Martha’s Vineyard, hands down, is one of my favorite places to visit in the States. I may be biased, as I grew up in Massachusetts and have been to this island so many times that I can’t even count. It started as family day trips throughout the summers when I was a kid, and now I get to take my kids here, a true full-circle moment. There’s just something about this place. The ocean air, its quaintness, the fresh foods, and the most delicious ice cream. It truly is an idyllic place. The caveat is that during the season (Late May- Early Sept), all the hotels and stays get booked up fast. You need to book at least 6 months in advance to get a deal, and even then, prices are still fairly high, making this little island the perfect day trip. It’s honestly all you need here. Though it's much bigger than it seems, to get to anything a visitor would want to see, you only need one day. But I do recommend, if you can, spending a few days here to enjoy the chill vibes. Last year, we were able to stay a couple of nights, and it was so nice to take our time and really enjoy the island. With that said, we’re here for a day trip, and a day trip is what we will discuss.

WHERE TO STAY

I know, I know, I just said day trip, right? BUT if you are not a MA resident or in one of the nearby New England states, you will probably be staying somewhere in MA, right? Boston is always the best choice, but if you want to be closer to the Vineyard and also get Vineyard vibes without Vineyard prices, your best bet is to stay in Cape Cod. The Falmouth and Yarmouth area are the larger towns closest to the MV Ferry pick up. There are so many rentals and hotels to choose from. I actually love Cape Cod, and it is a place we also try to visit every summer. If you are visiting MA in the summer, I recommend spending 2-3 days down The Cape and making one of those days a day trip to Martha’s Vineyard. We loved this VRBO we stayed in, perfect for families or large groups.

HOW TO CATCH THE FERRY

Ok, so you are now in the Cape. How do you catch the ferry, you ask? Well, you have two options. Drive your car onto the ferry so you can use it on the island, or park your car in one of the many ferry parking lots that have free shuttles that take you to the ferry. Both have their pros and cons. Driving your car on the ferry is nice because you can use it on the island, get around more quickly, and see more in less time. You can also stop on some scenic routes that the buses do not take. The con, though, is that parking can be tricky on the island, and you need to reserve your spot ahead of time if you're driving, since spots fill up fast. So if you want to take your car, plan ahead and buy your tickets at least 10 days in advance. As for parking in the lots, you won't have to worry about parking on the island, but if you want to venture to different towns in MV, you will have to hop on the bus. The buses come frequently and are easy to navigate, so this isn’t a problem, but you are beholden to where they stop, which usually means more walking. If you love to walk like me, then this shouldn’t be a problem. Also, parking in the lot is an extra step; instead of driving straight onto the ferry, you have to park and take a shuttle to the ferry. The shuttles run frequently and align with ferry times, so they are very efficient. But sometimes the extra step can be a bit annoying, especially if you're juggling bags, and in peak season, they can get crowded.

The Steamship Authority website has all the info you need to travel to Martha’s Vineyard (and Nantucket, if you’re feeling froggy). On the site, you can find the ferry schedules, the best parking lot (there are several), and pricing. On the day you are traveling, go to the website and click the option “Traveling Today” in the top menu bar. There, you will find all the information on which parking lot to park in, weather advisories, status of ferries, and more. I also recommend booking your ticket beforehand; the same day is fine, but I wouldn’t wait to buy it at the port, as you could miss your time slot. It’s a little tricky to see where to buy tickets on the site if you aren't bringing your car on the ferry, so I’m putting the exact link HERE for you. You’re welcome.

If you are driving, head to the website (remember, at least 10 days in advance. You can do same day if you are not driving your car on the ferry), and then click “Reservations” on the top menu bar, and on the left you will see an orange “BOOK” button. This will take you to the reservations page, where you can choose your ferry and travel time. You will choose Woods Hole to Martha's Vineyard, make it a round trip, and make sure you click “traveling with a vehicle”. You will then be prompted to answer questions about your vehicle and the number of people traveling. When you go to the next page, it will show you the times available for both legs of your trip. You choose the best times, and before you book it, you will be prompted to create a profile. When you arrive, you drive straight to the ferry terminal in Woods Hole, 1 Cowdry Road
Woods Hole, MA, 02543, where you will be guided onto the ferry.

You can pretty much find any information you need on their website.

OAK BLUFFS OR VINEYARD HAVEN?

You will notice when booking the ferry, some say Oak Bluffs and some say Vineyard Haven. These are the towns the ferries will stop in. They are all on the same island, so overall, if you stop at Vineyard Haven or Oak Bluffs, it ultimately doesn't matter, as you will still be able to navigate around all parts of the island. And if you buy a ferry that arrives in Vineyard Haven, you can still buy a ticket that departs out of Oak Bluffs and vice versa. Oak Bluffs is the main area of the Vineyard, so here you will find many of the attractions people come to the Vineyard for. No matter where your ferry drops you off, Oak Bluff is a must-visit. You can take the bus from the Vineyard Haven ferry stop to Oak Bluffs on the island. In Oak Bluffs, you will find the oldest carousel in the country, lots of delicious food and treats, the iconic open grass area, the gingerbread houses, many beaches to swim, and more. Vineyard Haven is not as exciting, but as I mentioned, you can take the bus to other parts of the island. My favorite area of Martha’s Vineyard is actually Edgartown, and no matter where the ferry drops you, you will have to take a bus to visit this idyllic town that I highly recommend.

A COUPLE NOTES

If you are not bringing your car on the ferry, you can essentially take any ferry. Make sure to keep the ferry schedule on hand while you're on the island, so when you are ready to leave, you know if you need ot be in Vineyard Haven or Oak Bluffs, depending on the time you choose to leave. If you planned to leave earlier but are so in love with the island that you want to stay a bit longer, you don’t have to alert anyone; just hop on whichever ferry works for you. I recommend buying the round-trip ticket up front so you don't have to think about it and can hop on the ferry at your convenience.

However, if you are driving onto the ferry, you will need to stick to the time slots and ports you chose in advance.

Once you arrive at either ferry port, be sure to grab a bus schedule if you plan to hop around to different towns (which I highly recommend).

With that, if you only stay in Oak Bluffs on your first visit to MV, you will still leave happy.

Another great way to navigate MV is by bicycle; you will see places to rent them near the ferry port. You can also rent a car on the island as well. They do have Uber and taxis if you want to go out further, but be mindful that reception can be spotty in certain areas.

If you're looking for Kid-friendly Activities to do on the island, I have a whole list HERE.

DON’T FORGET

If you're coming to MV, it’s most likely during the summer months so please don’t forget these things:

Sunscreen (it can get hot and you walk a lot)
Beach Towel and Swimsuit (so many beaches to swim in!)
Change of clothes
A picnic blanket (my favorite thing to do is lie out at the beach or the park)
Hand sanitizer
Sanitizing Wipes (for the kiddos, if you have them and bring them along )
Comfy walking shoes ( I can’t stress the amount of walking you will do)

If you ever get a chance to visit this special place, I hope you find these tips helpful. Navigating the trip can seem daunting at first, but once you do it, you realize it's very streamlined. Everyone should visit this beautiful island at least once in their life. It truly is a gem.