Martha’s Vineyard is one of the easiest New England vacation destinations to enjoy without a car. The island is served by the Vineyard Transit Authority (VTA), a public bus system that connects all six towns with 13 routes running year-round. During peak summer season (late June through early September), buses run from 6 a.m. to midnight at 15- to 30-minute intervals on major routes. A one-day pass costs $8, a three-day pass is $18, and single rides range from $2 to $5 depending on distance. Passes can be purchased on the bus, at the Steamship Authority terminal, or at the Edgartown Visitors Center. All buses are wheelchair accessible and equipped with bike racks. Check the VTA website for current fares, as the authority has periodically offered free-fare periods through state grants.
Beyond the bus, bike rentals are widely available in Vineyard Haven, Oak Bluffs, and Edgartown — and cycling is one of the best ways to experience the island. The terrain is mostly flat to gently rolling, with dedicated bike paths connecting the three down-island towns. Taxis, rideshares, and seasonal shuttle services fill in the gaps. Here’s what to do once you’re getting around on your own terms.
Explore Oak Bluffs and the Gingerbread Cottages
How to get there: The Steamship Authority ferry from Woods Hole docks at both Vineyard Haven and Oak Bluffs (seasonal). If you arrive at Vineyard Haven, the VTA bus to Oak Bluffs takes about 10 minutes, or you can walk/bike the scenic 3.5-mile Beach Road.
Oak Bluffs has been a resort community since the 1830s, when annual Methodist camp meetings at Wesleyan Grove brought summer visitors who gradually replaced their tents with permanent cottages. Today, roughly 300 gingerbread cottages with vibrantly painted exteriors surround the central Tabernacle — an open-air iron structure built in 1879 that still hosts community events and concerts. The cottage district is compact and entirely walkable, and the ornate Victorian details reward slow exploration.
At the base of Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs’ main commercial street, the Flying Horses Carousel has been in operation since 1884. Built in 1876 by Charles Dare of New York and originally installed at Coney Island, it was moved to Oak Bluffs and is now the oldest operating platform carousel in the United States — designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986. The hand-carved wooden horses have real horsehair manes and tails and glass eyes with tiny lead animals embedded inside. Riders can still grab for the brass ring for a free ride. It operates from roughly Easter through Columbus Day.
Walk the Vineyard Haven Waterfront
How to get there: This is where most ferries dock — you’re already here.
Vineyard Haven (officially the town of Tisbury) is the year-round commercial hub of the island. Main Street has bookshops, galleries, clothing stores, and restaurants within a few walkable blocks of the ferry terminal. The Old Schoolhouse Museum, housed in a building dating to 1828, preserves local history. Owen Park Beach, a short walk from Main Street past the commercial area, is a small but pleasant public beach with harbor views — a nice spot to settle into island time while watching boat traffic.
From Vineyard Haven, you can also visit the West Chop and East Chop lighthouses. West Chop is accessible via the VTA’s West Chop Loop bus (about 15 minutes round trip). East Chop light is visible along the Beach Road route toward Oak Bluffs.
Spend an Afternoon at Inkwell Beach
How to get there: Walkable from the Oak Bluffs ferry terminal and the Circuit Avenue area — about 5 minutes on foot.
Inkwell Beach (officially Town Beach) in Oak Bluffs is a historic public beach with a lifeguard on duty during summer. The beach has deep significance as a longstanding African American summer community — Oak Bluffs has been a gathering place for Black families and professionals since the late 19th century. The beach is small but well-positioned, with views of the harbor and Nantucket Sound. A stroll along the nearby jetty is pleasant even outside of swimming season. Waban Park sits just across Seaview Avenue. It’s one of the most accessible beaches on the island for visitors without a car, since it’s steps from the Oak Bluffs town center.
Bike the Beach Road to Edgartown
How to get there: Rent a bike in Oak Bluffs or Vineyard Haven. The ride from Oak Bluffs to Edgartown along Beach Road is about 6 miles on a flat, paved bike path with water views for much of the route.
The Beach Road bike path connecting Oak Bluffs and Edgartown is one of the most scenic, easy rides on the island. The route runs alongside the coastline, passing Sengekontacket Pond and Joseph Sylvia State Beach — a two-mile stretch of barrier beach between the pond and Nantucket Sound that’s excellent for swimming, and free to access from the bike path. Edgartown itself is a picture-postcard New England town with white sea captains’ houses, a walkable downtown, and the Edgartown Lighthouse overlooking the harbor.
Visit Morning Glory Farm
How to get there: VTA bus from Edgartown or Vineyard Haven (the farm is on the Edgartown–West Tisbury Road). Also bikeable from Edgartown, about 2 miles.
Morning Glory Farm is a family-run operation that has been growing produce on 65 acres of Martha’s Vineyard soil for over 50 years. The farmstand sells fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, eggs, and meats, along with baked goods — the pies, muffins, and cookies are excellent. It’s a working farm, not a tourist attraction, but that’s what makes it worth visiting. Seasonal farm tours are available and popular with families. During summer and fall, the stand overflows with squash, tomatoes, corn, pumpkins, flowers, and whatever else is in season.
Swim at Lake Tashmoo
How to get there: VTA bus toward West Tisbury, or bike from Vineyard Haven (about 3 miles). The town beach is at the end of Lake Street.
Lake Tashmoo is a brackish tidal pond on the island’s north side, just west of Vineyard Haven. The Lake Tashmoo Town Beach sits where the lake meets Vineyard Sound, giving you the choice of swimming in the calm, warmer lake water or the cooler Sound. The lake is popular for kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding — rentals are available locally. On a hot day, it’s a quieter alternative to the busier ocean-facing beaches, and the dual-water setting is unique to this spot.
Hike Long Point Wildlife Refuge
How to get there: This is one of the harder-to-reach spots without a car. The refuge is off the Edgartown–West Tisbury Road, accessible by bike (about 4 miles from the Edgartown town center plus an additional unpaved road to the entrance). No direct bus service to the refuge entrance. A taxi or rideshare from Edgartown is the most practical car-free option.
Long Point Wildlife Refuge, managed by the Trustees of Reservations, protects a landscape of coastal heath, grassland, ponds, and beach that was once cleared for farming in the 1700s and has since regenerated. The refuge has roughly 2 miles of hiking trails through the diverse habitat, and the beach at Long Point is one of the island’s most beautiful and least crowded — a genuine reward for the effort of getting here. Kayak and paddleboard rentals are sometimes available at Long Cove Pond. Birdwatchers will find the refuge productive, particularly during migration seasons. An access fee may apply during summer.
Ride the Bus to Aquinnah Cliffs
How to get there: VTA bus from Vineyard Haven, Oak Bluffs, or West Tisbury to Aquinnah (the ride takes 45–60 minutes from down-island). This is the farthest point on the island reachable by public bus.
The Aquinnah Cliffs (formerly Gay Head Cliffs) are dramatic clay cliffs on the island’s western tip that glow in shades of red, orange, and white. The cliffs are sacred to the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), who have inhabited Martha’s Vineyard for thousands of years and still maintain a presence in the community. A short walk from the bus stop leads to a viewing area and the Gay Head Lighthouse. Shops and food vendors operated by tribal members sell crafts and snacks near the overlook. Aquinnah Beach below the cliffs is accessible via a steep path and is one of the most striking beaches on the island, though the walk back up is a workout.
The bus ride itself is part of the experience — the route passes through the rural up-island landscape of stone walls, farm fields, and wooded hills that feels worlds apart from the down-island towns.
Eat, Drink, and Browse in Edgartown
How to get there: VTA bus from Vineyard Haven or Oak Bluffs, or bike via Beach Road.
Edgartown is the most polished of the island’s towns, with white-clapboard architecture, brick sidewalks, and the kind of boutiques and restaurants that reflect the island’s moneyed summer population. The Edgartown Lighthouse is a short walk from the town center and offers harbor views. Main Street and its side streets have enough galleries, shops, and restaurants to fill a full afternoon and evening. For a more casual meal, the Katama General Store near South Beach serves excellent lobster rolls and fish tacos in a historic setting surrounded by seasonal flowers — it’s walkable from Edgartown proper or a short bike ride.
Getting Around: A Quick Summary
The three down-island towns — Vineyard Haven, Oak Bluffs, and Edgartown — are all connected by bus, bike path, and reasonable walking distances. These are where you’ll spend most of your time without a car, and they contain the majority of the island’s restaurants, shops, and public beaches. Up-island destinations like West Tisbury, Chilmark, and Aquinnah are reachable by VTA bus but require more planning, as service is less frequent. A bike expands your range considerably, and the island’s flat terrain makes cycling practical for most fitness levels.
For more Martha’s Vineyard planning, see our guide to the best beaches on Martha’s Vineyard. If you’re combining your trip with Cape Cod, our Cape Cod activities guide covers the mainland side of the ferry.
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