A bike left on the rocks at the water edge, the Sound flat behind it.
A bicycle ride through Vineyard Haven, Martha's Vineyard. Scenic harbors, historic homes, and the island's year-round port town by bike.
Join us for a bicycle ride around Vineyard Haven, filmed from the handlebars. The ride winds through the town's residential streets, with extra time on Franklin Street.
This casual cycling route circles through Vineyard Haven's harbor area and residential streets, covering roughly 4 miles on mostly flat terrain. The route passes through Franklin Street, one of the prettiest residential streets in town, with views of the harbor through gaps between the historic homes.
You'll ride past the Vineyard Haven Yacht Club, the town's working boatyards, and along Beach Road where the bike path connects to Oak Bluffs. The ride is suitable for all skill levels, including families with children, thanks to the low speed limits and bike-aware local drivers.
Boats on their moorings in Vineyard Haven Harbor.
Several bike rental shops operate near the Steamship Authority terminal, offering everything from beach cruisers to e-bikes. Standard bikes typically run about $25-35 per day and e-bikes $70-90; confirm with the shop. Massachusetts law requires helmets for riders 16 and younger, though helmets are strongly recommended for everyone. For longer rides, dedicated paths run from Oak Bluffs to Edgartown along the coast; note there is no separated path between Vineyard Haven and Oak Bluffs, so that leg is an on-road ride with summer traffic.
Safety Note: We always recommend riding on dedicated bike paths rather than roads whenever possible. Martha's Vineyard roads can be narrow with limited shoulders, especially up-island.
Filmed June 2023The island moves on: shops, signs and prices may differ from what you see here. The text of this guide was checked September 2026.
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Safety Notice: Martha's Vineyard roads, especially up-island, can be narrow and heavily trafficked during summer months. We strongly recommend sticking to the island's dedicated bike paths rather than riding on roads shared with motor vehicles. If you must ride on roads, wear a helmet, use lights, and exercise extreme caution. Cycling conditions change seasonally; always check current trail and road conditions before your ride.
Island tip of the dayInsiderNo. 84 of 86New tip at midnight, island time
A 502-foot breach opened at Norton Point on January 1, 2026, cutting the sand link between Katama and Chappaquiddick: the Chappy Ferry is once again the only way across, likely for years. OSV drivers should check current beach access with the town of Edgartown.
Joshua Slocum, first to sail alone around the world, spent his last years farming in West Tisbury and vanished from Vineyard Haven harbor in November 1909. The voyage, the farm called Fag End, the last departure, and what a visitor can actually see: the harbor, a marker stone by a country road, the museum's Slocum papers, and the book itself.
The red bus that gets the loudest cheer in the Edgartown Fourth of July parade belongs to Camp Jabberwocky, a tuition-free summer camp for people with disabilities that has run on the Vineyard since 1953. An islander's account of where it came from and what it is. For anything official, the camp's own site is the source.
Lake Tashmoo in Vineyard Haven hides a century of stories: the 1887 waterworks that watered the town, a golf course where a bull was a hazard, town baseball and the frozen winters when islanders raced ice boats.
Cycling Martha's Vineyard in 2026: 32+ miles of bike paths, 5 routes from easy family rides to the 60-mile island loop, rental prices, and e-bike rules.
The complete guide to Vineyard Haven, Martha's Vineyard's year-round port town. Main Street shopping, Black Dog Tavern, Owen Park, and ferry terminal.
A bicycle ride from Edgartown to Vineyard Haven on Martha's Vineyard: the full route between the two towns, filmed in 4K.
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