FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT MARTHA’S VINEYARD
Martha’s Vineyard is an island that sits off the north-west end of Cape Cod, about 90 minutes by car or bus from Boston. The Peter Pan Bus and the Plymouth & Brockton Bus take you directly from Boston South Station and Boston Logan Airport to the ferry terminal in Wood’s Hole. You can reach the island by ferry, either as a foot passenger or with a car, or by plane. There is no bridge or tunnel.
The following ferries run to Martha’s Vineyard:
Steamship Authority – A year round car and passenger ferry running from Woods Hole on Cape Cod to Vineyard Haven. A seasonal car and passenger ferry runs from Woods Hole to Oak Bluffs. The ferry trip is 45 minutes. Reservations are required for cars but no reservations are required for foot passengers.
Hy-Line – A seasonal foot passenger only service running from Hyannis to Oak Bluffs and from Oak Bluffs to Nantucket. Reservations required.
Island Queen – This is a foot passenger only ferry running between Falmouth and Oak Bluffs in the summer. The ferry trip is 35 minutes.
Falmouth Ferry – A seasonal foot passenger only ferry running from Falmouth to Edgartown. The ferry trip is 1 hour.
Seastreak – A seasonal foot passenger only ferry running between New York City and Oak Bluffs and a seasonal ferry between New Bedford and Oak Bluffs. The ferry trip is 5 hours from New York and 1 hour from New Bedford. Reservations required.
Rhode Island Ferry – A seasonal fast-ferry for foot passengers between Quonset Point, RI and Oak Bluffs. Reservations required. The trip is 95 minutes.
Yes, there are a number of airlines that fly directly into Martha’s Vineyard airport.
Cape Air – Fly year-round from Boston, Nantucket and New Bedford and seasonally from Hyannis.
Tradewind Air – Seasonal flights (May-Nov) from New York (White Plains & Teterboro)
Jet Blue – Fly seasonally directly from Boston, Washington DC and from New York (JFK, Newark)
Delta Airlines – Fly seasonally directly from New York (La Guardia)
American – Fly seasonally from Washington DC, Charlotte, Chicago and Philadelphia
All visitor information for the island can be found at Visit Martha’s Vineyard.
Absolutely. Vineyard Haven is the year round town with most stores and restaurants open all year. In Oak Bluffs and Edgartown there are also a few restaurants and stores that remain open through the Winter. Menemsha Fish Market in Menemsha is open year round. The MV Museum, Island Alpaca, Chilmark Glassworks, Granary Art Gallery, Field Art Gallery and Mink Meadows Golf Club are attractions that remain open year round and the Trustees of The Reservation put on winter safaris to Cape Poge lighthouse on Chappaquiddick.
That depends on what you like doing and whether you like crowds.
August is by far the busiest month and plays host to a number of big annual island events; Illumination Night, African-American Film Fest and Fireworks Night in Oak Bluffs, Beach Road Weekend Music Festival in Vineyard Haven, the Agricultural Fair in West Tisbury and the Chilmark Road Race.
July runs a close second in terms of crowds and is typically has the warmest average temperatures.
June and September are warm, less crowds but still plenty of things going on such as the International Film Fest in Vineyard Haven in September and the Taste of the Vineyard in Edgartown in June. September also boasts the warmest sea water for those that love swimming.
October usually sees Indian summer weather on the island and is a great golfing, hiking and/or biking month. The Food & Wine Festival in Edgartown and the MV Oyster Fest in Vineyard Haven takes place in October.
April and May can be hit or miss weather wise but do have plenty of color as flowers and plants start to bloom. The Martha’s Vineyard Marathon and Pink & Green weekend take place in May.