🏨 MVacay's Big Hotels Guide: Where to Stay on Martha's Vineyard
beach views, pet-friendly, budget friendly picks, links, rental home directories, plus pros/cons of staying in each town on Martha's Vineyard
Picking the right accommodations can make-or-break your experience coming to Martha’s Vineyard. We want to help you pick a lovely place to stay so you can enjoy your trip!
This guide outlines the hotels you should consider staying in when you visit and some highlights of each hotel. I’ve also included pros/cons of staying in each town and our go-to picks.
Context if you’ve never visited: Martha’s Vineyard is a large island with 6 distinct towns, with 3 down-island towns (Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, Vineyard Haven aka Tisbury) close to ferries and relatively busy. The three up-island towns (West Tisbury, Chilmark, Aquinnah) are beautiful but quite rural and far from walkable attractions.
Given the difficulties surrounding bringing a car on your trip, we suggest staying in a hotel within walking distance of town. Our default recommendation for couples is to stay in Edgartown, and if you’re coming with family or friends stay in Oak Bluffs. We suggest staying in a hotel walking distance from downtown, or in a rental home if you plan to stay for more than a few days.
Some things to note about MV hotels- most of them have a minimum number of days you can stay during high-season (2-4 days). The same applies to rental homes which typically turn over on Saturdays and Sundays with 6-7 day minimums. Just a helpful note if your inquiry dates keep coming up as ~unavailable~
Need help with navigating travel getting here? There’s a wealth of resources here.
Happy Hotel Hunting :)
Hotel Amenities Key
❄️ - Open Year Round
🐕 - Pet Friendly Policies
🌊 - Water Views
🥐 - Offer Free, Included Breakfast
⭐ - We have stayed here and recommend it
Please note that MVacay is ad and sponsor-free and all opinions are our own. This list is not exhaustive.
Vineyard Haven (Tisbury)
Pros of Staying in Vineyard Haven: Close to the ferry, walking distance from beaches, great restaurants and historical gems, easy public transport options to get to other towns
Cons of Staying in Vineyard Haven: less nightlife, not as quaint as other options on the island
⭐MVacay’s Budget Pick: Mansion House
⭐MVacay’s Splurge Pick: Nobnocket
Mansion House Inn And Spa: A year-round staple, offering a fitness center and indoor pool, rooftop deck and close to the ferry 🐕❄️🌊
Nobnocket Boutique Inn: An award-winning inn known for its luxury retreat vibe, breakfast, and secluded outdoors space 🥐
Vineyard Harbor Motel: The only VH hotel with a private beach and a location on the harbor 🌊
Harbor Landing: kitchenettes, grills and ACs make this a comfortable option for longer stays, especially in the heart of town.
Oak Bluffs
Pros of Staying in Oak Bluffs: great nightlife, the most family-friendly pick, ample shopping and tons of attractions in walking distance, easy access to public transit, can take the ferry straight there, access to beach
Cons of Staying in Oak Bluffs: not as quaint as other towns, louder and busier
⭐MVacay’s Picks: Dockside Inn or Summercamp Hotel
Summercamp: A large modern hotel with water views of the harbor, right against the cottages for access to everything 🐕🌊⭐
Morgan Hotel: A cozy, updated hotel in the heart of Oak Bluffs ❄️
Dockside Inn: Known for its waterfront views 🌊
The Nashua House Hotel: A charming, budget-friendly option
MV Surfside Hotel: A family and pet-friendly hotel 🐕🌊
Madison Inn: A romantic guesthouse for couples, near Oak Bluffs Town Beach
Pequot Hotel: Offers free breakfast and parking in town 🥐
Narragansett House: A bed and breakfast close to Inkwell Beach
Inkwell Beach House: Ocean views, direct beach access 🌊
The Oak Bluffs Inn: In the heart of Oak Bluffs, charming and historic
The Attleboro House: Great location in town
The Inn at Shearer Cottage: A historic inn celebrating African American heritage
The Island Inn: A condo-resort with an outdoor swimming pool, secluded location and kitchenettes 🐕
Tivoli Inn: A quaint gingerbread house with a great location ❄️
Edgartown
Pros of Staying in Edgartown: quaint New-England feel, great nightlife, great historical attractions, the best dining on the island, easy access to beach/lighthouse
Cons of Staying in Edgartown: ferry doesn’t run directly there
⭐MVacay’s Budget Pick: Edgar or Franklin Hotels
⭐MVacay’s Splurge Pick: Edgartown Collection, HarborView Hotel
The Edgartown Collection: A compilation of properties offering unique, boutique stays in the heart of Edgartown
Harbor View Hotel: This luxury seaside resort has a prime location and offers breathtaking views of Edgartown Harbor and Lighthouse.🐕🌊⭐
Faraway: A revitalized Edgartown landmark offering a mix of modern amenities and historical charm.🌊
Winnetu Oceanside Resort: Located on South Beach, this resort is known for its private beach path, they are very family-friendly and exclusive 🐕🌊
Vineyard Square Hotel & Suites: A prime downtown location
Harborside Inn: A waterfront resort located on the harbor 🌊
Hob Knob: A luxury boutique hotel set in a historic Gothic Revival inn 🐕
The Charlotte Inn: Great location with old-world charm
Ashley Inn: A historic, conveniently located bed and breakfast ❄️🥐
Edgar Hotel Martha's Vineyard: Newly updated, centrally located ❄️
The Franklin Hotel: A modern boutique hotel steps from the heart of Edgartown.❄️
Edgartown Commons: Family-friendly vacation apartments in the heart of Edgartown, offering home-like amenities and a swimming pool.
Up-Island
Pros of Staying in Up-Island: retreat-like vacation, privacy, access to exclusive beaches, great dining
Cons of Staying in Up-Island: disconnected from attractions in town and difficult to get to them due to traffic
⭐MVacay’s Pick: Lambert’s Cove Inn
Menemsha Inn & Cottages: A historic sheep farm offering private beach access.🐕
Lambert's Cove Inn: A boutique resort nestled on an eight-acre farm offering fine dining, a swimming pool, and access to a private beach.
The Beach Plum Inn: A boutique hotel known for its views, complimentary beach passes, and spectacular Menemsha sunsets.🐕
Disclaimer: There are absolutely options that exist beyond what is listed above. Please do your own research as there are new wonderful options that exist outside of this list. If we made a mistake, please kindly email us at info@mvacay.com
Rental Homes
If you’re traveling with more than 4 people, or want the ability to use a kitchen - you’ll want to rent a house. If you’re traveling for longer than 4 days a house rental is also your best bet.
While you can definitely check out Airbnb or VRBO, or there are a few local rental agencies that might have even more options available. This post can help you find a local rental agency: 🔑 Martha's Vineyard Real Estate Roundup (2022+2023) Here are a few local options from that post:
Frequently Asked Questions
What other options are there outside of rental homes and hotels?
There’s a few unconventional options as well - the campground and hostel are a bit outside of town but accessible by bus or bike - Marthas Vineyard Campground and HI Martha’s Vineyard Hostel
What time of year should I visit?
TLDR: June or September - weekdays preferably
We suggest May-October, but April and November/December are also lovely. Please note that coming in July, August and September will be very crowded. If you can come on weekdays, they are far less crowded too. If you’re looking for better value, consider coming in the “off season” - we promise you’ll still have a great experience!
Do I need a car?
Should I? If you haven’t already made a car reservation for the summer by March, you’re likely going to have a hard time getting a spot to bring a car over to the island. You can always consider renting a car once you get here, but both options will be pricey. If you ARE bringing a car, you have more flexibility to stay in a hotel or rental home outside of town.
Not planning on it - Ok! Then we suggest staying in Oak Bluffs or Edgartown. This guide can help you see the most of the island 🛻 How to Get Around Martha's Vineyard (2023)
Which town has the best late-night action?
Edgartown or Oak Bluffs, due to curfew and liquor laws. More info here.