Twenty miles long, nine wide, and six towns that do not feel alike. This is the far end of it.
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Martha’s Vineyard is an island just south of Cape Cod. People come for the beaches, the harbours and the pace, and stay longer than they planned because the island is small enough to cross in an hour and varied enough that the two ends have almost nothing in common.
The six towns
Six towns share the island, and they do not feel alike.
The beaches
Every town has sand. These are the four visitors ask about most. The full list is here, grouped by which shore you are on and who is allowed on it.
A
B
CA: Menemsha, a working fishing harbour that has not been prettied up; B: the sand at Katama on the ocean side; C: the bridge at State Beach, where the channel runs between the pond and the Sound.
Where to stay
Lodging runs from small inns to the old harbour hotels and private rentals. Summer dates go early. Book months ahead if you can. Our full where-to-stay guide goes into the trade-offs town by town.
Where to eat
From seafood shacks to farm-to-table dining rooms, with a few late-night options. The full restaurant guide has the rest.
Getting here
Most visitors arrive by ferry from Woods Hole on the Steamship Authority. Seasonal ferries run from Hyannis, Falmouth, Quonset and New Bedford, and there are direct flights in season. If you are bringing a car in summer, the reservation is the hard part, not the crossing.
Forty-five minutes, year-round, and the only way most vehicles get here. Book the car months out; walking on is easy.
Getting around
You can reach almost anywhere here without a car. Our bus guide plots the routes and the transfers.
Things to do
Events and festivals
The calendar runs well beyond summer; the events calendar has the dates.
The produce hall in August. The fair is the one week of the year when the whole island turns up in the same field.
When to come
Wildlife and nature
Ospreys, deer, ocean birds and wild turkeys are all common sights. For walking, the Land Bank trails are among the best on the island, and our wildlife guide covers what you are likely to see and when.
They have the run of the place, and they do not move for cars.
Know Before You Go
Practical things worth knowing
Layers, sunscreen and comfortable shoes. Evenings cool off sharply, even in August.
Groceries and dining run roughly 20 to 40 per cent above mainland prices. Budget for it rather than being surprised by it.
Summer ferry reservations for vehicles are made months in advance. Walking on is easy; driving on is not.
Beaches have seasonal restrictions and they vary by town. Check the signage at the entrance.
State Beach, the farms and the town centres are the reliable ones with children.
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