Martha's Vineyard Without a Car 2026: Free Buses & Bikes

Booking choice: The Oak Bluffs island tour, from $70 per person. Check dates Compare the options below

The Martha's Vineyard Chamber of Commerce says you do not necessarily need a car: the VTA buses serve every town and run from early morning to late at night, the downtowns are walkable, and the roads are bike friendly.

For a day trip, a car is more trouble than it is worth. Here is how to get around instead.

The quick answer

Ride the VTA buses, which are fare-free through June 30, 2027; route 13 links Vineyard Haven, Oak Bluffs and Edgartown. Bring or rent a bike for the beach road. Uber and Lyft exist but are limited in summer and up-island. For Aquinnah in a short day, an island tour from the Oak Bluffs terminal is the easiest option.

Several e-bikes parked along a wooden railing beside a sandy path and a marsh — E-bikes make the longer island distances manageable.

Can you visit Martha's Vineyard without a car?

Yes, easily: the free VTA buses link all six towns and the town centers are walkable.

Oak Bluffs and Edgartown, the two towns most day-trippers visit, are linked by a frequent bus and a bike path. The far west of the island, Aquinnah and Menemsha, is where going without a car takes more planning.

Not keen on bus connections? The island tour does the Aquinnah loop for you, from the Oak Bluffs terminal.

Check dates for the Oak Bluffs island tour

Is the VTA bus really free?

Yes. The Martha's Vineyard Transit Authority says all VTA bus service is fare-free through June 30, 2027.

Riders board any bus without a fare, pass or ticket, thanks to state funding. Older guides quoting $8 to $10 day passes are out of date.

Painted cottages with turquoise trim behind a white picket fence — Oak Bluffs is compact enough to see on foot.

Which bus routes does a day-tripper need?

Route 13 for Vineyard Haven, Oak Bluffs and Edgartown; route 6 from Edgartown toward West Tisbury and the up-island connections; route 4 for Menemsha.

From May 22 to October 3, 2026, the busiest routes run about every 15 minutes from 9:25 AM to 6 PM. Route 6 leaves Edgartown at 12 minutes past the hour; route 4 to Menemsha at 40 minutes past. The VTA's own one-day plan says to allow at least 8 hours to see everything without rushing. For a realistic day, see the one-day itinerary.

Can you get around by bike or e-bike?

Yes: bring a bike on the ferry or rent one in the port towns, and ride the path along the beach road between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown.

Bikes cost $5.25 each way on the Steamship Authority and $8 round trip on the Island Queen. Rental prices vary by shop, so check before you go, and note that Anderson's Bike Rentals in Oak Bluffs, listed in many older guides, has closed. The Woods Hole parking shuttles take two bikes in daylight, but e-bikes are too heavy for their racks.

Two bikes with wicker baskets parked by dune grass above a turquoise bay — A bike with a basket is the classic down-island way to travel.

Want a guide and the bike sorted? This full day by e-bike includes Chappaquiddick; guests report riding 30 miles or more.

★ 5.0 15 reviews · 6 hours · from $250

Explore the guided e-bike day

Are there taxis, Uber or Lyft?

Yes, but limited: the Chamber says rideshares work in the town centers and at the airport, and can be scarce in peak season and in rural areas.

Do not count on a car turning up in Aquinnah or Menemsha in time for your last ferry. Use the bus or a tour for the long legs, and keep rideshares as a backup in town.

How do you get to Chappaquiddick?

On the Chappy Ferry from Dock Street in Edgartown: $5 round trip on foot, $8 with a bike.

The two slips are only 527 feet apart, and in summer the ferry runs from 6:30 AM to midnight. A car and driver costs $17 round trip. Chappaquiddick is quiet and rural, so bring a bike or come on a guided ride.

Golden dune grass at dusk with a calm bay behind — Dunes and quiet beaches are the reward for crossing on the Chappy Ferry.

Like the sound of Chappaquiddick by e-bike? Check dates for the 6-hour guided ride.

Check dates for the guided e-bike day

Should you bring a car on the ferry?

Not for a day trip: only the Steamship Authority carries cars, and a normal car costs $127 to $168 each way in summer.

Off-peak the fare is $73.50 each way, and reservations are required. Summer bookings opened on February 3, 2026, and many of the busiest weekends were at or near capacity on opening day. Compare that with a $22 round-trip foot ticket in what a day trip costs.

Is an island tour the easiest way to see it without a car?

For Aquinnah in a short day, yes: tours leave from the Oak Bluffs terminal and loop the island in about 3 hours.

The highlights tour is $65 for up to 14 guests, the small-group island tour is $70 for ages 10 and over, and the all-island bus tour leaves at 1 PM with stops at Menemsha and Morning Glory Farm. Private tours start at $450 per group of up to 5.

The clay cliffs of Aquinnah in golden light with the red Gay Head lighthouse above — The Aquinnah Cliffs are the hardest sight to reach by bus in a short day.

Want the cliffs without bus changes? This budget loop starts across from the Oak Bluffs ticket office.

★ 4.6 683 reviews · 3 hours · from $65

Explore the highlights island tour

Frequently asked questions

Is Martha's Vineyard walkable?

The town centers are: Oak Bluffs, Edgartown and Vineyard Haven are easy on foot. Between towns, use the bus or a bike.

How do I get from Oak Bluffs to Edgartown without a car?

Take VTA route 13, which is free, or ride the bike path along the beach road past Joseph Sylvia State Beach.

Can I reach Aquinnah by bus?

Yes, with a connection: ride from Edgartown toward West Tisbury and change for the up-island buses, which run less often than route 13. Allow plenty of time.

Can I take a bike on the ferry?

Yes, on every route: $5.25 each way on the Steamship Authority, $8 round trip on the Island Queen and $17 round trip on the Hy-Line.

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