Where Was Jaws Filmed? The Martha's Vineyard Beaches and Villages That Made the Movie

A Look at the Martha's Vineyard Locations That Made Jaws the Ultimate Summer MovieFifty years on, Steven Spielberg’s biting love letter to New England coastal life still feels right.Everett Collection / Everett CollectionOn Location peels back the curtain on some of your favorite films, television shows, and more.There are places that lean into their movie lore—and then there is Martha’s Vineyard. On this sleepy New England island filled with cedar shingle houses, working harbors and coastal charm, the legacy of Jaws feels less like a Hollywood film set and more like something you can still step into. When Steven Spielberg arrived over fifty years ago to shoot the now-classic film, he barely had to do anything by way of set dressing—he merely had to capture Martha’s Vineyard as it was in order to portray the fictional Amity Island.Today, the film still looms large in our collective imagination, shaping how the world views this island. Jaws obsessives still show up every summer, shark-obsessed and camera-ready, and they’re treated to one of the most authentic corners of New England, where the line between film and real life feels delightfully blurred. Kids still jump off the same bridge. Fishermen still set sail from Menemsha Harbor before dawn. And beachgoers still keep a wary eye on the surf, just in case a fin should emerge.What’s striking is that the locals still celebrate Jaws, too. As opposed to other destinations around the world that have more of an arm’s length, complicated relationship with how Hollywood has portrayed them, Vineyarders tend to have a loving relationship with Jaws. The film has endured for over half a century because of its authentic, loving depiction of this island.The magic is that you can opt in or out of experiencing Martha’s Vineyard through the lens of Jaws. You can visit the most iconic Jaws filming locations (which we’ve gathered here, below) or you can simply experience the island for what it’s always been: a place of quiet rhythms, salt air and rustic beauty that long predates Hollywood’s camera.Martha's Vineyard, and the village of Edgartown in particular, stood in for the Jaws setting of Amity Island. Courtesy Everett CollectionEdgartown—or, “Amity”Start in Edgartown, the polished harbor village that doubled as Amity’s town center. Here you’ll find whitewashed captain’s homes where summer renters enjoy cocktails on their patios, and ice cream shops that mainlanders fantasize about visiting all year round. It’s also home to Faraway Martha’s Vineyard, one of the best hotels on the island. Wander down Main Street, go by Edgartown Town Hall and you’re basically exploring a movie set—almost nothing has changed since Jaws filmed here.The ill-fated Chrissie on her final swim off Martha's Vineyard. Courtesy Everett CollectionSouth Beach—Shark attack!Katama Beach—colloquially known as South Beach—stretches three miles along the island’s southern shore, and is nothing short of spectacular. There's a reason the kids at the movie's beginning have their bonfire there (Chrissie's death, though, happens off Cow Beach closer to the bridge below). Look to the horizon and you’re looking at about 1,500 miles of open ocean, with pretty much nothing between you and the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. Notably, aspects of this beach tend to shift from season to season, as the occasional barrier beach breach can turn the pond behind it temporarily into an inlet. While there are certainly sharks hanging out in these waters, the more immediate dangers are the strong tides and rip currents. But don’t let the doom and gloom spoil this one for you—it is still one of the most spectacular beaches in all of New England, and a perfect place to spend a day soaking up the sun.State Beach, “The Bridge”The long, narrow barrier beach along Beach Road between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown is officially known as Joseph Sylvia State Beach, but Jaws lovers know it as the site of one of the film’s shark attacks. The “Jaws bridge” (officially the American Legion Memorial Bridge) is still there, and jumping from its railings into the channel below is a rite of summer for locals and visitors alike. While iconic, it isn’t the island’s best beach necessarily—so plan on rocking up in your car or bike, parking for a few minutes, doing the bridge, then moving along.Director Steven Spielberg and star Roy Scheider on set at State Beach. Courtesy Everett CollectionMenemsha, Quint’s fishing villageIf Edgartown is all about preppy polish, Menemsha is all about weathered docks, working boats, and salty authenticity. Though the film’s set of Quint’s shack is long gone, this fishing village still carries the sort of rugged, no-frills ethos that keeps this island’s heartbeat going. It’s a quiet spot, and one of the best things you can do is get some fried, couldn’t-be-fresher seafood from the Menemsha Fish Market. Grab a lobster roll, eat it on the pier with your feet dangling over the edge, and enjoy a west-facing sunset for one of the most beautiful experiences you can have on the island.Edgartown Lighthouse, the Vineyard iconThe white cast-iron lighthouse at the entrance to Edgartown Harbor appears in several of Jaws’ background shots throughout the film. Today, the lighthouse is administered by the Martha’s Vineyard Museum, which offers tours in the summer. The harbor walk to and from the lighthouse goes by sailboats, grand houses and Lighthouse Beach. If you’re looking for a low-lift stroll on the edge of downtown Edgartown, this one is foolproof.Scheider's Chief Martin Brody evacuates State Beach Courtesy Everett CollectionThe Chappaquiddick FerryThe Chappy Ferry is arguably Martha’s Vineyard’s most iconic form of transportation. This low-key shuttle connects the main island at the village of Edgartown to the sparsely populated adjacent island of Chappaquiddick. The crossing takes just a few minutes, but feels like a true reset—just a short ride away from the hustle and bustle of Edgartown, the crowds thin out and the pace shifts immediately. The ferry appears only briefly in Jaws, but it’s an experience that really sticks with you.The final shots of the movie were filmed on the northeastern edge of Chappaquidick for a truly lonesome feel. Courtesy Everett CollectionCape Poge Wildlife Refuge, the final shotOut here, at the far northeastern edge of Chappaquiddick, you really feel like you’re at world’s end. You’ve arrived at either the busy airport or ferry terminal, traveled to Edgartown, hopped aboard the Chappy Ferry, then continued to this remote, idyllic spit of sand. Facilities out here are few and far between, so be sure to pack any essentials you may need. Once you reach Cape Poge, you’ll immediately understand why Steven Spielberg felt it worthy of Jaws’ final frames.Getting to Martha's VineyardThe Vineyard is reached via ferry from Woods Hole (45 minutes), Falmouth or New Bedford. If you’re traveling with a car, book your car’s passage well in advance with the Steamship Authority. In season, there are regular commercial flights available from Boston, New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, and more. If you’re not one for ferries or planes, arriving via your own sailboat is fine, too—just mind the sharks, of course.Why Everyone Will Be Going to Osaka in 2025For over twelve years, award-winning travel writer Todd Plummer has traveled the globe in search of compelling narratives and passionate people. He is a seasoned connoisseur of hotels and ecotourism experiences, and his regions of interest include Canada, Southern Africa, and his native New England. An adventurer, skier, and polo ... Read More