Martha's Vineyard Day Trip: Ferry, Cottages & Lighthouses

Colorful gingerbread cottages and a ferry crossing frame a full day on Martha's Vineyard

A full-day tour from Boston to Martha's Vineyard includes roundtrip ferry service from Falmouth and Woods Hole, a small group capped at twelve travelers, and a live guide. The sightseeing bus tour covering the Flying Horses Carousel, Edgartown, Gay Head Light, and Nobska Point Lighthouse is optional and booked separately at checkout. Comfortable shoes, cash for attractions, and a valid phone number are required.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Cape Cod Canalpassing by
2. Gingerbread Houses1h

Full-day Martha's Vineyard escape

• Depart Boston for Cape Cod
• Pass Cape Cod Canal
• Pass through Falmouth town
• Board Island Queen ferry
• Cruise across Nantucket Sound
• Arrive in Oak Bluffs
• Walk among gingerbread cottages
• Optional sightseeing bus tour
• See Flying Horses Carousel
• Explore Edgartown harbor town
• View Gay Head Light cliffs
• Visit Nobska Point Lighthouse
• Return via Woods Hole ferry
• Drive back to Boston

The experience

The day starts with a drive from Boston toward Cape Cod, passing the Cape Cod Canal before reaching Falmouth, a quiet harbor town where you board the Island Queen ferry. The 35-minute crossing to Oak Bluffs is the centerpiece of the journey: open-water views, sea air, and the shift from mainland to island rhythm. Oak Bluffs itself is built around the historic Tabernacle at the Martha's Vineyard Camp Meeting Association, surrounded by the pastel-colored gingerbread cottages that define the town's character. You have time to walk among them and explore the harbor and beaches on your own.

If you've selected the sightseeing bus option, a 1.5-hour tour covers the island's landmarks: the Flying Horses Carousel, the oldest operating carousel in the nation; Edgartown, an elegant harbor town with white clapboard homes and a working port; Gay Head Light, perched atop the dramatic clay cliffs at Aquinnah; and Nobska Point Lighthouse near Woods Hole, overlooking Vineyard Sound. Without the bus tour, you're free to spend the afternoon exploring Oak Bluffs and the island on your own pace. Either way, you return to the mainland via the Steamship Authority ferry from Woods Hole, then ride back to Boston as the day winds down.

Your guide travels with the group throughout, and all vehicles are professionally maintained and sized to the group. The full day runs 12 hours including travel, ferry time, and stops. Bring cash (it's required for any attraction tickets or purchases you make on the island) along with comfortable shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, sun protection, and water.

What’s included

• Roundtrip ferry service on the Island Queen and Steamship Authority ferries.
• small group tour with a maximum of twelve travelers and a live English-speaking guide.
• comfortable, professionally maintained vehicles.
• optional sightseeing bus tour of the island's landmarks (Flying Horses Carousel, Edgartown, Gay Head Light, and Nobska Point Lighthouse) if selected at checkout.

Options for this experience

2 options

Tour with FerryGuide in English · Available from 24 Apr 2027The Island Queen ferry fee is included, while the island sightseeing bus tour is not. Pickup is included.

Tour with ferry and island tourGuide in English · Available from 24 Apr 2027The round-trip ferry and the island sightseeing bus tour are included. Pickup is included.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 24 Apr 2027

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (1 to 12 years) · Infant (under 1)

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 21 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Jupiter Legend Corporation

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want the ferry crossing and the gingerbread cottages as the core of your day, with the flexibility to add a guided bus tour of the island's lighthouses and historic towns or explore on your own. The small group size and expert guide mean you're not navigating the island alone, but you're not locked into a rigid itinerary either.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 12 years); Infant (under 1).

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.

What are the gingerbread cottages of Oak Bluffs?

The gingerbread cottages are a uniquely preserved community of pastel-colored Victorian homes arranged around the historic Tabernacle at the Martha's Vineyard Camp Meeting Association. They're the visual heart of Oak Bluffs and one of the island's most recognizable landmarks.

How long is the ferry crossing to Martha's Vineyard?

The Island Queen ferry from Falmouth to Oak Bluffs takes 35 minutes. You return via the Steamship Authority ferry from Woods Hole, which is also a scenic crossing back to the mainland.

Can I explore the island on my own, or is the sightseeing bus tour required?

The sightseeing bus tour is optional. If you don't select it at checkout, you have free time to explore Oak Bluffs and the island at your own pace. The bus tour covers the Flying Horses Carousel, Edgartown, Gay Head Light, and Nobska Point Lighthouse in 1.5 hours if you choose it.

What should I bring for this day trip?

Bring comfortable walking shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, a sun hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and water. Cash is essential. You'll need it for attraction tickets and any purchases on the island. A valid, reachable phone number is also required for safety and trip communication.

How many people travel in the group?

Groups are kept small, with a maximum of twelve travelers. You travel in comfortable, professionally maintained vehicles sized to fit your group, and a live guide travels with you throughout the day.