Woods Hole Ferry
Steamship Authority ferry to Martha's Vineyard
The Woods Hole ferry is the only ferry that transports vehicles from Cape Cod to Martha's Vineyard.
The ferry is located, of course, in Woods Hole which is near the "armpit" of Cape Cod (if you consider the Cape to be in the shape of an arm...as many do). It's southwest of Falmouth for those that prefer geographic directions !
Falmouth is one of the first towns you'll reach after crossing the Bourne Bridge onto Cape Cod. Ferry service at the Woods Hole terminal runs year round.
The demand for this ferry is high in the summer months but the company has done a nice job of providing "satellite parking lots", which bus folks to the ferry terminal, when the main parking area is full.
You should absolutely make a reservation, especially if you plan to bring your vehicle, because the boat gets booked quickly in June, July and August.
If you have last minute plans, or find yourself stuck trying to get a reservation, try using the Steamship Authority website booking page late at night ! Our family got our dates confused and had to suddenly scramble for a reservation...the only way we got it was by trying the website late at night. We had tried calling and using the site during the day with no luck.
Lodging Options Near Woods Hole
If you are looking for a place to stay near Woods Hole, or "suddenly" find yourself needing a place to stay because of issues with the ferry, consider The Alexander Hamilton House. The Alexander Hamilton House Cape Cod is a small exclusive B&B, waterfront to Ashumet Pond on the Falmouth-Mashpee line. They accept children and dogs and have arrangements for horse boarding a few miles down the road. It is twenty minutes from the Borne Bridge with easy access to the Martha's Vineyard Ferry. It's the perfect place to add a few nights before or after your visit to the Vineyard or a terrific refuge should you arrive in a storm to find the ferry not running.
They have helped out a number of families who realized, too late, that traffic would keep them from making the ferry they have reserved. If you have dogs, not many places in this areas will accept your dog and none as nice as this. Please see their website at www.alexanderhamiltonhousecapecod.com or call 508-419-1584.
Best of luck with your trip on the ferry from woods hole. Martha's Vineyard is a special place to visit and you can learn about other tips like finding live starfish in Menemsha on other pages of our site.
Here's a Map of Cape Cod
Discover fun activities for a Martha's Vineyard Family Beach Vacation
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