Martha’s Vineyard Day Trips from Boston

Martha's Vineyard is one of the most popular islands on the East Coast of the United States. Located 150 kilometres from Boston, it is one of the most sought-after destinations for tourists when it comes to choosing excursions from the city to the surrounding area, and while the island is primarily a summer colony, it offers year-round plans.

If you're preparing your list of things to see and do in Boston and you like to enjoy the beaches, this destination will be a very appetising option for you. To get to Martha's Vineyard you can take a bus from Boston and then a ferry to the island's harbour, or you can opt for a plane ride, and once you're there you can book a tour so you won't miss a thing. Some alternatives include all the services and simplify your organisation. Here are all the options, with their advantages and disadvantages.

If you want to make sure that your trip is organised and a success from the moment you leave Boston, the best option is to choose an organised tour that includes all transfers to the island and also the tour to get to know it. With this alternative, your experience will be more complete and you'll be able to have an expert guide to tell you all about Martha's Vineyard.

The island has many attractions, especially if you're visiting Boston during the summer and decide to tour Martha's Vineyard, because the beaches are beautiful and the weather is hot, but during the rest of the year it also offers attractions such as the local museum, the Aquinnah Cliffs overlook and the Gay Head and Edgartown overlooks.

Organising your own visit can be stressful because it's a destination that requires several modes of transport, unless you choose to fly, although this is one of the most expensive options and the least common for visitors. An organised tour will save you from having to arrange everything yourself and save you time and money.

A full organised tour lasts approximately twelve hours. You'll start your tour in downtown Boston on a bus that will take you to the Island Queen where a ferry will take you to Martha's Vineyard along the Massachusetts coast. You'll spend a total of six hours at the destination , with a three-hour guided tour that includes a visit to the iconic attractions in the six boroughs of one of America's most unique islands. Return ferry and bus tickets are included.

Details of interest

• Price... From 100 euros with return bus and ferry transfers, local guide and three-hour island tour.
• Trip duration... The tour lasts a total of twelve hours, including six hours on the island and a three-hour guided tour of the main sites on Martha's Vineyard.
• Recommended if... You want to forget about the organisation and enjoy one of the most beautiful places around Boston with a complete tour.

If you prefer to make your own way to the island, you can opt for the bus. In this case, the most direct option is to take a bus from South Station to Falmouth Station, where you will transfer to the Sealine Hyannis service to the harbour to wait for the ferry to depart. You can find information on one of the ferry companies here.

If you have accommodation in downtown Boston, an area popular with tourists due to its proximity to some of the major attractions such as the Tea Party Museum and the New England Aquarium, you can take the number 7 bus to Summer St. and then transfer to Falmouth Station to get to the harbour for the ferry.

Another option is to take the bus from South Station to Hyannis Transportation Center and then transfer to the port for the ferry. This alternative allows you to avoid the stopover at Falmouth Station but the total journey time is longer at almost three hours.

If you intend to go directly from Logan Airport you must take the Hyannis bus to Hyannis Transportation Center and then transfer to Falmouth, where if you have time you can visit the beaches which are also considered ideal for children. In all cases you will need to purchase a ferry ticket there for the ferry to Martha's Vineyard Island.

Interesting details

• Price... The bus to Falmouth including transfer starts at 17 euros. The ferry fare from Woods Hole to the island starts at 10 euros.
• Journeytime... The fastest buses arrive in Falmouth in an hour and a half but some can take up to three hours. The ferry to Martha's Vineyard takes 45 minutes.
• Recommended if... You're looking for a cheaper route and have enough time in Boston to make your own arrangements.

Train travel often offers solutions when you're trying to travel to far-flung destinations, although in this case there's no direct route from Boston. If you want to get to Martha's Vineyard by train you'll need to take the Cape Flyer operator's service from South Station to Buzzards Bay and from there travel by taxi to Falmouth to catch the ferry.

As you'll see, it's not a cheap option and includes transfers, which makes it a bit of a hassle, but it's an interesting alternative if you're planning to visit Buzzards Bay, a popular destination if you're into fishing and sailing. It is also very close to Cape Cod, a popular destination.

Once you arrive in Buzzards Bay, you will need to take a taxi to Woods Hole harbour as there are no private services available. Once at the harbour you will reach Martha's Vineyard via a ferry ride.

Interesting details

• Price... Train tickets start at five euros. Taxi fares to Woods Hole start at 90 euros. Ferry to the island starts at 10 euros.
• Journey time... The train to Buzzards Bay takes one and a half hours. The taxi ride to the harbour takes about half an hour. The ferry takes 45 minutes to reach the island.
• Recommended if... You want to see Buzzards Bay on your way from Boston to Martha's Vineyard.

This is the most effective land option, although to get there you'll need to rent a car and then transfer to the island by car ferry. In this case you'll have to drive from Boston to Woods Hole and then travel to Martha's Vineyard. It's a popular choice for locals and tourists spending several days on the island.

The shortest way is to take the MA-24 S to Falmouth and from there to the harbour in Woods Hole. The journey can take just over an hour and this route includes tolls. Just make sure you book a place on the ferry with the car transfer option in advance as it can sell out.

The ferry takes about 45 minutes to the island although prices increase when car transfer is included. Remember that if you hire a car, you must give notice of the car transfer so that the necessary authorisation can be included in the contract. You can also opt for the route from Boston to Cape Cod but it's a long way because you'll have to drive to Woods Hole later in the day.

Interesting details

• Price... In Boston you can rent a mid-size car from 90 euros per day including insurance. A ferry ticket with car transfer starts at 55 euros.
• Travel time... The drive to Falmouth on the MA-24 S takes just over an hour and the ferry to Martha's Vineyard takes approximately 45 minutes.
• Recommended if... You're looking for an independent option that allows you to move at your own pace and if you're planning a multi-day stay on the island.

This is the quickest and simplest option , as you can board the plane at Logan Airport and fly directly to the island. It's the most effective alternative, with no transfers in between, especially if the flight is direct, as many airlines offer.

There are at least five airlines that sell regular flights from Boston to Martha's Vineyard, and others that add regular service from May through October, even from other cities with stopovers. The downside of this option is that average fares start at 120 euros round-trip, making air travel one of the most expensive options for getting to the island. The price per way is more expensive.

During the summer months in Boston, when tourism to the island intensifies and even presidents visit, airlines increase their offers and promotional flights are available. The flight to Martha's Vineyard, which takes about 40 minutes, is a great experience and the island's airport is small and quaint.

Interesting details

• Price... Direct flights from Boston start at 120 euros. Please note that these fares may incur extra baggage charges.
• Flighttime... The non-stop flight from Boston's Logan Airport to Martha's Vineyard takes about forty minutes on average.
• Recommended if... You're looking for a quick and efficient option or you have a short stay in the city and need to squeeze in some time.

While travelling to Falmouth by taxi is not the cheapest option, it can be effective if the cost of the journey is split between a group of people. It is also an efficient alternative if your trip to Boston includes children or if you are looking for a comfortable option and don't want to drive to Woods Hole harbour.

Unlike the bus ride, the taxi will avoid transfers and departing from the downtown area of the Museum of Fine Arts will get you to the ferry in just over an hour. Please note that the night fare, which starts at around 180 euros during the day, may increase.

Once you arrive at the harbour, you'll need to catch the ferry to Martha's Vineyard. If you're only on the island for the day, the best way to make the most of your time is to take an early morning taxi.

Details of interest

• Price... Taxi transfers from downtown Boston to Woods Hole harbour start at 180 euros. Fares are subject to change overnight. The ferry to the island starts at 10 euros.
• Journey time... The taxi ride to the harbour takes just over an hour by the most direct route.
• Recommended if... You are travelling in a group or with children and want to opt for a comfortable and effective option.

If you want to travel to Falmouth in a private car but also choose which vehicle to board you may be inclined to take an Uber or other app service. This can be ideal if you are a large group of people and are carrying a lot of luggage.

This option will avoid the train and bus transfers and allow you to travel comfortably and safely. It is also a very fast alternative. If you take an executive Uber in a spacious vehicle in the Boston Museum of Science area, you'll arrive in Falmouth in just over an hour.

From Falmouth you'll board the ferry to the island to begin your journey to the destination.

Interesting details

• Price... Uber transfers from downtown Boston to Woods Hole harbour start at 160 euros. Fares are subject to change at night or due to high demand. The ferry to the island starts at 10 euros.
• Journey time... The Uber ride to the harbour takes just over an hour by the most direct route.
• Recommended if... You are travelling in a group or with a lot of luggage and opt for a spacious vehicle to travel in comfort.