Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Day Trips from Cape Cod
Two iconic islands, both reachable by ferry from Hyannis - five minutes from your room
Two Islands, One Easy Home Base
Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket are both reachable by Hy-Line ferry from Hyannis Harbor, about five minutes from Relax Inn. Leave your car in our free lot, walk on the ferry, and spend the day exploring cobblestone streets, historic lighthouses, and beaches you've seen in movies. No car needed on either island. For ferry logistics and booking tips, see our Hyannis ferry guide.
A Day in Oak Bluffs and Edgartown
The Hy-Line ferry from Hyannis takes about one hour and costs roughly $72 round trip as a walk-on passenger. You'll dock in Oak Bluffs, where everything is walkable. Start with the Flying Horses Carousel ($3.50 per ride) - the oldest operating platform carousel in the country, spinning since 1876. Then wander the Gingerbread Cottages, a cluster of over 300 brightly painted Victorian cottages that's free to explore. Circuit Avenue has the shops, ice cream, and people-watching.
Lunch in Oak Bluffs: Offshore Ale Company is the island's only brewpub. Lookout Tavern does excellent seafood tacos with a harbor view. And Back Door Donuts is a must - the apple fritters come out hot after dark, but the daytime menu is worth it too.
Edgartown: Hop the VTA bus ($7 day pass) or rent a bike. Edgartown is quieter and more refined - white whaling-captain homes line its streets, and Edgartown Lighthouse sits at the end of a short walking path. Lunch at The Wharf (waterfront seafood) or Edgartown Diner (classic counter service).
Beaches: Oak Bluffs Town Beach is free and walkable from the ferry. Joseph Sylvia State Beach - where Jaws was filmed - stretches between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown and is easily bikeable.
Cobblestones, Whales, and Brant Point
The Hy-Line high-speed ferry from Hyannis takes about one hour and costs roughly $91 round trip. You'll land steps from the center of town.
Whaling Museum (13 Broad Street, $20 admission): The centerpiece is a 46-foot sperm whale skeleton suspended from the ceiling. Interactive exhibits trace Nantucket's history as the whaling capital of the world.
Main Street: Nantucket's cobblestone Main Street is lined with over 800 pre-Civil War buildings. Browse independent shops, art galleries, and bookstores. The whole downtown is a National Historic Landmark district.
Brant Point Lighthouse: A 15-minute walk from the ferry dock, this is one of the most photographed lighthouses in New England. Free to visit, and you'll pass it on the ferry ride in.
Lunch: Provisions (sandwiches and prepared foods to take to the beach) or Or, The Whale (American bistro with a seasonal menu).
Beaches: Children's Beach is a 10-minute walk from the ferry - calm water and a playground. Jetties Beach is reachable via the free NRTA Wave shuttle and has calmer surf plus a snack bar.
Walk, Bus, or Bike - No Car Needed
Both islands are easy to navigate without a vehicle. On Martha's Vineyard, the VTA bus system connects all six towns for $7 per day pass, or rent a bike near the Oak Bluffs ferry dock (Anderson's Bike Rentals, roughly $25/day). On Nantucket, the NRTA Wave shuttle is free and runs to all major beaches and Sconset village. Young's Bicycle Shop on Broad Street rents bikes from about $30/day.
Sample Day Trip Schedules
Martha's Vineyard: 8:00 AM leave Relax Inn → 9:15 AM ferry departs Hyannis → 10:15 AM arrive Oak Bluffs → morning exploring Oak Bluffs → lunch → afternoon in Edgartown or at the beach → 5:30 PM ferry back → 6:30 PM Hyannis → dinner on Main Street.
Nantucket: 7:30 AM leave Relax Inn → 8:30 AM ferry departs Hyannis → 9:30 AM arrive Nantucket → Whaling Museum → Main Street lunch → Brant Point → afternoon at Jetties Beach → 5:00 PM ferry back → 6:00 PM Hyannis.
Which Island Is Right for You?
Martha's Vineyard is larger and offers more variety - multiple towns with distinct personalities, more dining options, and a wider range of beaches. It's the better pick if you want a full day of varied sightseeing. Nantucket is more compact and more uniformly historic, with a walkable downtown that feels like stepping back in time. It's ideal if you prefer a focused, relaxed day in one beautiful place. If you have a 3-day weekend, consider doing both.
