⛵ How do I get from Cape Cod to Martha's Vineyard? (2024)

A breakdown between the main ferry options - Steamship Authority, Island Queen, Falmouth-Edgartown Ferry, Patriot Boat Hyline and Seastreak - we compare price differences, trip length + parking info

We’ve consolidated the most up-to-date information into this post to help you determine the correct ferry for you to get from Cape Cod to Martha’s Vineyard, MA.

The main options to get you from Falmouth to MV are Steamship Authority, Island Queen, the Falmouth-Edgartown Ferry, The Patriot Boat and the Seastreak. 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.

A lot of boats can get you to Martha’s Vineyard…which should you pick?

Steamship Authority

Departs Falmouth (Woods Hole) and Arrives in Vineyard Haven or Oak Bluffs

• Season: Year-Round

• Adult Round-Trip Cost: $20

• Duration: 45 minutes

• Parking: $16 to $21 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.

• More details here

Island Queen

Departs Falmouth and Arrives in Oak Bluffs

• Season: May 24-October 14

• Adult Round-Trip Cost: $28

• 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.

• More details here

Falmouth-Edgartown Ferry

Departs Falmouth and Arrives in Edgartown

• Season: May 24-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 route, per day, depending on time of year.

• Passenger Capacity: 110-130 people

• More details here

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Bonus Options!

The Patriot Boat

Departs Falmouth, MA and Arrives in Oak Bluffs

• Season: Year-round, but no service on Federal holidays

• Adult Round-Trip Cost: $32 (One-way cost is $16)

• Parking: $20 per calendar day at 343 Dillingham Avenue lot

• Frequency: Multiple departures daily, schedule varies by day

• Passenger Capacity: The water taxi can transport up to 40 people

• Other: This is used mainly as a freight boat for parcels and not passengers. Freight charges apply ($10 per box, larger items $20+).

Patriot Boat

Seastreak

Departs New Bedford, MA and Arrives in Vineyard Haven

• NOTE: New Bedford, MA is technically not Cape Cod, but 50 miles south of it.

• Season: Year-round weekday service

• Adult Round-Trip Cost: $79

• Duration: Approximately 55 minutes

• Parking: Free dockside parking at New Bedford terminal

• Frequency: Not specified; schedule varies

• Other: Reservations recommended, especially in peak summer season.

• More Info: Seastreak

Hy-Line

Departs Hyannis, MA and Arrives in Oak Bluffs

• You can also get to Martha’s Vineyard from Cape Cod via the Hyline in Hyannis (about two hours further down the cape than Falmouth). If you’re planning a trip elsewhere on the cape, that might be a better option for you.

• Season: May 6 to October 29, 2023

• Adult Round-Trip Cost: $70

• Duration: Approximately 1 hour

• Frequency: Varies, with 5-6 daily departures in peak summer season

• Other: Reservations recommended

• More Info: Hyline Ferry

[NOTE: There are also ferries directly to Martha’s Vineyard from Nantucket - those were not included in this roundup]

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.

We know the above info is tricky. We’ve made a free mobile app to make your trip even easier - the MV Ferries app consolidates information about all ferries heading to and from the vineyard for real-time schedules. Download it below:

We’ll see you on the vineyard soon!