New England is known far and wide for its many beach-side towns and cities and fresh seafood restaurants. Each summer season families from all over the country flock here for a memorable vacation filled with rest and relaxation. When you think of classic New England vacation spots places like the Jersey Shore, Long Island, and Rhode Island immediately jump to mind. However, if you’re planning a summer vacation to New England, Martha’s Vineyard is far and away the best place to visit! Today, we’re running down exactly why Martha’s Vineyard is so much better than places like the Jersey Shore for your New England getaway.

 

Clean Beaches with No Entry Fees
Chances are if you’re eyeballing New England as the area for your summer vacation, you’re looking to spend some serious time at the beach. While the Jersey Shore might seem like the best in class location (it does have shore in its name after all), Martha’s Vineyard is a much better spot in New England for a relaxing day at the beach! The majority of beaches along the Jersey Shore require a $10+ entry fee per person per day to get on specific beaches during the morning or afternoon, and it's common for those packed beaches to end up with trash floating in the ocean. Is there anything worse than paying for entry to the beach and then seeing an empty bag of chips floating alongside you in the water? You don’t have to worry about that here on the island! While some beaches are private, there are dozens of beaches with crystal clear water free to entry for all who visit. 

 

No Chain Restaurants or Shopping Centers
For many people, a getaway to New England is about a change of pace from their everyday lives. One major aspect that makes Martha’s Vineyard a truly unique getaway spot is that it's free from major chain restaurants and shopping centers. When you’re exploring the island’s quaint towns you’ll see that everything is locally owned! So instead of another strip mall with a Wal-Mart and McDonalds, your shopping and eating experiences will be brand new and unlike anywhere else in New England.

 

Excellent Night Life Scene
Even though the Vineyard doesn’t have any chain restaurants or shopping centers, the nightlife scene is just as thriving as the popular vacation spots on “mainland” New England. Concentrated in the towns of Edgartown and Oak Bluffs, you’ll find dozens of bars and places to dance with your friends in the evening after a day at the beach. Also, if you’re traveling with your family and have younger kids there are plenty of spots to quickly jump in for a few slices of pizza, fried seafood, or ice cream without needing to sit down so you can explore the downtown areas with a snack in your hand!

 

Peace and Quiet
Like we said at the beginning of this blog post, rest and relaxation are crucial parts of any summer vacation. When you come to Martha’s Vineyard you get to have your cake and eat it too: Even though there's a happening nightlife scene, when you return to your rental house for the night you’re not bombarded with the sound of cars along a highway, you’ll only hear sounds of nature. Furthermore, since there's nothing resembling skyscrapers on the island we have no light pollution, so on clear nights you can check out the stars as far as the eye can see. Truly, there’s no better place in New England to find some peace and quiet after a stacked day of vacation activities.

There you have it, that’s why we think Martha’s Vineyard is the best summer vacation spot in New England. If you’re planning a summer trip to the island then make sure to check out our variety of vacation rentals or reach out to us directly for any questions about the best places to stay on Martha’s Vineyard!

Martha’s Vineyard has something for every kind of visitor, but if you’re planning a trip to the island with your family then you’ll want a very different itinerary versus coming with a group of friends from college! It can be extremely stressful to plan out a vacation that everyone remembers fondly - especially so if you have young kids. To help take some of that stress away, we’re going to share five of the essential activities to do as a family on Martha’s Vineyard.

 

The Flying Horses Carousel
This is the perfect activity for a family with younger children. The Flying Horses Carousel is the oldest platform-style carousel in the country. One of the longest-lasting attractions on the island, the Flying Horses Carousel has been a mainstay for visiting families since 1884. The carousel itself is an incredible piece of history and includes stationary carved wooden horses with manes and tails of real horsehair and inset glass eyes. Each horse is brightly painted and fixed to the rotating platform by a metal post. The operators do their best to keep the experience as close to the original 19th-century era tradition, and if you get the brass ring you’ll get to ride again for free!

 

Discover Your Favorite Island Beach
Above all else Martha's Vineyard is known for its excellent selection of beaches, so you'll have to find your family’s favorite one before you leave. If you’re visiting Martha’s Vineyard in the summer and you have toddler-age children with you the Owen Park or Oak Bluffs Town beaches are perfect places for you because of their calm waters and close proximity to plenty of different spots to eat. On the other hand, if your family is really into the beach and you want to come packed and set up for the day, then Edgartown’s expansive South Beach or the famous State Beach are both places to check out. 

 

The Island Alpaca Company
Don’t miss out on this truly adorable destination on Martha’s Vineyard. The name says it all, when you visit you’ll be treated to dozens of friendly alpaca - an especially fun time for animal lovers! While even a quick visit here is worthwhile, if you’re interested in a longer stay you’ll have opportunities to learn more about these extraordinary animals from the on-site staff, take a self-guided walking tour, and watch an informative video-presentation.

 

The Gay Head Cliffs
It's hard to imagine any trip to Martha’s Vineyard without making the journey over to the island’s most iconic scenic destination. The major caveat for parents here is that this is going to be a 30 - 40ish minute drive from the most popular hotels in towns like Oak Bluffs and Edgartown and that’s if you’re driving the car yourself. Relying on the island’s bus network, the VTA, will take even longer. You won’t find a prettier family photo opportunity on Martha’s Vineyard but just make sure you have everything you need to keep your kids entertained while making the trip to the Gay Head Cliffs.

 

The Sunset at Menemsha Beach
In many ways, seeing the sunset at Menemsha Beach is just as key to a visit to Martha’s Vineyard as experiencing the Gay Head Cliffs. They’re both incredibly scenic outdoor locations, and crucially for parents they’re both a bit of a drive from many of the primary hotels on the island. That all being said as long as you and your family are up for the drive, watching the sun set is the perfect way to close out a day on Martha’s Vineyard. Of course, if you’re traveling with toddlers who have earlier bed times, you might not want to shake up their sleep schedule by keeping them up and away from bed this late, but this is an ideal spot for every other age group!

Those are our picks for some essential family activities here on Martha’s Vineyard. If you’re looking for a place to stay on your upcoming trip check out our many rental properties available today. We can’t wait to see you and your family on the island this summer season!

When people think of Martha’s Vineyard, they imagine lovely beaches and seaside towns full of couples and families enjoying the summer sunshine, and can’t imagine another time of the year people would visit the island. While summer on the Vineyard is the iconic trip idea (to the point where everyone refers to the non-summer months as the “offseason”) travelers looking to come to the island for the first time could have an even better time in the offseason. So, should your first trip to Martha’s Vineyard be during the summer or the offseason? We’re going to run down some of the major qualities of both periods and you be the judge!

 

Why Your First Visit to Martha’s Vineyard Should be During Summer

• The Full Beach Experience: The picturesque beaches of Martha’s Vineyard are at their best when you can take a swim on a hot summer afternoon. All of the beaches from Lucy Vincent to South Beach and the Oak Bluffs Town Beach have a different feel to them and you’ll only get the full beach experience when you visit during the summer. Sure you can try and take a swim in the ocean during your Thanksgiving visit but we wouldn’t recommend it!

• Peak Island Nightlife: The summer season is when the nightlife scene on Martha’s Vineyard is thriving. Many tentpole bars and activities are only open during the summer season, so you’re missing out on the full potential if you come during the offseason. If you’re looking to have an ice-cold drink down by the harbor and do a bit of bar crawling with your friends or family on your vacation then make sure you make your first trip to the island during the summer!

• Major Annual Events: The biggest events of the year on Martha’s Vineyard happen in the summer, and many tourists plan their trips around each one of them. The annual Agricultural Fair is a fantastic pop-up-style event that’s fun whether you’re here with your family to go on rides and play games, or if you and your significant other are looking to chow down at the many food stands. Illumination Night is an incredible experience you’ll only get on Martha’s Vineyard in August, where every gingerbread house in the campgrounds lights up in a major way. And of course, there isn't a better spot to enjoy fireworks than on a beach for the 4th of July!

 

Why Your First Visit to Martha’s Vineyard Should be During the Offseason

• Peak Time for Tranquility: First and foremost, if you’re looking to get some real peace and quiet on your vacation then you should definitely visit Martha’s Vineyard in the off season. With nothing resembling a major city or highway, days and nights on the Vineyard are extra relaxing. The past two years have been tough on all of us, and if you prioritize rest over partying or swimming at the beach then the offseason on Martha’s Vineyard is the place for your vacation. 

• The True “Islander” Experience: Even though everyone says that summer on Martha’s Vineyard is the best time to be there, there’s something to be said about the true “islander” experience that only year-round residents - and people who make the trip during the offseason - will get to see. That quiet early morning walk on the beach followed by a great cup of coffee at Mocha Motts, the peaceful and scenic drive up-island to explore Chilmark and Aquinnah, and so many more calm moments. While you can do similar things in the warmer months, the overall “islander” experience can’t be replicated in the summer season.

• All of the Sights and None of the Crowds: The Gay Head Cliffs, Ocean Park Gazebo, and sunsets on Menemsha Beach are essential sites for any first-time visitors. They’re here for everyone year-round, but when the population of the island explodes in the summertime getting that perfect picture becomes a lot more difficult. There’s something extra satisfying about getting all of your vacation shots without crowds of people in the background, and that’s an experience you’ll only get during the off-season!

There’s our list on why you should visit Martha’s Vineyard for the first time during the summer or the offseason. Regardless of when you decide to come to the island, we can’t wait to see you!  If you’re planning a trip to the island make sure to check out our variety of vacation rentals or reach out to us directly for any questions about the best places to stay on Martha’s Vineyard!

When it comes to food on Martha’s Vineyard the first thing that pops into people's minds is “seafood”. Even though the island has an incredible array of fresh seafood restaurants and take-out spots, it has plenty of different options across all of the main island towns. If you’re making a trip to Martha’s Vineyard and don’t eat meat then have no fear, Martha’s Vineyard has some great food waiting for you as well. Here’s a rundown of a few of our favorite vegetarian/vegan spots on the island that you shouldn’t miss, even if you’re traveling with some carnivores!

 

Scottish Bakehouse in Vineyard Haven

Scottish Bakehouse is one of the main staples of takeout dining on Martha’s Vineyard. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner year-round in Vineyard Haven you’ll be hard-pressed to find an islander who has bad things to say about the bakehouse. The menu has a little bit of everything so you can come here with non-vegetarian or vegan friends. However, vegetarians and vegans on Martha’s Vineyard will love options like the Coconut Tofu, Mushroom Nut Roast, and a number of different baked goods on each day of the week - my favorite are the tahini-chocolate-oat cookies! 

There are no downsides when heading over to the Scottish Bakehouse, but our favorite vegetarian and vegan food from here fits more into the lunch and dinner categories so keep that in mind when planning what time of day you visit. Check out Scottish Bakehouse’s full menu.

 

Tigerhawk Sandwiches in Oak Bluffs

Tigerhawk Sandwiches is one of the best newer restaurants on the island. Situated right in the middle of Circuit Ave in Oak Bluffs, Tigerhawk feels like a place you’d find in trendy Brooklyn or Burlington VT with its Asian-fusion approach to sandwiches and salads - luckily for us, it's right here on Martha’s Vineyard! During breakfast time there’s an array of different vegetarian breakfast sandwiches and vegan options for avocado toasts. The vegetarian/vegan choices really kick it up a notch for lunchtime with multiple sandwiches and a mix of “salad-poke-bowls” with a Korean flair. 

The only real downside of Tigerhawk is that it isn’t open 7 days a week and closes around 3, so make sure you’re not planning your dinner around this location! Take a look at Tigerhawk Sandwiches' full menu here.

 

Morning Glory Farm in Edgartown

Is putting a market on a list of the best vegetarian or vegan food cheating? Well a little bit, but Morning Glory Farm absolutely deserves a shout-out. Sure, anyone can go to their local Shoprite, buy some tofu, vegetables, and sauce to put together a good vegan meal but Morning Glory Farm takes it to a different level. In addition to your standard grocery items, Morning Glory Farm has fresh produce and an excellent mix of baked goods, a salad bar, and takeaway food onsite. Soups, mac and cheese, pickled veggies, all of excellent quality and ready to please even the pickiest eaters.

Whether you’re looking for a vegetarian/vegan meal, or you’re just loading up on groceries for your stay on Martha’s Vineyard, Morning Glory is the place to go. Check out their website here.

That’s our list of a few favorite spots for vegetarian or vegan food on Martha’s Vineyard, we can’t wait for you to try them out! If you’re planning a trip to the island make sure to check out our variety of vacation rentals or reach out to us directly for any questions about the best places to stay on Martha’s Vineyard.

Every islander has gotten the “should I bring my car to Martha’s Vineyard?” question at least once in their life. First and foremost, you can bring a car to Martha’s Vineyard. There's no bridge connecting the island to the mainland but you can bring a vehicle over via the Steamship Authority vessels that regularly make trips between the island and the mainland. However, whether or not you actually need to bring a car with you to Martha’s Vineyard isn't a simple situation and will ultimately depend on what you’re doing while on the island. So, should you bring your car to Martha’s Vineyard? Let’s run down some of the pros and cons of coming to the island with and without a vehicle.

 

The Pros of Bringing Your Car to Martha’s Vineyard

• Easily See the Entire Island. Without a doubt the biggest benefit of bringing your car to Martha’s Vineyard is that you can easily see the entire island, even on a relatively short visit. Martha’s Vineyard has notable landmarks in every major town and although the island is small overall, you’ll still be driving about 40 minutes from Oak Bluffs to the iconic Gay Head cliffs. No matter how in shape you are, that's not a reasonable walk or bike ride kind of distance!

• Your Trip on Your Schedule. Planning your vacation can be stressful, and waiting around for public transportation or missing a bus that makes you late for an activity or get together isn’t a fun time. With a car on Martha’s Vineyard you can take your schedule into your own hands in a way you can’t without one. Not feeling the beach you’re at in Edgartown? No problem, just hop in your car and cruise down beach road to Oak Bluffs to see if that town fits your style better.

 

The Cons of Bringing Your Car to Martha’s Vineyard

• Tight and Costly Boat Reservations. If you’re planning a trip to Martha’s Vineyard for July 4th and its June 30th when you’re trying to make a boat reservation… Well, let’s just say that's not going to happen. Bringing a car to Martha’s Vineyard, especially in the summer, requires planning well in advance to secure a round trip boat reservation. A round trip ticket to take your vehicle over can cost around $200 so it's nothing to scoff at either.

• Roads Unlike Any Other. Have you spent a lot of time driving on highways or in the suburbs? Well you’re in for a very different driving experience on Martha’s Vineyard. There’s no two lane highways, zero traffic lights, and stretches of road where a 40 MPH speed limit suddenly drops to 25 MPH. This isn’t to say driving on Martha’s Vineyard is inherently dangerous, but you’ll need to be on your driving A-game if this is your first visit.

• Parking in the Summer. Every popular vacation or downtown spot has parking difficulties, but finding parking in the main downtown stretches on Martha’s Vineyard in the summer can sometimes be a major challenge. There’s no parking garages to be found, and even if you do find parking if you stay over the time limit at all you will definitely get a ticket. Repeat visitors will be more comfortable with parking on the surrounding backroads but first time visitors could end up annoyed and late for a dinner reservation as they round Circuit Ave for a 5th time waiting for a good spot!

 

The Pros of Going to Martha’s Vineyard Without a Car

• Come and Go as you Please. Like we’ve already covered, bringing a car to Martha’s Vineyard requires a boat reservation in advance. But if you leave your car behind you can buy a ticket for any steamship time slot on the spot and walk on with no prior reservation! This added convenience is huge for people who’s traveling plans came together quickly, or ended up deciding they’d like to stay a little longer in the summertime.

• A More Intimate View of the Island. Driving your car around the island will show you some epic sights, but it's nothing compared to the things you can only experience while walking or biking to and from key destinations on the island. All too often cars can zip right by excellent scenic overlooks or hidden trails. A vacation to Martha’s Vineyard is all about taking it easy, and each town on our small island has all of your essentials. So if you’re looking for a lower key and more intimate view of the place you're staying on Martha’s Vineyard then you can leave your car behind. 

• Public Transportation can Supplement Longer Trips. While Martha’s Vineyard is known for its quaint and quiet island vibes, it isn’t some area that technology and all modern convenience has left behind! If you’re staying in Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, or Vineyard Haven and want to check out the sites Up-Island then taxis, ubers, or the Vineyard Transit Authority (VTA) network of buses can help you make the journey without you needing to haul your car over to the island.

 

The Cons of Going to Martha’s Vineyard Without a Car

• Impossible to See the Full Island without a Car or Car Service. In spite of the benefits we’ve listed that come with visiting the island without a car, it's a fact that you’re not going to be able to easily see the whole island on foot or by bike. If you’re a first time visitor interested in seeing everything the island has to offer, then coming here without a car, or at least regularly using a car service, will leave you a bit more limited in terms of what you can do and where you can go outside of your immediate location on the island.

• Rainy Days are Going to be Rough. Rain on any vacation isn’t a great time, but that negativity will get amplified ten-fold if it happens while you don’t have a car with you. Restaurants get extra packed on rainy days and waiting for a cab or by an unfamiliar bus stop in the rain to get around on vacation is going to be a bad time all around.

Those are our key pros and cons of coming to Martha’s Vineyard with or without a car. We hope these insights help you decide how to best enjoy your trip to the island! If you’re looking for a place to stay on your upcoming trip, then make sure to check out our array of rental properties today.

Visiting Martha's Vineyard in the summer is something everyone should experience at least once in their lives. The beaches, the nightlife, and the quaint tranquil vibes come together unlike anywhere else in the country. While the island is very small compared to many other places you might go for vacation, each area of the island has its own unique flair and you may find yourself at the end of your vacation wishing you had spent more time in one place or another. To help guide your upcoming vacation we're going to give you an Islanders perspective of each one of Martha's Vineyard's incredible towns. By the end of this article, you’ll have a great starting idea of the unique aspects of each town to guide where you’ll want to spend your time when you visit the island during the summer!

 

Oak Bluffs

Oak Bluffs is where you'll want to spend a lot of time if you're looking to experience the nightlife scene on Martha's Vineyard. While Oak Bluffs is a far cry from any sort of happening downtown destination in major metropolitan cities in the United States, the locals of Martha's Vineyard would certainly call Oak Bluffs “the party town” of the island. Circuit Avenue,  the main downtown destination, hosts the Island's many popular restaurants, dessert spots, and bars.  There's no better place on the island where you can easily walk off a beach and within five minutes be sharing a meal or some drinks with your friends or significant other. Additionally, this is an excellent location to spend time if you're bringing your family and have younger or teenage kids with you as Oak Bluffs has the highest concentration of “kid-friendly”  activities on the island such as an arcade and the Flying Horses carousel, America's Oldest Carousel. And don't forget a freshly baked late-night donut from #BackDoorDonuts.

 

Vineyard Haven

Vineyard Haven is the year-round “hub” of Martha's Vineyard. It's the only town where ferries arrive for the full year, and, as such, is often the location many travelers to the island see first when they arrive. Traditional travel logic in most parts of the United States would say that you don't really want to spend a lot of time in the town nearby the airport/way you traveled into the area you’re visiting. However, that is definitely not the case with Vineyard Haven on Martha's Vineyard. If you're looking for great restaurants and shopping locations with a little bit more of a low-key vibe compared to Oak Bluffs, then Vineyard Haven is a great place for you to spend time. Although Vineyard Haven isn’t a “dry” town anymore it was for many years, and consequently, Vineyard Haven doesn't really have that hustle and bustle nightlife scene you're going to find in Oak Bluffs or even Edgartown. So if you want to split the difference between a fully secluded island experience and having some convenience in shopping destinations nearby then Vineyard Haven is the place to be on your vacation. 

 

Edgartown

Edgartown is a very interesting location on the island. It probably has the best publicly-available beaches when compared to Oak Bluffs or Vineyard Haven with Island favorites, like South Beach, covering a lot of ground to relax and have some fun in the ocean with the potential for the waves to get pretty big. Some Islanders may joke and refer to Edgartown as the “preppy” town on Martha’s Vineyard, and while you might see a few more folks wearing a polo shirt,  no one in the town is looking to turn their nose up at you. Edgartown has some classic Island restaurants such as Dock Street Diner and The Wharf, offers some nightlife activities (though not as many as Oak Bluffs),  and has a great mix of shopping destinations. The vast majority of shopping and restaurant options on Martha's Vineyard are exclusive to the island but Edgartown offers a local Lululemon, in addition to many island exclusive stores, as well if you find yourself in need of some quality yoga pants on your trip!  Edgartown is a great location for shopping and dining on the island,  but unlike Oak Bluffs, and Vineyard Haven, you're not going to be able to walk from the downtown area to a beach so keep that in mind when you're planning your time.

 

Up-island (West Tisbury, Chilmark, Aquinnah & Menemsha)

Why are we combining towns here? Well, a deep dive into West Tisbury, Chilmark, Aquinnah or Menemsha would shine a light on some differences between each of them. However, for the purposes of a traveler trying to take in the feel of the different areas of the island, looking at these three towns as the collective ”Up-island” is much more productive. Staying Up-island offers the absolute peak of tranquility that you can only get on Martha's Vineyard. There's no semblance of a downtown or Main Street type area anywhere Up-island, but that could be a very big benefit depending on what you're looking for on your trip to Martha's Vineyard.  Additionally, the Up-island areas offer the best-in-class beaches Martha’s Vineyard has to offer although some of them aren't open to the public. Also, you can't forget about signature Island destinations like the Gay Head Cliffs or the legendary sunsets on Menemsha beach. If you're looking to unplug completely on your vacation spending time Up-island is the way to go, but just make sure you know that you aren’t going to be able to walk to more familiar downtown settings like Oak Bluffs, Vineyard Haven, or Edgartown from any of these Up-island towns.

Are you ready for some summertime fun and relaxation? If you're in need of a place to stay on Martha's Vineyard make sure to check out our rental properties or if you have any real estate-related questions you can reach out to us directly. We look forward to seeing you on the island this summer!

While Martha’s Vineyard is known as one of the greatest summer time vacation spots, it's all too often that travelers disregard a trip to the island outside of the summer months. With the spring season just around the corner, Martha’s Vineyard is an excellent destination for families, couples, or solo travelers looking for some rest and relaxation. If you’re asking “why should I visit Martha’s Vineyard in the spring?” then we have the answers you need.

 

First let’s address the elephant in the room: the beaches. Perhaps more than anything else, Martha’s Vineyard is known for its array of incredible beaches and many of you might be wondering what’s the point of coming to the island if you can’t enjoy the beaches to the fullest. While we definitely wouldn’t recommend a dip in the ocean during March or April, there's way more to the Martha’s Vineyard beaches than swimming. You can stock up on delicious food in downtown Oak Bluffs and take a 5 minute walk to set up a beach picnic at the Oak Bluffs Town Beach for example. You can skip stones and search for wampum at the Lighthouse Beach in Edgartown, and there’s never a bad day to watch the sunset on Menemsha Beach. So yes, swimming is off the table but just about every other benefit is waiting for you on the shore!

The absolute best reason to visit Martha's Vineyard during the spring is the major difference in population on the island outside of summertime. Since the island is so well-known as a summertime destination things can get very very crowded. The Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce estimates that the island is “home to roughly 17,000 year-round residents. During the summer months, the population increases to nearly 200,000. Sixty-three percent of all homes on the Vineyard belong to seasonal residents”. That is over a 10x increase in population during the summer months! When you decide to visit Martha's Vineyard in the offseason you get an entirely different level of tranquility compared to the summer, and after the past few years a vacation should be a relaxing time above all else!

 

In the springtime, now that the weather is starting to get much nicer, the many outdoor activities offered by Martha's Vineyard are ready for you to explore -  without the crowds that come with a summertime visit! The famous Gay Head cliffs are open to the public year-round and getting there with your friends and family for some once-in-a-lifetime photos is just so much better when there's no one else in the background. Take a stroll around the gingerbread houses in the campgrounds of Oak Bluffs, or take a bike ride up beach road connecting Edgartown and Oak Bluffs. These are just a few classic outdoor activities that can make your vacation perfect during a spring time visit.

If you're looking for a place to stay on your springtime getaway to Martha's Vineyard make sure to check out our many rental properties or you can reach out to us on our website with any rental inquiries and we'll help you out with whatever you need. If you're already planning a trip to Martha's Vineyard this March make sure to check out our recent blog post on some fun activities you can do on the island during your stay.

Martha’s Vineyard is the perfect getaway for families, couples, and solo vacationers. If it's your first time thinking about a trip here, you’re probably asking questions like “How do I get to Martha’s Vineyard?” and “What are the best ways to get around on Martha’s Vineyard?” Look no further, because we have the answers you're looking for when it comes to getting to Martha’s Vineyard and getting around the island.

How to Get to Martha’s Vineyard

If you’re interested in flying to Martha’s Vineyard there are a couple options. The main year round carrier is Cape Air which offers round trip flights from locations such as New York and Boston. Additionally, some of the major carriers offer seasonal flights from more locations across the US - but flying isn’t the main way travelers get to Martha’s Vineyard. For the vast majority of travelers, using the ferry is the best way to get to the island.

The ferries are run by the Steamship Authority. There are year round trips between Woods Hole on Cape Cod and Vineyard Haven, and a stop in Oak Bluffs is added during the summer months when more people make the trip to Martha’s Vineyard. If you’re not bringing a car to Martha’s Vineyard you can purchase tickets on location and board one of the ferries. However, if you want to bring your car, which is highly recommended to get the most out of your trip to Martha’s Vineyard, you will need to book in advance. The schedule can get quite crowded so, if you’re planning a trip during the summer months the earlier you can book a ferry reservation the better! The Steamship Authority offers full details of their schedules, travel routes, and of course pricing on their website.

The Steamship Authority ferries are the most popular travel option, but during the summer more ferry options open up that provide routes between Martha’s Vineyard and New York City, New Bedford, Hyannis, Falmouth, and Northern New Jersey. For a more detailed breakdown on additional ferry schedules check out the website for Vineyard Ferries.

Getting Around on Martha’s Vineyard

So you’re all set on how to get to Martha’s Vineyard, but now you need to know what are the best ways to get around Martha’s Vineyard. Travelers to the island have a couple of options available, so let's jump in.

First, a little bit on the layout of Martha’s Vineyard: While The Island is on the small side, covering just about 100 square miles, it is very much not a location where you can experience the entire island by walking around. The gorgeous towns of Oak Bluffs, Vineyard Haven, and Edgartown each have a dedicated downtown area with a distinct look and feel while West Tisbury, Chilmark, and Aquinnah have a more quiet and rural feel even compared to the other towns on the island. No trip to Martha’s Vineyard is complete without stopping by multiple towns.

By far the best way to get around Martha’s Vineyard is to bring your car with you on the ferry. Traveling to and from the many towns and sightseeing destinations is at its best when you are in total control of your schedule. Driving on Martha’s Vineyard will take a bit of getting used to if you’re coming from a larger city though, don’t expect multi-lane highways or even traffic lights to guide you. Martha’s Vineyard’s low key and low-tech vibe extends all the way to its use of stop signs and only a single rotary on-island. If you want to make sure you have your car on Martha’s Vineyard, you’ll need to travel by ferry and make sure to schedule your reservation with the Steamship Authority far in advance to guarantee a space.

Even though we recommend bringing your car with you to Martha’s Vineyard, if that isn’t an option the island offers a couple of good alternatives. Once you’re on-island you can rent a motor scooter for yourself or even give yourself a nice workout by renting a bike. Martha’s Vineyard has over 44 miles of bike paths and bike-friendly roads in many different parts of the island. Biking down Beach Road that connects Edgartown and Oak Bluffs is truly a sight to behold on a sunny day! There are multiple car rental agencies on island where you can rent any type of a car for a day or for as long as you stay.

If bikes and scooters both don’t sound great, then the Vineyard Transport Authority (VTA)’s bus system will be the way to go. You can purchase tickets in a variety of packages from day and multi-day passes to a flat fee for individual trips on the spot. Getting a day or multi-day pass is the best option since otherwise you’ll need exact change for individual trips, and juggling cash and change isn’t the most relaxing vacation activity! The VTA operates year round, but routes and services are much less frequent outside of the summer months. There are also plenty of Uber drivers and taxi services that can bring you to any place on the island. If you are coming over for a very short stay then we recommend leaving your car in one of the parking lots in Woods Hole or Falmouth and just taxiing around and leave your driving cares off island!

Those are our tips on how to get to Martha’s Vineyard and how to get around the island once you’re here. If you’re looking for a place to stay on Martha’s Vineyard be sure to check out our many vacation rentals or contact us directly and we can help you find the best place to relax on the island and give you further details about any questions you might have!