To be honest - I’ve never taken a bus or chartered tour of Martha’s Vineyard. But I get a lot of questions about them, and I was curious to learn about the options available for day trippers. Once I started looking into the tour bus information, I too was overwhelmed by the plethora of options out there. I started to get FOMO and want to take one myself! It’s a fantastic way to see the island in one-day. Even with earbuds in, the views itself are incredible.

For those who don’t need the details, here is the summary: Most tours vary between 2.5-4 hours, only about half offer online advanced booking. Half of them are private charters and half are public walk-ons/booking. Most offer options to get off and look around/take photos/get a snack/restroom, though rarely for longer than 15 minutes. Most offer morning and afternoon tour options. Individual public tours average around $50 per person, and private tours are around $450-500 for the whole van. A ton of them leave from Oak Bluffs in the high season, and if you’re reserving the whole van you can get a custom pickup location.

TripAdvisor has a lot of recent reviews if you want to hear more on specific tour guide personalities. Below is a high-level overview and links to book, and photos of the vans if I could find them.

Martha’s Vineyard Sightseeing

• Departs: Oak Bluffs (23 Lake Ave)

• Description: Aboard an old school bus, take a 2.5 hour tour that visits all 6 island towns. There will be up to 43 passengers on the bus, no reservations required, One 30 minute stop at the Aquinnah cliffs. No advance booking, walk on only. Info here

• Price: tentatively $40

Martha’s Vineyard Tours and Transport

• Departs: Oak Bluffs (1 Seaview Avenue) at 10:30 AM, and 2:00 PM. (May 16 – October 15)

• Description: Aboard a van/mini-bus, this tour company offers several options including a three and four hour tour options, a Jaws tour, African American Heritage tour and custom or private tours. These feature stops in Aquinnah and Menemsha, and online advanced booking options. Info here

• Price: The most economical option is a group tour for $55/per person for a 3 hour tour, though private tour options can increase to price to several hundred dollars depending on what you’re looking for.

Martha’s Vineyard Tours and Excursions

• Departs: Oak Bluffs

• Description: These large vans offer several options - one, two and three hour tours, a Jaws tour or custom tours. Advance booking options available by phone or email. Info here

• Price: Tours start at $50 per person

Greetings from Martha’s Vineyard Tours

• Departs: Pick you up at your location of choice.

• Description: Reserve a private, air-conditioned van that offers 3 or 4 hour whole-island tours. Advance booking is available online. The offer morning, afternoon and sunset tours Info here

• Price: Private tours only, for up to 11 passengers, $425 total for 3 hours, $500 for 4 hours.

Oak Bluffs Land and Wharf Company

• Departs: Oak Bluffs (Dockside Inn) daily at 10:30 or 2pm

• Description: Board air conditioned vans that hold up to 15 people for a daily 2.5 hour historic tour with a stop in Aquinnah. They also offer sunset trips to Menemsha or private tours. You can reserve online, or via phone Info here

• Price: $50 per person for group tours

HomeGrown Tours

• Departs: Oak Bluffs (1 Seaview Avenue)

• Description: Air conditioned mini-bus, this option offers the most custom and creative tour options we came across. In addition to options similar to those above, they also offer African American, Jaws, Romantic Sunset, All Island, Here for the Day, Weekend/August and kids tours Info here.

• Price: $60 per person, All island $400, Down Island $250

Edgartown Tour Company

• Departs: Edgartown (or custom location)

• Description: This company offers 90 minute walking tours of Edgartown, full-island half or full day custom private tours, plus hiking and paddle boarding, or ghost adventures. Info here

• Price: $40 for the walking tours, $425 for the half day whole-island tour or rates up to $575

ResortMan

• Departs: Your choice

• Description: This is definitely a more luxury transportation company who has over 18 vehicles. Their half and full day tour options are incredibly customizable, Info here

• Price: Depends on tour type, only private reservations

Vineyard Transit Authority

• Departs: Your choice! Options close to all ferries or even the airport

• Description: The island’s bus system offers a scenic, flexible and economical option for a bus tour. They have routed-out a full itinerary on their website that would allow you to use the public bus system to see all parts of the island and stop for as long as you’d like in each location. View the helpful itineraries (for both peak and off-season times) on their site directly Info here

• Price: A one-day, unlimited pass is currently $8

Do you want my unsolicited opinion? After reading over the descriptions and never taking anything myself - I personally would probably go with HomeGrown Tours or Edgartown Tour Company.