⛵ FAQ: How do I get from Cape Cod to Martha's Vineyard?
⛵ FAQ: How do I get from Cape Cod to Martha's Vineyard?
When traveling to Martha's Vineyard, Falmouth offers multiple options to get to MV. We break down the differences at a glance below.
Feeling confused? I don’t blame you. We’ve consolidated the most up-to-date information into this post to help you determine the correct ferry for you. We did the work so you don’t have to navigate three tabs and overwhelming websites. They are all a good option because they all get you to Martha’s Vineyard though :)
The three main options to get you from Falmouth to MV are Steamship Authority, Island Queen and the Falmouth-Edgartown Ferry. We’ve broken them all down for you below.
Here’s what they have in common: You do not need to book your passenger tickets in advance, though all allow an option to do so. All ferries serve refreshments and have restrooms. All ferries allow pets and charge a fee for bikes. As with any boat trip, the ferries are also weather-dependent, so know that inclement weather can cause delays and cancellations that can be non-refundable.
Pro tip: Regardless of which option you pick, be sure to route to the parking lot and not the ferry itself. You should budget time for arriving 30-60 minutes before your desired ferry departs.
The other factor you may want to consider is which town in Martha’s Vineyard you’d like to arrive in. Vineyard Haven, Oak Bluffs and Edgartown are all down-island and about a 10-20 minute cab or bus from each other, so it’s quite easy to arrive in one town and get to another.
Steamship Authority
Departs Falmouth and Arrives in Vineyard Haven or Oak Bluffs
Season: Year-Round
Adult Round-Trip Cost: $19
Duration: 45 minutes
Parking: $15 to $20 per calendar day (as of date of publishing). Offsite and require a shuttle to get from the lot to the ferry (budget at least 30 extra minutes for this). Be sure to check the morning of for which lot you should route to (either Palmer Ave or Thomas Landers - be careful not to route to the Hyannis parking lot!)
Frequency: Between 14-22 trips per way, per day, depending on time of year.
Passenger Capacity: Depending on the vessel, between 500-1200 people
Other: This is the only ferry that brings cars, and cars are reservation only and can fill up months in advance. The Oak Bluffs terminal is available between May 17-October 19.
Island Queen
Departs Falmouth and Arrives in Oak Bluffs
Season: May 27-October 10
Adult Round-Trip Cost: $25
Duration: 35 minutes
Parking: $20 per calendar day (cash only)
Frequency: Between 3-10 trips per way, per day, depending on time of year.
Passenger Capacity: 522 people
Other: Adjacent parking lot is first come, first served and does not take reservations.
Falmouth-Edgartown Ferry
Season: May 27-September 5
Round-Trip Cost: $80
Duration: 1 hour
Parking: Valet parking available (Day Trip Parking $30 for same day return or Multi-Day Parking $40 per calendar day)
Frequency: Between 3-5 trips per way, per day, depending on time of year.
Passenger Capacity: 110-130 people
There IS a fourth option for a ferry - you can also get to Martha’s Vineyard from Cape Cod via the Hyline Ferry in Hyannis (about two hours further down the cape than Falmouth). We didn’t include that in this roundup because it is not from Falmouth, but if you’re planning a trip elsewhere on the cape, that might be a better option for you. If you’re trying to avoid the Cape traffic and want a shorter route, Seastreak also offers ferries from New Bedford, MA and New York City.
So which do we suggest? For a summer day trip we definitely suggest the Island Queen. For anything else - go with the option with the most availability and lowest price - Steamship Authority.
Here’s a handy graphic to summarize:
We’ll see you on the vineyard soon!