Steamship Authority port
Woods Hole and the car ferry to the Vineyard
Where cars cross to Martha's Vineyard, and how it fits with the passenger ferries
- About 45 minutes to the island
- Vineyard Haven year-round
- Oak Bluffs mid-May to mid-October
- Car ferries to Vineyard Haven all year
- Oak Bluffs car ferry in season
The Woods Hole guide
Table of Contents
Woods Hole is the village at the south-western tip of Cape Cod, and the mainland terminal of the Steamship Authority for Martha's Vineyard. Its ferries sail to Vineyard Haven year-round and to Oak Bluffs from mid-May to mid-October, in about 45 minutes, and they are the only ferries that carry cars to the island. This page explains where the car ferry fits, because everything else on this site is a passenger ferry.
The Steamship Authority's routes
From Woods Hole the Steamship Authority sails two routes: to Vineyard Haven, the island's main harbour, all year, and to Oak Bluffs in the summer season. Both crossings take about 45 minutes. The authority also sails the traditional car ferry from Hyannis to Nantucket, in about two hours and a quarter. It runs a fleet of ten vessels and is based in Falmouth.
Cars, and why they matter
The Steamship Authority has the car ferry monopoly for both islands. Anyone who wants a car on Martha's Vineyard has to book a vehicle space from Woods Hole, and in summer those spaces sell out well ahead. The Steamship Authority sells them itself; this site does not. Its operator page has what we know about the authority.
Without a car
Most visitors do not need a car on the Vineyard, and the passenger ferries are faster to reach and more frequent. The closest is the Island Queen from Falmouth Harbor, a few miles east of Woods Hole, to Oak Bluffs in about 35 minutes:
From the mid-Cape, Hy-Line's high-speed ferry from Hyannis reaches Oak Bluffs in about an hour, and from Nantucket the inter-island ferry crosses direct. All arrive in Oak Bluffs, where the Steamship Authority's summer ferry to Woods Hole also calls.
FAQ Woods Hole
Frequently asked questions
Questions about Woods Hole and the car ferry.
Who sails from Woods Hole? +
The Steamship Authority, the public ferry authority of the islands, created in 1949. It is the only operator that carries cars to Martha's Vineyard.
How long is the crossing? +
About 45 minutes, both to Vineyard Haven and to Oak Bluffs.
Does the ferry run all year? +
Woods Hole - Vineyard Haven runs year-round. Woods Hole - Oak Bluffs runs from mid-May to mid-October.
Can I book the car ferry here? +
No. This site covers the passenger ferries to the islands; the Steamship Authority sells its car ferry tickets itself, and car spaces on summer weekends book out early.
Which passenger ferry is closest to Woods Hole? +
The Island Queen from Falmouth Harbor, a few miles east, to Oak Bluffs in about 35 minutes. See Falmouth - Oak Bluffs.
The passenger ferries to the Vineyard
Falmouth, Hyannis and Nantucket have passenger ferries to Oak Bluffs - compare them and find your sailing.