HOW TO GET TO MARTHA'S VINEYARD
A common question we get from potential visitors is, “How do I get there?” Being an island and all, people sometimes think it’s like travelling to a different Universe. But, in reality, getting to Martha’s Vineyard is pretty darn easy — and there are more ways than one! First, you should know it’s really an Island – there are no tunnels or bridges connecting the Vineyard to the mainland. So you’ll need to take a ferry, or fly here. But not to worry, because the Vineyard is open year-round, and ferries and flights are available every day!
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
Martha’s Vineyard is an island 7 miles off the coast of Massachusetts. You can only get to Martha’sVineyard by ferry or by plane — there is no bridge!
YEAR-ROUND FERRY
Martha’s Vineyard is a wonderful place to visit year-round! While there are multiple ferry options between May-October, the ONLY year-round ferry services are SeaStreak and Steamship Authority
SeaStreak
From New Bedford in Southeastern Massachusetts. The fast ferry service from New Bedford takes 50 minutes, and pets and bicycles are permitted; WIFI and refreshments are available. Reservations are REQUIRED and available for purchase on the website or at the terminal.
The Steamship Authority operates ALL day, EVERY day from Woods Hole on Cape Cod. The trip between Woods Hole and Martha’s Vineyard takes 45 minutes, and bicycles and pets are welcome. The ferry has refreshments, restrooms and WIFI. It is the ONLY service that carries cars, motorcycles and trucks is the Steamship Authority.
Passengers can walk onto ANY of the Steamship ferries without reservations, year-round.
You MUST make an advanced reservation for your car. You can do that on the Steamship Authority website, or call the reservation line 508.477.8600. Reservations for summer travel can sell out very quickly, so we recommend signing up for the SSA emails, and setting a reminder for when booking opens.
Insider’s Tip: If you can’t get the exact date or time you want, use the Wait List feature, even if you have to book the next day. It is not uncommon to have your wait list reservation fulfilled prior to your trip! (But no guarantees!)
Please note that parking is NOT available at the ferry terminals, so don’t drive all the way to the terminal if you plan to walk-on. The Steamship Authority has convenient and safe parking lots, with shuttles that will take you and your luggage to the ferry, free of charge. The SSA website has all the information you need regarding parking, shuttles and more.
Ferries dock in the village of Vineyard Haven year-round. Mid-May through mid-October, some ferries are scheduled to dock in Oak Bluffs. Land in the wrong spot? No worries! Taxis and the public bus are located at the ferry terminals.
Beginning in May, passenger ferry service is available from Falmouth, Hyannis and New Bedford in Massachusetts, Quonset Point in Rhode Island, New York City and Northern New Jersey. (But there is no ferry service from Boston). After Labor Day, services wind down. Typical end dates fall immediately after Labor Day, Columbus Day or the end of October. Please check with each carrier for the most current information when traveling at this time of year.
Not sure which ferry to take? Visit VineyardFerries.com to view a list of ferries including current schedules, pricing, and purchase information.
Daily flights are available year-round from Boston’s Logan Airport. Between between May – October there are additional in-season flights to choose from including American Airlines (Washington DC); Cape Air (multiple routes); Delta (NYC's LaGuardia) and Jet Blue (Boston & NYC’s JFK). As is the case with the ferries, availability of service does change as summer ends and varies with each carrier.
