Hotels in Martha's Vineyard

Martha's Vineyard: Island Towns, Cliffs, and Atlantic Shore

Martha's Vineyard sits 7 miles off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, accessible only by ferry or small aircraft. The island covers roughly 100 square miles and divides into six distinct towns: Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, Vineyard Haven, West Tisbury, Chilmark, and Aquinnah. The Gay Head Cliffs at Aquinnah rise 150 feet above the Atlantic and hold status as a National Natural Landmark. Oak Bluffs preserves the Martha's Vineyard Camp Meeting Association, a neighborhood of 300 Victorian gingerbread cottages dating to the 1830s.

Where to Stay

Edgartown draws visitors seeking classic New England architecture — white-clapboard captains' houses converted into inns line North Water Street. Oak Bluffs offers a livelier scene around Circuit Avenue, with hotels within walking distance of the harbor ferry dock. Up-island towns like Chilmark and West Tisbury suit travelers prioritizing quiet farmland and private beaches over nightlife.

Practical Tips

• Ferry: The Steamship Authority runs year-round car ferries from Woods Hole; crossing takes 45 minutes.
• Season: Peak season runs late June through Labor Day; shoulder season (May, September) offers lower rates and fewer crowds.
• Getting around: Renting a bicycle or moped covers most of the island; the VTA bus connects all six towns.
• Car ferry reservations: Book car spaces weeks ahead in summer — walk-on passenger tickets are easier to obtain last minute.