🌊 Getting to Martha's Vineyard by Boat: Ferry Comparison for 2025

Price comparison, trip length, parking info including Steamship Authority, Island Queen, Falmouth-Edgartown Ferry, Patriot Boat, Hyline and Seastreak

Feb 25, 2025

Here’s this year's updated 2025 FERRY guide! This post covers ALL ferry options to help you pick the best fit for your travel timeline and origin. I’ve also summarized what’s new for 2025. Prices and schedules change annually, so it's important to bookmark this post for the most up-to-date info.

🎯 TLDR: Choosing the Right Ferry

Best for Day Trips: 🚤 Island Queen
Best for Bringing a Car: 🚗 Steamship Authority
Closest to Airport Arrivals: 🛬 Rhode Island Fast Ferry

🗺️ Quick Comparison Chart

💡 General Tips for Travelers

These tips apply to all ferry choices and can help make your trip smoother.

Parking: It's best to leave your parking ticket in your car. Lost tickets can be costly.
Where to Route: Be sure to route directly to the designated parking lot, not the ferry terminal. Shuttle times can add 30-60 minutes to your trip.
Weather Considerations: Ferry schedules can change due to weather, and delays or cancellations may not be refundable.
Bikes & Pets: All ferries allow pets and bikes for an additional fee—check ahead for pricing.
Refreshments: Snacks and restrooms are available on board most ferries.

🔗 MVacay Ferries Interactive Google Map

If you’re looking for a visual representation of where these are, this map has all points of interest discussed in the article! Bookmark it for later:

🚢 Ferry-Specific Details

Steamship Authority operates the most frequent trips to Martha’s Vineyard, running between 14-22 trips per way, per day, depending on the season. Other ferries typically operate between 3-10 trips per day.
Steamship Authority ferries are the largest with capacities ranging from 500 to 1,200 passengers, while other ferries hold between 40 and 500 passengers.

Steamship Authority

Routes: Woods Hole ↔ Vineyard Haven (year-round); Woods Hole ↔ Oak Bluffs (seasonal).
Cost: $21 round trip for passengers. Vehicle fares $242–$320 round trip (May 15–Sep 14).
Duration: 45 minutes.
Parking: $15–$25/day, offsite with shuttle.
Bikes: $10 round trip. Shuttles have bike racks, but e-bikes may not fit.
Other Notes: The only ferry that takes cars. Advance reservations required for vehicles.

Island Queen

Routes: Falmouth ↔ Oak Bluffs (seasonal).
Cost: $30 round trip. $18 for ages 5-12.
Bikes: $8 round trip.
Parking: $20/day, cash only. Credit accepted at Falmouth dock for tickets. The adjacent parking lot is first-come, first-served and does not take reservations.

Falmouth-Edgartown Ferry

Routes: Falmouth ↔ Edgartown (seasonal).
Cost: $70–$90 round trip.
Parking: Valet parking available (pricing not listed).

The Patriot Boat

Routes: Falmouth ↔ Oak Bluffs (year-round).
Cost: $34 round trip.
Duration: 30 minutes.
Parking: Free day parking in fall/winter only, $20 daily the rest of the year.
Other Info: Primarily a freight service but available for passengers, used mainly to transport parcels

Seastreak

Routes: New Bedford ↔ Vineyard Haven; Nantucket ↔ MV.
Cost: New Bedford: $84 RT, $55 ages 3-12. Nantucket: $76 RT, $49 ages 3-12.
Parking: $15 offsite, $30 valet. Nantucket: street parking only.

Hy-Line Cruises

Routes: Hyannis ↔ Oak Bluffs; Oak Bluffs ↔ Nantucket.
Cost: $70–$76 RT. Bike: $14 RT.
Parking: $10–$28/day, offsite with shuttle.

Rhode Island Fast Ferry

Routes: Quonset Point, RI ↔ Oak Bluffs.
Cost: $99–$109 RT. Child fares $36–$86.

🗺️ Regional Guide: Best Ferry by Location

Boston Area: Steamship Authority (Woods Hole)
New York, Connecticut, New Jersey: Seastreak (New Bedford)
Flying In: Rhode Island Fast Ferry (Quonset Point)
Cape Cod: Island Queen (Falmouth) or Hy-Line (Hyannis)
Nantucket: Hy-Line or Seastreak

✈️ Consider Flying

If ferry schedules don’t work, you can also fly into Martha’s Vineyard Airport (MVY) from Boston, NYC, or other regional airports.

🔹 What's New in 2025

If you’re a local or annual visitor, here are the main changes for this year:

Steamship Authority Fare Increases: +$0.50 per passenger, +$6–$21 per vehicle.
Parking Cost Increases: SSA parking now $15–$25/day (up by $2–$7), other ferries also saw small increases.
More Freight Ferries Added for SSA: May help with summer congestion, but staffing shortages could impact schedules.
Public Bus on MV is Free Until September 2025: A major update for visitors relying on transit.
E-Ticketing Availability Expanded: Now confirmed for most ferries, making booking easier.