Cobblehop / Guides / Boston to the islands

Boston to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket

Getting to the islands takes a bus and a boat. Here is how to connect them, how long each part takes, and which schedules Cobblehop has.

By Ahmad Haji, founder of Cobblehop · October 28, 2026

Quick answer: For Nantucket, take the Plymouth & Brockton bus from South Station to Hyannis (about 1 hour 50 minutes), walk about 15-20 minutes to the Hy-Line terminal on Ocean Street, and take the Hy-Line high-speed ferry (about 1 hour). For Martha's Vineyard, take the bus to Woods Hole and cross by Steamship Authority ferry. Plan the bus and the boat as two separate trips in Cobblehop.

To Nantucket

Take the Plymouth & Brockton bus from the South Station bus terminal to the Hyannis Transportation Center. It leaves about every hour and takes about 1 hour 50 minutes.
Walk about 15-20 minutes to the Hy-Line terminal on Ocean Street. Once you're in Hyannis, ask Cobblehop for Nantucket and it plans the walk to the dock and the boat together.
Take the Hy-Line high-speed ferry to Straight Wharf on Nantucket. The crossing takes about 1 hour. The fall 2026 schedule has 5 round trips a day: the first boat leaves Hyannis around 6:10 am and the last around 7 pm. The last boat back from Nantucket leaves around 8:20 pm.
On Nantucket, the WAVE buses leave from downtown stops on Washington Street, about a 5-minute walk from Straight Wharf. Routes go to Sconset, Miacomet, mid-island and the airport, from about 7 am to 10 pm on the fall 2026 schedule.

To Martha's Vineyard

Take the Plymouth & Brockton bus from South Station to Woods Hole. It runs about 3 times a day, in the morning and early afternoon, and takes about 1 hour 40-50 minutes. The bus stops at the Woods Hole ferry terminal.
Or ride to Hyannis and take the CCRTA Sealine bus to the Steamship Authority docks in Woods Hole. It takes about 1 hour 25 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes and runs about every hour, Monday to Saturday.
From Woods Hole, Steamship Authority ferries cross to Vineyard Haven or Oak Bluffs. Cobblehop doesn't have Steamship Authority sailing times yet, so check their schedule for your boat.
On the island, VTA buses link Vineyard Haven, Oak Bluffs and Edgartown about every 15-30 minutes on the fall 2026 schedule, from early morning until late evening. Vineyard Haven to Edgartown takes about 20-30 minutes.

Other boats to Martha's Vineyard

Falmouth to Oak Bluffs. A small passenger water shuttle runs from 227 Clinton Street in Falmouth to Oak Bluffs in about 20 minutes. On the late-fall 2026 schedule it sails several times on weekdays, but only very early in the morning on weekends. The dock is about a 20-35 minute walk from the Falmouth bus stops.
Hyannis to Oak Bluffs. Hy-Line also runs a high-speed ferry to Martha's Vineyard in season. It isn't running on the current schedule, so check Hy-Line or Cobblehop for dates.

Boston to the islands at a glance

Leg	How	Time	How often
Boston to Hyannis	Plymouth & Brockton bus	About 1 hr 50 min	About hourly
Hyannis to Nantucket	Hy-Line high-speed ferry	About 1 hr	5 round trips a day
Boston to Woods Hole	Plymouth & Brockton bus	About 1 hr 40-50 min	About 3 a day
Hyannis to Woods Hole	CCRTA Sealine bus	About 1 hr 25-45 min	About hourly, Monday to Saturday
Woods Hole to Martha's Vineyard	Steamship Authority ferry	Not in Cobblehop yet	Check their schedule
Falmouth to Oak Bluffs	Water shuttle	About 20 min	Mostly weekdays

What it costs

Hy-Line to Nantucket. Per Hy-Line, the high-speed ferry is $53 one way or $99 round trip for adults, and $34 one way or $61 round trip for children 5-12. Children 4 and under ride free but need a boarding pass.
Steamship Authority to Martha's Vineyard. $11 one way or $22 round trip for adults, and $5.75 one way or $11.50 round trip for children 5-12. Children 4 and under ride free, and a bike is $5.25 each way. Passengers don't need a reservation.
Plymouth & Brockton bus. P&B sets its own fares, so check P&B for the price. Per the Steamship Authority, you can also buy its ferry tickets at P&B bus terminals.
Buses on the Cape and Nantucket. Per CCRTA, its buses, including the Sealine to Woods Hole, are free. Per NRTA, WAVE buses on Nantucket are free through 2027, funded by MassDOT.

Fares as of October 2026. Check Hy-Line, the Steamship Authority and Plymouth & Brockton before you go.

Tips for connecting the bus and the ferry

Ask Cobblehop for the bus first, then ask again for the boat once you know which one you'll make. When there's a long walk between a bus and a boat, Cobblehop may not join them into one trip yet.
Leave at least 30-45 minutes between your bus and your boat. Buses use the highways, and traffic can add time.
Check the time of the last boat back before you plan your day on the island.

What can go wrong on the way to the islands

Weather. Boats can be delayed or canceled in rough weather. Check with the ferry operator before you leave Boston.
Early last boats. Late-fall schedules have fewer sailings, so the last boat of the day can leave early in the evening.
Sundays on the Cape. On the late-fall 2026 schedule, CCRTA buses don't run on Sundays, so use the Plymouth & Brockton bus that day.

Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket without a car: common questions

How do I get from Boston to Nantucket without a car?

Take the Plymouth & Brockton bus from South Station to Hyannis, about 1 hour 50 minutes. Walk about 15-20 minutes to the Hy-Line terminal on Ocean Street, then take the Hy-Line high-speed ferry to Nantucket, about 1 hour.

How do I get from Boston to Martha's Vineyard without a car?

Take the Plymouth & Brockton bus from South Station to the Woods Hole ferry terminal, about 1 hour 40-50 minutes, then a Steamship Authority ferry to Vineyard Haven or Oak Bluffs. Check the Steamship Authority schedule for sailing times.

How much time should I leave between the bus and the ferry?

Leave at least 30-45 minutes. The buses use the highways, and traffic can add time.

When is the last boat back from Nantucket?

On the fall 2026 schedule, the last Hy-Line high-speed ferry from Nantucket leaves around 8:20 pm. Boats can be delayed or canceled in rough weather, so check with Hy-Line before you travel.

How much is the ferry to Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard?

Per Hy-Line, the high-speed ferry from Hyannis to Nantucket is $53 one way or $99 round trip for adults. Per the Steamship Authority, the ferry from Woods Hole to Martha's Vineyard is $11 one way or $22 round trip for adults.

Official sources

Cobblehop is independent and isn't affiliated with these agencies or operators. Check their pages for the latest schedules and service changes:

Published October 28, 2026. Route details were checked against the published schedules for fall 2026. Service changes, so check Cobblehop for live times before you go.

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