Martha's Vineyard Jaws Tour: Walk the Real Amity Island with a Local Guide
Take a guided Jaws tour of Martha's Vineyard with local guide Mike Currid. Walk the real Amity Island in Edgartown and book the "Amity" Walking Tour.
Lagoon Pond Road and Beach Road are two separate roads meeting at Five Corners, Vineyard Haven's iconic five-way intersection. Together with the Lagoon Pond Drawbridge, they form one of Martha's Vineyard's most scenic corridors — linking the ferry port to Oak Bluffs and, ultimately, Edgartown.
Table of contents [Show]
Two Roads, One Intersection
Lagoon Pond Road runs south from Five Corners along the western shore of Lagoon Pond, passing the Vineyard Haven Post Office and climbing to the Martha's Vineyard Museum at 151 Lagoon Pond Road — housed in a former 1895 Marine Hospital with sweeping views of the pond and Vineyard Sound. The road is about a half-mile long, entirely within Tisbury.
Beach Road runs east from Five Corners along the harbor waterfront, crosses the drawbridge into Oak Bluffs, and continues all the way to Edgartown — roughly 9 miles total. The Vineyard Haven segment to the drawbridge is about a half-mile. Beyond Oak Bluffs, Beach Road enters its most famous stretch along Joseph Sylvia State Beach — and past the Jaws Bridge. A flat, paved, separated bike path runs roughly 6 miles alongside the OB-to-Edgartown section.
Lagoon Pond: 570-Acre Tidal Estuary
Lagoon Pond is a tidal saltwater estuary — not a freshwater pond despite its name — spanning roughly 570 acres, split between Tisbury and Oak Bluffs. It connects to Vineyard Haven Harbor through a single inlet spanned by the drawbridge. Mean depth is 9.3 feet with a 1.8-foot tidal range.
At its southern tip, the Richard F. Madeiras Herring Run (built 1991) connects to Upper Lagoon Pond, where tens of thousands of river herring migrate each spring to spawn, drawing striped bass and bluefish. The Martha's Vineyard Shellfish Group operates the Richard C. Karney Solar Hatchery on the Tisbury shore — the first public solar shellfish hatchery in the United States, producing an average of 20 million shellfish seed per year since 1980.
Shellfishing is active. Bay scallops are the star — on opening weekend each October, hundreds of scallopers converge on the pond. Quahogs and soft-shell clams are also harvested. Tisbury permits cost $40 for residents, $400 for non-residents, with a $25 weekly option. For more on island fishing and shellfishing, see our complete guide.
The $52 Million Drawbridge
The Lagoon Pond Drawbridge — formally the Korean & Viet Nam Veterans Memorial Bridge — opened November 24, 2015, replacing an aging 1935 structure. Total cost: $51.8 million, the most expensive piece of infrastructure on Martha's Vineyard. Named one of Roads & Bridges magazine's Top 10 Bridge Projects for 2016.
The first drawbridge at this location opened in March 1871, shortening the route between Vineyard Haven and Oak Bluffs from 7 miles to about 2. The current structure spans 350 feet with a 50-foot bascule span that opens to 75 degrees in roughly 90 seconds, carrying up to 14,000 vehicles per day in summer.
Summer opening schedule (May 15–Sep 15): Five daily windows — 8:15–8:45 a.m., 10:15–11:00 a.m., 3:15–4:00 p.m., 5:00–5:45 p.m., and 7:30–8:00 p.m. Outside these windows: 4 hours' notice. Off-season: 24 hours' notice. Boaters contact VHF channels 09 and 69.
Watching the drawbridge rise for tall sailboats is a favorite activity at adjacent Eastville Point Beach and Drawbridge Park, which features walkways under the bridge, picnic tables, and views of both the harbor and the pond.
Wind's Up! — On the Water Since 1962
Wind's Up! at 199 Beach Road has been launching boats from Lagoon Pond since 1962, founded by John Cassel as "Selfin Sunfish Rental." Now run by the third generation of the Cassel family, they rent kayaks, canoes, sailboats, windsurfing equipment, SUPs, and surfboards with hourly to weekly rates. Lessons available in sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, and SUP. They launch directly onto the calm, protected waters of Lagoon Pond — ideal for beginners. Phone: (508) 693-4252.
Martha's Bike at 4 Lagoon Pond Road (right at Five Corners, walking distance from the ferry) has been renting bikes since 1989. Fleet includes hybrids, cruisers, e-bikes, tandems, kids' bikes, trailers, and baby seats. They offer island-wide delivery. Phone: (833) 362-7842. For more on cycling the island, see our bike routes guide.
Martha's Vineyard Hospital
Martha's Vineyard Hospital at 1 Hospital Road, Oak Bluffs, sits on a hilltop just past the drawbridge — the only hospital in Dukes County. Founded in 1921, it's a critical access hospital affiliated with Mass General Brigham, operating 31 beds. The current facility (completed ~2010) is visible from the ferry. The VTA bus stop "Beach Road at MV Hospital" is about 2 miles from downtown Vineyard Haven.
What You See Along the Way
Heading east from Five Corners: the Tisbury Marketplace shopping center, Wind's Up! with its colorful kayaks, then Lagoon Harbor Park — a linear park with benches, a boat launch, and views across the pond. A shared-use bike and pedestrian path runs parallel to Beach Road through this section.
Then the drawbridge — Drawbridge Park swoops around and beneath it with harbor views. Crossing into Oak Bluffs, Eastville Point Beach appears immediately — calm water, ferry views, sunsets. The hospital sits on the hilltop ahead. Continue toward Oak Bluffs center past East Chop (side trip to the lighthouse for panoramic views), through to the gingerbread cottages, Flying Horses Carousel, and Ocean Park.
Whether you're renting a kayak to explore the lagoon, biking to State Beach, or watching the drawbridge rise for a sailboat at sunset, this corridor delivers quintessential Martha's Vineyard. Check our live webcams to see current harbor conditions.
⛴️ Island Tip of the Day — Ferry
The Island Queen from Falmouth to Oak Bluffs is just $20 one-way (35 min). Reservations are now required — book at islandqueen.com. Passengers only, no cars.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is provided for general guidance only and was accurate at the time of writing. Beach conditions, hours, prices, lifeguard schedules, ferry fares, and business operations change frequently and without notice. Ocean swimming carries inherent risks including rip currents, undertow, and cold water shock. Always verify current conditions with official local sources before your visit. MV Vacation assumes no responsibility for any loss, injury, or inconvenience resulting from the use of this information. Swim only where lifeguards are on duty, supervise children at all times near water, and follow all posted safety signs.
