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Scenic VTA bus ride from Vineyard Haven to Edgartown on Martha’s Vineyard. See the route, seasonal service info, and what to expect along the way.
Take a bus ride from Vineyard Haven to Edgartown, on the island of Martha’s Vineyard. The Martha's Vineyard Transit Authority (VTA) is a public authority on the island. The VTA provides year-round public transit service to the six towns of Martha's Vineyard: Aquinnah, Chilmark, Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury and West Tisbury. The VTA's transportation services consist of both fixed route and paratransit services (known as the Lift). Fixed route service varies throughout the year, depending on the seasonal travel demand. The VTA's peak season of operation typically runs from May to October, with fourteen routes that travel Island-wide. This bus ride will take you between two towns.
VTA public transit bus in Edgartown
A VTA bus at the Steamship terminal in Vineyard Haven, the bike rack folded down on the front. The ride starts here.
The VTA (Vineyard Transit Authority) Route 13 connects Vineyard Haven and Edgartown, the two most popular towns for visitors arriving by ferry. Buses run about every 30 minutes.
The bus departs from the Steamship Authority terminal stop in Vineyard Haven, just a short walk from the Steamship ferry dock. Route 13 takes the long way round, by Beach Road: out of Vineyard Haven past the hospital, through Oak Bluffs by the ferry terminal, then along State Beach and into Edgartown. (If you want the inland road, that's Route 1 on the Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road.)
Route 13 at the Oak Bluffs stop in September, a low-floor bus with the door at the curb.
VTA buses are fare-free through June 30, 2027 under a state program. Buses have bike racks (first come, first served) and are wheelchair accessible. The first Route 13 bus leaves before 6 AM, and the latest trips run on Friday and Saturday nights only, so check the current VTA timetable for the last bus back. Winter service is reduced but still connects the main towns daily. No reservation needed. Just wave down the bus at any marked stop, or flag the driver between stops (the VTA allows "flag stops" on most routes). This is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to explore the island without a car.
Filmed May 2022The island moves on: shops, signs and prices may differ from what you see here. The text of this guide was checked September 2026.
The sign on board: VTA buses are free to ride, no fare and no pass, through June 30, 2027.
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