Every Ferry to Martha's Vineyard: Routes, Parking, Fares and Booking Tips (2026)

Seven ferry services and, in summer, five airlines connect Martha's Vineyard to the mainland. The Steamship Authority is the only year-round and only car-carrying option, and four seasonal passenger ferries also run from Falmouth, Hyannis, New Bedford and Rhode Island. Since early January 2025 every car on the Woods Hole route has needed a reservation (the SSA board voted to drop standby in November 2024, and the Blue Line is only for island residents and homeowners in the Steamship's Preferred and Excursion programs). Every option is below, with 2026 fares rechecked on October 2, 2026, the dates for the switch from fall to winter, and booking tips.

Next boat and live status ↓

Filmed August 2025

✓ Facts verified October 2, 2026 Dates, hours and prices checked against official sources when published. Things change on island time. Always confirm with the operator before you travel.

Every ferry route

If you'd rather fly, Cape Air flies to the island all year from Boston (about 40 minutes) and from several other airports, some only in certain seasons, including JFK, Westchester, New Bedford, Hyannis and Nantucket; JetBlue's service from JFK, LaGuardia, Boston Logan and Washington Reagan is seasonal. Fares are dynamic, so we've left prices out; our MVY airport guide has the airlines and how to get from the terminal to town.

Fall 2026 ferry dates

If you're coming in October, November or December, the seasonal boats finish one by one in October, the Steamship stops calling at Oak Bluffs after October 22, and from October 26 the Steamship Authority between Woods Hole and Vineyard Haven, which runs all winter, is the only regular way across (Seastreak adds Thanksgiving weekend boats from New Bedford, November 25 to 29). The dates, in order:

Two things don't change: a walk-on ticket is $11 one way all year, and the VTA buses that meet the boats are free through June 30, 2027. Already finished for 2026: the Falmouth to Edgartown ferry (Pied Piper) on Labor Day, Seastreak's New York and New Jersey weekend boats over Labor Day weekend, and the Rhode Island fast ferry from Quonset Point on September 27. The wider seasonal picture (what closes on the island and when) is in our after-Labor-Day guide, and the Thanksgiving-to-March guide picks it up from there.

Parking at each departure port

Woods Hole (SSA): The port got a new terminal building on June 25, 2026 (heated and cooled by geothermal wells), but the parking rule is unchanged: there is zero parking at the terminal. All parking is at off-site lots connected by free shuttle buses:

Parking is first-come, no advance reservations. In summer it's worth getting there at least 1 hour early. For live lot status, call (508) 457-PARK, tune to 1610 AM, or check the SSA mobile site. The shuttle buses carry bike racks for 2 standard bikes, but e-bikes are too heavy for them, so riding the Shining Sea Bike Path (3.5 mi) to the terminal works better. From November 1 the lots are $20 a day, and if you're crossing a lot this fall the SSA's off-season permit (September 15 to December 31) is $350. Our Woods Hole parking guide has the lots and the shuttle in detail.

Falmouth (Island Queen): Two lots within 200 yards of the dock, $20/day (cash only), first come, first served. They rarely both fill, which makes this the easiest parking of any Cape ferry, through the last boat on October 12.

Hyannis (Hy-Line): 220 Ocean Street. On-site $30/day peak (mid-May to early September, plus holiday weeks), $10–22 the rest of the year. Unlike the other ports, parking here can be reserved in advance when you book ferry tickets. Overflow lot at 183 Iyannough Rd ($20/day in peak season, $10 from October 14 to November 23) with a free shuttle through October 25. Hy-Line's Vineyard boat runs through October 25.

New Bedford (Seastreak): Valet at pier $30/day (SMS-based, no reservation needed). Whale's Tooth lot at 532 Acushnet Ave, $15/day, with a shuttle to the pier that Seastreak's 2026 page lists as complimentary. This route skips Cape Cod traffic entirely. Both ran through October 12, Seastreak's last regular day for 2026; for its Thanksgiving weekend boats (November 25 to 29) there is cashless dockside parking at the pier for $20 a day.

Rhode Island (Vineyard Fast Ferry): Dockside parking $15/day at 1347 Roger Williams Way, North Kingstown. You walk straight from the car to the ferry, the easiest parking of all; the lot opens an hour before the first boat and closes about 30 minutes after the last one is back. The 2026 season ended September 27.

Which ferry suits your trip

Budget travelers: the SSA walk-on fare of $11 one-way ($22 round trip) is the cheapest by far. Combine it with the Peter Pan bus from Boston South Station, which runs right to the Woods Hole terminal (its fares move with demand), and you need no parking at all. On-island, VTA buses are fare-free through June 30, 2027.

Day trippers: the SSA's frequent departures (in fall and winter about every 75 minutes, 6:00 AM to 9:45 PM from Woods Hole) give you the most flexibility at $22 RT. A 7–8 AM ferry gets you up to 13 hours on-island; the last boat back leaves Vineyard Haven at 9:30 PM. From late May to Columbus Day (the 2027 season opens May 28), the Island Queen lands directly in Oak Bluffs, where the Flying Horses Carousel, ice cream and shops are all a short walk away. Our one-day itinerary has a plan for the day.

Families with kids: SSA's large vessels (M/V Island Home carries 1,200 passengers) have elevators, roomy restrooms, a snack bar, free WiFi and open-air decks. Children under 5 ride free on the Steamship Authority, Island Queen and Hy-Line; Seastreak charges a child fare from age 3. Strollers are free everywhere. The rest of the family planning is in Martha's Vineyard with Kids.

Coming from New York: the best value is to drive to New Bedford (~3.5 hrs) and take Seastreak (50 min), which skips all the Cape traffic. You pay for gas, $84 RT on the ferry and $15–30 parking. Seastreak also runs direct from East 35th St, Manhattan (~5 hrs, $175+) on select summer weekends (finished for 2026; the New Bedford boat runs April to October 12, plus Thanksgiving weekend, November 25 to 29). The budget option is the Peter Pan bus to Woods Hole and an SSA walk-on ticket.

Bringing a car: the SSA is the only car ferry. Summer one-way $127–168 for a car under 17 ft (Mon–Thu vs Fri–Sun, May 15 to September 14), plus passenger tickets. From September 15 to October 31 it's $127 any day, and from November 1 to December 31 just $79 one way ($158 round trip). A family of four (two adults, two kids 5–12) with a car: roughly $320 round trip midweek in summer, $400 on a summer weekend, about $225 in November or December. Many people find it cheaper to walk on and rent on-island, especially off-season, when rental rates are far below July and August. See our Boston to MV guide for route options.

Travelers with disabilities: the SSA is the most accessible, with full ADA compliance, elevators, accessible restrooms, wheelchair-accessible shuttles and a Transportation Access Pass for discounted fares. On the other ferries, access is limited to the main deck, with no elevators.

Booking a car on the Steamship

The SSA opens summer vehicle reservations in stages each year:

• Mid-January (8 AM): Head Start for year-round residents in the Excursion program and seasonal homeowners in the Preferred program (in 2026, January 13 to 26, up to 10 reservations each)
• Early February (8 AM): General public online reservations open for mid-May to late October (February 3 in 2026, for travel May 14 to October 22)
• ~1 week later (7:30 AM): Phone and in-person reservations begin

The online opening uses a virtual waiting room that randomly assigns queue positions; logging in early gives no advantage. On the February 3, 2026 opening day the SSA processed 23,014 transactions worth nearly $7.3 million, about the same as in 2025. Peak Friday and Sunday slots fill within hours.

It helps to set up your SSA account in advance, have the vehicle details ready (year, make, model, plate), be in the queue at 8 AM sharp, and keep backup dates in mind. If your dates are gone, the Wait List searches for cancellations automatically. Midweek slots are easier to get and cheaper: $127 vs $168 one-way for vehicles.

The old vehicle standby line has been gone since early January 2025 (the board voted it out in November 2024, during the terminal work); the Blue Line is only for island residents and homeowners in the Preferred and Excursion programs. You cannot show up without a reservation and expect to board. In September 2026 the SSA looked at bringing back general standby from October 23 to January 5 (except Thanksgiving week), but on October 20 the board voted to keep the route reservation-only, with the Blue Line for Excursion and Preferred members, so a reservation is still the only sure way across with a car.

Booking for winter and spring: car reservations are open now for travel through January 5, 2027. Reservations for January 6 to May 17, 2027 open on November 3, 2026, online, by phone at (508) 477-8600 (up to five transactions per call) or in person. The reservation office is open daily 7:30 AM to 4 PM, except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Our car reservation guide walks through it step by step.

Moving to or from the island? Rental trucks have their own booking process, length brackets, and rules. See our guide to taking a U-Haul or moving truck on the ferry.

Foot passengers don't need reservations. Buy online or in the SSA app ahead of time, add the ticket to Apple Wallet, and it is scanned at the gate before boarding; the terminal window still sells tickets day-of if you prefer. Peak summer sailings can fill, though, so in summer it's wise to arrive 45–60 minutes early; the rest of the year the SSA asks walk-ons to be there 30 minutes before the boat.

Other ferries: Island Queen requires reservations, online or in its app; the Falmouth window sells any seats left on the day. Hy-Line calls reservations "highly recommended", and walking up in summer is a gamble. Seastreak adds $5 on its Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning boats in summer, and booking Seastreak or RI Fast Ferry online ahead of time is the safer bet.

Pets, bikes and children's fares

Pets ride free on the Steamship Authority, on a leash or in a crate, and on the Island Queen too; the other lines set their own pet rules, so check when you book. SSA allows pets in all non-food areas. Seastreak restricts pets to outdoor decks only (no pets on NYC route). Service animals are allowed everywhere under the ADA.

Want to estimate your full trip budget including ferry fares? Try our Trip Cost Calculator.

Island Queen also carries kayaks and paddleboards ($6 OW). For island bike routes, see our cycling guide.

Bringing the bikes on a car rack instead? The SSA prices cars by length over 17 feet, and its own FAQ says the length includes anything hanging past the bumpers, so a hitch bike rack counts. The online reservation asks whether you have anything behind or on top of the car; answer it and the fare is settled then. Skip it and the terminal agent re-tickets you for the extra length, sometimes only on the way home, which is how a “bike extension” ticket at Woods Hole ends up as a story on the island Facebook groups. Roof boxes and roof racks add nothing, though vehicles over 6 feet 6 inches tall may be put on particular boats.

Weather cancellations and first-timer tips

Summer cancellations are rare. The SSA is the island's lifeline by law and treats canceling as a last resort, and fog alone rarely stops its boats (they navigate by radar), though it can cause delays. Smaller catamarans (Seastreak, Hy-Line, RI Fast Ferry) cancel more easily in moderate conditions. Fall and winter storms cancel more trips than summer weather does; the SSA posts every change on its website and sends text or email alerts if you sign up.

If canceled: On the SSA, drivers whose trip is canceled can rebook, and when service resumes the SSA runs a special standby line for them. Island Queen provides full refunds when they cancel. Hy-Line requires calling (800) 492-8082: refunds aren't automatic. Seastreak offers an exchange or a full refund when it cancels a New Bedford sailing; its Trip Protection ($5 one way) is for when you are the one who cancels. RI Fast Ferry offers a full refund when it cancels.

Seasickness: SSA's large ferries are the smoothest ride. The roughest crossing is RI Fast Ferry (about 105 minutes, much of it on open water). If you get seasick, Dramamine 30–60 min before boarding helps, and so do a seat low and in the middle, watching the horizon, and an early morning crossing, when the seas are calmest.

Luggage: SSA has no bag limits and provides free carts. Seastreak: 1 carry-on + 1 personal item free, extras $7.50. RI Fast Ferry is the strictest, at $10 per suitcase each way.

When Woods Hole parking is full

Peak summer Saturdays can fill the SSA lots. If that happens:

1. Check before driving: Call (508) 457-PARK or check the SSA mobile site
2. Accept a farther SSA lot: Landers or Cataumet. Same price, same free shuttle
3. Try the Woods Hole Garage: $40/day, 100 yards from terminal, call (508) 548-5150
4. Switch ferries: Island Queen from Falmouth ($20 parking, no shuttle) or Seastreak from New Bedford (bypasses the Cape entirely), both through October 12, or Hy-Line from Hyannis through October 25
5. Ditch the car: Peter Pan Bus from Boston South Station (about 2 hours; fares vary by date) runs directly to the SSA terminal. The Shining Sea Bike Path covers 3.5 mi from Palmer Ave to the terminal

Summer traffic is the other thing to plan around. Bourne Bridge to Woods Hole is 18 miles/25 minutes without traffic, but on peak Fridays and Saturdays it can take 45–75+ minutes. From Boston, 3 hours covers the drive, parking and shuttle. Spending the night before in Falmouth takes the morning rush out of it. On the Island Queen, kids 4 and under travel free, youth 5–12 pay $14/$18, and they take bikes ($4/$8) and even kayaks under 12 feet ($6/$12).

For more transport options, see Getting from Boston to MV, our Day Trip guide, the VTA Bus Schedule for getting around the island once you arrive, and our guides to the Island Queen, Hy-Line and Seastreak. Once you're across, the trip planner builds a day-by-day plan around your boat, and the events calendar shows what's on while you're here.