Some of my favorite memories from my childhood and into my teen years are of coming to the Island. Whether it was the ferry ride where it was tradition to always get a cup of chowder no matter how full I was, or taking Cape Air and seeing the island from high above trying to spot my house, or landmarks I know so well.  I wanted to talk to you today about all the different ways to get to the island.

There are multiple ferries you can take to get here. The most traveled is The Steamship Authority because they are the only boats that can take cars to and from the island.  If you plan on coming to the island with a car I suggest making your reservations early because they book up fast for the summer. Another famous ferry out of Falmouth Harbor is The Island Queen. They run hourly and take only cash, but will get you to the island in less time than the Steamship Authority boats because they don’t hold cars so they are much lighter. Perhaps the fastest option is also the smallest public option. The Patriot Party Boats is located at the end of Falmouth Harbor next to the Clam Shack. They run roughly every hour during the week and gets you to the island in record time. Be aware though that they don’t always follow the schedule due to deliveries they make, and could get off schedule due to packing the boat full of items for deliveries to the island. If you can’t make the drive to Falmouth, there’s always the Hy-line from Hyannis, MA. Coming from Rhode Island? Catch the Fast Ferry is Quonset. These were the first Catamaran style boats to take passengers to and from the mainland.  Their strong powerful engines and double pontoon style boat make them incredibly fast over the water. Another Catamaran group is The Sea Streak with ferries running out of New Bedford, New York, and New Jersey.  No matter where you are coming from make sure you book in advance (with the exception of The Patriot Party Boat) because the closer you get to the summer the harder it is to get a reservation.

The other option of getting to the island is flying into our tiny two gate airport. Four airlines fly in and out of Martha’s Vineyard Airport (also known as MVY). Cape Air; Delta; Jet Blue; and US Airways. Cape Air has year round service from Boston’s Logan International Airport (BOS), White Plains Westchester County Airport (HPN), New Bedford Regional Airport (EWB), Hyannis’ Boardman-Polando Field (HYA) and the Nantucket Memorial Airport (ACK). They also offer seasonal service to Providence’s T.F. Green Airport (PVD), and Provincetown Municipal Airport (PVC). Delta and Jet Blue offer seasonal flights from John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York. Finally US Airways offers daily flights to Martha’s Vineyard from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).

We hope you found this post helpful. If you would like to start searching for your perfect Vineyard vacation rental, CLICK HERE

Sandpiper Rentals, Inc

Rent@sandpiperrental.com