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Martha’s Vineyard Ferry

A couple planning their New England vacation to Martha's Vineyard.

The off-season is the perfect time to plan your next stay at Vineyard Square Hotel & Suites. Open seasonally, our Edgartown hotel is the ideal home base for anyone planning a New England vacation to Martha’s Vineyard. While planning isn’t always the most fun part of the vacation experience, it is crucial. The work you do before you check in can directly impact your time here. That’s why we’ve made this guide of important things to do as you start planning your next visit with us!

Research Our Different Accommodation Options

The patio area of a guestroom at an Edgartown hotel to stay at on your New England vacation.

Our hotel in Edgartown offers several different lodging styles because we understand that one size doesn’t always fit all. Our one-bedroom suites come with a king or two queen-sized beds and a twin-size sleeper sofa. A luxury suite in our Edgartown Residence Club Wing features a private veranda and access to a private lounge. While our main hotel is closed for parts of the year, our two-bedroom luxury suits and luxury kings are open year-round, with the exception of January. This means you can book these luxury accommodations for a fraction of in-season rates. Our cozy rooms, which include a double, queen, or king bed, are a great budget-friendly option. Our reservation team can help you decide which of our rooms best fits your group and budget. 

Book Your Ferry Ride As Soon As Possible

Martha’s Vineyard is found off Massachusett’s Cape Cod coast, which means the best and most popular way to reach the island is by ferry. Depending on where you are departing from, one ferry ride might fit better than others. The Steamship Authority has departures from Woods Hole, while Seastreak is a fast ferry service from New Bedford. If you’re traveling from the New York metro area, Connecticut, or Rhode Island, we recommend the Rhode Island Fast Ferry. Ferry schedules can vary depending on the time of year, and rides can fill up quickly, so try to reserve your spot as soon as you know your travel dates. How far in advance you can purchase your ferry tickets varies between operators. 

Look into Things to Do on Martha’s Vineyard

The last thing you want to do is arrive for a fun vacation and spend time deciding what to do. Take the time before you board the ferry to make a list of the top things you want to do and see during your Martha’s Vineyard vacation. This could include visiting local farms like Morning Glory Farm or planning a visit to West Tisbury to explore the Polly Hill Arboretum. While it’s a good idea to have a rough itinerary, don’t make it so rigid you don’t have room for a bit of spontaneity. Stop by the concierge desk to talk with our local staff and pick their brains about their favorite things to do on the island.

Make Your Edgartown Escape the Best It Can Be

Taking time to thoughtfully plan your New England vacation to Vineyard Square Hotel & Suites is one of the best ways to make your getaway the best it can be. Before making your reservation, be sure to take a look at our special offers! Call 508-627-4711 to learn more about our Edgartown hotel and how to prep for your stay.

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A ferry, one of the top results when searching for how to get to Martha's Vineyard.

If you’re looking for a vacation filled with charm and adventure, look no further than Martha’s Vineyard. The New England island is home to numerous charming towns, including Edgartown. Home to Vineyard Square Hotel & Suites, the seaport village has countless things to do and see. However, before you can enjoy all the fun, you need to figure out how to get to Martha’s Vineyard. There are a few different ways to reach your final destination; keep reading to learn more about them.

What to Know about Riding the Ferry

In the movie Jaws, Chief Brody remarks, “It’s only an island if you look at it from the water.” Notwithstanding that island-centric outlook, visitors still have to cross a body of water to get to the Vineyard!

Found only two and a half miles off Massachusetts’ Cape Cod coast, the most popular way to reach Martha’s Vineyard is by ferry, and there are quite a few options. There are more offerings between May and October, but several routes are available year-round. Most ferries are passenger-only, so be sure to find out what parking options are available if you are driving to the dock.

The Steamship Authority provides the most extensive ferry schedule throughout the year, accommodating passengers and cars. Steamship ferries leave from Woods Hole on Cape Cod and arrive in Vineyard Haven year-round and Oak Bluffs during the summer and fall. If you plan on bringing a car, be sure to book well in advance, particularly during the summer season, as boats fill quickly.

Seastreak is a passenger-only, fast ferry service that leaves from New Bedford, MA, to Vineyard Haven. Once a seasonal operation, the Seastreak now runs year-round with multiple ferries to and from the Vineyard daily.

For those traveling from the NY metro area and points further south, or from Connecticut or Rhode Island and would like to cut down on the drive time to the Cape, there’s a great option. The  Rhode Island Fast Ferry is a high-speed ferry that takes vacationers from Quonset Point, RI, to Oak Bluffs. This service only runs during the summer and early fall, so check the schedule before planning your vacation.

The Falmouth-Edgartown Ferry drops riders off at Memorial Wharf, only about a five-minute walk from our Edgartown hotel. This seasonal ferry operates between Falmouth Harbor on Cape Cod and Edgartown.

You can also reserve your seat on Hy-Line Cruises. You can choose to depart from either Hyannis or Nantucket, but either service arrives at the Oak Bluffs Harbor. The Hy-Line is a seasonal ferry that operates only in the summer and fall.

One final option is The Island Queen. The seasonal service provides numerous daily departures between Falmouth on Cape Cod to Oak Bluffs.

What about Flying? 

Ferries aren’t the only way to reach Martha’s Vineyard. A second mode of transportation is by plane. Fly from Boston, New Bedford, Providence, Hyannis, or Nantucket on Cape Air. Just like ferries, other options become available during tourist season, including American Airlines, Delta, and Jet Blue

Once you reach Martha’s Vineyard, there are several ways to get around the island, including numerous taxi services, rental cars, and more. Check out our blog for more information.

Plan Your Next Edgartown Vacation Today

A couple relaxing on the porch of an Edgartown hotel after successfully figuring out how to get to Martha's Vineyard.

As you’re figuring out how to get to Martha’s Vineyard, reserve your room at Vineyard Square Hotel & Suites at the same time. Our charming boutique hotel is located in the heart of Edgartown, which means adventure is right around the corner. Have fun exploring all this popular New England destination has to offer before resting up at the hotel.

We have worked to provide several accommodation styles, which allows us to host groups of all budgets. Our Edgartown hotel also features several on-site amenities that’ll enhance any stay. To learn more about our hotel or special offers, call 508-627-4711.

What to Do on Martha’s Vineyard on a Gloomy Day
Plan the Ultimate Martha’s Vineyard Spring Break Vacation
Why Our Hotel Is One of the Best Places to Stay in Edgartown
How to Prep for Your New England Vacation
Where to Find Delicious Breakfast on Martha’s Vineyard
Explore Haunted New England History on Martha’s Vineyard
Visit Local Farms on Martha’s Vineyard
The Best Things to Do in Martha’s Vineyard for Solo Travelers