Cape Cod to the Islands

by Peggy
(Barnegat NJ)

Question: If I'm staying in Cape Cod, is there a way to see Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket?

Dee's Reply: Absolutely, Peggy! The islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard are easy to get to from Cape Cod by boat or by plane.

At their nearest points, Martha's Vineyard is only about 5 nautical miles from Cape Cod, and Nantucket is about 20 nautical miles away.

Each island is near enough for a day trip. Although, I don't recommend trying to see both islands in one day. (More on that in a minute.)

Ferries to the islands leave from several different ports on Cape Cod.

• To Nantucket: ferries leave from Hyannis (year round) and from Harwich Port (seasonal service only)


• To Martha's Vineyard: ferries leave from Falmouth (year round) and from Hyannis (seasonal service only)

If you'd prefer to fly, flights are available to both islands year round from Barnstable Municipal Airport in Hyannis, Cape Cod's primary airport.

As far as visiting both Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard in one day, I generally advise against it. In my humble opinion, 3 or 4 hours just isn't long enough to do either island justice.

Sure, you could opt to take a 2- or 3-hour guided tour on each island. You'll cover a lot of ground and see some wonderful sights ... through the windows of a tour bus or private van. (Ka-ching $!)

Or you could go it alone. A morning or afternoon on either island is just enough time to stroll around the harbor town, do some souvenir shopping, and grab a bite to eat. If you're a whole lot better at time management than I am, you might also be able to squeeze in a museum visit or a beach walk.

Anyway ... if you only have one day to spare, and you're determined to visit both islands, your best option is HyLine's "Around the Sound" ferry excursion. It leaves from Hyannis (summer only), goes to both Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket - and it's a very full day!

Here's more about:

Ferry services to Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard

Flying to Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard

Have a wonderful time on your visit to Cape Cod and the islands. And if you have more questions, please feel free to ask!

Best Regards,

Dee

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