Planning Guide · Martha’s Vineyard
Free island buses, every route and schedule for 2026
- Fare-free VTA routes
- Ferry connections
- Beach and town stops
Getting around Martha's Vineyard without a car is easier, and cheaper, than ever in 2026. The Vineyard Transit Authority (VTA) runs year-round bus service connecting all six island towns, and right now every ride is free, no ticket or pass needed.
Where is my bus, right now: vta.mytransitride.com
The VTA’s own live map shows every bus on the island and its predicted arrival at your stop. It is a website, not an app, so it works on any phone. If you will ride more than once, bookmark it or add it to your home screen; it beats the printed timetable every time a boat is late or an evening trip has been cut. Working on the island this summer? Our guide for seasonal staff starts with the bus.
Here is the whole system for 2026: routes, hours, fares (which are $0), the stop rules, and how to track your bus in real time.
VTA buses are free to ride in 2026
VTA's fare-free program, launched in November 2024 and funded by Massachusetts' Fair Share Amendment, has been extended through June 30, 2027 in the state's FY27 budget, making 2026 the second consecutive free summer season.
No day passes, no single-ride tickets, no cash. You board any VTA bus and ride, whether you are going one town over or all the way from Vineyard Haven to Aquinnah.
"If there's ever a time for folks to try transit, now's the time."
Angie Gompert, VTA Administrator
Important: The fare-free program is funded on a rolling basis. Check vineyardtransit.com/fares-passes before your trip to confirm current status, especially if you're visiting later in the season.
VTA Bus Schedule 2026: Current Season and Summer
Off-Season Schedule (From October 4, 2026)
The 2026 summer schedule ends October 3; the fall and off-season timetable that follows (from October 4, 2026) had not been posted at our last check. Service is less frequent during these months, with some routes running every 60–90 minutes. Schedules are subject to change without notice due to staff shortages. Check the VTA website for the latest updates. You can download the full off-season route map and individual timetables directly from the VTA:
VTA bus service in Edgartown
- VTA Route Maps: vineyardtransit.com/route-maps
- VTA Bus Route Schedules: vineyardtransit.com/bus-route-schedules
Summer Schedule (Starting April 10, 2026)
The summer 2026 schedule (April 10 – October 3) is in effect; check vineyardtransit.com for the current timetable. One mid-season switch to know: the high-summer timetable runs through August 22, and a new reduced schedule takes over August 23 through October 3. If you're visiting in late August or September, don't plan around an early-August timetable screenshot; pull the live schedule for your dates. During peak season, buses run significantly more often (some routes as frequently as every 15–20 minutes) to carry the summer crowds.
Bookmark the official schedule page and check back closer to your visit: vineyardtransit.com/bus-route-schedules
Summer 2026 timetable at a glance
Read off the printed VTA route map on the bus in September 2026 (season April 10 to October 3). Times are the base timetable; the shaded late-evening trips on Routes 3, 7 and others are the ones the VTA canceled for 2026, so treat anything after 9 PM as unavailable unless the driver says otherwise.
- Route 2, West Tisbury to Vineyard Haven via Old County Road and Lambert’s Cove Road: nine round trips a day, roughly every 90 minutes. Leaves West Tisbury Town Hall at 6:28, 7:51, 9:21, 10:51 AM, 12:21, 1:51, 3:21, 4:51 and 6:21 PM (34 minutes to the Vineyard Haven terminal); leaves the Vineyard Haven terminal at 7:22, 8:52, 10:22, 11:52 AM, 1:22, 2:52, 4:22, 5:52 and 7:22 PM, reaching the Lambert’s Cove Beach stop 14 minutes later.
- Route 3, Vineyard Haven to West Tisbury via State Road: hourly, leaving the Vineyard Haven terminal at 7 past the hour from 6:07 AM to 9:07 PM and reaching West Tisbury Town Hall at 36 past; back from Town Hall at 36 past (first trip 6:26 AM), arriving Vineyard Haven at 59 past. The same bus carries on from West Tisbury to Edgartown as Route 6, and the 6:26 AM trip is timed to meet the 6:55 AM Route 13 to Oak Bluffs.
- Route 7, Airport to Oak Bluffs via Barnes Road and County Road: hourly, leaving the airport at 55 past (6:55 AM to 8:55 PM) and reaching Ocean Park at 19 past; back from Ocean Park at 28 past (7:28 AM to 9:28 PM), 22 minutes to the airport. Route 7 and the Edgartown-bound Route 6 meet at the airport for a timed transfer.
- Route 11, Downtown Edgartown loop: always free for everyone; ran May 22 to September 7 in 2026, every 20 minutes from both stops between 11 AM and 1 PM and again from 1:30 to 6 PM, with first departures from the Park and Ride lot at 7:35 AM. After Route 11 stops for the day, Route 1 buses leaving Church Street will pull into the Park and Ride lot on request.
- Route 12, Chilmark in-town and the Menemsha sunset bus: ran June 19 to August 30 in 2026, about every half hour between the Chilmark Community Center, Menemsha Beach and the Tabor House Road lot through the day, then the sunset bus every 20 minutes from Menemsha Beach from 5:25 PM, with the last bus 30 minutes after sunset. It meets Route 5 to Aquinnah across from the Community Center at 47 past the hour.
Year-Round Service Note
The VTA runs every day of the year except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The Tisbury Park and Ride shuttle runs all 365 days without exception.
Here is what that ride actually looks like: our Route 10 trip from the Park and Ride lot into downtown Vineyard Haven:
For the latest printable schedules and route maps, visit the official VTA Bus Route Schedules page.
VTA Bus Routes on Martha's Vineyard
A Route 3 stop in West Tisbury. Look for the VTA signs along every route.
The VTA runs more than a dozen bus routes across the island (the table below covers the main lines; seasonal Routes 11 and 12 are covered further down). Routes connect all major towns, ferry terminals, beaches, and attractions. The main lines:
| Route | Description | Key Stops |
|---|---|---|
| Route 1 | Edgartown – Vineyard Haven Road | Church St, Felix Neck, Vineyard Haven SSA |
| Route 2 | West Tisbury – Vineyard Haven via Old County Rd and Lambert Cove Rd | West Tisbury, Lambert Cove, Vineyard Haven |
| Route 3 | West Tisbury – Vineyard Haven via State Road | West Tisbury, State Road, Vineyard Haven |
| Route 4 | West Tisbury – Chilmark – Menemsha via North Road | West Tisbury, Chilmark, Menemsha Harbor |
| Route 5 | West Tisbury – Chilmark – Aquinnah via South Road | West Tisbury, Chilmark, Gay Head Lighthouse, Aquinnah |
| Route 6 | Edgartown – Airport – West Tisbury | Edgartown, MV Airport, West Tisbury |
| Route 7 | Oak Bluffs – Airport via County and Barnes Roads | Oak Bluffs, County Rd, MV Airport |
| Route 8 | South Beach | Edgartown, South Beach (seasonal) |
| Route 9 | Oak Bluffs – Hospital – Airport via Barnes and County Rd | Oak Bluffs, MV Hospital, Airport |
| Route 10 | Tisbury Park and Ride – Vineyard Haven SSA | Tisbury Park and Ride, Vineyard Haven SSA (365 days/yr) |
| Route 10A | West Chop | Vineyard Haven, West Chop |
| Route 13 | Edgartown – Oak Bluffs – Vineyard Haven via Beach Road | Church St, Oak Bluffs SSA, MV Hospital, Vineyard Haven SSA |
VTA bus stop on Church Street in Edgartown
Bus 116 on Route 13, paused at the Oak Bluffs ferry stop with the pier out the window. It came from Edgartown along Beach Road and carries on to Vineyard Haven; the sign on the pole says Route 13 buses to Vineyard Haven load on this side of the street.
For the complete list of all 12 routes with full stop listings and downloadable PDFs, visit: vineyardtransit.com/route-maps
Last Winter's Times for Reference (Off-Season: Sept 28, 2025 – Apr 9, 2026; the fall 2026 timetable from October 4 replaces these)
Below is a quick-reference guide showing first and last departures for each route. For complete timetables with all stops, download the full schedule PDFs from VTA.
| Route | First Bus | Last Bus | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Route 1 Edgartown–VH | 6:00 AM | 11:32 PM | Every 30 min | No Sun service Jan 4–Mar 8 |
| Route 2 WT–VH (Lambert Cove) | 6:37 AM | 5:13 PM | Every 2 hrs | No Sun service Jan 4–Mar 8 |
| Route 3 WT–VH (State Rd) | 6:20 AM | 7:16 PM | Every 1 hr | No Sun service Jan 4–Mar 8 |
| Route 4 WT–Menemsha | 7:43 AM | 6:03 PM | Every 2 hrs | No Sun service Jan 4–Mar 8 |
| Route 5 WT–Aquinnah | 7:20 AM | 6:07 PM | Every 2 hrs | No Sun service Jan 4–Mar 8 |
| Route 6 Edgartown–Airport–WT | 6:17 AM | 7:28 PM | Every 2 hrs | Last trip by request only |
| Route 7 Airport–Oak Bluffs | 6:10 AM | 7:02 PM | Every 2 hrs | No Sun service Jan 4–Mar 8 |
| Route 8 South Beach Loop | 6:38 AM | 4:57 PM | 3 trips/day | Seasonal loop via Katama |
| Route 9 OB–Hospital–Airport | 7:10 AM | 8:02 PM | Every 2 hrs | No Sun service Jan 4–Mar 8 |
| Route 10 Park and Ride | 5:15 AM | 10:38 PM | Every 15 min | 365 days/year |
| Route 10A West Chop Loop | 8:55 AM | 5:09 PM | Every 2 hrs | No Sun service Jan 4–Mar 8 |
| Route 13 Edgartown–OB–VH | 5:55 AM | 11:29 PM | Every 30 min | Late trips Fri/Sat only |
Key Notes:
- No Sunday service on most routes from January 4 – March 8, 2026 and holidays (Jan 19, Feb 16)
- Late night service on Routes 1 and 13: trips after 8:25 PM run Fridays and Saturdays only
- "SB" transfers: Stay on the same bus to transfer between connecting routes
- No service on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day (except Route 10 Park and Ride)
- Schedules subject to change without notice: check vineyardtransit.com for updates
Where the bus will and won’t stop
The VTA is a flag-stop system: besides the posted stops, drivers will pick you up or drop you off anywhere along the route where it is safe to do so. The printed Riders Guide for the summer 2026 season (valid April 10 to October 3) spells out the exceptions, and they are worth knowing before you stand on the wrong corner waving:
- Be at the stop 5 minutes early. The guide says it plainly: departure and arrival times and connections are not guaranteed, and the VTA is not responsible for missed appointments or ferries.
- Stand on the correct side of the road for your direction of travel. A bus cannot stop for someone flagging it from across the street.
- No pick-ups or drop-offs on curves or at intersections, anywhere on the island, at any time.
- Edgartown: on the Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road (Route 1) and on Main Street, posted stops only. Route 8 at South Beach stops at the Right Fork and at the changing station between the forks; the Left Fork was listed as inaccessible because of erosion in the 2026 guide. Route 13 at State Beach stops at the crosswalk at Bend in the Road and at the posted stops by each bridge.
- Vineyard Haven: no stops anywhere on Water Street. Routes 1, 2, 3 and 10 make no stops before the MV Savings Bank when leaving town, and none between Causeway Road and the town parking lot next to Cumberland Farms coming in. Route 1 makes no stops from the bottom of Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road to the first crosswalk when heading out to Edgartown. Route 13 makes no stops between the Citgo station and the Steamship Authority circle in either direction.
- Oak Bluffs: Routes 7, 9 and 13 make no stops between the designated stop at Sunset Lake and Ocean Park in season, and none between the ocean-side stop and Our Market. Off season, none from the ocean-side stop to Nancy’s.
- Bikes: every bus has a front rack for three bikes, first come first served, and bikes never go inside the bus. Return the rack to its upright position after you take your bike off.
- On board: no eating, drinking or smoking; drinks may be carried in resealable containers only. Standing passengers stay behind the white line and hold on.
- Crossing the street: after you get off, wait for the bus to pull away before you cross, so you can see traffic in both directions.
The printed route map, opened on the bus: Oak Bluffs and Tisbury on one side, Edgartown and the list of ferry, air and bus providers on the other. Drivers hand them out, and the same maps are posted at the terminals.
Track Your Bus in Real Time
The VTA launched a real-time bus tracker in 2025. You can see exactly where your bus is, estimated arrival times, and live status for every route:
vta.mytransitride.com: VTA's official live bus tracker
You can also track buses and plan trips using third-party apps:
- Transit App: real-time departures, route maps, and alerts
- Moovit: step-by-step navigation with VTA schedules
VTA also offers E-Alerts: text/email notifications for schedule changes and service alerts. Sign up at vineyardtransit.com.
VTA Fares in 2026 (currently free)
As mentioned above, all VTA services are currently fare-free thanks to Massachusetts state funding. No pass, ticket, or payment is required.
For reference, here are the standard fares that apply when the free program is not in effect:
| Fare Type | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single Ride (off-season) | $1.25 per town | Including town of origin |
| Single Ride (in-season) | $2.00 per town | Including town of origin |
| 1-Day Pass | $7 | Unlimited rides, all routes |
| 3-Day Pass | $15 | Unlimited rides, all routes |
| Children under 6 | Free | Must be with an adult |
| Seniors 65+ and riders with disabilities | Discounted | Proof required |
| Active/Retired Military | Discounted | Valid ID required |
Passes (when applicable) can be purchased on board any bus, at the Steamship Authority terminal, or at the Edgartown Visitors Center. For full fare details: vineyardtransit.com/fares-passes
Accessibility and Special Services
The VTA's accessibility services:
VTA Riders Guide at an Edgartown bus stop
- The LIFT and Medivan: Door-to-door ADA paratransit service by appointment for passengers with disabilities.
- Bike racks: Every bus carries a front rack for three bikes (first come, first served), so you can combine cycling with bus travel.
- Electric fleet: VTA runs 19 electric buses (with more conversions planned), solar canopies and in-ground inductive charging stations at stops across the island, making it one of the greenest transit systems in New England.
The front-mounted rack takes two bikes, first-come, first-served: ride out, bus back.
For paratransit and accessibility inquiries, contact VTA directly via vineyardtransit.com.
Why Take the Bus on Martha's Vineyard?
Martha's Vineyard has very limited parking, especially in peak summer. The VTA bus is often faster than sitting in traffic, especially between Vineyard Haven, Oak Bluffs, and Edgartown. Why more visitors are skipping the car:
- It's free right now: $0 to ride anywhere on the island
- No parking stress: no hunting for a spot in Edgartown or Oak Bluffs
- Connects to all ferry terminals: Vineyard Haven SSA, Oak Bluffs SSA
- Reaches the beaches: including State Beach, Aquinnah, and more
- Eco-friendly: 19 electric buses in the fleet, with more conversions planned
- Record ridership: over 10,000 riders a day in August 2025
A VTA bus on an island road: over 10,000 riders a day in August, and fare-free.
The yellow cord along the windows. Pull it once and the driver stops at the next safe spot; on the newest buses there are buttons in the handrails too.
Questions
VTA bus questions
How do I signal the driver to stop?
The island way: pull the cord that runs along the windows, or on newer buses press one of the buttons built into the handrails; the driver pulls over at the next safe spot. Combined with the flag-stop policy, that means almost any point along a route can be your stop: if a bus passes where you are going (Route 13 rolls right past the hospital and State Beach, for example), you can ride it and ring when you are close.
How do I pay for the VTA bus?
Right now, you don't: the VTA is completely fare-free. Just board and ride. If the program has ended by the time you visit, you can pay cash on board or buy a day pass at the Steamship Authority.
What time does the VTA start running?
Hours vary by route and season. In summer, most routes begin service around 6:00–7:00 AM and run until roughly 10:00 PM (the last main-route departures leave just after 10). Check the specific route schedule at vineyardtransit.com/bus-route-schedules for exact times.
Does the VTA bus go to the beach?
Yes. Several routes serve popular beaches including State Beach (Oak Bluffs/Edgartown), Aquinnah (Gay Head Cliffs), and areas near South Beach. Route 5 is your best bet for the up-island beaches.
Can I bring my bike on the VTA bus?
Yes. Every VTA bus has a front-mounted rack for three bikes, first come first served, and bikes are not allowed inside the bus. In peak season the rack can be full by the time the bus reaches you, so arrive early or have a plan B.
Does the bus go to Aquinnah and the Gay Head Cliffs?
Yes. Route 5 runs from the Gay Head Lighthouse stop in Aquinnah to West Tisbury Town Hall, the full up-island stretch.
Is the VTA bus running on holidays?
The VTA runs year-round except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The Tisbury Park and Ride runs 365 days a year.
Where can I find the full schedule PDF?
Official schedules and route maps are available at vineyardtransit.com/route-maps. The summer 2026 timetables are posted there now; the fall schedule (from October 4, 2026) appears when the VTA releases it.
All VTA Links You Need
Paper still works: free island maps and guides you can pick up on the ferry, on the bus or at the visitor centers.
- VTA Official Website
- Route Maps
- Bus Route Schedules
- Fares and Passes
- Live Bus Tracker (vta.mytransitride.com)
- Transit App: VTA
Disclaimer: MV Vacation does not operate VTA services and is not responsible for changes to schedules, routes, or fare programs. Always verify current information directly with the VTA at vineyardtransit.com before your trip.
Inside a VTA bus at the Vineyard Haven terminal on a September afternoon: half empty, air conditioned, and free.
Three free downloads · 2026 The Beach Guide, the Fall Guide and Where to Stay Every beach decoded, the fall season date by date, and every town and price band for sleeping over: three PDFs, free with the island letter. No spam, one click to leave. See a sample first 2026 service alert: the latest evening buses are not running
Per the VTA's June 16, 2026 notice, the black-shaded "extended evening" trips on Routes 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 11 are canceled for the season due to a driver shortage (Route 6's late trips still run). Printed brochures and the big route map still show them. Trust the individual route timetables and the live tracker at vta.mytransitride.com, or call 508-693-9440 (ext. 2). Contract talks with drivers are ongoing, so re-check close to your trip.
Connecting services and their phone numbers
As printed on the 2026 VTA map, for the day the app fails you:
- Ferries: Steamship Authority reservations 508-477-8600 (Woods Hole, cars and passengers); Hy-Line Cruises 508-693-0112 (Hyannis to Oak Bluffs); Island Queen 508-548-4800 (Falmouth to Oak Bluffs); Seastreak 866-683-3779 (New Bedford to Vineyard Haven and Oak Bluffs); Patriot Party Boats 508-548-2626 (Falmouth to Oak Bluffs); Pied Piper 508-548-9400 (Falmouth to Edgartown); Vineyard Fast Ferry 401-295-4040 (Quonset Point, Rhode Island, to Oak Bluffs).
- Air: Cape Air 508-771-6944; JetBlue 800-538-2583; Classic Aviators 508-627-7677; Martha’s Vineyard Airport 508-693-7022; American Airlines 800-428-4322; Delta 800-221-1212.
- Mainland buses: Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority 800-352-7155 (the Sea-Line between Woods Hole and Hyannis stops anywhere along Route 28, including Cape Cod Hospital and the ferry docks; the WHOOSH runs Woods Hole to Falmouth center); Peter Pan 800-343-9999 (Woods Hole to Boston, Logan Airport, Providence and New York); Nantucket Regional Transit Authority 508-228-7025.
Common Trips, Solved
Want turn-by-turn directions instead? Our How to Get There by Bus page walks every big trip from Vineyard Haven, Oak Bluffs and Edgartown, with a live map.
The connections readers ask us about most:
- Ferry to the Gay Head Lighthouse (Aquinnah): Route 3 from the Vineyard Haven terminal (:07 past each hour, 29 minutes) to West Tisbury Town Hall, then Route 5 from the Grange Hall stop next door (:38) to the lighthouse (:02). About 55 minutes with a tight two-minute connection, hourly, seven days a week. Last bus off the cliffs on a summer Saturday: 10:05 PM. The 11:05 PM shown on printed maps is canceled for 2026.
- Ferry to South Beach: Route 1 from Vineyard Haven to Edgartown, then the seasonal Route 8 Beach Bus to South Beach.
- Oak Bluffs to Edgartown along the water: Route 13 via Beach Road; it runs right past State Beach, so you can hop off at the sand.
- Menemsha for sunset without parking stress: the seasonal Route 12 Chilmark In-Town and Menemsha Sunset Bus ran from the Tabor House Road lot June 19 – August 30 in 2026 and returns next summer; the last bus from Menemsha Beach leaves 30 minutes after sunset.
- Ferry to Menemsha: Route 3 to West Tisbury, then Route 4 via North Road to Menemsha Harbor.
Every ride is free through June 30, 2027: no ticket, no cash, just board.
Ride the route first
Full bus rides, filmed end to end.
