Martha's Vineyard Parking Guide: Every Lot, Fee and Free Spot (2026)

Martha's Vineyard has no parking meters and almost no paid municipal lots. That sounds great, until you realize aggressive time-limit enforcement writes thousands of tickets every summer. Oak Bluffs alone issues roughly 4,500 parking tickets per year, nearly half of all tickets on the island.

Here's the honest truth: the real "cost" of parking on Martha's Vineyard isn't meter money. It's the tickets you'll get if you don't know the rules. This guide covers every parking area in all six towns, plus mainland ferry lots, EV charging, and park-and-ride strategy, all verified for 2026.

For a complete transportation overview, pair this with our car-free Martha's Vineyard guide.

The Big Picture: How Parking Works on Martha's Vineyard

• Down-island towns (Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, Vineyard Haven) have free but time-limited street and lot parking, typically 1–2 hours in summer
• Up-island towns (West Tisbury, Chilmark, Aquinnah) have fewer restrictions, but the best beaches require town stickers or paid lots
• Mainland ferry lots cost $15–$30/day with no weekly discount
• Overnight parking is prohibited in all downtown areas (roughly 2–5 AM)
• The VTA bus is completely fare-free through September 2026, making park-and-ride the smartest strategy
• Tickets are real: the Dukes County Parking Portal tracks violations, and unpaid fines block Massachusetts RMV registration renewals

Edgartown Parking: Free but Ruthlessly Enforced

Edgartown has the most aggressive parking enforcement on the island. From mid-May through mid-October, seasonal Community Service Officers patrol on foot, while reserve officers patrol by bike and cruiser.

Edgartown Parking Rules at a Glance

Church Street Lot (Downtown Hub)

The small municipal lot on Church Street, one block off Main Street next to the Old Whaling Church, is free but limited to 2 hours in summer. It doubles as the downtown VTA bus hub and houses the only public restroom in Edgartown. Roughly 20–30 spaces, fills early on summer mornings.

Pease Point Way

On-street parking only (no lot). Standard 1-hour street limit applies in summer. This road is also the approach route for the Chappy Ferry. Vehicles turn right onto Simpson's Lane to reach the Daggett Street ferry queue.

Upper Main Street / "The Triangle"

The commercial intersection near the Edgartown Post Office and Edgartown Pizza has free, longer-duration parking with a roughly 10-minute walk to Main Street. The Edgartown School parking lot on Robinson Road works as informal overflow. Walk through the cemetery to reach downtown.

Dark Woods Road Park and Ride (Best Option)

This is Edgartown's smartest parking solution.

• Address: 12 Dark Woods Road, Edgartown, MA 02539
• Cost: Completely free, all day
• Shuttle: VTA Route #11 to downtown (Mayhew Lane), ~8 minutes, every 15 minutes in summer
• EV charging: ChargePoint Level 2 (4 ports, $0.25/kWh)
• Best for: Day visitors who want to avoid downtown tickets

Park here, take the free bus downtown, spend the day without watching a timer. Route #11 is always free regardless of VTA's general fare status.

Memorial Wharf / Dock Street

Public parking lot on the stone wharf adjacent to the Chappy Ferry slip at 53 Dock Street. Time-limited. No dedicated Chappy Ferry parking on the Edgartown side; the vehicle queue forms on Daggett Street and extends onto Simpson's Lane. A parking lot exists on the Chappaquiddick side where visitors can park and walk back to town.

Oak Bluffs Parking: No Paid Lots, 4,500 Tickets a Year

Oak Bluffs issues the most parking tickets on the island, roughly 4,500 per year. All current public parking is free time-limited street parking (no meters, no paid lots). A new paid lot at 0 Uncas Avenue was approved in September 2025 and may open for summer 2026. Call Oak Bluffs Town Hall to confirm.

Oak Bluffs Parking Rules

Critical Warning: No SSA Terminal Parking

There is no parking at the Oak Bluffs Steamship Authority Terminal (1 Seaview Avenue). The SSA FAQ explicitly states this. If you're arriving with a car via ferry, don't expect terminal parking. Find street parking elsewhere in town.

Ocean Park

Free on-street parking along Ocean Avenue and Seaview Avenue, 2-hour limit in summer. No formal lots. Overnight parking reportedly possible in some areas along Ocean Park and nearby residential streets (Massasoit Avenue near the Catholic church), but ask locally to avoid tickets.

Circuit Avenue

Parallel parking on the lower section (converted from diagonal in 2022) and diagonal parking on the upper section. Standard 2-hour limit. Lake Avenue gained ~12 angled spots during the 2022 streetscape project, worth checking if Circuit is full.

Seaview Avenue / Inkwell Beach

Free on-street parking along Seaview Avenue is your access for Inkwell Beach and the waterfront. No dedicated lot. Walkable from the ferry terminal.

No Park and Ride in Oak Bluffs

Unlike Edgartown and Vineyard Haven, Oak Bluffs has no dedicated park-and-ride lot. A 2015 plan was never implemented. The major VTA hub is at Ocean Park; Route #13 (Edgartown–OB–Vineyard Haven via Beach Road) is the most useful connector.

Vineyard Haven Parking: The Island's Only Long-Term Option

Tisbury (Vineyard Haven) has the most relaxed parking enforcement of the three down-island towns. The town was debating tougher bylaws as of July 2025. Check local news before visiting.

Tisbury Park and Ride (Best Long-Term Option on MV)

This is the only true long-term parking solution on Martha's Vineyard.

• Location: High Point Lane (off State Road, past Cronig's Market)
• Cost: Free for up to 3 consecutive days, then $2/day (pay via Flowbird app kiosk, credit card only)
• Shuttle: VTA Route #10 to SSA ferry terminal, ~5 minutes
• Hours: 5:15 AM to 10:38 PM, 365 days/year (only VTA route that never closes)
• Security: Tisbury Police monitor 24/7

If you're camping at Martha's Vineyard Family Campground or staying at an Airbnb without dedicated parking, this is where you leave your car.

No Long-Term Parking at the SSA Terminal

The Vineyard Haven Steamship Authority terminal allows drop-off and pick-up only. Long-term parking spaces are limited to medical emergencies with Terminal Manager approval and documentation. Don't plan to leave your car there.

Downtown Vineyard Haven

Main Street, Water Street, and Union Street have 1–2 hour time-limited street parking. Less aggressively enforced than Edgartown or Oak Bluffs, but tickets still happen. Vineyard Haven is a "dry town": BYOB for restaurants, so buy your beverages at a store first.

Five Corners

The island's most notorious intersection: five streets converging immediately off the ferry with no traffic light, only stop signs. No dedicated public parking. Summer congestion is significant. MassDOT began studying redesign options in 2023. Avoid driving through Five Corners in peak summer hours if you can.

Owen Park

Small free parking lot and on-street spots near the harbor, walking distance from downtown and the ferry. Provides access to Owen Park Beach. A good alternative when Main Street is full.

Stop and Shop (Private)

The Stop and Shop lot at 50 Water Street is private customer parking. Using it while visiting downtown risks a violation. Stick to municipal parking.

Up-Island Parking: Aquinnah and Menemsha

Aquinnah Cliffs Overlook: Free for 30 Minutes

The upper overlook parking area at Aquinnah Circle provides free short-term parking with a 30-minute time limit. A police officer enforces this in summer. Perfect for a quick cliff viewing, shop browse, and snack. The town was considering extending to 90 minutes as of 2022. Confirm with Aquinnah Town Hall (508-645-2300).

Moshup Beach Lot: Paid Beach Access

The lower lot on Moshup Trail charges $35 per day, credit card only (the MV Land Bank confirms the flat rate). Payment is card-only since 2020.

• Capacity: ~40–50 vehicles
• Attendant: Summer (~June 15–September)
• Time limit: None on paid lot
• Fills: Mid-morning on nice days, so arrive early
• Free alternative: VTA Route #5 (currently fare-free) drops you at the overlook, then walk 10 minutes down to the beach

The beach itself is free to access. You're paying for parking convenience. Walk-ins and cyclists enter free.

Menemsha Beach: Free Parking, 2-Hour Limit

The small free lot on Basin Road near the harbor and fish markets is approximately 75–78 legal public spaces per the Chilmark Police Chief. Reports indicate a 2-hour time limit actively enforced with ticketing by two traffic officers during the day and a regular officer during sunset hours.

West Tisbury

No paid lots, no meters, no problem. Alley's General Store has informal free parking. The town is rural and parking is generally not an issue outside beach areas.

Beach Parking: Every Beach, Every Rule

Lambert's Cove Guest Passes (2026 Update)

Passes are purchased at the West Tisbury Parks and Rec Shed at the school, open daily 9 AM–noon with Friday/Saturday evening hours. Not available online.

• Car sticker: $75 (increased for the first time in 20+ years in 2025)
• Walk-on pass: $15
• Requirement: Renters must bring a copy of their West Tisbury lease
• Limit: One car parking pass per property
• Enforcement change: Now starts at 7 AM (was 10 AM before 2025)

Lot holds ~35 spaces for 1,100+ sticker holders. Arrive early. Read our Lambert's Cove guide for full beach details.

Long Point Reservation Tips

Advance daily passes required: tickets are NOT sold on-site. Tickets release every Wednesday morning at tickets.thetrustees.org for the following Saturday–Friday. For free vehicle entry, check out a library pass at any MV public library (Edgartown, West Tisbury, Tisbury, Chilmark, Oak Bluffs). Reservation still required even with a library pass.

Norton Point OSV (Over-Sand Vehicles)

Managed by Edgartown Parks and Beaches since April 2023 (not the Trustees anymore).

• Non-MV registered: $60/day or $140/season
• MV-registered: $30/day or $90/season
• Purchase: Online at Edgartown's OpenGov portal or at the "Left Fork" trailer (9 AM–5 PM daily)
• Requirements: 4WD only, max 6,800 lbs, tires at 15 PSI, must carry tow strap/board/gauge/spare/jack/shovel
• Seasonal: Often closed to OSVs until August due to piping plover nesting (2025: didn't open until August 9)

Mainland Ferry Lot Parking: $15–$30/Day

You can't park at the Woods Hole Steamship Authority terminal; all passengers use off-site satellite lots with free shuttle service. See our complete ferry guide for booking strategy, and if you're crossing with a rental truck, the moving-truck ferry guide covers where to leave one in Falmouth.

SSA Satellite Lots (Woods Hole)

• Rate: $20/day (Jan–Mar, Nov–Dec), $25/day (Apr–Oct), confirmed 2025/early 2026
• No weekly discount: 7 days = $175 in peak season
• Reservations: None. First come, first served
• Real-time status: Call 508-457-PARK or check steamshipauthority.com
• Bike racks on shuttles: 2 bikes max, no e-bikes

SSA proposed rate increases for 2026 (+$5–8/day) but the official site showed 2025 rates as of early 2026. Always verify the current rate before parking. A $32+ million terminal reconstruction at Woods Hole is ongoing through 2026. Expect congestion.

Other Ferry Lot Rates

EV Charging on Martha's Vineyard

The island has approximately 34 charging stations, overwhelmingly Level 2 (18–28 miles of range per hour). Only 3 DC Fast Chargers exist on the island, all at the Chilmark Fire/EMS Complex (399 Middle Road).

There is no Tesla Supercharger on Martha's Vineyard. The nearest are in Hyannis/Mashpee on the mainland. One Tesla Destination Charger (L2) exists at the Harbor View Hotel in Edgartown for guests.

Convenient EV Charging Locations

• Cronig's Market (357 State Road, Vineyard Haven): 6 L2 ports, 210kW solar canopy, closest to SSA ferry
• Edgartown Park and Ride (12 Dark Woods Road): 4 ChargePoint L2, $0.25/kWh
• Oak Bluffs Public Library (56 School Street): 2 ports, $0.25/kWh + $1.50/hr parking
• West Tisbury Library (1042 State Road): 2 ChargePoint ports, $0.30/kWh
• MV Airport (71 Airport Road): ChargePoint
• Felix Neck Nature Center (100 Felix Neck Drive): ChargePoint
• Aquinnah Cliffs Overlook: 2 ports, potentially still free
• Chilmark Fire Complex: The island's only DC Fast Chargers (CCS + CHAdeMO)

Download PlugShare for real-time availability. Many municipal stations were transitioning from free to paid in 2023–2024.

Park-and-Ride Strategy: The Smart Way

Martha's Vineyard's two dedicated park-and-ride lots solve most parking problems:

Both shuttle routes are always free regardless of VTA's general fare status. Combine with the fare-free VTA Routes #13 (beach road), #4 (Menemsha), #5 (Aquinnah), and #8 (South Beach) for full-island coverage without another dollar spent on parking or transit.

Parking Enforcement and Fines

Each town enforces parking through its own police department. All tickets are processed centrally by the Martha's Vineyard Parking Clerk at 9 Airport Road, Vineyard Haven. Pay online via the Dukes County Parking Portal, by mail, or in person. Unpaid tickets block Massachusetts RMV registration renewals.

Fine Comparison by Town

Towing is uncommon for routine violations. It primarily happens during events (Oak Bluffs Fireworks Night), in blocked fire lanes, or on private property. Routine overtime rarely leads to towing.

No Public Overnight RV Parking

There is no public overnight RV parking anywhere on Martha's Vineyard. The only option is Martha's Vineyard Family Campground on Edgartown Road in Vineyard Haven.

Bike Parking

Standard open-air bike racks exist in all three down-island towns: near the waterfront and Main Street in Edgartown, near Circuit Avenue and the OB ferry terminal, and near the SSA terminal and Main Street in Vineyard Haven. Bike racks also installed at South Beach (both ends of Atlantic Drive) and Eastville Beach.

No secure bike lockers exist anywhere on Martha's Vineyard. Use U-locks or U-lock/cable combos, never cable alone. Store bikes at your accommodation overnight whenever possible. Read our complete bike routes guide for cycling strategy.

Money-Saving Parking Tips

• Use the fare-free VTA bus. Park at one of the two park-and-ride lots and skip downtown parking entirely.
• Check out Trustees library passes. Free Long Point and Wasque vehicle entry available at all 5 MV public libraries.
• Bike to Moshup Beach. Save $30–$35/day by biking from Aquinnah Circle (10-minute downhill ride).
• Walk to the Chappy Ferry and park on the Edgartown side. Leave your car at a Pease Point Way or Dark Woods spot, walk to the ferry.
• Go off-season. Most time limits and overnight bans start mid-May and end mid-October. Off-season, street parking is abundant.
• Avoid Woods Hole on peak weekends. The Hyannis Hy-Line ferry (passenger-only, $20/day off-site parking) has more capacity and fewer delays.
• Pay tickets immediately. They compound into RMV registration holds if ignored.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I park overnight on the street in Edgartown?

No. The 2:00–5:00 AM overnight ban applies year-round, and tickets are $30. Use your hotel/rental driveway, the Dark Woods Park and Ride (status unconfirmed for overnight), or the Tisbury Park and Ride (free up to 3 days).

Is there a parking meter anywhere on Martha's Vineyard?

No traditional meters. The only paid public lots are Aquinnah Moshup Beach ($30–$35/day), Long Point ($25/carload), and the Tisbury Park and Ride after 3 days ($2/day).

Where can I park to visit Menemsha for sunset?

Arrive 1–2 hours early (before 6 PM in summer). Park at the free Basin Road lot (~75 spaces, 2-hour limit enforced), the Tabor House Road satellite lot (~70 spaces with free shuttle), or take VTA Route #4 from elsewhere on the island.

Can I leave my car at the SSA terminal?

No. Neither the Woods Hole nor Vineyard Haven SSA terminals have long-term parking. Use the Palmer Avenue, Thomas B. Landers, or Cataumet satellite lots for Woods Hole, or the Tisbury Park and Ride after arriving on MV.

What's the cheapest parking at the ferry?

The New Bedford Whale's Tooth lot at $15/day is the cheapest mainland ferry lot. On the MV side, Tisbury Park and Ride is free for up to 3 days.

Do I really need a car on Martha's Vineyard?

No. The VTA bus reaches all six towns and all major beaches. Combined with bike rentals and the park-and-ride lots, you can easily visit for a long weekend without a car. See our complete car-free guide.

Planning your trip budget? Our Trip Cost Calculator estimates ferry fares, lodging, dining, and transportation for any itinerary.