🏄♂️ MV Outdoor Adventures: Paddleboarding, Kayaking & Surfing
Explore Martha's Vineyard by Paddleboard, Kayak, or Surfboard — Rentals, Tours, and Local Tips
If you’ve ever wanted to try paddleboarding, kayaking, or surfing, this is the summer to do it!! MV is full of easy-access options, with gear and guides to help.
This guide covers it all: guided tours, DIY rentals, surf lessons, wind sports, and calm launch spots I recommend.
🌇 Guided Paddling Experiences (Kayak + SUP Tours)
Online Booking: Yes
Location: Oak Bluffs (State Beach)
What they offer: Sunrise/sunset tours, glow LED paddles, SUP yoga, birding paddles, and group outings.
Pricing: From $35/hour, $85/day, $175/week (approx.) — includes paddle, PFD, and delivery setup
Seasonal: Late May–September
Accessibility: Calm launch, great for beginners, family-friendly, flexible for adaptive needs
Online Booking: Yes
Location: Edgartown/Chappaquiddick (mobile launch)
What they offer: Guided hike + paddle tours, full moon paddles, SUP yoga, and youth programs.
Pricing: Private sessions from $75/hour+
Seasonal: June–September
Accessibility: Personalized, small-group focus, beginner-friendly
Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary (Mass Audubon)
Location: Sengekontacket Pond, Edgartown
What they offer: Guided kayak tours, paddleboard tours, and family-friendly nature paddles, often focused on wildlife, conservation, and seasonal themes
Pricing: Varies, by service, $45-$65
Seasonal: Online registration available via the Mass Audubon website, typically May–September
Accessibility: Calm waters, great for beginners, especially families with kids
Online Booking: Yes
Location: Edgartown
What they offer: Stand-up paddleboard (SUP) fly fishing trips — a unique option for anglers who want to explore scenic flats and backwaters. General touring also available.
Pricing: 2 hours, $250, 4 hours $400 for fly fishing SUP; $90 for SUP tours
Seasonal: May–October
Accessibility: Small-group tours, guided by experienced anglers
Highlights: Combines paddleboarding with guided fly fishing — a rare combo you won’t find many other places on the island
Online Booking: Yes (via Trustees website or email)
Locations: Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge (Chappaquiddick), Long Point Wildlife Refuge (West Tisbury)
What They Offer: Naturalist-led kayak tours, moonlight paddles, and rentals on saltwater ponds and marshes
Pricing: Varies $20-55
Seasonal: Peak opportunities July–August; schedule varies
Accessibility: Calm water; ideal for families, wildlife-lovers, and scenic exploration
Location: Edgartown/South Beach
What they offer: Stand-up paddleboard rentals, lessons, and fishing tours
Pricing: Varies by service, lessons from ~$100
Seasonal: May–September
Accessibility: Soft-top boards, beginner friendly, responsive to inquiries
Highlights: In Oak Bluffs, you can see bioluminescence on select summer nights during glow paddles on Sengekontacket Pond. Also, you can legally surfcast and paddle from the same beach in Edgartown! Menemsha Pond is home to active shellfishing so you might paddle by oyster cages.
🛶 Rent Your Own Kayak or Paddleboard (DIY Paddling)
Online Booking: No (call or walk-in)
Location: Vineyard Haven (Lagoon Pond)
What they offer: Hourly and weekly kayak/SUP rentals, launch nearby or car rack option
Pricing: From $25/hr
Seasonal: April–October
Accessibility: Easy launch access, parking on site
Other Independent Rental Options: Island Spirit Kayak (offers delivery), Aloha Paddle MV (offers delivery), 6K6 Surf School (rentals) The Trustees (hourly kayak/SUP rentals)
🌬️ Wind + Motor Adventures: Parasailing, Jet Skis, Wing Foiling & More
Online Booking: Yes
Location: Oak Bluffs Harbor
What they offer: Jet skis, parasailing, flyboarding, banana boat rides, small boat rentals
Pricing: Jet skis from $135+, parasailing ~$130/person
Seasonal: Memorial Day–Labor Day
Accessibility: Helpful staff, on-deck takeoff/landing
Skyhigh Kiteboarding & Wing Foiling
Online Booking: Yes
Location: Katama Bay (launch site varies)
What they offer: Wing foiling, kiteboarding lessons with gear provided
Pricing: From $175+
Seasonal: June–September
Accessibility: Advanced-level activity
Katama Bay is one of the most reliable wind spots on the East Coast making it ideal for kiteboarding. Also, parasailing over Oak Bluffs reaches heights up to 600 feet.
🏄♂️ Surf Lessons
Location: Edgartown / southern beach areas
What they offer: Group and private surf lessons (all ages, all levels—intro to advanced). Stand Up Paddle lessons, SUP rentals, SUP fishing tours
Pricing: Varies by service, lessons from ~$100
Seasonal: Typically May–September, with bookings via email or phone
Accessibility: Beginner-friendly, soft-top boards, gear provided, responsive via web contact or text if needed
Popular Surf Spots:
South Beach (Edgartown): Consistent waves, lifeguarded
Squibnocket Beach (Chilmark): Advanced surfers only
Philbin Beach (Aquinnah): Local favorite, town pass required
South Beach is one of the few spots in Massachusetts with consistent summer surf.
🌼 Have Your Gear? Calm Routes & Launch Points
Sengekontacket Pond (OB/Edgartown)- Protected waters, birdlife, easy to access
Lagoon Pond (Vineyard Haven) - Calm water near Wind’s Up, ideal for learners
Edgartown Great Pond - Quiet and scenic, access via tour or delivery
Menemsha Pond (Chilmark) - Sheltered and peaceful, less trafficked
Tisbury Great Pond (West Tisbury) - Best for longer paddles, mind the tides
🚨 Water Safety Reminders for Martha’s Vineyard
Safety: Some ponds (like Edgartown Great Pond) have tidal inlets that can cause strong currents. Always wear a life jacket when kayaking, paddleboarding, or surfing — even if you’re a strong swimmer. Don’t paddle alone.
Wind: Afternoon winds can create difficult paddling conditions; mornings are usually calmer.
Water Temp: Water temperatures stay chilly through June. Wetsuits are advised for early season paddling and surfing.
What to Bring: Bring a dry bag or waterproof case for phones.
Wildlife: Wildlife is common - respect osprey nests and seal haul-outs; do not approach.
If you're looking for more ways to explore on the water, check out my other guides —
