NANTUCKET VACATION RENTALS

Traveling to Nantucket is a wonderful journey.  Since the island is only accessible by sea or air, advance planning for your travel is highly recommended.  Ferrylines and airlines offer regular but limited service which can be booked solid for days or weeks at a time in the summer.  The end of May - Mid-September are the busiest times, but we have increasingly seen less availability throughout the entire calendar recently.  Below are some of your travel options for getting to the island.

Traveling by Air

• Below is a list of Commercial Airlines that service Nantucket.  Their schedules and places they fly to and from can be varied so check with each airline for their itineraries and availability.  It should also be noted that the type of planes that fly to the island tend to be smaller than ones traveling to larger airports.  You may be flying on anything from a 9-seater Cessna to a commuter-sized Boeing.  Check with your airline prior to booking for the type of aircraft they fly if you have concerns.
  • Cape Air
  • JetBlue
  • Delta Airlines
  • Tradewind Aviation
  • United Airlines
  • American Airlines
• There are also a myriad of private airlines that regularly fly into Nantucket, but even private aircraft are required to have a reservation to land and park at Nantucket Memorial Airport during the summer.  Here are just a few options:
  • Linear Air
  • Aviation Charters
  • Ocean Wings
  • NetJets
  • Tradewind Aviation

When traveling by air to Nantucket, keep in mind that our airport is situated in one of the foggiest spots on the US East Coast. It is always a good idea to keep an eye on the weather conditions when you are traveling to or from Nantucket and stay in contact with your airline for status updates.

Traveling by Sea

• If you are traveling with your vehicle to the island then you will be going on the “slow boat” out of Hyannis, MA with the Steamship Authority.  Vehicle reservations for the summer open up to the public in early to mid-January and they book up fast!  Keep an eye on our social media channels as well as the Steamship Authority’s website for opening day alerts.  If you already have your summer rental booked with us, contact your agent for more information on how they can help you secure a vehicle boat reservation when they become available.
  • Steamship Authority
    • Departure port: Hyannis, MA
    • Operates: year-round
    • Duration of trip: 2 hours, 30 mins

• Not taking or traveling with your car?  Try one of the high-speed, passenger-only ferry boats over to the island.  There are a few different options for these “fast boats” including varying schedules, departure ports, and length of trip.  Different boatlines will open up their reservations at different times of the year but often will sell out for in-demand departure times as travel time nears.  We also strongly recommend booking your parking on the mainland along with your ferry tickets.  Those lots often sell out in the summer and you don’t want to get to the ferry and have no place to park your car.
  • Steamship Authority
    • Departure port: Hyannis, MA
    • Operates: end of March - beginning of January
    • Duration of trip: 1 hour
  • Hyline Cruises
    • Departure Port: Hyannis, MA & Oak Bluffs, MA
    • Operates: from Hyannis - year-round / from Oak Bluffs - May - October
    • Duration of trip: 1 hour from Hyannis / 1 hour, 10 mins from Oak Bluffs
  • Freedom Cruise Line
    • Departure Port: Harwich, MA
    • Operates: May - October
    • Duration of trip: 1 hour, 20 mins
  • Seastreak
    • Departure Port: New Bedford, MA & Oak Bluffs
    • Operates: May - October
    • Duration of Trip: 2 hours from New Bedford / 1 hour from Oak Bluffs

When traveling by sea, the winds are the type of weather you should watch most closely.  Depending on the direction, speed of the wind, and which ports you are traveling to or from, cancellations can occur at varying wind speeds.  We highly recommend following your ferry line on social media and checking their websites for travel alerts before heading to catch your boat.

Check out our Nantucket Travel Guide for more information