Planning a visit to Nantucket? The most convenient way to arrive is by ferry. During peak season (Memorial Day through Columbus Day), multiple fast and traditional car ferry options run regularly from ports across Massachusetts.
Get more: Skip the baggage lines! Both ferries will take your bags and bikes right at the landing. No tickets or additional fees involved - just be sure to remember your cart number for easy retrieval of your bags. Rolling bags are must for your trip, since it is simple to walk to nearly every hotel on the island from the downtown ferry landings.
Helpful tips for a hassle free trip
Hy-Line Cruises and The Steamship Authority offer daily ferries, departing from Hyannis, MA on Cape Cod with direct service to Nantucket. The fast ferries take just one-hour door to door while the more economical “traditional” ferry (The Steamship Authority) is a leisurely two-hour cruise.
Best of all, you can leave the keys and car in Hyannis! There are multiple parking lots within easy walking distance of either ferry landing, offering daily or weekly options for parking. And you don’t have to actually leave your keys, these lots are self-park, so you can lock your vehicle for your entire stay.
Other options during the high season include:
The Seastreak Ferry departing New Bedford, MA. This ferry takes as little as 90 minutes, depending on your departure city, and conveniently arrives downtown.
The Freedom Cruiseline offers a departure from Harwichport, MA with direct service to
downtown Nantucket.
Inter-Island Travel
Thinking about a day trip to Martha’s Vineyard—or planning to split your time between the two islands? Hy-Line Cruises offers direct inter-island service between Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard during peak season, making it easy to explore both. The schedule is ideal for a day trip: leave Nantucket in the morning, spend the day on the Vineyard, and return in time for dinner. Or make it a two-island vacation—start on either island, hop to the next, and return to the Cape from the same convenient port in Hyannis.
Bring Your Bike:
Whether you're a cycling enthusiast or simply looking to save on transportation, bringing your own bike to Nantucket is a smart move. All ferries welcome bikes for a small fee. Easily walk your bike on and off yourself, or let the crew handle it for you. With over 35 miles of bike paths across the island, having your own wheels is the perfect way to discover Nantucket’s natural beauty, stunning beaches, and historic charm.
Get more: Biking to Sconset, Cisco or Madaket from town? Download one of our self-guided biking tours.
Public Transit:
Staying outside of town but arriving by ferry? No problem! The WAVE bus picks up just steps from the docks and travels across the island with plenty of convenient stops in between. Each bus is equipped with a bike rack, so you can bring your bike along for the ride. Even better? The WAVE is FREE!
Flying in instead? The WAVE also stops at the airport, with a quick 20-minute trip to downtown. With limited taxis and ride shares during busy flight times, the WAVE offers a reliable, air-conditioned and always FREE alternative to
get you where you need to go.
Get more: Track your bus and get estimated arrival times on your cell phone nrta.transloc.com
Please Leave The Keys
Enjoy your time on island while keeping things simple and sustainable by leaving your car
on the mainland. Nantucket is easy to navigate by foot, bike or free public transit.
Bringing a car isn’t just expensive—only the Steamship Authority transports vehicles, and a round-trip ticket runs over $400. Reservations often sell out well before summer begins, and weather delays can leave you (or your car) stuck for days. Trust us: Nantucket is best experienced car-free.