Joseph Sylvia State Beach is an ocean beach in Edgartown, Massachusetts.
What to expect
Swimming
Water not monitored by DPH
Jump/Bridge-Jumping
Allowed summer, unofficial tradition at the Big Bridge
Managed by
Town of Edgartown / Town of Oak Bluffs jointly operate day-to-day; Edgartown portion via Edgartown Parks & Recreation
508-627-6145 · WebsiteGetting in
Access points along this beach
Big Bridge (Jaws Bridge / American Legion Memorial Bridge)
Town line marker between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown; folded seed joseph-sylvia-state-beach-big-bridge
Little Bridge
discovered named pull-off, north of Big Bridge
Sound-side pull-offs (folded seed joseph-sylvia-state-beach-sound)
general term for the roadside pull-offs facing Nantucket Sound along the main stretch
Tides & weather
Tide and sun: NOAA astronomy · forecast: NWS, up to 7 days
Show the full year
Average water temperature at Joseph Sylvia State Beach by month, in °F| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
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| Water °F | 39° | 37° | 41° | 48° | 56° | 66° | 73° | 74° | 70° | 62° | 54° | 44° |
|---|
Monthly averages from NOAA, Woods Hole (2022 to 2024). Today's reading is in the conditions above.
Common questions
Is Joseph Sylvia State Beach in Edgartown open today?
open to the public; water quality here is not monitored by MA DPH (updated 2026-09-13). MA DPH is the authority. Check the status the morning you go.
Dogs are banned June 15 through September 15; leashed dogs are permitted off-season.
What's the water temperature at Joseph Sylvia State Beach?
Water at Joseph Sylvia State Beach averages about 37°F in February and 74°F in August, based on NOAA readings at Woods Hole from 2022 to 2024. For today's temperature, see the conditions above.
Can you swim at Joseph Sylvia State Beach?
Joseph Sylvia State Beach is town-owned and its water is not monitored by MA DPH, so there is no official swim status. Check conditions posted at the beach.