Getting There
By Ferry
Woods Hole to Vineyard Haven/Oak Bluffs
Driving to Woods Hole, MA on Cape Cod and taking the Steamship Authority car ferry (45 minutes from Woods Hole to either Vineyard Haven or Oak Bluffs) is the easiest and cheapest way to get to the island. It's ideal to have a car if you want to be able to explore, and rental cars once you're on island are expensive, so if it's possible to take the ferry, I recommend it.
Important Booking Note
The Steamship Authority’s systems are antiquated and everything books up quickly, so ideally you should try and book your ferry as soon as they open up reservations for the season: February 3rd, 2026.
Generally speaking you can always get a reservation during the week, it's the weekends that are tricky. If you can't get the day and time you want, just add yourself to the waitlist and it will automatically book you at your preferred time if and when it becomes available (which it almost always does, especially in June which is not yet peak season).
New York to Oak Bluffs: Yes, there is a direct ferry from NYC to MV! It's long but if you're just coming for the weekend, it's super easy and cost efficient.
New Bedford to Oak Bluffs: Fast ferry service (50 minutes).
Walk-on only (no cars)
Quonset Point, RI to Oak Bluffs: 75-minute journey
Walk-on only (no cars)
Note: ONLY way to bring your car to the island is the Steamship Authority from Woods Hole
By Air
Multiple airlines (Delta, American, Cape Air etc.) fly directly into MV from Boston, New York, Providence, and other cities.
✓ Pro
Fast and easy
✗ Con
You’ll likely have to rent a car if you want to explore, which can be expensive.
By Bus
If you fly into Boston, I recommend renting a car and bringing it over on the ferry, however if you do not wish to do that, it's very easy to take a bus from Logan to Woods Hole and just walk on to the Steamship Authority ferry (no reservation needed if you're walking on).