New York to Martha's Vineyard: 4 Best Ways to Get There?

Explore the best ways to travel from New York to Martha's Vineyard, from scenic road trips to convenient public transport options. Perfect guide for travelers.

Tobi Miles
By
Tobi Miles
December 21, 2023

Marthas Vineyard is the largest island of Massachusetts and lies just south of cape cod.

It is famed for it’s quaint lighthousesIdyllic scenery, beaches & Gothic cottages in Oak Bluff.

The Obama's recently purchased a Mansion here for $14.85 million from Boston Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck….so it must be a nice place, eh?

Having road tripped to Martha's Island numerous times, I'm going to outline the best places to stop enroute, give you an Interactive Road Trip Map to use on the road

and even outline a comparison of all the public transport options & the best way of getting there if you don't wish to drive!

Oh and of course I will tell you about the Martha's Island Ferry, Costs, times etc!

Don Ramey Logan | Wikimedia Commons

Fun Fact: Steven Spielberg's  Iconic 1974 movie JAWS was filmed at Martha's Island!

Martha's vineyard is the perfect place to escape the stressful city life of New York City!

So Start your engines, roll your windows down & lets hit the road!

How long does a road trip take between New York & Martha Vineyard?

Driving direct between NYC & Martha's Vineyard will take you approximately 5 h 4 min & you will cover 266.0 miles via I-95 N.

This is not the most scenic route, so if you don't mind a little longer I highly recommended hugging the Atlantic coast or at least stop off at a few places enroute!

Public Transport between NYC & Martha's Vineyard?

Is there a train between NYC & Martha's Vineyard?

Leg 1 - Train NYC to Boston South Station

Not direct, however there is a train to Boston South Station from New York Penn Station. It runs hourly and takes around 3hr 53mins.

The approximate cost is between $40-$120. The train is the Acela Northeast regional.

Leg 1 - Train NYC to Boston South Station
Leg 1 - Train NYC to Boston South Station

Boston Road Trip

You could even spend a day exploring Boston if you have more time,

Leg 2 - Bus from Boston South Station to New Bedford, MA

From Boston South Station, Hop on the Boston South Bus to New Bedford MA. This bus runs every 3 hours and takes around 1hr 15 mins. It costs between $12-$16.

Leg 3 - Ferry to Martha's Island

From New Bedford hop on the 1 hour ferry to Martha's island which runs 6 times per week and costs between $14-$45.

Leg 3 - Ferry to Martha's Island
Amtrak Coast Starlight

Is there a Bus between NYC & Martha's Island?

A cheaper alternative to the train is the Bus which runs from New York City to Boston South Station.

It runs hourly, takes approximately 4h 20 mins and costs $18-$30

From Boston South Station take the same Regional Bus mentioned previously (The Boston Commuter!)

What are the Flight options between New York & Martha's Vineyard?

You can take the Train from New York Penn Station to Newark Airport Liberty Airport Station. This takes around 25 minutes and costs $10-$14.

From Newark (EWR) take the 2 hr 50 minute journey by Plane to Martha's Vineyard.  This is not cheap and can cost anywhere between $250-$1000.

There are also flights from JFK Airport New York for between $160-$410, these take approximately 1 hour 13 mins.

Edgartown Lighthouse. marthas vineyard

Which is the best transport method between New York & Martha's Vineyard?

This all depends upon your personal preference, timescale, budget and if you wish to visit all the great places enroute!

Of course we love a road trip as the distance isn't too great, its cost effective and you also get to explore New England!

Road Trip Map (New York to Martha's Vineyard)

Dive into our Interactive road trip map!

User guide: Use the +/- buttons to zoom in and out of the attractions.

Top Tip: Many visitors choose to share the post on Facebook to inspire friends and help plan their road trip.

Hit the link below to share!

Road Trip Itinerary (New York to Martha's Vineyard)

  1. New York City
  2. East Village, Manhattan NYC
  3. Lunch in Queens, NYC – Optional
  4. Stay at Delmar Spa hotel on the way back!
  5. Elm Street Diner , Stamford, CT – Ideal for breakfast on the way back.
  6. New Haven, CT
  7. Mystic, CT
  8. Newport, RI
  9. Benefit Street, (Providence) RI – Optional
  10. Marthas Vineyard

Road Trip Highlights:

East Village – Manhattan, NYC

You will drive through Manhattans vibrant east Village so its definitely worth having a look around!

The area has been know for its anti-establishment & rebellious vibe ever ever since the punk culture in the 1970s.

east village manhattan

There you will find dive bars, Graffitied walls and the iconic St Marks Place.

Grab a snack at the 24 hour Ukrainian diner Veselka

Grab lunch in Queens

Grab some lunch at  Casa Enrique, New York City’s only Mexican Restaurant with a Michelin star!

Located in Long Island City Queens, be sure to try its steak tacos made with thick corn tortillas. There is also its chicken enchiladas in Salsa Verde which are incredible!

Insider Tip:

Order both dishes with  Mole de Piaxtla and chile relleno.

Elm Street Diner, Stamford, CT

Elm Street Diner in Stamford, Connecticut is the ideal place to grab some breakfast or a road trip snack.

This family owned restaurant is one of the best in Stamford, CT.

Insider Tip:

Be sure to try the mouth watering peanut butter pancakes, the Breakfast quesadillas and of course the coffee.

New Haven, Connecticut

New Haven, CT is definitely one of the most underrated cities in the USA and definitely in New England. The town has a great culture, history and even a thriving culinary scene!

Top 5 Things to do?

New Haven Connecticut. Source: Getty Images

Where to eat? - Pizza Wars??

In 1925, an Italian immigrant named Frank Pepe created New Haven’s signature style of pizza, with the thin-crust, coal oven–baked tomato pie topped sprinkled with grated cheese.

Since then his pizzeria is still going strong Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana in New Havens, Wooster Square Italian neighborhood.

You should also try their rival Sally’s Apizza, founded in 1938,  this pizzeria was owned by the same family for nearly 80 years!

Newport, Rhode Island

Hop on to Rhode Island Route 138 and drive over the Bridge to the island retreat of Jamestown and then into Newport.

Newport is a scenic seaside city in Rhode Island. It is famous for its historic mansions, shopping, and beautiful scenery.

Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island

Newport, Rhode Island

Marthas Vineyard

Marthas Vineyard is the largest island of Massachusetts and lies just south of cape cod.

Marthas Vineyard is famed for it’s quaint lighthouses, Idyllic scenery, beaches & Gothic cottages in Oak Bluff.

Here are the top things to do there:

  1. Check out Gingerbread Houses of Oak Bluff.
  2. Take a ride on the Iconic Flying Horse Carousel.
  3. Greet the Island Alpacas.
  4. Visit the Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary.
  5. Check out Edgartown Harbor Lighthouse.
  6. Eat at Martha’s Vineyard Gourmet Café & Bakery.
Marthas Vineyard
Marthas Vineyard

Marthas Vineyard Massachusetts USA Oak Bluffs Cottages Road Trip. Source: KenWiedemann/iStock/Getty Images Plus

How to get to Marthas Vineyard:

Marthas Vineyard can only be reached by boat or air. Take the 30 minute drive from Newport to Quonset Point. From there you can catch the Vineyard fast ferry, to Marthas Vineyard.

How much does the ferry cost?

The Ferry costs $15 for adults and $8 for children 5 to 12.

How long does the journey take?

The ferry takes 1 hour 40 mins from Quonset Point to Oak Bluffs.

Where to stay at Martha's Vineyard?

Marthas Vineyard can be quite expensive to stay, so depending upon your budget either take the ferry back or check out this list of recommended accommodation.

Mansion House Inn on Martha’s Vineyard or the Harbor view hotel are both favorites to stay.

Check in to the Delamar Greenwich Harbor on the way back!

Delmar Greenwich Harbor in Greenwich, Connecticut was rated by Town & Tourist as one of the greatest Hotels in New England!

We visited here on the way back to New York City, as its the perfect place to relax in the hotels deep tubs with Bvlgari bath products.

Delamar Greenwich Harbor
Delamar Greenwich Harbor

Delamar Greenwich Harbor

5 Essential Road Trip Tips:

(You HAVE to know before planning!)

5. Book Your Hotels in Advance!

To avoid having to drive around looking for hotels when your tired (My wife hates this!)

& to get the best prices, Check out our: How to find the Best Hotel Deals??

Jefferson Hotel Richmond Virginia
Jefferson Hotel Richmond Virginia

4. Get the Best deal on Car Rental

For some vital tips to know before renting a car & to get the best deals

car rental travel hacks

3. Need an RV?

If you fancy an RV adventure, you have to check RV Share

It’s an RV share platform, like airbnb where you can rent someones RV at a fraction of cost compared to normal!

Bring your RV to Tiden Park
RV to Tiden Park

.

2. Bring a Great Travel Camera!

Want to capture those vacation memories? For friends, Facebook or even Instagram!

A phone just doesn’t compare with a high quality travel camera, they are well worth the investment!

Make sure you are equip with some great Photography Gear![/caption]

1. Need Help Planning!?

Do you find planning a trip time consuming and stressful?

An organised tour or vacation could be a great option for you!

They organize Flights, Hotels, Car Rental, Activities and much more!

With expert local travel knowledge & bespoke vacation planning you can’t go wrong.

Orlando Tours

If you fancy continuing your road trip, check out Nantucket, Cape Cod or even take a Maine lighthouse road trip!

Cape Cod Road Trip Itinerary

Tobi Miles
Tobi Miles
Article updated:
December 4, 2024 3:02 PM

Tobi Miles is a University of Florida graduate turned globe-trotting culinary explorer and digital nomad expert. As the founder of "Bytes & Bites," he combines his passion for international cuisine with practical advice on remote work, inspiring others to experience the world through food and cultural immersion. With 32 countries under his belt and a knack for uncovering hidden culinary gems, Tobi is redefining the intersection of work, travel, and gastronomy for a new generation of adventurers.

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