Boston to Martha's Vineyard Day Trip: 12 hours on the island
The ferry crossing takes 35 to 45 minutes, and you arrive in Oak Bluffs by mid-morning.
A 12-hour day trip from Boston to Martha's Vineyard with hotel pickup, minibus transport to Falmouth, and a 35–45 minute ferry crossing to Oak Bluffs. Spend the afternoon exploring on your own, or upgrade to a 3-hour guided island tour that covers all six towns, the Gay Head Cliffs lighthouse and Edgartown. Complimentary water, snacks and island guidebooks are included.
Options for this experience
2 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Boston to Martha's Vineyard Day Trip
- Hotel pickups in Downtown Boston
- Tour Downtown Boston with narration
- Travel over Cape Cod Canal
- Pass through Town of Falmouth
- Arrive at Island Queen Ferry
- 35-minute ferry sail to Martha's Vineyard
- Arrive in Oak Bluffs town
- Explore Gingerbread Houses
- Visit Flying Horses Carousel
- Optional 3-hour narrated island tour
- Visit Gay Head Cliffs and lighthouse
- Downtown 15m
- Cape Cod Canal passing by
- Falmouth passing by
- Oak Bluffs 15m
- Gingerbread Houses 1h
- Flying Horses Carousel 15m
- Edgartown 50m
- Gay Head Light (Aquinnah Light) 15m
- Nobska Point Lighthouse 10m
What’s included
- Round-trip minibus transport from your Boston hotel.
- scenic 35–45 minute ferry crossing from Falmouth to Oak Bluffs.
- complimentary bottled water, snacks and island guidebook.
- 5.5 to 6 hours on the island.
- narration during the minibus ride to the ferry. The 3-hour island tour (optional, purchased separately) adds a guided bus tour of all six towns, a stop at the Gay Head Cliffs and lighthouse, and a 50-minute break in Edgartown.
Times
Next departure: 30 Apr 2027
Information
Leave Boston by minibus with hotel pickup, cross the Cape Cod Canal, then sail 35-45 minutes to Oak Bluffs.
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Traveler reviews
The experience
The day starts with pickup at one of twenty Boston-area hotels, then a narrated drive through downtown and along the Cape Cod Canal, the world's widest sea-level canal, before arriving at Falmouth Harbor. The Island Queen Ferry departs from there, and the 35–45 minute sail across Nantucket Sound brings you into Oak Bluffs by 9:35 a.m. during summer months. You'll have 5.5 to 6 hours on the island before the return ferry, which gives you time to wander on your own or commit to the optional 3-hour guided tour.
If you skip the tour, Oak Bluffs itself holds the Gingerbread Houses (over 300 decorated Victorian cottages clustered in one neighborhood), and the Flying Horses Carousel, operating continuously since 1884. Both are walkable from the ferry terminal. The island guidebook and discount card that come with your ticket point you toward shops, cafes and quieter spots. Meals are available on the island but not included in the package.
The 3-hour island tour option adds a 44-passenger bus with a live guide narrating all six Martha's Vineyard towns, a 15-minute stop at the Gay Head Cliffs and lighthouse in Aquinnah, and a 50-minute break to explore Edgartown at your own pace. This tour fills the afternoon and gets you back to the ferry in time for the return crossing. The minibus ride to and from Falmouth, the ferry crossing both ways, complimentary water and snacks, and the island guidebook are included in both options.
Top questions
Can I be picked up at my hotel?
You can choose: pickup at your hotel, or go straight to the meeting point. When you book, you choose your hotel from 21 pickup locations; if yours isn’t listed, you arrange it with the operator after booking.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 13).
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
How long is the ferry ride from Falmouth to Martha's Vineyard?
The Island Queen Ferry takes 35 to 45 minutes to cross Nantucket Sound from Falmouth Harbor to Oak Bluffs, depending on the travel date and which ferry service is used.
What are the Gingerbread Houses and where are they on Martha's Vineyard?
The Gingerbread Houses are over 300 beautifully decorated Victorian cottages clustered together in Oak Bluffs, the town where the ferry arrives. They're a signature sight on the island and walkable from the ferry terminal.
Can I explore Martha's Vineyard on my own, or do I have to take the island tour?
You can spend the afternoon exploring on your own. You'll have 5.5 to 6 hours on the island before the return ferry. The 3-hour narrated island tour is optional and costs extra if you want it.
What's included in the day trip price?
Round-trip minibus transport from your Boston hotel, the ferry crossing both ways, complimentary bottled water and snacks, and an island guidebook with discount card are all included. Meals on Martha's Vineyard are not included, but dining options are available in the towns.
What will I see if I buy the 3-hour island tour?
The guided tour covers all six Martha's Vineyard towns by bus, includes a 15-minute stop at the Gay Head Cliffs and lighthouse in Aquinnah, and a 50-minute break to walk around Edgartown on your own. A live guide narrates the route and the tour is timed to get you back to the ferry for the return crossing.
Operated by New England Trips Inc.. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated 4 days ago
Boston to Martha's Vineyard Day Trip: 12 hours on the island
12h · EN
from US$ 129 per person
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.