Martha's Vineyard ferry schedule and guide

Three operators run the Martha's Vineyard ferry from Woods Hole, Hyannis and New Bedford to Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. The Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority (Steamship Authority) runs car and passenger ferries from Woods Hole all year. Hy-Line Cruises (Hy-Line) runs seasonal high-speed ferries from Hyannis, and SeaStreak runs seasonal ferries from New Bedford. Hy-Line and SeaStreak carry passengers only, and cars need a Steamship Authority reservation.

Martha's Vineyard ferry schedule Fall 2026

Martha's Vineyard ferry details

Martha's Vineyard ferries by port and dock

Martha's Vineyard ferries land at two ports, Vineyard Haven and Oak Bluffs. In Oak Bluffs, Hy-Line docks at the Dockside Marina, and the Steamship Authority and SeaStreak dock at 1 Seaview Avenue.

Every Martha's Vineyard ferry carries passengers and bicycles, and the Steamship Authority ferry carries cars and trucks too. SeaStreak uses Oak Bluffs for most of its season. Hy-Line's inter-island ferry sails nonstop between Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard.

Taking a car on the Martha's Vineyard ferry

Cars ride the Steamship Authority ferries from the Woods Hole ferry terminal. All vehicle travel on the Woods Hole–Martha's Vineyard route is by reservation only. The Steamship Authority allows no standby travel for cars, apart from the Blue Line.

Drivers book online, by phone at (508) 477-8600 or at the Steamship Authority ticket offices in Woods Hole and Vineyard Haven. The Steamship Authority also sells tickets at its Oak Bluffs terminal in season. Drivers check in at least 30 minutes before departure, with the reservation and identification.

Steamship Authority Preferred and Excursion program customers can use the Blue Line, a standby line at Woods Hole and Vineyard Haven. The Blue Line holds up to 12 cars at a time, and the terminal agent can pause it when space runs short.

The Steamship Authority generally carries motorcycles and mopeds without a reservation, as space allows. The Steamship Authority suggests reservations for groups of five or more motorcycles.

Hy-Line and SeaStreak carry no cars, motorcycles or mopeds.

Martha's Vineyard ferry reservations and when to arrive

Walk-on passengers need no reservation on the Steamship Authority ferry. They buy tickets at the terminal on the day of sailing or on the eFerry ticket website. The Steamship Authority asks them to arrive 30 minutes before departure, and 45 minutes to one hour before in summer, because popular trips can fill.

Hy-Line says a reservation is the only way to guarantee space on its ferries. Hy-Line asks riders to arrive at least 45 minutes before departure for drop-off, parking and ticketing. Riders pick up reserved tickets at the ticket office at least 30 minutes before departure. Hy-Line can give standby passengers the seats of riders who are not ticketed and in line 15 minutes before departure.

SeaStreak recommends reservations, especially in summer, and asks riders to arrive 45 minutes to one hour before departure. SeaStreak starts boarding 40 minutes before departure and can release reservations not picked up 10 minutes before departure.

Riders who park in a Steamship Authority lot in Falmouth or Cataumet ride a shuttle bus to Woods Hole. The Steamship Authority asks them to be at the lot one hour before departure.

The Steamship Authority and Hy-Line carry personal luggage free, and luggage carts stand near the Steamship Authority boarding areas. SeaStreak carries one carry-on that fits under the seat and one personal item free, and charges for each extra bag.

Woods Hole ferry terminal parking and directions

The Woods Hole ferry terminal is at 1 Cowdry Road, Woods Hole, MA 02543. The Woods Hole ferry terminal has no parking for ferry passengers, and a few short-term spaces serve pick-up and drop-off.

Woods Hole ferry terminal parking

Riders park in Steamship Authority lots in Falmouth and Cataumet and ride a free shuttle bus to the Woods Hole ferry terminal. The Steamship Authority opens lots by space and demand. Road signs, its Woods Hole parking line at (508) 457-7275 and 1610 AM radio say which lot is open.

Every shuttle bus to Woods Hole has a rack for two bicycles in daylight hours, and a bike shuttle bus runs every day in summer. E-bikes are too heavy for the shuttle bus racks.

Train and bus travel to Woods Hole

On summer weekends, the CapeFLYER train from Boston stops in Bourne. A free Steamship Authority shuttle bus runs from the Bourne stop to the Woods Hole ferry terminal. The Steamship Authority lists Peter Pan Bus Lines and Plymouth and Brockton buses for travel from Boston to Woods Hole.

Hy-Line Ocean Street terminal parking and directions

Hy-Line's Martha's Vineyard ferry leaves from the Hy-Line Ocean Street terminal at 220 Ocean Street, Hyannis, MA 02601. The Hy-Line Ocean Street terminal has an indoor waiting area, restrooms and an ATM in its ticket office.

Hy-Line runs its own lots along Ocean Street and an off-site lot at 183 Iyannough Road, 1 mile from the Hy-Line Ocean Street terminal. A free shuttle bus serves the off-site lot in season. Riders can reserve part of each lot with a ferry booking, and Hy-Line sells the rest on the day of sailing.

Drivers with on-site parking go to the Parking Gazebo at 220 Ocean Street. Hy-Line does not run the private lots that sell parking along Ocean Street.

New Bedford ferry terminal parking and directions

SeaStreak's New Bedford ferry terminal is at 49 State Pier, New Bedford, MA 02740. The New Bedford ferry terminal has restrooms, a covered waiting area, an ATM and Wi-Fi.

SeaStreak offers parking at State Pier. An offsite lot, the Whale's Tooth parking lot, has a free shuttle bus to the pier.

T.F. Green Airport in Providence, Rhode Island, is about 45 minutes from the New Bedford ferry terminal, SeaStreak says.

Vineyard Haven and Oak Bluffs ferry terminals

The Vineyard Haven ferry terminal is at Union Street and Water Street, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568. The Steamship Authority uses the Vineyard Haven ferry terminal all year. The Oak Bluffs ferry terminal is the Steamship Authority's seasonal terminal at 1 Seaview Avenue, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557.

SeaStreak docks at 1 Seaview Avenue in Oak Bluffs for most of its season. In the shoulder season, SeaStreak sometimes docks at the Steamship Authority terminal in Vineyard Haven instead.

Hy-Line's Oak Bluffs ferries dock at the Dockside Marina. Hy-Line's Oak Bluffs ticket office is at 12 Circuit Avenue Extension.

The Steamship Authority has no parking for travelers in Oak Bluffs, and Vineyard Haven keeps a few spaces for medical emergencies. Hy-Line has no parking on Martha's Vineyard. The Vineyard Transit Authority (VTA) runs island-wide buses all year to both Steamship Authority terminals.

When the Martha's Vineyard ferry is busiest

The Steamship Authority reports high passenger and car traffic in summer and on holiday weekends. At those times, riders parking in Falmouth or Cataumet need the full hour before departure for parking and the shuttle bus.

Hy-Line says space on its high-speed ferries is limited and often fills up. Hy-Line keeps a standby list for each sold-out departure at its ticket office, and riders sign up in person.

Hy-Line passes on summer driving advice from the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce. The chamber advises drivers to avoid arriving on Cape Cod on Friday afternoons and evenings and on Saturday mornings. For leaving Cape Cod, the chamber advises avoiding Sunday and holiday Monday afternoons.

The Steamship Authority posts cancellations and delays on its website and sends text and email alerts. Hy-Line moves reservations on a cancelled ferry to open-ended tickets for rebooking. SeaStreak offers New Bedford riders on a cancelled sailing an exchange or a full refund.

Martha's Vineyard ferry FAQs

Ferries near Martha's Vineyard

• Nantucket ferry, including Hy-Line's inter-island ferry from Oak Bluffs
• Boston–Provincetown ferry
• Massachusetts ferries