, a membership doesn't box you in. Lift on Monday, roll on Wednesday, put your kid in capoeira on Thursday, all in one place on one bill.
If your list is space, an outdoor option, and a price you can read off the wall, Werdum is the strongest pick on the island. Come see it. Your first class is free, day passes are $40, and we're at 4 Lovers Lane. Call (508) 680-4839 or just walk in.
Gym | Location | Day pass | Monthly |
The Nantucket Club | 77 Easton St | $35–$50 (gym) | $225/wk |
EZIA Athletic Club | 117 Orange St | $75/day | from $250/mo |
Nantucket Cycling & Fitness | 25 Young's Way | $30/class | $175–$250/mo |
Studio Nantucket | 23 Federal St | $65/class | class packages |
CRFIT | 16 Tomahawk Rd | not published | not published |
Werdum Training Center | 4 Lovers Lane | $40 | $90–$159/mo |
