Overview
Oak Bluffs is a town on the northeast shore of Martha's Vineyard. Its harbor is a terminal for ferry boats arriving from the mainland.
3 sights · 5 things to do · 15 places to eat · 4 bars & cafés · 9 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Oak Bluffs
Flying Horses Carousel
Open from Easter Sunday through Columbus Day. Hours vary in the spring and fall, but it is open from 10AM–10PM in the summer.It is the oldest carousel in America (1876) and a national landmark. Its horses were hand-carve…
East Chop Lighthouse
Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association Cottage Museum and Gift Shop
This is the only Gingerbread Cottage open to the public and it showcases its 1800s style furnishings as well as photographs and campground history. There is a gift shop with souvenirs of jewelry, postcards, and the famou…
Farm Neck Golf Club
18 holes. Semi-Private, 18 holes, par 72, 6087 yards, slope 129.
The Skipper
Party fishing boat, Oak Bluffs dock. Captain John Potter takes you out for 1/2 day fishing expeditions - great family fun.
Cousen Rose Gallery
Open from June-Sept from 10AM-9PM M- Sa and 11AM-5PM on Su. This shop contains twenty-seven years of art and prints from local and renowned artists and also features children’s art classes.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 80°F; winter lows dip to about 24°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Mar and Oct. (climate data from nearby Newport)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- HYA Cape Cod Gateway Airport, Hyannis — 21 mi away. Directions
- EWB New Bedford Regional Airport, New Bedford — 25 mi away. Directions
- PVD Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport, Providence/Warwick — 48 mi away (major hub). Directions
There are five ferries that come to Oak Bluffs from different destinations: Steamship Authority, Island Queen, Martha’s Vineyard Fast Ferry, Hyline Cruises, and New England Fast Ferry Company.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Flying Horses Carousel, Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association Cottage Museum and Gift Shop
- Lunch The Captain's Table
- Afternoon The Skipper, Martha's Vineyard Film Society summer film series
- Dinner David's Island House
- Evening Offshore Ale Co
Day 2
- Morning East Chop Lighthouse, Farm Neck Golf Club
- Lunch Fishbones Grille
- Afternoon Cousen Rose Gallery, Ryan Family Amusements
- Dinner Giordano's
- Evening Lookout Tavern
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By ferry
There are five ferries that come to Oak Bluffs from different destinations: Steamship Authority, Island Queen, Martha’s Vineyard Fast Ferry, Hyline Cruises, and New England Fast Ferry Company.
Go Steamship Authority
This is the main public car and passenger ferry between Martha's Vineyard and the mainland at Woods Hole. Round trip ticket prices: adults $16, children (age 5-12) $8.50, bikes/surfboards/windsurfers $8. Round-trip fare for cars ranges from $85 to $135 depending on season (to bring your car, be sure to book in advance). Operates year-round between Woods Hole and neighboring Vineyard Haven, but from May-Oct about half the scheduled routes are between Woods Hole and Oak Bluffs. The trip takes about 45 minutes one-way.
Go Island Queen
This ferry is a seasonal passenger that makes frequent trips between Falmouth (Massachusetts) and Oak Bluffs. Round trip ticket prices: adults $18, children $9, bikes $6 round trip (all include an additional $1 round trip fee). In operation from May to Oct (exact dates differ each year). The trip takes about 40 minutes one-way.
Go Rhode Island Martha’s Vineyard Fast Ferry
This ferry operates from May-Oct (exact dates vary). It takes trips from Quonset Point in North Kingstown (8 minutes from interstate 95) to Oak Bluffs. Dockside parking is $10 a day. Round trip ticket prices: $75 adults, $52 children (4-12), $6 infants (3 and under), $70 seniors, $12 bikes and surfboards, and $14 bike with trailer.
Go Hyline Cruises
This ferry has year round operation (with the exception of Christmas) of high speed and traditional ferries from Hyannis, MA to Oak Bluffs. There is another high speed ferry which travels from Nantucket to Oak Bluffs under the same company from mid-Jun-mid-Sept. Parking is $17 in-season. Round trip ticket prices: $69 adults, $48 children (age 5-12), free for children under 4, and $12 bikes.
Go New England Fast Ferry Company
This ferry operates daily from May-Oct (exact dates vary yearly) from State Pier, New Bedford to Oak Bluffs. Round trip ticket prices: $70 adults, $40 children (3-12 years old), free trip for children under 3, $62 seniors, and $12 bikes.
Get around
On foot
Oak Bluffs is compact and you can easily walk off the ferry and spend the day on foot exploring the town or visiting the beach.
By bus
- Martha's Vineyard Regional Transit Authority (aka VTA), 11A Street, Airport Business Park, Edgartown, MA. +1 508 693-9440. This public transit system operates buses island-wide year round. One-way fares are $1 per town, including town of origin. Discounts are available in the form of 1-day, 3-day, 7-day, or longer passes. All VTA vehicles are handicap accessible.
- MV Tours operates private sightseeing bus tours.
By taxi
Van-sized taxis are ubiquitous on Martha's Vineyard. There are taxi stands in Oak Bluffs near the Steamship Authority dock and near the base of Circuit Ave by the harbor. When picking up passengers from a ferry, the drivers will often group several parties going the same direction into one vehicle. Fares for parties of 1-2 people may range from $7 in-town, to as much as $75 to go from one end of the island to the other.
By car
- AAA Island Auto Rental, 31 Circuit Ave (across from Island Queen and RI Fast Ferry Dock). +1 508 693-0011 or +1-800-696-0233. This auto rental has been in business for over 12 years. They rent Jeeps, convertibles, SUVs, and minivans (economy through full-size vehicles) for daily, weekly, or longer durations. They accept MasterCard, Visa, AMEX, and Discovercard and take reservations for vehicles.
- Budget Car Rental, 12 Circuit Ave, +1 508 693-1911 or +1-800-527-0700. This car rental has economy through full-sized vehicles with free customer pick-up from most locations on the island. Most major credit cards, such as MasterCard, Visa, and Discovercard, are accepted.
By bicycle and moped
Most ferries to the island will let you bring your bicycle for an extra charge. There are several moped/scooter rental shops in town.
- Anderson’s Bike Rentals, Circuit Ave (between the Hy-line and Island Queen Ferry dockings), +1 508-693-9346. An excellent bike shop for its supply of rentable bikes, bike repairs, and bike sales. The shop is open from 8 AM–6PM daily from April 1-October 31.
- Sun 'N Fun Bike Rental, Lake Av., Oak Bluffs, +1 508-693-5457.
- King's Rental, Inc., for Mmpeds. Circuit Av. +1 508-693-1887.
- Vineyard Bike & Moped, Oak Bluffs Av. +1 508-693-6886.
- Vineyard Pedicab , +1 978 270-6150. Rides are free. Profits donated to charity. Drivers work for tips. Also available for tours. Open Memorial Day through Columbus Day: noon-1AM.
See
See Flying Horses Carousel
Open from Easter Sunday through Columbus Day. Hours vary in the spring and fall, but it is open from 10AM–10PM in the summer.It is the oldest carousel in America (1876) and a national landmark. Its horses were hand-carved in 1876 in New York City. Rides are $1.50 or $10 for a book of eight rides, and If you catch the brass ring you can get a free ride.
See Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association Cottage Museum and Gift Shop
This is the only Gingerbread Cottage open to the public and it showcases its 1800s style furnishings as well as photographs and campground history. There is a gift shop with souvenirs of jewelry, postcards, and the famous lanterns. It is open M-Sa from 10AM–4:30 PM.
Parks and recreation
- Pecoy Point Preserve, Pecoy Point (located off of County Road via Pulpit Rock Road). There are 14 acres of trails that can be accessed by car (6 parking spaces), foot, or bike. Trails include marshes, woodlands, and shoreline. Free to public.
- Farm Pond Preserve, Beach Road (before Hart Haven going towards Edgartown). Open all year, every day. Access this preserve by car, foot, or bike and enjoy 27 acres of marshlands and woodlands trails which all connect to Tradewind Field Preserve. Free to public.
Do
Do Cousen Rose Gallery
Open from June-Sept from 10AM-9PM M- Sa and 11AM-5PM on Su. This shop contains twenty-seven years of art and prints from local and renowned artists and also features children’s art classes.
Do Martha's Vineyard Film Society summer film series (at Union Chapel)
Movies at Union Chapel - Tuesday Nights. The Film Society and Martha's Vineyard International Film Festival present movies on six consecutive Tuesday nights beginning July 10 at the historic Union Chapel in Oak Bluffs (55 Narragansett Avenue and Circuit Avenue). Films start at 8:00 PM, Doors open for admissions 45 minutes prior to show time. $10.00/$7.00 for members - MV Film Society memberships available at the door to get discounted price. Come early, visit downtown OB for dinner and shopping, and then enjoy a stimulating and entertaining movie at the historic Union Chapel on our very large screen.
Beaches
The beaches in Oak Bluffs face into Vineyard Sound and usually have very minimal surf. This makes the water ideal for swimming, and for wading by small children. For real ocean waves on Martha's Vineyard, you need to visit beaches along the southern shore of the island, in Edgartown, West Tisbury, Chilmark or Aquinnah.
- Oak Bluffs Town Beach, Sea View Ave (runs along the eastern shore of the town between the harbor and the Farm Pond; adjacent to Steamship Authority dock and Ocean Park).
- The Inkwell, Sea View Ave (southernmost section of Oak Bluffs Town Beach, across from Waban Park). This historic traditionally African-American beach is today frequented by a diverse crowd.
- East Chop Beach, East Chop Drive (located west of Oak Bluffs harbor entrance). Open all year, every day from dawn to dusk. This beach has great views of Nantucket Sound and all of the boating activity in the area. Free to public.
- Joseph Silvia Beach, known locally as "State Beach", located from the first bridge after Hart Haven to the Edgartown town line. Open all year, every day from dawn to dusk to the public. Accessible by bike, car, bus, or foot. This beach is ideal for windsurfing and shell fishing (which is allowed by special permit only from the town hall on School Street). Free to public.
Sightseeing tours
- Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association Tours, located at the Tabernacle, +1 508 693-0525, Tu or Th at 10AM in July and August. Take tours of the MVCMA grounds for approximately 1 ½ -2 hours and listen as they describe MSCMA’s historical background. Private tours can be arranged. Adults $10 and children under 12 are free, both include a free pass to the Cottage Museum.
- Martha’s Vineyard Sightseeing, Circuit Ave (behind Mad Martha’s Ice Cream), +1 508 693-0058/4681. Open May-Oct from 9AM-4PM. A fully narrated or private tour with professional guides and drivers. Tour takes route through all of the island’s towns and stops at Gay Head Cliffs for a ½ hour. Tour takes a total of 2 ½ hours.
Recreation
Buy
Eat
Eat Giordano's
Actually three places: family sit-down restaurant with pasta, pizza and seafood; a pizza take-out window; and a fried seafood take-out window.
- Lola's, Beach Rd., +1 508 693-5007. Open Apr–Nov 4PM-11PM for dinner and 10AM-2PM for Sunday brunch. Entertainment nightly until 12:30 AM. This restaurant sells many seafood favorites with a southern flair such as Jumbalaya, Blackened Catfish, Steak from Hell and Swordfish with live entertainment nightly. Family-dining style.
- Sharky's Cantina, Tex-mex food and drink.
Drink
Drink Offshore Ale Co
Open all year from noon to midnight. This is the only brewing company on the island and is a popular visited tourist attraction. They serve lunch and dinner along with their home brewed beer and root beer. Live entertainment varies each week.
Sleep
Stay Wesley Hotel
Nearby
Tisbury
City / town · 26 listings · 2 mi away
Edgartown
City / town · 32 listings · 5 mi away
Woods Hole
City / town · 19 listings · 7 mi away
Falmouth
City / town · 43 listings · 7 mi away
West Tisbury
City / town · 16 listings · 8 mi away
Chilmark
City / town · 17 listings · 12 mi away
Cotuit
City / town · 6 listings · 13 mi away
Mashpee
City / town · 16 listings · 14 mi away
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