E Echo · Line 2: Getting There
Signal notes
- Martha’s Vineyard is 45 minutes from Woods Hole; Nantucket is 2 hours 15 minutes from Hyannis by traditional ferry or one hour by high-speed ferry.
- All vehicle travel between Woods Hole and Martha’s Vineyard is reservation-only.
- There is no dockside parking at Woods Hole; off-site lots in Falmouth and Cataumet have a free shuttle.
The islands are the day trip most Cape visitors plan first and organize last. The good news is that walking onto a ferry is simple. Bringing a car is not, and that one decision shapes everything else about an island visit. This guide uses the Steamship Authority’s published 2026 fares and policies. The authority has run year-round service to both islands since 1960 and, by its own description, is the largest ferry service to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket from Cape Cod. Private operators also run seasonal passenger boats from other Cape harbors.
Two islands, two ports
Martha’s Vineyard is about seven miles off the Cape. Ferries leave from Woods Hole in Falmouth and take 45 minutes. They arrive at Vineyard Haven year-round and at Oak Bluffs from May through October.
Nantucket is 26 miles from Hyannis. Traditional ferries take 2 hours and 15 minutes. A seasonal high-speed passenger-only ferry makes the trip dock to dock in one hour.
Passenger fares for 2026
| Route and service | Adult one-way | Adult round-trip | Child 5 to 12 one-way | Bicycle one-way |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woods Hole to Martha’s Vineyard | $11.00 | $22.00 | $5.75 | $5.25 |
| Hyannis to Nantucket, traditional | $21.50 | $43.00 | $11.00 | $8.50 |
| Hyannis to Nantucket, high-speed | $48.50 | $93.00 | $24.75 | $8.50 |
Adult fares include a town embarkation fee of $0.50 each way. Children 4 and under ride free, and anyone under 13 must travel with a person 13 or older. On the high-speed Nantucket boat there is also a same-day round-trip fare of $69 for adults, valid Monday through Thursday when the trip starts and ends in Hyannis on the same day. Tandem bikes and bikes with trailers cost double the bicycle fare.
Do passengers need a reservation?
Not on the traditional boats. The authority says reservations are not required for passengers to Martha’s Vineyard or on the traditional Nantucket ferries, but it recommends arriving 30 minutes before sailing because boats sometimes reach passenger capacity on busy weekends and holidays. For the high-speed Nantucket ferry, it recommends booking ahead on peak summer weekends in July, August and September and on all holiday weekends.
Taking a car
Here the rules tighten. The Steamship Authority says advance reservations are required for all vehicle travel, and the Woods Hole to Martha’s Vineyard route is reservation-only for vehicles. Car fares also rise sharply in summer and on weekends.
| Car under 17 feet, one-way | Martha’s Vineyard | Nantucket |
|---|---|---|
| January 5 to March 31 | $73.50 | $205.00 |
| April 1 to May 14 | $115.50 | $300.00 |
| May 15 to September 14, Monday to Thursday | $127.00 | $320.00 |
| May 15 to September 14, Friday to Sunday | $168.00 | $370.00 |
| September 15 to October 31 | $127.00 | $320.00 |
For a family of four going to Nantucket on a summer Saturday, the car alone costs more than all four traditional passenger tickets combined. Many visitors leave the car on the mainland and use island buses: the authority points to the Vineyard Transit Authority’s year-round island-wide service, which reaches both Vineyard terminals, and to The Wave on Nantucket, run by the Nantucket Regional Transit Authority from mid-May through early October and boarding one block from Steamboat Wharf.
When reservations open
As of October 2026, the authority is taking reservations for travel through January 5, 2027. Reservations for January 6 through May 17, 2027, open on November 3, 2026. The reservation office is at (508) 477-8600, open 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Wait list and standby
If your preferred sailing is full, you can book what is available and join the wait list for a better time. The system searches for space freed by cancellations on a first-come, first-served basis right up to the travel date. Matches made more than a week ahead are sent by email or mail; matches made within a week are confirmed by email and phone. The authority advises checking your final reservation 24 hours before travel.
Standby is a different thing and is never guaranteed. Standby cars board after reserved cars, in order, when space remains. On the Hyannis to Nantucket route standby is accepted year-round, but from Hyannis you must sign up in person at the terminal; it cannot be done by phone. Cars not carried by the end of the day must leave the terminal and get no priority the next day.
Parking on the mainland
- Woods Hole: there is no dockside parking. Use the authority’s off-site lots in Falmouth or Cataumet and the free shuttle, and plan to arrive an hour before departure in summer and on holiday weekends. Real-time lot information is available at (508) 457-7275.
- Hyannis: there is limited on-site parking at the terminal and off-site lots with a free shuttle. Again, allow an hour in summer. The Hyannis parking line is (508) 775-7275.
- Parking is charged at the rate in effect on the day you enter the lot, for the whole stay.
Tip: Bikes and the shuttle do not always mix. Falmouth shuttle buses carry two bikes in daylight hours and e-bikes are too heavy for their racks. Hyannis shuttles have no bike racks, so drop the bike at the terminal with a passenger before you park.
On board
Pets ride free but must stay with the passenger responsible for them. Personal baggage is free, while bikes, surfboards and other large items carry a fare. Massachusetts law prohibits drinking alcohol aboard any Steamship Authority vessel other than drinks bought from the onboard concessionaire.
If you are coming without a car at all, the summer CapeFLYER train from Boston connects with ferries in Hyannis; see Cape Cod Without a Car: The CapeFLYER Train, Fare-Free Buses and Ferries That Connect. To choose a base close to your port, see Choosing a Cape Cod Town for Your Summer Base: Ferries, Beaches, Trails and Weather Compared.