A lot of people wonder if taking a Martha’s Vineyard day trip is possible, or even worth it. Well, I can tell you from personal experience that it most definitely can be done, especially if you’re armed with some expert knowledge (which I’m happy to provide), and a bit of planning, you can have a perfect day on Martha’s Vineyard.
This travel guide will also provide you with the best ways to get around the island during your day trip, as well as three perfect day trip itinerary options, depending on your specific preferences.
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Can You Take A Day Trip to Martha’s Vineyard?
Absolutely! Ferries depart daily from Hyannis, Falmouth and Woods Hole on Cape Cod, giving you plenty of options to get there and back for a day trip.
Is A Day Trip to Martha’s Vineyard Worth It?
I definitely think it is. Martha’s Vineyard is worth a day trip to experience the charming gingerbread cottages and towns, the stunning views of the Aquinnah cliffs, the beautiful beaches and the scenic drives. It even makes my list of top places to visit in New England, which shows you how much I enjoy visiting!
That said, to make a day trip to Martha’s Vineyard worth it, it just requires a bit more planning and research, and also the understanding that you’ll have a pretty long day so you can see as much of the island as possible. I’ve done an entire post on Nantucket vs. Martha’s Vineyard for a day trip from Cape Cod, and while my opinion is that Nantucket is an easier day trip, both islands are more than worth your time.
Can You Do A Day Trip From Boston To Martha’s Vineyard?
There is no direct ferry from Boston to Martha’s Vineyard. If you want to explore on your own, you’ll need to drive from Boston to Cape Cod to get the ferry (more info on that later in the post!).
However, if you’re up for doing a tour, there is a great option that takes you directly from Boston to Martha’s Vineyard!
With this tour option, you can either choose just the transportation (a bus from Boston and the ferry are included), or you can upgrade to an island tour, which will take you to parts of the island that you really need a car to see). This is a great option for those wanting to take a day trip from the city but don’t want to drive themselves!
🚐 Click here to book your day trip tour from Boston!
How To Plan A Day Trip to Martha’s Vineyard
When thinking about taking a day trip to Martha’s Vineyard, you’ll want to decide ahead of time what your priorities are, and the top things you want to visit. The island is comprised of six towns, and while some are close together, most of them are spread out enough that without a plan once you arrive, you could waste a lot of time trying to navigate around.
Here are the best things to ask yourself when planning a day trip to Martha’s Vineyard:
- What time do I want to leave, and what time do I want to return?
- What towns do I want to see?
- How do I want to get around? Do I want to rely on public transportation? Do I want to budget for an Uber? Do I want to rent a car for flexibility?
- Do I want to spend most of my time seeing the towns and sites, or do I want to plan time at a beach?
- Do I want to have both lunch and dinner on the island, or eat dinner after I’ve returned back to the mainland?
Okay, now that you’re thinking about your answers to these questions, let’s break it down a bit.
- For a day trip to Martha’s Vineyard, I suggest you leave as early as you can (an 8 or 9am ferry is ideal), and plan to time your return around 6-7pm. This will allow you enough time to see as much as the island as possible, while still not running yourself ragged.
- The six main towns that make up Martha’s Vineyard are: Oak Bluffs, Edgartown, Vineyard Haven, West Tisbury, Aquinnah and Chilmark. The most popular ones for exploring are Oak Bluffs, Vineyard Haven and Edgartown. The furthest away from these three towns is Aquinnah, which is where the famed cliffs and Gay Head Lighthouse are. It’s possible to see these all in one day, which leads into …
- You’ll need to rent a car or rely on Uber if you want to tackle Edgartown, Vineyard Haven, Oak Bluffs and Aquinnah for a day trip. Renting a car is the most reliable option. While Uber is easy to get on the island, especially in the summer, I would be hesitant to rely on it if you have a specific ferry to catch. If you don’t need to head out to Aquinnah, you can rely on public buses to get you around the three main towns. Scroll down for more information on the best ways to get around the island.
- If you want to plan some time at the beaches, depending on how much time, you’ll have to sacrifice time from another destination.
- Plan your ferries accordingly if you’d like to have dinner on the island. If this is the case (which is a wonderful idea!) I would just suggest that you make a dinner reservation, and forego any restaurants that don’t take reservations. Again, with a ferry to catch to get back, you don’t want to take any risks, or feel stressed and rushed on your Martha’s Vineyard day trip.
Now that you’ve decided on what kind of day you’d like to have, the rest is easy! And even easier if you follow my suggested itinerary below for the perfect day trip to Martha’s Vineyard.
What Towns To Visit During A Day Trip To Martha’s Vineyard
If you were on the island for more than a day, I would say to visit them all because I think they’re all beautiful in their own way. When I’m on the island for 2-3 days, I usually rent a car and explore all the towns. But, for a Martha’s Vineyard day trip, it’s going to be a bit different.
Below, I’ve listed the towns by priority, starting with the best to visit for a Martha’s Vineyard day trip, to ones that you can skip for a day trip:
- Edgartown: My favorite town on the island because it has a great downtown area with lots of shops and restaurants, while still maintaining lots of charm. It also is home to Edgartown Lighthouse, and South Beach, my favorite beach on Martha’s Vineyard.
- Oak Bluffs: For a day trip, I don’t think you need more than an hour here, but it’s worth it to stop and see the gingerbread cottages, and also swing by East Chop Lighthouse if you have a car.
- Aquinnah: It will entirely depend on if you have a car or not because getting here by bus takes a while, and not idea for a day trip. But, if you have a car, I think it’s more than worth it to drive out here to see Gay Head Lighthouse and the famous cliffs and Aquinnah Beach. It might be the prettiest part of the island.
- Vineyard Haven: If you decide to venture to Aquinnah, you can probably skip Vineyard Haven to save time, although I love visiting this little beautiful town. It’s smaller than Edgartown, but has some really lovely water views, beautiful shops and good restaurants. If you choose to not visit Aquinnah, definitely visit Vineyard Haven during your day trip.
- Chilmark: In Chilmark, you’ll find the little fishing village of Menemsha, which is a really fun stop to make. Although, for a day trip, I think your time is better spent in the other towns listed above.
- West Tisbury: While there are some beautiful beaches and great natural trails here, for a Martha’s Vineyard day trip, this is a town you can skip.
The Best Martha’s Vineyard Day Trip Itinerary – 3 Options
Having been to Martha’s Vineyard for a day trip a few times, I feel like I’ve come up with the best itinerary options for first-timers, depending on what your priorities are. Below is a breakdown of which itinerary will be best for you:
Option 1: Overview of Martha’s Vineyard Itinerary – Best for those who want to see as much of the island as possible, are willing to bring their car, rent a car or rely on Uber, and are okay not having a lot of beach time, or a lot of time in each destination.
Option 2: The Best Of The Island’s Towns Itinerary – This option is best for those who want to rely on buses to get around, spend more time in the three main towns, and want an option for either beach time, or a guided tour around the island and out to Aquinnah.
Option 3: The Edgartown – Beaches – Aquinnah Itinerary – This is best for those who will have a car, or can rely on Uber, and want to see the best town on the island, and combine it with some beach time, and a trip to Aquinnah.
Option 1: Overview Of Martha’s Vineyard Itinerary
Please also keep in mind that times for all three itineraries will not be exact, and will need to be adjusted depending on which ferry you take. These are meant to be used as a guideline to help you plan your perfect Martha’s Vineyard day trip.
Transportation for this itinerary: Car or Uber. Public buses are not recommended for this route. If you choose to Uber, substitute car directions with requesting an Uber ride, and you can ignore parking suggestions.
7a: Arrive at ferry terminal
8a: Depart ferry terminal
8:45/9a: Arrive at Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard
9a-10a: Explore Oak Bluffs (Oak Bluff’s main town area is only a 5-minute walk from the ferry terminal).
Best Things To Do In Oak Bluffs For 1 Hour (pick which best suit your preferences):
- Get some amazing apple fritters the size of your head (and other delicious treats!) at Back Door Donuts.
- Walk around the Martha’s Vineyard Campground to see the gingerbread cottages.
- Visit the shops along Circuit Avenue.
- Walk to Ocean Park to see the gazebo.
- Take the kids the Flying Horses Carousel.
10a: Walk back toward the ferry terminal to pick up your rental car and drive to Edgartown (15 mins from Oak Bluffs), or take an Uber. Option to stop at East Chop Lighthouse OR the Jaw’s bridge in Edgartown (on your way to downtown) for a few minutes. You can stop at both, just subtract from the time you’d spend in downtown).
Parking in Edgartown:
In the summer (July & August) parking in Edgartown is tough. Any other time of the year, it’s easy. In the summer, I suggest parking for free at the Edgartown Park-n-Ride, and taking the free shuttle into town, which runs every 15 minutes or so. There are also 2 and 4-hour parking spots all over town, but it may be difficult to find an available one.
11a-2:30p: Have lunch and explore downtown Edgartown.
Best Things To Do in Downtown Edgartown For 2.5 Hours:
- Have a quick but delicious lunch at Among The Flowers Cafe.
- Grab an ice cream cone at Mad Martha’s.
- Walk to Edgartown Lighthouse (10 minutes from downtown).
- Walk through the streets of downtown.
2:30p: Walk back to car (or take shuttle back to park-and-ride lot) and take a scenic drive to Aquinnah (35 minutes from Edgartown).
3:15-4:30p: Arrive in Aquinnah, and visit Gay Head Lighthouse, the cliffs overlook, and take the path down to the beach (if time allows).
Parking at Gay Head Lighthouse/Cliffs Overlook:
Parking along the the road in front of the shops at Gay Head Lighthouse is limited, but I’ve always gotten lucky and found a spot. If you don’t find a spot right away, there is an overflow lot for public beach parking a very short distance away. Drive past the parking in front of the shops, and look for public parking signs almost immediately. The parking lot will be on your right, and you should reach it in about 30 seconds.
4:30p: Walk back to car, and drive to Vineyard Haven (35 minutes from Aquinnah)
*If your ferry is 6:30p or later. If your ferry is earlier than 6p, I would suggest you head straight back to Oak Bluffs to drop off the car, and catch your ferry. In this case, you could spend a bit more time in Aquinnah enjoying the beach.
5-6p: Explore Vineyard Haven’s downtown
6p: Walk back to the car, and drive to Oak Bluffs to return the car, and catch your 6:45-7:30p ferry (depending on your specific departure time).
7:30-8p: Arrive back to Cape Cod, just in time for dinner!
Tip: If you’ve taken a ferry back to Hyannis, a great dinner suggestion if you’re tired is to order pizzas from Pizza Barbone online when you get off the ferry, and have them ready when you arrive. Otherwise, there are plenty of restaurants right in Hyannis, Falmouth or Woods Hole for you top pick from!
Option 2: The Best Of The Island’s Towns
Transportation for this itinerary: You’ll use the public bus system for the duration of this Martha’s Vineyard day trip itinerary.
7a: Arrive at ferry terminal
8a: Depart ferry terminal
8:45/9a: Arrive at Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard
9a-10a: Explore Oak Bluffs (Oak Bluff’s main town area is only a 5-minute walk from the ferry terminal).
Best Things To Do in Oak Bluffs For 2 Hours:
- See list from Itinerary 1.
- Since this itinerary allows for more time, you can add on taking a walk along the sidewalk of Seaview Avenue to take in some awesome water views, and see more cottages. This is also right by the bus station.
11a: Walk to the #13 bus stop on Seaview Avenue, right by the ferry terminal (exact location: 41.45671553963665, -70.55566384589297), and take the bus to Edgartown. The bus should depart every 15 minutes in the summer. The ride should take 20 minutes or so, depending on how many stops they make.
11:30a-3:45p: Have lunch and explore downtown Edgartown
Best Things To Do in Downtown Edgartown For 4 Hours:
- Grab lunch at The Seafood Shanty, and see if you can get a table on their upper deck overlooking the water and Chappaquiddick.
- Explore the shops and harbor downtown.
- Walk to Edgartown Lighthouse (a scenic 10-minute walk from downtown).
- Grab an ice cream cone at Mad Martha’s.
3:45p: Begin to walk back to the bus station in Edgartown, and take the 4p. #13 bus to the Vineyard Haven Terminal. The ride should take 20-30 minutes, depending on how many stops they have to make.
4:15-5:30p: Explore Vineyard Haven’s downtown and harbor. There are some nice shops and restaurants to visit in this cute little town.
5:30p: Walk back to the bus station, and take the #13 bus back to the Oak Bluffs ferry terminal, and catch your 6:30p or later ferry back to Cape Cod. <br><em>*If your ferry departs earlier than 6:30p, you’ll want to make sure to cut time elsewhere to make it back to Oak Bluffs in time.
7:30p: Arrive back to Cape Cod just in time for dinner!
Optional tour around the island for this itinerary:
If you’d like to take a tour of the island, and also get to visit Aquinnah, click the link below to read about a great option that’s only 4 hours long, and will show you around the island.
If you decide that this is a good option for you, I suggest you take the 10a tour, which will begin right after your arrival at Oak Bluffs, and also end in Oak Bluffs. From there, you can decide if you want to walk to the gingerbread cottages to grab some photos (since the tour only drives by them), and then I would suggest you take the bus to Edgartown and enjoy the rest of your day there with a lunch and exploring on foot. Then you can take the bus back to Oak Bluffs to catch your ferry back to Cape Cod.
For this option, you would skip Vineyard Haven entirely.
🚐 Click here to book your tour around Martha’s Vineyard!
Option 3: The Edgartown – Beaches – Aquinnah Itinerary
Transportation for this itinerary: You will need a car, or rely on Uber.
Food tip: You’ll want to make sure you have a good breakfast, or pack snacks for this itinerary.
7a: Arrive at ferry terminal
8a: Depart ferry terminal
8:45/9a: Arrive at Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard
9a: Pick up rental car after arriving at the ferry terminal, or request your Uber to take you to Aquinnah
9:15-9:30a: Depart for Aquinnah (the drive is 40 minutes from Oak Bluffs).
10-11:30a: Arrive at Aquinnah, and explore Gay Head Lighthouse, the cliff overlook, and take the path down to the beach.
*See Itinerary 1 for parking suggestions at the Aquinnah cliffs.
11:30a: Walk back to your car, and drive to Edgartown, or request an Uber (drive is 35 minutes from Aquinnah). Allow buffer time for parking and walking into downtown.
*See Itinerary 1 for parking suggestions in Edgartown.
12:30-3p: Grab lunch and explore downtown Edgartown
*See Itinerary 1 for suggestions on how to spend two hours or so in Edgartown. I suggest a quick lunch at Among The Flowers Cafe to save time.
3p: Walk back to your car and drive to South Beach, or request an Uber. The drive will take about 10 minutes. To park at South Beach
Parking at South Beach in Edgartown:
Parking should be pretty easy, even in the summer. I’ve never waited more than a few minutes for a spot, and that’s if I didn’t find a spot right away (which I usually do). Parking is free along the road, and it will be very clear once you arrive.
3:15-5:30p: Enjoy South Beach! This is the prettiest and most fun beach on the island, and is known for having big waves. If you’re not up for swimming, a nice long, scenic walk on the shoreline will be memorable and relaxing.
5:30p: Head back to the car to drive back to Oak Bluffs, or request an Uber. Return the rental car if needed.
*If you need less time at the beach, and can leave earlier, it’s an option to stop at the Jaw’s bridge on your way back to Oak Bluffs, or arrive in Oak Bluffs to return your rental car and walk around to explore the gingerbread cottages before your ferry departs. The ferry terminal is only a short 5-10 minute walk to the cottages (depending on how fast you walk).
6:30-7p: Catch your ferry back to Cape Cod.
7:30-8p: Arrive back to Cape Cod just in time for dinner!
*See the end of Itinerary 1 for an easy dinner suggestion if you’re feeling like something quick after a long day.
How Do You Get Around Martha’s Vineyard?
Especially for a day trip to Martha’s Vineyard, the best and easiest method to get around is by either bringing your car on the ferry, or renting a car for the day. Other options include relying on Uber, public buses, or taking a guided tour around the island.
Click here to read my detailed guide on seeing Martha’s Vineyard without a car!
Renting A Car For A Martha’s Vineyard Day Trip
One option for driving around Martha’s Vineyard during your day trip is to rent a car, and most companies are able to have it ready for you upon arrival at the ferry dock. Many also have basic options like a 4-door sedan, or fancier convertibles and Jeeps, depending on the size of your group, and what you’re looking to do for the day.
Bringing Your Car On The Ferry
If you plan ahead for this, and make your reservation in advance, you can bring your car on the Steamship Authority ferry, departing from Woods Hole on Cape Cod. The cost to bring your car on the ferry will be between $118-$250, depending on the day of the week, and the size of you car (this cost is in addition to the passenger ferry tickets).
You will also have to drive to Woods Hole to take the ferry, and will not have the option to take the ferry out of Hyannis. This is because the only car ferry to Martha’s Vineyard leaves from Woods Hole, so be sure to plan accordingly.
Using Uber On Martha’s Vineyard
Uber is available on the island and is easy to use. If you’re coming from a city, there may be longer wait times than you’re used to, but I think it’s pretty fast and reliable. The further away from Oak Bluffs/Edgartown/Vineyard Haven you go, the longer your wait times will be.
Using Public Buses To Get Around Martha’s Vineyard
There is a good public bus system on the island, which will get you between Oak Bluffs/Edgartown/Vineyard Haven easily enough. They will just be more time consuming. I don’t usually suggest it as the best option for a day trip, but it can definitely be done, especially if you’re on a tight budget (I used the buses for my first day trip to island!).
Tours Around Martha’s Vineyard
Lastly, a good option to consider is also a guided tour around the island, which will take you to multiple destinations in a short amount of time, which isn’t a bad idea for a day trip. Of course, the down side if that you won’t have flexibility to be on your own schedule, but if you’re coming to the island for the first time, and you want an easy day without navigating the sites yourself, consider a tour!
🚐 Click here to book your tour around Martha’s Vineyard!
How To Get To Martha’s Vineyard From Cape Cod
There are 4 ferry companies that will take you from Cape Cod to Martha’s Vineyard, and they are:
- Hyline Cruises – departs from Hyannis
- Steamship Authority – departs from Woods Hole (options to bring your car)
- Island Queen – departs from Falmouth
- Edgartown Fast Ferry – departs from Falmouth
All of these ferry companies are great (the only one I haven’t personally tried is the Edgartown Fast Ferry, but I’ve heard good things!). So when deciding which ferry to take, it really just depends on on location, and what you’re looking to do.
Hyline Cruises is a convenient location if you’re staying in the mid, lower or outer Cape regions since you’ll only have to drive to Hyannis instead of all the way to Falmouth/Woods Hole.
Steamship Authority, Edgartown Fast Ferry, and Island Queen all depart from generally the same area.
Hyline Ferry From Hyannis To Martha’s Vineyard
The Hyline Cruises ferry will dock in Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard. It’s good to note that you should arrive 45-60 minutes prior to your ferry departure time to allow time for parking, as you’ll have two options once you arrive at the terminal.
Parking At The Hyline Ferry in Hyannis
The two parking options at the Hyline Ferry terminal are on-site parking, and off-site parking. On-site parking is the most convenient, and won’t require you to arrive quite as early to catch your ferry, but will be more expensive.
Off-site parking will be the most economical, but will require you to arrive to the terminal a bit earlier (I usually arrive 45 minutes-1 hour in this case), and also take a free shuttle from the lot back to the terminal. For the off-site parking option, you’ll drive to the check-in area, and then wait for the attendants to tell you which off-site lot to drive to, based on how full each of the lots are. You’ll then drive to the lot and park, and wait for the free shuttle to bring you back.
When you return from Martha’s Vineyard, you’ll take the free shuttle back to the parking lot. It sounds complicated, and during your first trip, it might be a little confusing, but I promise you that it’s not that bad! And if you’re looking to keep your trip as easy as possible, I recommend booking your on-site parking space well in advance.
Ferry From Woods Hole To Martha’s Vineyard
Steamship Authority depart from Woods Hole and will dock at either Oak Bluffs or Vineyard Haven on Martha’s Vineyard. You should arrive 1 hour prior to your departure time to allow time for parking. Steamship Authority only offers off-site parking, and requires you to ride their free shuttle back and forth from the lot and terminal.
This is also your only option from Cape Cod if you want to bring your car over to the island.
For more information about parking at the Steamship Authority terminal, click here.
Ferry From Falmouth To Martha’s Vineyard
The Falmouth-Edgartown Fast Ferry will depart from Falmouth and dock in Edgartown. There is free parking on-site at this ferry terminal, but ticket prices are a bit higher than the other options.
This is a very convenient option if you’re looking to dock in Edgartown and want hassle-free parking. Just be mindful that there are fewer departures per day, so your options are more limited with this ferry.
The last option from Falmouth is the Island Queen ferry, which is conveniently located close to downtown Falmouth and Main Street. If you’re staying downtown, you may be able to walk to the ferry from your hotel to avoid parking at the ferry.
What Is The Fastest Ferry From Cape Cod To Martha’s Vineyard?
The fastest ferry options are the Island Queen, which takes 35 minutes to get from Falmouth to Oak Bluffs. The Edgartown Fast Ferry, Hyline, and Steamship Authority options all take about 1 hour.
If you choose to take your car over to the island, the traditional ferry service with Steamship Authority is 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Is There A Ferry From Boston To Martha’s Vineyard?
As mentioned earlier in the post, there is no direct ferry from Boston to Martha’s Vineyard. But you can book this tour, which includes transportation right from Boston so you don’t have to worry about driving yourself!
How Far In Advance Should You Book Your Ferry For A Martha’s Vineyard Day Trip?
Generally speaking, during peak season, a few days before should be fine, but at least a week in advance if you need to bring your card to the island. It’s best to monitor vehicle reservation availability a week or two before you want to travel to the island, which you can do right on the Steamship Authority website by clicking here.
It is possible to get same-day tickets, but that is very risky during peak season. For day trips, since it’s best to leave early in the morning, and come back around dinner time, I would suggest you play it safe, and book your tickets in advance.
For passenger-only tickets on Steamship Authority, you should be fine to book your tickets 1-2 days ahead of time, regardless of the season. These ferries are bigger, and can accommodate more people, and don’t sell out as quickly.
In peak season (end of June through Labor Day), I would suggest booking at least a week in advance if you want to take Hyline Cruises and prefer on-site parking. If you prefer off-site parking at Hyline, you should be able to book a few days in advance. If you plan to take your Martha’s Vineyard day trip outside of peak season, you should be able to book 1-2 days in advance, or possibly even same-day. But I always recommend at least a day or two in advance.
Tip: Since I don’t ever bring my car to Martha’s Vineyard, I usually make my reservation about 2-3 days ahead of time, depending on the weather forecast. I usually opt for Hyline, since it’s the most convenient location to where I typically stay on Cape Cod. I’ve also been able to change my ticket day and time a day before if the weather changes, but that’s not always guaranteed. It just always depends!
How Long Is The Ferry Ride To Martha’s Vineyard?
35 minutes – 1 hour. It’s a very quick and enjoyable ride!
Best Day To Visit Martha’s Vineyard For A Day Trip
I always suggest that you try to do any day trip to the Cape Cod islands on a weekday to avoid as many of the crowds as possible. That doesn’t mean that weekdays won’t be crowded at all (they definitely will be during July and August!), but you’ll avoid as many of them as possible on a weekday.
Since a lot of people still take weekend trips to Cape Cod and the Islands, weekend traffic to Martha’s Vineyard will be higher, including day trips.
You may also find these posts helpful:
- Best Things To Do On Martha’s Vineyard
- Best Beaches On Martha’s Vineyard
- Is Nantucket Or Martha’s Vineyard Better For A Day Trip?
- Best Towns To Stay In On Cape Cod
- Best Beach Towns In New England
- Gorgeous New England Islands Worth Visiting
That’s A Wrap On The Ultimate Martha’s Vineyard Day Trip Itinerary
Hopefully you’re now feeling ready to take your own Martha’s Vineyard day trip! If you plan ahead of time and know what you’re looking to see and experience, it’s not just doable – it’s absolutely worth it.
