Booking choice: The Boston day trip, from $129 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
The two big costs are getting to the ferry and the ferry itself. Once you are on the island, the VTA buses are free, the town centers are walkable and the Camp Meeting grounds cost nothing to stroll.
Prices below are 2026 fares from the ferry operators and live from-prices on Viator. They move with the season, so the checkout price is the one that counts.
The quick answer
The Boston day trip is from $129 per person with coach and ferry; the island tour is extra. Doing it yourself, the ferry is $22 round trip from Woods Hole, $30 from Falmouth or $78 from Hyannis, plus $20 to $25 parking per car. The VTA buses are free, and island tours from the Oak Bluffs terminal cost from $65.
How much does a Martha's Vineyard day trip cost?
From about $47 for one driver doing it all yourself to around $184 for the Boston tour with the island tour upgrade, per person, before food.
Sample budgets for one adult, without meals or gas:
| Day trip | What you pay | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Boston day trip, free time | Coach and Island Queen included | $129 |
| Boston day trip + island tour | Base plus the upgrade (about $55 on a listing we checked) | About $184 |
| Small-group day trip | Coach and Island Queen, max 12 | $108 plus tips |
| Drive to Woods Hole + bus | $22 ferry, $25 parking, free VTA bus | $47 plus gas |
| Drive to Falmouth + island tour | $30 ferry, $20 cash parking, island tour | $50 plus $70 |
| CapeFLYER + Hy-Line | $40 train, $78 ferry (summer weekends) | $118 |
Want one price that covers the coach and the ferry? Check dates for the Boston day trip.
Check dates for the Boston day tripWhat does the $129 Boston tour cover, and what is extra?
It covers the coach from select Boston hotels, the round-trip Island Queen ferry, water, snacks and a guidebook; meals, gratuities and the island tour are extra.
The island tour option is a 3-hour narrated bus loop with a 50-minute stop in Edgartown and 15 minutes at the Aquinnah Cliffs. On the small-group trip, the operator suggests 15 to 20% gratuities, and one guest reported the driver taking only cash or PayPal for tips, so carry some cash.
How much is the ferry on its own?
$22 round trip for an adult from Woods Hole, $30 from Falmouth and $78 on the Hy-Line from Hyannis.
- Steamship Authority: $11 each way, children 5 to 12 $5.75, under-4s free, bikes $5.25.
- Island Queen: $30 round trip, youth $18, under-5s free, bikes $8.
- Hy-Line: $78 round trip, children $47, bikes $17.
- Seastreak from New Bedford: $84 round trip.
All routes are compared in the ferry guide.
How much is parking at the ferry?
$25 a day at the Steamship Authority lots in season, or $20 a day cash only by the Island Queen in Falmouth.
Woods Hole has no dockside parking: you park in Falmouth and ride the free shuttle, so allow an hour. The Steamship Authority rate drops to $20 a day from November to March. In Hyannis, the Hy-Line lot is up to $30 a day in peak summer.
Doing the ferry yourself? Add this 3-hour narrated loop from the Oak Bluffs terminal to Edgartown and the cliffs.
Explore the Oak Bluffs island tourDo you have to pay for the bus on the island?
No. Every VTA bus is fare-free through June 30, 2027: you just board.
Older guides quote day-pass prices, but the passes are suspended while the buses are free. Route 13 links Vineyard Haven, Oak Bluffs and Edgartown. More in getting around without a car.
How much are island tours?
Shared 3-hour tours from the Oak Bluffs terminal cost $65 to $75 per person; private tours are priced per group of up to 5.
- Highlights half-day tour: $65 per person, up to 14 guests.
- Small-group island tour: $70 per person, ages 10 and over.
- All-island bus tour: $75 per person, leaving at 1 PM.
- Private 2-hour tour: $450 per group of up to 5.
- Private half-day tour: $550 per group of up to 5.
- Guided e-bike day: $250, 6 hours, riders 16 and over.
Split five ways, the private half-day tour works out at $110 each.
Watching the budget? The highlights tour is the cheapest guided loop to the Aquinnah Cliffs.
Check dates for the highlights island tourWhat else costs money on the island?
Lunch and drinks, a few lighthouse climbs, the Chappy Ferry and bike rentals.
- Gay Head Light, Aquinnah: $6 for ages 13 and over, 10 AM to 4 PM in season.
- Edgartown and East Chop lighthouses: $5 for adults, children free; Edgartown was closed for painting at our last check.
- Chappy Ferry: $5 round trip on foot, $8 with a bike.
- Flying Horses Carousel: the ride price is not published online.
- Bike or e-bike rental: prices vary by shop; check before you go.
How can you save money on the day?
Take the Steamship Authority from Woods Hole, ride the free buses and walk the towns.
- Leave the car on the mainland: car fares are $127 to $168 each way in summer.
- Pack a picnic or buy one at Morning Glory Farm in Edgartown, open 8:30 AM to 6 PM.
- Bring your own drinks if you eat up-island, where the towns are dry or BYOB.
- Pick the small-group Boston trip if it is cheaper on your date.
- Travelling as five? A private tour per group can cost less per head than it looks.
Comparing Boston trips? The small-group day trip includes the Island Queen and caps the group at 12.
Check dates for the small-group day tripFrequently asked questions
Is the island tour included in the $129 Boston day trip?
No. The base price covers the coach and the ferry; the 3-hour island tour is a paid option.
Is it cheaper to visit Martha's Vineyard on your own?
The ferry is cheaper ($22 round trip from Woods Hole), but add parking, gas and a couple of hours' driving each way. For one or two people without a car, the tour is often simpler.
Do children pay less on the ferry?
Yes: $5.75 each way for ages 5 to 12 on the Steamship Authority and $18 round trip on the Island Queen; the youngest children ride free on both.
Do I need cash on Martha's Vineyard?
Bring some: the Island Queen car park takes cash only, and some drivers prefer cash tips.
Ready to book
Choose your day
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Martha's Vineyard Day Trip from Boston
- 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
Small-Group Day Escape from Boston
- Round-trip transport from Boston with a driver-guide
- Round-trip Island Queen ferry ticket
- Group size capped at 12 travelers
Highlights Half-Day Island Tour
The cheapest guided loop to Aquinnah, up to 14 guests
