Downtown Falmouth is more quaint New England and classier than Hyannis town center, which has a little more of a developed beach town feel, in my humble opinion. There are great beaches anywhere you stay along the Cape, and for cultural/educational visits you can drive to nearby Sandwich.
Car or no car? It's a question we hear a lot. It's true, Martha's Vineyard is an Island located off the south shores of Cape Cod. With no bridge or connected road, you can't drive here, so travel via air or sea is the only way to arrive.
All three of the main port towns (Vineyard Haven, Oak Bluffs, and Edgartown) are easily walkable. And since both Vineyard Haven and Oak Bluffs have ferries that service the towns May - October (Vineyard Haven, year round), your own two feet might just be all the transportation you need for your visit!
Nantucket is located 26 miles from Cape Cod's mainland port of Hyannis. Take a leisurely 2 hour and 15 minute voyage on our traditional ferries from Hyannis to Nantucket. Or ride in style and luxury on board our seasonal high-speed passenger-only ferry, the M/V Iyanough, which gets you to Nantucket in just one hour.
Both run high-speed passenger catamarans with a travel time of approximately one hour. The Steamship Authority also runs a traditional car-and-passenger ferry, with a 2 ¼ hour cruise time. Secure, on-site and off-site parking is available at both terminals in Hyannis for a nominal fee.
Day-Tripping: Martha's Vineyard
- Sailing out of Hyannis Harbor on Hy-Line Cruises' fast ferry.
- A Steamship Authority vessel departing Oak Bluffs.
- The clay cliffs at Aquinnah.
- Edgartown Lighthouse.
- Harbor View Hotel.
- The gingerbread cottages in Oak Bluffs.
- The Tabernacle.
*Sailing Schedules are subject to changes without notice, all trips are 105 minutes in duration and may vary in length due to tide and weather conditions. **We recommend that passengers arrive at least 45-minutes prior to departure in Quonset Point and at least 30-minutes prior to departure in Oak Bluffs.
How much is the Martha's Vineyard Ferry from Cape Cod?
| FERRY | Adult (13yrs and over) | Child (5 – 12 years) |
|---|
| One-Way | Round-trip |
| Steamship Authority | $9.50 | $10 |
| Island Queen | $15 | $13 |
| Hy-Line Cruises | $32 | $41 |
Is there a direct ferry between Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard Island? Yes, there is a direct ferry departing from Nantucket, Massachusetts and arriving at Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard, MA. Services depart four times a day, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 1h 10m.
There is no direct connection from Block Island to Martha's Vineyard Island. However, you can take the ferry to Point Judith Ferry Terminal, Narragansett, RI, take the taxi to Quonset Point Pier, Quonset Point, RI, then take the ferry to Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard, MA.
Passenger reservations are not needed for our traditional ferries to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. Passengers traveling without a vehicle may purchase their tickets at our terminals on the day of sailing.
Many people visit on day trips which is possible. I think to fully appreciate it's beauty it's best to stay on Martha's Vineyard for at least two to three days.
A day trip to Martha's Vineyard will allow to you experience the many distinctive towns and areas this island offers. Martha's Vineyard transit authority runs buses, so there's no need for a car. For $7, a day pass will take you throughout the island on varying routes, and you can hop on and off as you please.
As any Martha's Vineyard travel guide will tell you, the best time to visit the island is from May until September, when the Atlantic Ocean ensures temperatures around the low 70s and rarely above 90 degrees.
The nearest airport to Martha's Vineyard Island is Martha's Vineyard (MVY) Airport which is 1.9 miles away. Other nearby airports include Hyannis (HYA) (24.4 miles), Nantucket (ACK) (30.9 miles), Providence (PVD) (47.8 miles) and Boston (BOS) (69.2 miles).
The big changes in travel to Martha's Vineyard during Covid-19 by ferry are that passengers are required to wear face coverings while onboard, and schedules and capacity are both reduced to allow for social distancing. Flying to Martha's Vineyard is another option, for those looking to maximize their time on island.
Unlike Vineyard Haven, Oaks Bluffs has all of the quaintness and charm you'd expect from Martha's Vineyard. As you step off the ferry, follow the other visitors straight on to Circuit Avenue, which is the main shopping and dining area in town.
