You can drive your car to Nantucket by taking the 2.5-hour Steamship Authority car ferry from Hyannis. There are no roads or bridges going to Nantucket from mainland Massachusetts so beware of the very high ferry ticket prices to bring your car over.Oct 21, 2020
Getting To Nantucket
- The Steamship Authority High-Speed and Traditional Car Ferry, departs from Hyannis, MA.
- Hy-Line Cruises High-Speed Ferry, departs from Hyannis, MA.
- Freedom Cruise Line departs from Harwich Port, MA.
- Seastreak High-Speed Ferry from New York City, NY and New Bedford, MA.
- Nantucket Ferry Schedules.
Martha's Vineyard: Size. Clocking in at 96-square miles, Martha's Vineyard is more than twice the size of the island of Nantucket. Compared to Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket is relatively small. It's 14-miles long and 3 1/2 miles wide, which means it's much easier to explore on foot or bike.May 25, 2020
Amenities abound on our Seastreak ferries: plush seating with spacious legroom, climate controlled cabins and an open-air top deck, 360-degree panoramic windows, private his/hers bathrooms, free high speed wifi, and a full-service cash bar with cocktails, beer, wine, sodas, tea, coffee, and snacks.
If a departure is sold out, we will try to accommodate passengers that wish to stand-by for boarding. If you would like to stand-by for a sold-out departure, you must purchase a ticket for the next available boat in the ticket office.
While cars are allowed on Nantucket, it's much easier to get around on foot, bike, shuttle or ride share like Uber. The island is small, parking is limited and the cost to bring your car by ferry is expensive, so we recommend walking, riding a bike or moped, or renting a car.
Nantucket is an island off Cape Cod in Massachusetts and one of the most beautiful places in New England. It has a large history of whaling but now only offers whale watching tours in the season, April to October. If this sounds tempting, a day trip to Nantucket is definitely something you should consider.
Below are travel resources on how to get to Nantucket. There is no bridge! And, it's not necessary to bring a car, as convenient public transportation services allow easy access to all parts of the island.
Uber and Lyft also operate in Nantucket.
Nantucket Day Trip
- Brant Point Light. Our #1 choice of most Instagrammable spots in our onboard magazine!
- Downtown. Once you step off the ferry onto Straight Wharf, it's like stepping back in time.
- Walk the Wharves.
- Lily Pond Park.
- Secret Spot.
- Children's Beach.
- Nantucket Bike Shop.
- The Juice Bar.
A vacation to Nantucket for one week usually costs around $1,961 for one person. So, a trip to Nantucket for two people costs around $3,922 for one week. A trip for two weeks for two people costs $7,843 in Nantucket.Jun 7, 2021
Both regular and high-speed passenger ferries can take you from Boston to Provincetown (seasonally) and to the islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard year-round. Ferries depart from Falmouth Harbor, Woods Hole and Hyannis Harbor to Martha's Vineyard, and ferries to Nantucket depart from Hyannis Harbor.
Pets are allowed on board their island-bound ferries, except the First Class Lounge section of their traditional Nantucket ferry. Pets must be properly leashed and are not allowed on the seats. Sailing from Saquatucket Harbor, this passenger-only ferry servicing Nantucket leaves from Harwich Port.
Despite its remote location 30 miles at sea, Nantucket has the second-busiest commercial airport in Massachusetts and is easily accessible by major and local airlines and aircraft charters. Convenient flights are available year-round from airports in Boston, Hyannis, Martha's Vineyard and Westchester/White Plains.
The best time to visit Nantucket is during the shoulder months of March, April, September and October. You'll find the island pleasantly free of tourist hordes, and prices are more manageable, too. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, hotels and seafood restaurants capitalize on the throngs of deep-pocketed tourists.
Nantucket is known for whaling, Nantucket bay scallops, foggy weather, lighthouses (three of them!), Main Street, Cisco Brewers, fantastic fishing, iconic holidays like Nantucket Stroll and the Daffodil Festival and the Rainbow Fleet.Jul 25, 2019
Nantucket, MA is one of the most bike-friendly islands in New England, and you can access the entire span on pedal power alone. You can make a day of walking around Nantucket Town and then take a taxi to Siasconset or Madaket. But going by bike lets you really feel the island.May 3, 2013
In Nantucket, the summers are comfortable, humid, and windy; the winters are very cold, wet, and extremely windy; and it is partly cloudy year round. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 26°F to 75°F and is rarely below 14°F or above 81°F.
Passenger Fares: For the cheapest passenger fares to Nantucket, Steamship Authority is the winner. Tickets on their traditional ferry cost about half of what you'd pay to take a fast ferry.
Cape Cod is a 339 mile long hook-shaped peninsula off the coast of Massachusetts. Nantucket is a tiny island 30 miles off of the Cape. It's just over 100 miles in area and teeters on a population of 10,000. The beaches are typically quite, and the coastline boasts towering cliffsides and quintessential lighthouses.
Parking in the lot costs $10 - $15 per calendar day, depending on the season. door to the ferry terminal.
No bridges lead to Nantucket, so you'll have to arrive by air or sea. Driving can take four to seven hours from New York to Hyannis, Massachusetts, then you board a ferry ($36 round trip) for two hours (save an hour on the $70 high-speed option) to Nantucket Harbor.Mar 3, 2018
The high-speed ferry passenger pick-up/drop-off area at the Hyannis Terminal features a large shelter with bench seats where you can enjoy views of Hyannis Harbor.
