Cross Vineyard Sound by ferry, stroll the gingerbread cottages of Oak Bluffs and stand
above the clay cliffs of Aquinnah. Every bookable day trip compared, with honest timings.
What's in, what's extraFerry, island tour and meals spelled out
Real guest ratingsLive Viator & Tripadvisor figures
Free cancellationUp to 24 hours before, on every tour here
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Tours
Choose your Martha's Vineyard day trip
In the centre, the most booked day trip from Boston, with hotel pickup and the ferry. Beside it, a
smaller-group day from Boston and the best-reviewed island tour for travelers who take the ferry themselves.
A mini-coach from Boston hotels, the Island Queen ferry from Falmouth and 5.5 to 6 hours on the island. The 3-hour narrated island tour is an optional upgrade.
What's included
Round-trip air-conditioned mini-coach (24 seats) from select Boston hotels
Round-trip ferry across Vineyard Sound, about 35 to 45 minutes each way
5.5 to 6 hours on Martha's Vineyard, depending on the time of year
Water, snacks and an island guidebook on the coach
Optional 3-hour narrated island tour with Edgartown and Aquinnah stops (paid upgrade)
Not included: meals and gratuities; free cancellation up to 24 hours before
The big split is where the day starts. Boston day trips include the coach and the ferry but leave
you about six hours on the island; island tours start at the Oak Bluffs ferry and assume you got there yourself.
The island tours do not include the ferry: add $22 round trip on the Steamship Authority from
Woods Hole or $30 on the Island Queen from Falmouth. The two private tours are priced per group of up to 5.
Every tour here cancels free up to 24 hours ahead.
The honest timing
A twelve-hour day, about six of them on the island.
Martha's Vineyard lies about 7 miles off Cape Cod: roughly 96 square miles of beaches, farms and six towns,
from lively Oak Bluffs and elegant Edgartown down-island to the fishing harbor of Menemsha and the
clay cliffs of Aquinnah at the far western tip. Boston is not on the coast facing it, so every day trip
starts with a drive of a couple of hours to Falmouth or Woods Hole, then a 35 to 45 minute ferry.
That is why the most booked Boston day trip runs about 12 hours and gives you 5.5 to 6 hours on the island.
The island's own bus company says to allow at least 8 hours to see every town. So pick: stay down-island and
walk Oak Bluffs and Edgartown, or take the narrated island tour, which is a paid upgrade on the Boston
trip, not part of the base price. If you are staying on Cape Cod, take the ferry yourself and you get the whole day.
6 hrs
About how long the Boston day trip leaves you on the
island. Guests report the whole day running 12 to 14 hours door to door.
Oak BluffsEdgartownAquinnah CliffsMenemsha
Edgartown, the old whaling town that played Amity in Jaws.
01
Is the ferry included?
On both Boston day trips, yes. On the island tours, no: they start at the Oak Bluffs terminal.
02
Do I need a car?
No. The VTA buses reach every town and are fare-free through June 30, 2027.
03
When does it run?
Late spring to mid-October. The Island Queen sails May 22 to October 12 in 2026.
04
Who might skip it?
Anyone set on a Menemsha sunset or a slow beach day: stay a night instead.
The day
How a day trip from Boston unfolds
About 12 hours, most of it on the move. This is the shape of the most booked tour.
01
Early pickup in Boston
A mini-coach collects you from a listed hotel and drives down to Falmouth on Cape Cod, with water, snacks and a guidebook.
Early morning
02
Ferry across the Sound
The Island Queen crosses Vineyard Sound in about 35 minutes; stand on the top deck for the view.
Mid-morning
03
Island tour or free time
Take the 3-hour narrated tour with stops in Edgartown and at the Aquinnah Cliffs, or explore Oak Bluffs on foot.
5.5 to 6 hours
04
Ferry and coach home
An afternoon sailing back to Falmouth, then the coach to Boston; summer traffic can add time.
Getting to the boat, the fares, getting around the island and what to bring: one tab each.
On a tour: the Boston day trips pick you up at listed downtown hotels and handle the ferry.
Driving to Woods Hole: there is no parking at the dock. Use the Steamship Authority lots in Falmouth ($25 a day in season) and the free shuttle, and arrive an hour before your boat.
Driving to Falmouth: the Island Queen lot is 200 yards from the dock, $20 a day, cash only, first come first served.
By bus: Peter Pan runs from Boston South Station and Logan Airport to the Woods Hole ferry.
By train: the CapeFLYER runs from Boston to Hyannis on summer weekends ($40 round trip), for the Hy-Line ferry.
Steamship Authority, Woods Hole: 45 minutes, $11 each way ($5.75 for children 5 to 12), all year; the only car ferry.
Island Queen, Falmouth: 35 minutes to Oak Bluffs, $30 round trip ($18 ages 5 to 12), May 22 to October 12.
Hy-Line, Hyannis: fast ferry to Oak Bluffs in about 1 hour, $78 round trip, May to October.
Seastreak, New Bedford: about 50 minutes, $84 round trip, April 16 to October 12.
Bikes: $5.25 each way on the Steamship Authority, $8 round trip on the Island Queen.
VTA buses are free through June 30, 2027. Route 13 links Vineyard Haven, Oak Bluffs and Edgartown.
In summer the busiest routes run about every 15 minutes; the Up-Island buses to Aquinnah and Menemsha run less often.
E-bikes and bikes rent in the port towns; bike paths run along the beach road between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown.
Uber and Lyft exist but can be scarce in peak season and up-island.
The Chappy Ferry from Edgartown to Chappaquiddick is $5 round trip on foot.
A light jacket: the ferry's top deck is windy even in July.
Comfortable walking shoes and sunscreen.
A card plus some cash (the Island Queen car park takes cash only).
Your own drinks if dining up-island: Aquinnah, Chilmark and West Tisbury are dry or BYOB.
A swimsuit if you plan an hour on a beach near Oak Bluffs.
Oak BluffsFlying Horses CarouselBuilt in 1876, the nation's oldest platform carousel; catch the brass ring for a free ride.
Oak BluffsGingerbread cottages318 painted cottages around the iron Tabernacle of 1879. They are homes: stay on the paths.
EdgartownWhaling-era streetsCaptains' houses, the harbor and the lighthouse; Edgartown was Amity in Jaws.
AquinnahClay cliffs and Gay Head LightWampanoag land and a National Natural Landmark. The lighthouse is $6 in season.
Beach RoadThe Jaws bridgeThe bridge and Joseph Sylvia State Beach between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown.
ChilmarkMenemshaA working fishing harbor famous for sunsets; it is far up-island for a day trip.
Where the day happens
The Oak Bluffs ferry terminal
Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard
1 Seaview Ave, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557, USA
Most island tours start here, across the street from the Steamship Authority ticket office by the soldier
statue. The Island Queen docks a few minutes' walk away: go up the hill from the end of the ramp. The Boston
day trip lands in Oak Bluffs or Vineyard Haven depending on the date, and the operator tells you which. Tell
island tour operators which ferry you are on, because boats are sometimes diverted to Vineyard Haven in bad weather.
Flying Horses Carousel and the campground a short walk away
4.5★★★★★ 3,338 reviews · Martha's Vineyard day trip from Boston live Viator & Tripadvisor figure
★★★★★
Witty, knowledgeable and very helpful. Clean vehicle and safe driver. He provided water and snacks which was extremely appreciated!!!
★★★★★
Our trip from Boston to Martha's Vineyard was a very long, but good day. We did take the optional 3 hour island tour, it was worth it. Our guides were both very good and excellent drivers.
★★★★★
Everything was well planned and organized, even though there was bad weather moving in. Would use Viator again and recommend to others.
★★★★★
Outstanding excursion in every way! Everything was amazing including the two guides, a credit to your company!
★★★★★
Our tour guide on the Boston end was brilliant, very knowledgeable and very funny. He made our trip. We met Anthony in Martha's Vineyard. He was also great, full of knowledge.
★★★★★
This was a great way to visit Martha's Vineyard. We toured the beautiful island and learned about the area.
The other island
Or make it Nantucket
Cobblestones, grey shingles and roses instead of gingerbread and clay cliffs. Further out to sea,
so it suits travelers staying on Cape Cod rather than day-trippers from Boston.
Historical Van Tour of Nantucket
★ 4.7 · 220 reviews · 1.5 hours
Heading to the other island instead? Barrett's Tours runs a 90-minute narrated van loop from the corner of Easy Street and Main Street, past the Old Mill, the rose-covered village of Siasconset and Sankaty Head Lighthouse. Nantucket is further out to sea: the fast ferry from Hyannis takes about an hour.
A day on Martha's Vineyard is mostly about choosing well. The island is bigger than it looks on a map,
the boats run to a timetable, and the six towns are very different. Here is how the day really works, what it
costs and how to spend your hours on the island.
Tour or do it yourself?
If you are based in Boston without a car, a packaged day trip is the simplest option. The coach collects you from
a downtown hotel, the ferry tickets are handled, and you are back the same evening. The trade-off is time: with
a couple of hours each way to Falmouth, the most booked tour leaves you 5.5 to 6 hours on the island, and guests
report the full day running 12 to 14 hours. If you are staying on Cape Cod, doing it yourself is cheap and easy.
The Steamship Authority from Woods Hole is $22 round trip, the Island Queen from Falmouth $30, and once you land
the VTA buses are free. You get a full day and can stay for the evening boat.
The crossing takes 35 to 45 minutes from Falmouth or Woods Hole.
Where the ferries land, and why it matters
Most day-trip boats land in Oak Bluffs: the Island Queen, the Hy-Line fast ferry from Hyannis, Seastreak
from New Bedford, and the Steamship Authority from mid-May to late October. That is good news, because Oak Bluffs
is the most fun place to start. The Flying Horses Carousel, built in 1876, is a short walk up from the harbor, and
behind it are the painted gingerbread cottages of the Camp Meeting grounds around the 1879 iron Tabernacle.
Vineyard Haven is the Steamship Authority's year-round port, and the one you use outside the summer season.
From either, VTA route 13 runs to Edgartown.
The honest small print: the base price of the Boston day trip covers the coach and the ferry.
The 3-hour narrated island tour, the only way to reach the Aquinnah Cliffs on that day, is an optional upgrade,
and some guests say the bus loop moves fast, with long stretches of commentary and few stops. If you would rather
walk, skip it and spend your hours in Oak Bluffs and Edgartown.
What to see with six hours
Down-island is the easy choice. Spend the morning among the cottages and on Circuit Avenue in Oak Bluffs, then
ride the bus or a bike along the beach road past Joseph Sylvia State Beach and the Jaws bridge to Edgartown,
with its white captains' houses, harbor and lighthouse. The alternative is a loop to Aquinnah, where the red
and cream clay cliffs drop to the sea below the Gay Head Light. It is the island's most dramatic view, but it is
about 45 minutes' drive from Edgartown, which is why most day-trippers see it on a tour. Menemsha's famous sunset
comes too late for a day trip unless you have checked the last boat.
The Camp Meeting cottages are private homes: admire them from the paths.
Getting around without a car
You do not need one. The VTA buses serve all six towns and are fare-free through June 30, 2027, and in summer the
busiest routes run about every 15 minutes. Bikes and e-bikes rent in the port towns, and a paved path runs between
Oak Bluffs and Edgartown. Taking a car across costs $127 to $168 each way in peak season and needs a reservation
made months ahead, so it only makes sense for a longer stay.
The beach road between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown is the classic ride.
When to go
The day-trip season runs from late spring to mid-October, when the Island Queen and the fast ferries sail. June
and September are the sweet spot: everything is open, the crowds are thinner than in July and August, and the sea
is still warm in September. From late September, guests notice more shops and restaurants closed for the season.
Whatever the date, the tours here cancel free up to 24 hours before, so you can book early and watch the forecast.
Straight answers to what visitors ask most about a day trip to Martha's Vineyard.
Can you do Martha's Vineyard in a day?
Yes, and plenty of people do. The ferry takes 35 minutes from Falmouth or 45 minutes from Woods Hole, so a day trip from Cape Cod gives you a full day on the island. From Boston, the packaged day trip lasts about 12 hours and gives you 5.5 to 6 hours on the island. That is enough for two towns or a narrated loop, not for everything: the island bus company suggests at least 8 hours to see every town. See the one-day itinerary.
How much does a day trip to Martha's Vineyard cost from Boston?
The most booked Boston day trip is from $129 per person on Viator, with hotel pickup and the round-trip ferry; the 3-hour island tour is a paid upgrade, and meals are extra. Doing it yourself, the ferry is $22 round trip on the Steamship Authority from Woods Hole, plus getting to the port and parking. The island buses are free. Full breakdown in what a day trip costs.
What does the Boston day trip include?
Round-trip mini-coach from select Boston hotels, the ferry across Vineyard Sound, water, snacks and a guidebook, and 5.5 to 6 hours on the island. The narrated 3-hour island tour, with a 50-minute stop in Edgartown and 15 minutes at the Aquinnah Cliffs, only comes with the Island Tour option. Meals and gratuities are not included. See the tour.
How long is the ferry to Martha's Vineyard?
The Island Queen from Falmouth takes 35 minutes, the Steamship Authority from Woods Hole 45 minutes, the Hy-Line fast ferry from Hyannis about an hour, and Seastreak from New Bedford about 50 minutes. Compare them all in the ferry guide.
Which ferry is best for a day trip?
For most day-trippers, the Island Queen from Falmouth: it is the shortest crossing, lands in Oak Bluffs next to the sights and costs $30 round trip, but it only runs from May 22 to October 12 in 2026. The Steamship Authority from Woods Hole is cheaper at $22 round trip and runs all year. Only the Steamship Authority carries cars.
Do you need a car on Martha's Vineyard?
No, not for a day trip. The island's VTA buses link all six towns and are fare-free through June 30, 2027, the town centres are walkable, and there are bike paths and rentals. Taking a car on the ferry costs $127 to $168 each way in summer and the popular dates sell out months ahead. See getting around without a car.
Is the bus on Martha's Vineyard free?
Yes. The Martha's Vineyard Transit Authority says every VTA bus is fare-free through June 30, 2027: you just board. Older guides that quote day-pass prices are out of date.
Oak Bluffs or Vineyard Haven: which port is better?
For a first day trip, Oak Bluffs. It is where the Island Queen, Hy-Line and Seastreak land, and it puts you a short walk from the Flying Horses Carousel and the gingerbread cottages. Vineyard Haven is the Steamship Authority's year-round port. VTA route 13 links both with Edgartown.
When do Martha's Vineyard day trips run?
Mostly from late spring to mid-October. In 2026 the Island Queen runs May 22 to October 12 and the Boston day tour runs spring to fall. Outside that window, the Steamship Authority from Woods Hole to Vineyard Haven is the only regular ferry. June and September are the sweet spot: everything runs, with fewer crowds than July and August.
Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket for a day trip?
Martha's Vineyard is the easier day trip: 35 to 45 minutes by ferry from Falmouth or Woods Hole, with free buses once you land. Nantucket is further out, about an hour on the fast ferry from Hyannis, and more compact. Read Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket.
Where was Jaws filmed on Martha's Vineyard?
Jaws was filmed on the island in 1974. Edgartown played the town of Amity, and scenes were shot at Joseph Sylvia State Beach, the bridge on Beach Road between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown, and in Menemsha. Most island tours point them out.
Can I cancel a Martha's Vineyard tour?
Yes. Every tour listed here can be cancelled for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time on Viator. If the ferries stop for weather, operators usually cancel or refund; guests report this being handled well.
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