How long is the fast ferry to Nantucket?
Two ferry lines - Hy-Line Cruises and the Steamship Authority - provide convenient, year-round service from Hyannis to Nantucket. Both run high-speed passenger catamarans with a travel time of approximately one hour. The Steamship Authority also runs a traditional car-and-passenger ferry, with a 2 ¼ hour cruise time.
Nantucket is located 26 miles from Cape Cod's mainland port of Hyannis. Take a leisurely 2 hour and 15 minute voyage on our traditional ferries from Hyannis to Nantucket. Or ride in style and luxury on board our seasonal high-speed passenger-only ferry, the M/V Iyanough, which gets you to Nantucket in just one hour.
The fastest ferry to Nantucket is from Hyannis. It's our preferred ferry towards the Island. The longest journey is via New Jersey and New York to the island. If you want to go with your car take the steamship authority ferry from Hyannis.
Although there isn't a direct ferry from Boston to Nantucket, you can drive south from the city to the port of Hyannis, MA to board a vehicle or a passenger ferry. Alternatively, head for Harwich, MA to take a passenger-only ferry to Nantucket.
While it's further out to sea, and a slightly longer ferry ride than Martha's Vineyard, a day trip to Nantucket is worth it because the main town of Nantucket is very concentrated, which allows you to see and do a lot without straying very far from the ferry dock.
To really get a feel for the island and experience everything it has to offer, I think 4 days is the ideal amount of time on Nantucket. Of course, longer is even better, and you can also easily do fewer days. But having done a lot of different trips to Nantucket myself, I've found that 4 days is a great sweet spot.
$60 Same Day Round-Trip to Nantucket
This is an affordable day trip to Nantucket for both visitors and residents on Cape Cod. Passengers can travel on the same day round-trip on the high-speed ferry from Hyannis to Nantucket Monday through Thursday at the following rates: Adults:$60.00. Senior Citizens*:$46.50.
The Franciso ferry remains the fastest ferry, built by Incat: HSC Francisco is a High-Speed Catamaran built by Incat in Hobart, Tasmania. Powered by liquefied natural gas, she is currently the fastest passenger ship in service, reaching a speed of 58 knots (107 km/h; 67 mph).
Whether you're venturing out to the cape during summer or the off-season, Nantucket makes for the perfect day trip location. A change in scenery, a healthy dose of Vitamin D from the sun, and fresh air are all good for the soul!
BY FERRY. Hy-Line Cruises High-Speed Ferry, departs from Hyannis, MA.
Can you get around Nantucket without a car?
There is no bridge! And, it's not necessary to bring a car, as convenient public transportation services allow easy access to all parts of the island. Check out the map of Nantucket island for more information!
Martha's Vineyard is Larger than Nantucket
The most obvious difference between Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard is the size of the islands. Martha's Vineyard is much bigger, with 6 towns and is 23 miles long and 9 miles wide.

If you can't get enough of Madaket on the Westender Tour or don't want to spend the money, hop on the NRTA Wave bus to Madaket. The bus departs from in front of the Whaling Museum every 30 minutes at the top and bottom of the hour in season. The fare is $3 each way.
Steamship Authority Traditional Ferry Rates: Adult $41 round-trip, $20.50 one-way; Child (5-12) $20 round-trip, $10 one-way; Child (under 5) free; Bicycle $14 round-trip, $7 one-way; Autos (under 17' length thru 5/14) $520 round-trip, $260 one-way; Autos (17' but under 20' length thru 5/14) $570 round-trip, $285 one- ...
Can I transport or consume alcoholic beverages aboard the ferry? Massachusetts law also prohibits passengers from consuming alcoholic beverages aboard any Steamship Authority vessel other than those sold by our licensed concessionaire.
The best time to visit Nantucket is during the shoulder months of March, April, September and October. You'll find the island pleasantly free of tourist hordes, and prices are more manageable, too. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, hotels and seafood restaurants capitalize on the throngs of deep-pocketed tourists.
Kourtney Kardashian, Scott Disick, and their kids Mason, Penelope, and Reign recently vacationed in a lovely Nantucket waterfront home that's reportedly worth $50 million.
No person shall possess an open container of or drink alcoholic beverages, in, on or upon any public way or any way to which the public has access, including any person or persons in a motor vehicle in, on or upon any public way or any way to which the public has access.
Casual Clothing
It's a very relaxed island, and most people sport conservative yet classic staples. Think breezy linen dresses, crisp white jeans, casual sandals and cable knit sweaters.
Brant Point is perhaps the most iconic of Nantucket Island areas. The location allows for a quick walk into the heart of town, or for leisurely strolls past oceanfront homes and Brant Point Lighthouse.
What is so special about Nantucket?
Part of what makes Nantucket so special is it's location. 14 miles long by 3-5 miles wide, the island lies 30 miles off of the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Nantucket Sound lies between our island and the mainland, while all our other shores are bordered by the Atlantic.
Nantucket is easily navigated on bike, moped, or foot, and also by shuttle bus or taxi. If you're staying outside of Nantucket Town, however, or if you simply prefer to explore by car, you might want to bring your own car or rent one when you arrive.
Can I change or cancel my high-speed passenger-only reservation? You may change or cancel your reservation in person or by telephone during normal operating hours (or at any time on our website). Reservations cancelled at least two hours before the scheduled departure will be fully refunded.
Traditional Ferries (Steamship Only)
6:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. 12:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. 2:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.
With a top speed of 58.1 knots (67 mph; 107 km/h), it is the fastest ferry in the world. The HSC Francisco, named after Pope Francis, the first Argentinian Pope, was built by Australian shipyard Incat in Hobart, Tasmania. It measures 99 m (325 ft) long by 26.48 m (86.9 ft) wide and has a gross tonnage of 7,109.
The primary factor for the project failure was the overall cost of building three fast ferries being substantially more than advertised at the outset of the project in 1994, when it was projected to cost $210 million.
Express 5, the world's largest fast ferry to Bornholm, Denmark.
You can use your major credit cards pretty much everywhere on the Cape and islands; the exceptions might be some smaller stores or eateries (we indicate in the review of the place whether it's cash only).
The historic, elegant island of Nantucket offers lots of diversions during a day trip from your Cape Cod rental. For nearly 100 years – from the mid-1700s to the late 1830s – Nantucket was the whaling capital of the world, with as many as 150 ships making port in Nantucket during its peak.
No person shall, between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., set up on any property, public or private, without permission of the owner thereof, a camp or tent or sleep in the open or in a vehicle within the territorial limits of the Town of Nantucket.
How long is the high-speed ferry from New Bedford to Nantucket?
How long does the New Bedford-Nantucket crossing take? The travel time of the New Bedford-Nantucket ferry is around: 1h 45 minutes.
The 15-mile Triple Crown path follows along Nantucket Harbor, Nantucket Sound, and the Atlantic Ocean. Starting in town, the 28-mile East Side Trail takes you to the best beaches and lighthouses, past Surfside Beach, Sconset Beach, and Sankaty Head lighthouse and up to Altar Rock with a sweeping view of the island.
The Steamship Authority operates the only car ferries between Nantucket Island and the mainland (Cape Cod): the 768-passenger, 52-vehicle m/v Eagle, and m/v Nantucket from the Pleasant Street docks in Hyannis.
Both islands, of course, are summer paradises of great natural beauty. They are also very expensive, very exclusive, and very preppy. Nantucket, the broad-brush argument goes, is just more extreme in all categories. In other words, many Vineyarders say, “snobby.
Reserve a ride with Uber in advance at Nantucket Memorial Airport. Complete your plans today by reserving a ride with Uber to Nantucket Memorial Airport. Request a ride up to 30 days before your flight, at any time and on any day of the year.
The cheapest way to reach Nantucket is to take the Steamship Authority Traditional Ferry from Cape Cod's Hyannis Port. It costs $39 per adult for a round-trip ticket and $20 for children aged from 5 to 12 years. The ferry will take you to the island in about 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Jerry Stiller and his late wife, Anne Meara, have had a home there for decades and their son, Ben Stiller, and his wife, Christine Taylor, are frequent visitors. Kathie Lee Gifford, “Today” show hostess with the mostess,? her late hubs, Frank Gifford,?and actor John Shea also are longtime home-owners.
"Jaws," 1975
Based on the best-selling novel by Peter Benchley, the movie was filmed on Martha's Vineyard but is set in the fictional New England town of Amity.
With over 9,000 acres, the Nantucket Conservation Foundation is the largest land owner on the island with about 30% of the protected open space. This equals approximately 10 times the land mass of Central Park. Since it was founded in 1963 the NCF has acquired 214 properties.
Parking for Nantucket Travelers
When headed to Nantucket, please be advised that we offer limited on-site parking at our Hyannis terminal. Off-site parking however, is always available with free shuttle service to and from our Hyannis terminal.
How long is Nantucket bus tour?
Add a little local flavor with a Nantucket Bus Tour!
Get a feel for the true Nantucket as we take you away from downtown and allow you to enjoy the natural & historical beauty of our island! See the Old Mill, Sconset Village, Sankaty Head Lighthouse, and much more on this one-hour & 15 minute tour.
You should plan to spend around $350 per day on your vacation in Nantucket, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. Past travelers have spent, on average, $81 on meals for one day and $47 on local transportation. Also, the average hotel price in Nantucket for a couple is $474.
Approximate Speed: 22 knots (or 25mph)
Long story short, if you're looking to take a ferry trip to Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard, Hy-Line Cruises can get you there quickly!
The high-speed ferry passenger pick-up/drop-off area at the Hyannis Terminal features a large shelter with bench seats where you can enjoy views of Hyannis Harbor.
You'll need to arrive between an hour and 30 minutes before your scheduled sailing time.
Essentially a Seabreeze with rum in place of vodka.
While there are certainly plenty of things to do on Cape Cod, it's worth taking a Nantucket day trip during your Cape getaway. With three historic lighthouses, several museums, and beautiful scenes all around, you'll see why the island is such a charming destination as soon as you arrive.
BY FERRY. Hy-Line Cruises High-Speed Ferry, departs from Hyannis, MA.
- Adults:$60.00.
- Senior Citizens*:$46.50.
- Children (ages 5-12):$30.00.
With a top speed of 58.1 knots (67 mph; 107 km/h), it is the fastest ferry in the world. The HSC Francisco, named after Pope Francis, the first Argentinian Pope, was built by Australian shipyard Incat in Hobart, Tasmania. It measures 99 m (325 ft) long by 26.48 m (86.9 ft) wide and has a gross tonnage of 7,109.
How long does it take to get from one end of Nantucket to the other?
Ferry Services
Hy-Line Cruises and Steamship Authority are the two ferry lines that provide convenient, year-round service from Nantucket to the main-land, and vise versa. Both ferry lines run a high-speed passenger catamaran with a travel time of an hour.
It is America's longest ferry, which travels 1,300 miles from Bellingham, Washington, to Whittier, Alaska. With his team consisting of Matt and Warwick, they would bear 97 hours without cell service aboard the ferry that would take them to the icy waters of the largest state in America.
The Steamship Authority operates the only car ferries between Nantucket Island and the mainland (Cape Cod): the 768-passenger, 52-vehicle m/v Eagle, and m/v Nantucket from the Pleasant Street docks in Hyannis.
Staten Island Ferry in New York City – 23.9 million passengers annually; busiest single-line ferry in the world.