The complete guide to Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard's oldest town. Whaling history, the lighthouse, fine dining, South Beach, and the Chappy Ferry.
Edgartown is Martha's Vineyard's most elegant town — a living museum of whaling-era grandeur, white clapboard captain's mansions, and understated waterfront luxury. Founded in 1642, it's the island's oldest settlement, its county seat, and the place where Vineyard Vines was born and Jaws was filmed. For visitors seeking refined dining, quiet harbor strolls, and architecture that tells the story of American maritime wealth, Edgartown delivers without pretension.
This guide covers everything you need to plan your visit: history, attractions, restaurants, hotels, beaches, events, and practical logistics for 2026.
What's Changed for 2026
A 502-foot breach opened at Norton Point on January 1, 2026, cutting the sand connection between Katama and Chappaquiddick — the Chappy Ferry is once again the only way across, likely for the whole year. Wasque Reservation closed February 28 for pine-beetle tree removal (check with the Trustees before planning a visit). On the brighter side: all VTA buses remain fare-free through the 2026 season, the Chappy Ferry now takes credit cards, and the 'Round-the-Island Race is back in July after a one-year experiment with June.
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Edgartown occupies the eastern end of Martha's Vineyard. With a year-round population of roughly 5,200 residents, it's a small town that swells dramatically when the island's summer population surges. Its character is unmistakable: where Oak Bluffs buzzes with colorful Victorian gingerbread cottages and live music bars, Edgartown is the composed, preppy counterpart. The distinction is visible on every block — polished white Federal-style homes with black shutters, boutiques carrying Lilly Pulitzer and J. McLaughlin, fine-dining restaurants tucked into sea captain's houses.
The nightlife here is intentionally minimal. Edgartown is not a dry town — it and Oak Bluffs both permit full alcohol sales — but its rhythm favors sunset cocktails on a harbor deck over late-night bar-hopping. The vibe attracts couples, families, history buffs, and sailing enthusiasts who prize quiet sophistication. If you're choosing between the two towns and want energy and nightlife, Oak Bluffs is your answer. If you want history, architecture, and the island's best restaurants, Edgartown wins.
Edgartown's story begins in 1642, when Reverend Thomas Mayhew Jr. led families to establish a settlement called Great Harbour. It became one of Martha's Vineyard's two original incorporated towns in 1671, renamed "Edgar Towne" after Edgar, the young son of James, Duke of York — who had died just one month earlier, though news hadn't yet crossed the Atlantic.
The town's golden age arrived with whaling. Deep-sea whaling peaked between the 1820s and 1850s, transforming Edgartown into a center of maritime wealth. According to local histories, Vineyard-born captains at the peak commanded roughly 150 New Bedford vessels — nearly a fifth of America's whaling fleet — and by 1850 about half of the island's male population went to sea. The Vineyard Gazette noted that during this era, Martha's Vineyard supplied more whaling captains and whalemen in proportion to its population than any locality on earth.
That wealth built North Water Street, a procession of grand captain's homes that remains one of New England's finest residential streetscapes. Local accounts put more than 100 whaling captains' homes in Edgartown, many built in a single boom decade between 1835 and 1845. Captain Valentine Pease, whose Greek Revival house still stands, captained the Acushnet — the ship on which 21-year-old Herman Melville sailed in 1841 — and is widely believed to have inspired Captain Ahab in Moby-Dick.
Whaling collapsed after petroleum was discovered in Pennsylvania in 1859, making kerosene far cheaper than whale oil. Tourism slowly replaced the industry, and by 1928, the Edgartown Yacht Club had purchased the old whaling wharf — a fitting symbol of the transition from blubber to blue blazers.
Two events mark Edgartown's modern fame: the 1969 Chappaquiddick incident, in which Senator Ted Kennedy drove off Dike Bridge on Chappaquiddick resulting in the drowning death of Mary Jo Kopechne; and the 1975 filming of Jaws, for which Edgartown doubled as the fictional town of Amity Island. Spielberg's crew shot the town hall scenes, harbor sequences, and Main Street exteriors here — though the famous "Jaws Bridge" where people jump into the water sits on the Oak Bluffs/Edgartown town line along Beach Road.
At the end of North Water Street stands a 45-foot cast-iron lighthouse originally built in 1881 for Crane Beach in Ipswich, Massachusetts, and relocated to Edgartown by barge in 1939 after the 1938 hurricane destroyed the original 1828 structure. The town bought it from the federal government in 2014 — for one dollar. Managed by the Martha's Vineyard Museum, it's open seasonally from late May through mid-October, roughly 10 AM–4 PM in peak summer (confirm current hours at mvmuseum.org). Admission is $5 for adults; children 12 and under free. Climb the spiral staircase for panoramic views of Edgartown Harbor, Chappaquiddick, and Cape Cod. The base features a Children's Memorial with around 2,000 inscribed cobblestones. The surrounding Lighthouse Beach is free and accessible year-round.
A slow walk up North Water Street is the single best thing you can do in Edgartown. The homes here — built during the whaling boom between roughly 1820 and 1860 — span Federal and Greek Revival styles, with white clapboard exteriors, Corinthian columns, and the iconic widow's walks perched on rooftops. The Edgartown Village Historic District encompasses these houses alongside Main Street's commercial blocks and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. No museum ticket required: the street itself is the exhibit.
89 Main Street. A soaring 1843 Greek Revival masterpiece designed by Frederick Baylies Jr. and built by shipwrights for Edgartown's Methodist whaling captains. Six massive columns support a 92-foot clock tower, and the interior features trompe-l'œil murals — originally painted by Carl Wendte, and faithfully recreated by island artist Margot Datz over a decade of restoration work. Now managed by the Vineyard Preservation Trust as a performing arts center seating roughly 500, it still holds a 9 AM Sunday Methodist service in summer. Free to enter for services; ticketed for performances.
The Carnegie Heritage Center (58 North Water Street), housed in Edgartown's 1904 Carnegie Library building, contains the Ray Ellis Maritime Collection of Vineyard paintings and scrimshaw displays. Its 75-minute Historic Walking Tour runs Tuesday through Saturday at 10:30 AM (and by appointment), May through October, and gets you inside places you otherwise only see from the sidewalk: the Old Whaling Church, the Daniel Fisher House, and the Vincent House (circa 1672) — the oldest surviving residence on Martha's Vineyard, with original wattle-and-daub construction exposed in several walls. 2026 pricing is $30 for adults, $15 for youth, kids 5–12 free; private tours run $50 per person.
Renovated in 2022 and raised to address sea-level rise, Dock Street's Memorial Wharf offers a free upper observation deck with sweeping harbor views. It's the best vantage point for watching the Chappy Ferry shuttle back and forth and for seeing the harbor come alive on summer mornings. Free and open year-round.
Edgartown didn't just host Jaws — it was Amity. Half a century later the town wears it lightly, but if you know where to look, the 1975 sets are hiding in plain sight. Edgartown Town Hall (70 Main Street) played Amity's town hall inside and out. The Amity Police Department and the Amity Gazette newspaper office were shot on South Water Street. The hardware store where Chief Brody buys sign paint stood at the corner of South Water and Main — today it's The Port Hunter restaurant at 55 Main Street. The Chappy Ferry itself appears in the film, carrying Brody and Mayor Vaughn mid-argument, and Edgartown Harbor hosted Hooper's arrival, the tiger-shark dock scene, and Mrs. Kintner's famous slap. Our complete Jaws filming locations guide maps every spot island-wide.
2026 marks the film's 51st anniversary, and the celebration hasn't slowed down after last year's big five-oh. Amity Week ran June 20–27 with screenings, trivia, and events across town, and the Martha's Vineyard Museum's "Jaws at 50: An Island Story" exhibit continues. To go deeper, the Edgartown Tour Company runs a one-hour Amity Tour of JAWS ($45 adults, $35 kids) with film clips played on an iPad at each location — we took the tour ourselves and it's worth every dollar. Groups that want the full island-wide circuit can book a private four-hour van tour with Experience MV Tours, from around $500. Souvenir hunters should hit CB Stark for Jaws charms, Soft As a Grape for Amity Island gear, and Murdick's for Shark Bite fudge — and if it rains, Pirate's Puzzle runs a Jaws-themed escape room.
Chappaquiddick Island — "Chappy" to everyone — is officially part of Edgartown, separated by just 527 feet of harbor water. The On-Time Ferry departs continuously from Dock Street, carrying three cars plus pedestrians and bikes on a crossing of about 90 seconds. It earned its name because with no fixed schedule, it can never be late. Current 2026 fares: $5 per passenger round-trip, $17 car and driver, $8 bike and rider, $10 moped or motorcycle. Credit and debit cards are accepted at the kiosk on the Edgartown side; cash works on board. Summer hours run 6:30 AM to midnight.
And in 2026, the ferry is the only way across. On January 1, 2026, a 502-foot breach opened at Norton Point, severing the sand connection between South Beach and Chappaquiddick that over-sand vehicles had used since the last breach healed in 2015. Town officials expect the cut to persist at least through the year — the previous breach took eight years to close — so don't plan on driving the barrier beach to Chappy this season.
On the island itself, start with Mytoi — a serene 14-acre Japanese-inspired garden on Dike Road with a koi pond, arched bridges, and a torii gate, managed by The Trustees of Reservations. It's open daily 9 AM–5 PM year-round; admission is $5 for non-members, free for Trustees members and children 15 and under. The parking lot holds only about 15 cars and fills fast on summer mornings; no dogs allowed. Late May and June bring the best blooms. In December, the "Illuminate Mytoi" luminary walk is a lovely off-season excuse to visit.
Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge covers roughly 516 acres along an eight-mile barrier beach running from Wasque Point past the Cape Poge Lighthouse to the Gut — wild Atlantic shoreline ideal for birding and surf casting. The lighthouse, first built in 1801 (the current 1893 tower was moved 500 feet inland by helicopter in 1987), can be visited on Trustees-guided tours that meet at the Mytoi gatehouse. Note that Norton Point Beach is now managed by the Town of Edgartown, not the Trustees — over-sand vehicle permits run $90 for residents and $140 for non-residents, with piping plover closures typically from late May to mid-August. Wasque Reservation closed in late February 2026 for a 28-acre pine-beetle tree removal project; check with the Trustees on its status before building your day around it.
Beyond the beaches, Chappy is flat, quiet, and perfect for biking, but plan ahead: there are no gas stations and no restaurants. The seasonal Chappy General Store (219 Chappaquiddick Road) and the adjacent Blackbird Café food truck cover snacks and coffee in summer, and Slip Away Farm up the road runs an honor-system produce stand from June through September. The Chappy Community Center on Chappaquiddick Road has wifi if you need to check in with the mainland. Dike Bridge — of 1969 notoriety — is town-owned and publicly accessible. If you're walking the trails or the dunes, read our tick safety guide first; the warning signs at the trailheads are there for a reason. Allow a half-day, more if the fish are biting.
Kelley Street (inside the Faraway Martha's Vineyard hotel). The building dates to 1742, making it one of the island's oldest structures. Original rough-hewn beams, ballast brick walls, and a dark tavern atmosphere. Menu: fish and chips, haddock chowder, lobster penne. Moderate pricing by Edgartown standards, and open year-round — confirm current hours with the hotel.
71 Main Street. Anchoring Main Street since 1999 with French- and Italian-inflected American cuisine and what MV Magazine calls the island's best cocktails. Wine Spectator Award winner. Entrées in the $40–$75 range. Check current days and hours before making the trip.
137 Main Street. Set in a 19th-century sea captain's home, Atria is arguably Edgartown's premier fine dining destination — contemporary New England cuisine at the high end of the island's price range, open nightly for dinner in season. The casual Brick Cellar Bar downstairs offers gourmet burgers and live music at a lower price point.
55 Main Street. Seafood, small plates, and live music in the old hardware store that Jaws fans will recognize as Amity Hardware. One of the few Edgartown spots with genuine late-evening energy.
15 Winter Street (Nevin Square). The island's most intimate fine-dining experience: inventive seasonal plates, hand-rolled pasta, and an exceptional wine list. Open Tuesday–Saturday evenings, seasonally.
38 North Water Street. Reliable casual Italian with seafood paella, lobster ravioli, and friendlier prices than most Edgartown spots. One of the more approachable fine-casual options in town.
31 Dock Street (adjacent to Memorial Wharf). Casual waterfront seafood with wraparound deck views of the harbor. Touristy, yes, but the second-floor panorama over Edgartown Harbor is worth it on a clear day. Seasonal.
17 Mayhew Lane. A charming garden patio spot featured in the New York Times, serving crepes, waffles, and omelets since 1979. The best breakfast in town. Seasonal.
A few more worth knowing: The Covington (The Port Hunter's sister spot on Main Street, seasonal, generally closed Tuesdays), 19 Raw Oyster Bar for the raw-bar crowd, Rockfish for a lively bar-restaurant middle ground, The Wharf on Lower Main for a year-round burger-and-a-pint standby, Espresso Love (17 Church Street, opens 7 AM) for coffee and morning pastries, and Behind the Bookstore for a stylish café-to-cocktails day. Out in Katama, the Right Fork Diner at the grass airfield lets you eat pancakes while biplanes taxi past, and Morning Glory Farm on the edge of town is the island's beloved farm stand for picnic provisions.
Edgartown has the island's deepest bench of upscale lodging, and the flagship is the Harbor View Hotel (131 North Water Street) — a 130-plus-year-old grande dame across from the lighthouse, freshly renovated, with the Bettini restaurant, a heated saltwater pool, free bikes, and a golf-cart shuttle into town. It's luxury-tier pricing in season, but shoulder-season rates can be a genuine value. The Charlotte Inn offers English-manor formality of the Relais & Châteaux variety, while Faraway Martha's Vineyard — the reimagined old Kelley House on Kelley Street — brings a boutique, younger energy plus The Newes from America downstairs. Out at Katama, the Winnetu Oceanside Resort is the family pick: the closest resort to South Beach, about a 10–15 minute walk over the dunes, with its own Dune restaurant.
Beyond those anchors, downtown is dotted with historic inns — the Hob Knob, the Edgartown Inn, the Christopher, the Ashley Inn, the Jonathan Munroe House, the Colonial Inn, the Victorian Inn, Vineyard Square Hotel & Suites, and the Edgartown Collection's trio (The Richard, the Edgar Hotel, The Franklin). For July, August, or the Christmas in Edgartown weekend, book months ahead — rooms and ferry car slots disappear together. If you go the rental-house route instead, you'll have plenty of company: Edgartown has more short-term rentals than any other island town, roughly 1,400 by the town's own count. Just budget for the 9.7% occupancy tax (state plus town) that gets added to both hotel and rental bills. Our island-wide where-to-stay guide compares towns and price tiers if you're still deciding.
Edgartown's shopping district along Main Street, North Water Street, and Dock Street has an unmistakably upscale, preppy-nautical character — no chain stores, no souvenir T-shirt shops. It's the polar opposite of Circuit Avenue in Oak Bluffs.
Vineyard Vines (27 North Water Street) was founded here in 1998 when brothers Shep and Ian Murray quit their jobs to sell neckties from a Jeep. The brand opened its first brick-and-mortar store in Edgartown on July 4, 2005, and now operates over 100 locations nationwide. Murdick's Fudge (21 North Water Street) has been hand-cooking fudge in copper pots using recipes from 1887. Edgartown Books (44 Main Street) is a beloved year-round independent bookshop with regular summer author events. CB Stark Jewelers (10 Main Street) crafts Vineyard-themed gold and wampum jewelry, and the Edgartown Scrimshaw Gallery on Main Street carries traditional engraved whale ivory — a direct link to the town's whaling history.
South Beach (Katama) is the headliner — a three-mile Atlantic-facing barrier beach roughly four miles south of downtown, with powerful surf, free parking, and lifeguards from late June through Labor Day. No dogs at any time. Reach it by VTA bus from downtown (free in 2026) or by bike along the Katama Road path, about 15 minutes. Arrive early in peak summer as parking fills fast.
Joseph Sylvia State Beach stretches two miles along Nantucket Sound between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown, with calm, warm water ideal for families; lifeguards cover the Edgartown end, and dogs are prohibited April 1 through August 31. A paved bike path runs its full length along Beach Road — also the route with the Jaws Bridge at the midpoint. Lighthouse Beach, at the base of Edgartown Lighthouse, is a small, quiet harbor beach perfect for calm-water swimming, sunrise walks, and watching sailboats, steps from downtown — and one of the few beaches where leashed dogs are welcome year-round. Nearby Fuller Street Beach is the local kids' favorite for crab-catching, while Bend in the Road Beach along Beach Road offers easy, calm swimming (no dogs at any time). Over on Chappy, East Beach and Leland Beach deliver the wild-Atlantic experience — see the Chappaquiddick section above for 2026 access notes, and pack tick repellent for the dune paths (our tick guide explains why). For the full island rundown, see our beach parking and access guide.
Edgartown is the island's saltwater sports capital. The harbor hosts charter captains chasing stripers, blues, bonito, and false albacore from Katama Bay out to the Cape Poge rips — some of the most storied surf-casting water on the East Coast. Kayak and paddleboard rentals put you on the flat water of Katama Bay and Sengekontacket Pond, and sailing charters run daily from the town wharves in season. Recreational shellfish permits for family clamming are sold through the town. And every September, the town becomes ground zero for the MV Striped Bass & Bluefish Derby — details below.
The Edgartown Board of Trade's celebration of the 51st anniversary of Jaws, with island-wide screenings, trivia nights, and events. The Harbor View Hotel ran its own Amity Weekend June 18–21, and the MV Museum's Jaws exhibit continues beyond the week itself.
The annual parade marches down Main Street beginning at 5 PM, followed by fireworks over the harbor at dusk. One of the most celebrated Fourth of July events in New England. Book accommodation months in advance.
The Edgartown Yacht Club's signature event and the centerpiece of Edgartown Race Weekend: a circumnavigation of Martha's Vineyard of roughly 52 nautical miles, first sailed in 1938 and now in its 89th running. After a one-year experiment with a June date, the race returns to its traditional July slot in 2026. (Don't confuse it with the separate Vineyard Cup, July 10–12 — that regatta is run by Sail MV out of Vineyard Haven.)
One of America's oldest and largest fishing tournaments, now in its 81st year, with daily weigh-ins at Dock Street (8–10 AM and 7–9 PM). Draws 3,500+ anglers from across the East Coast.
The island's most beloved off-season event, now in its 45th year. A Friday lighthouse lighting, a Saturday parade with Santa arriving by antique firetruck, carriage rides, carolers, and over 100 events across four days. One of the best reasons to visit the Vineyard in December.
For a quick overview of the town including accommodation tips and FAQs, see our Edgartown town guide.
There is no year-round direct ferry to Edgartown. The Steamship Authority serves Vineyard Haven (year-round) and Oak Bluffs (May–October) from Woods Hole. However, the seasonal Falmouth–Edgartown Ferry "Pied Piper" offers direct passenger service from Falmouth Harbor to Memorial Wharf — a 45-minute ride, with 2026 fares of $35–$45 one-way ($70–$90 round-trip) depending on the day, children under 5 free, bikes $8. Valet parking is available at 278 Scranton Avenue in Falmouth. Additional seasonal ferries from Hyannis, New Bedford, and Falmouth arrive at Oak Bluffs.
From Oak Bluffs, the VTA Route 13 bus reaches Edgartown in roughly 15 minutes. In 2026, all VTA rides are free under a state-funded fare-free program running through early October. Alternatively, the paved bike path along Beach Road covers about five to six miles between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown — one of the island's most popular rides, hugging Nantucket Sound with the Jaws Bridge roughly halfway. In town, R.W. Cutler (1 Main Street) and Wheel Happy rent bikes by the day. If you'd rather not wait for a bus, taxis cover the whole island — All Island Taxi (508-645-6066) and Adam Cab (508-627-4462) are reliable — and Uber and Lyft operate here too, though cars get scarce at peak times.
Parking in downtown Edgartown is extremely limited in summer, with two-hour street limits and no overnight parking. The best strategy is the free Park & Ride at "The Triangle" on Upper Main Street with a shuttle into downtown (confirm current shuttle hours with the VTA). Or better yet, leave the car at home — Edgartown's compact walkable center, the free VTA, and the bike path make it one of the most manageable towns on the island to explore without a vehicle.
A few practical notes that save first-timers time. Public restrooms are at the Visitor Center on Church Street and at Memorial Wharf. The town's full-size Stop & Shop sits at the Triangle on Upper Main Street, with Morning Glory Farm a short hop further out for produce and prepared food; banks and ATMs cluster on Main Street. The Edgartown Free Public Library (26 West Tisbury Road) is a quiet, air-conditioned refuge with wifi on a rainy day. The nearest emergency room is Martha's Vineyard Hospital in Oak Bluffs, about 15 minutes away. EV drivers will find public charging near the school and municipal lots — chargers are still scarce island-wide, so top up when you can. Dog owners, note the pattern: leashed dogs are fine on Lighthouse Beach year-round, but South Beach and Bend in the Road are no-dog beaches at all times, and State Beach bans them April through August. If your plans lean toward trails, dunes, or tall grass anywhere on the island, take five minutes with our tick safety guide — it's the least glamorous and most useful page on this site.
Lighthouse hours, ferry schedules, tour prices, and restaurant opening dates change seasonally — every figure in this guide was verified in July 2026, but confirm before you build plans around it. Start with mvmuseum.org (lighthouse), chappyferry.com (Chappy Ferry), and steamshipauthority.com (island ferries).
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