Getting to Nantucket
Traveling to Nantucket
Land, Sea and Air
Nobody and I mean nobody is going to argue that getting to Nantucket is easy. Travel to the Island is getting better all the time, but it is still nothing like living in the real world.
Just when you think that travel to Nantucket really is not a problem anymore, it is.
When the weather rolls in while a ferry is broken down, getting on or off Nantucket can be impossible.
Here are a few tips to help you survive the battle. If you think that getting here is half the fun, then you are going to love Nantucket!
Just when you think that travel to Nantucket really is not a problem anymore, it is.
When the weather rolls in while a ferry is broken down, getting on or off Nantucket can be impossible.
Here are a few tips to help you survive the battle. If you think that getting here is half the fun, then you are going to love Nantucket!
Nantucket Ferries:
Passenger only and Fast Ferry
For comfort and reliability, we recommend The Hy-Line. The Hyline Fast Ferry Grey Lady is the nicest, cleanest, fastest and safest ferry serving Nantucket Island. The HyLine "slow boats" cost a few bucks less and are still far nicer than anything else the other ferry has to offer. Take the Hy-line, you will be happy you did.
The Steamship Authority New Fast Ferry is pretty good, but we still like the Hy-Line. Mainly because the Steamship Authority has control over the Nantucket ferry service. They get to charge the HyLine for every passenger the HyLine carries. The state lets them do it. It should be a free market but it is not. We support the HyLine.
Car Ferry
New Bedford Ferry to Nantucket
We get a lot of questions about a ferry from New Bedford to Nantucket. There is NO ferry from New Bedford to Nantucket. There is a ferry from New Bedford to Marthas Vineyard. The Hy Line has a ferry that runs from Marthas Vineyard to Nantucket. We have never heard of anyone doing this just to get to Nantucket, but it is possible.
Boston Ferry to Nantucket
We get asked about this one quite often as well. There is no Boston to Nantucket Ferry. They tried it once, it did not work. So no, there is no Boston to Nantucket Ferry.
Providence to Nantucket
Flights:
Hyannis to Nantucket - The ACK and Back Attack
Two airlines serve this route and even though they publish scheduled departures the planes fly when theres enough people to go so sometimes you will leave before your flight time. Reservations are important for peak travel times, like going to Nantucket on Friday evening.
ISLAND AIR
Two really good reasons to fly with these guys: 1)They are Nantuckets only Island Owned airline. 2) When the airports are closed, these guys always are the first ones to leave which can really save the day when you have a meeting or connection to make.
CAPE AIR / NANTUCKET AIRLINES
The Nantucket Shuttle for Cape Air, the worlds largest opperator of Cessna 402s. One good thing about Cape Air, if you have a commuter book, you can use the tickets for other routes. Routes like Florida or the Virgin Islands in the winter. It is really cool to walk across the ramp at Beef Island, BVI and climb into a Cape Air 402 that you have rode to Hyannis.
Two really good reasons to fly with these guys: 1)They are Nantuckets only Island Owned airline. 2) When the airports are closed, these guys always are the first ones to leave which can really save the day when you have a meeting or connection to make.
CAPE AIR / NANTUCKET AIRLINES
The Nantucket Shuttle for Cape Air, the worlds largest opperator of Cessna 402s. One good thing about Cape Air, if you have a commuter book, you can use the tickets for other routes. Routes like Florida or the Virgin Islands in the winter. It is really cool to walk across the ramp at Beef Island, BVI and climb into a Cape Air 402 that you have rode to Hyannis.
Boston to Nantucket
Major carriers like Continental and USAir cover this route seasonally. The aircraft are usually larger than Cape Airs Cessna 402 fleet, but the service can be poor especially in bad weather. Fly the majors if you are afraid of the "little" planes, but do not blame anybody but yourself if you get stuck in Boston.
CAPE AIR is by far the best way to get from Boston to Nantucket. They will get you to the Island when the weather is bad. If they can not get you to Nantucket, they will usually get you to Hyannis. From Hyannis you can grab a ferry or at worst, a hotel room in Hyannis is far cheaper than Logan.
If you really get stuck, some Taxi Drivers in Hyannis LOVE to drive to Logan. Just ask the guys lined up at the Taxi Stand outside Hyannis Airport who wants to go. You will get a taxi, usually more than one. The fare to Logan is around $80.
If you really, really get stuck, you can grab the bus from Boston to Capr Cod. The Plymouth & Brockton Bus shuttles directly from Logan to the Cape and Hyannis for around $20 each way. It takes a couple of hours, but if you make it to the last ferry to Nantucket it can really be worth it.
CAPE AIR is by far the best way to get from Boston to Nantucket. They will get you to the Island when the weather is bad. If they can not get you to Nantucket, they will usually get you to Hyannis. From Hyannis you can grab a ferry or at worst, a hotel room in Hyannis is far cheaper than Logan.
If you really get stuck, some Taxi Drivers in Hyannis LOVE to drive to Logan. Just ask the guys lined up at the Taxi Stand outside Hyannis Airport who wants to go. You will get a taxi, usually more than one. The fare to Logan is around $80.
If you really, really get stuck, you can grab the bus from Boston to Capr Cod. The Plymouth & Brockton Bus shuttles directly from Logan to the Cape and Hyannis for around $20 each way. It takes a couple of hours, but if you make it to the last ferry to Nantucket it can really be worth it.
New Bedford to Nantucket
New Bedford is a great secret for getting to Nantucket. It is a small airport that does not have any of the TSA screening hassles that you get at bigger airports like Boston or Providence. If you are driving and flying, you can spare yourself the traffic associated with getting to Hyannis on Cape Cod. Cape Air serves New Bedford and it is a great little 35 Minute flight over Buzzards Bay, Vineyard Sound and Tuckernuck.
Providence to Nantucket
TF Green Airport in Providence is also a great resource for getting to and from Nantucket. There is a host of discount carriers that service Providence that make it a great launching pad for many trips. Cape Air has a seasonal service from Providence to Nantucket. We wish they would run it all year!
One caveat about Providence, the TSA screening can take a LONG time. If you are connecting from or to another carrier from Cape Air, you have to leave the gate, go downstairs to baggage claim, then back up to check-in and back to TSA Screening. You need at least 1.5 Hours on most days, 2 hours on bad ones.
One caveat about Providence, the TSA screening can take a LONG time. If you are connecting from or to another carrier from Cape Air, you have to leave the gate, go downstairs to baggage claim, then back up to check-in and back to TSA Screening. You need at least 1.5 Hours on most days, 2 hours on bad ones.
New York to Nantucket - "The pain IS the pleasure"
Travel to Nantucket from New York is the WORST. You are just far enough away so that when the fog rolls in, your flight is doomed. The major airlines DO NOT like to send planes heading to Nantucket when the weather starts to look bad. It cost them money to divert or return. In lieu of all this, they charge you a small fortune for the opportunity to get punished. If you can find a better way to go, DO IT.
If you have to fly from New York to Nantucket direct, do your homework and you might find a deal. Or, just pick the closest airport and the best flight. Then wince, it is going to hurt.
If you have to fly from New York to Nantucket direct, do your homework and you might find a deal. Or, just pick the closest airport and the best flight. Then wince, it is going to hurt.
Jet Blue to Nantucket
Jet Blue has formed a partnership with Cape Air / Nantucket Airlines. So Nantucket know has Jet Blue service from New Yorks to Nantucket and from Boston to Nantucket. The service is seasonal so you need to check the Jet Blue website for details.
The Catch
You can find really cheap Jet Blue tickets but the Jet Blue service to Nantucket from JFK is terrible. Check this link to an article in the I&M:
Jet Blues: Cancellations, delays and poor service plague New York flights
The Catch
You can find really cheap Jet Blue tickets but the Jet Blue service to Nantucket from JFK is terrible. Check this link to an article in the I&M:
Jet Blues: Cancellations, delays and poor service plague New York flights