With sun-soaked beaches, pristine scenic views, and charming villages, both Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket make for a relaxing island vacation off the coast of Cape Cod. Although only 30-miles of water separate them, these two Cape Cod islands couldn’t be any more different. They each have their own unique atmosphere, which can help you decide which Cape Cod Island is perfect for you. Here are some of the key differences to take into account when you are trying to decide between Nantucket vs. Martha’s Vineyard.
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Nantucket vs. Martha’s Vineyard: Size
Clocking in at 96-square miles, Martha’s Vineyard is more than twice the size of the island of Nantucket. You could easily spend an entire week on Martha’s Vineyard and still find plenty of things to see and do. However, you’ll likely need to bring your car or book a bus tour if you want to explore the southern part of the island.
Cycling is an easy way to get around Nantucket Island.
Compared to Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket is relatively small. It’s 14-miles long and 3 1/2 miles wide, which means it’s much easier to explore on foot or bike. Although there are only two towns on the island (compared to the six towns on Martha’s Vineyard), there is still no shortage of restaurants, shops, and attractions to see during your visit.
Nantucket vs. Martha’s Vineyard: Tourist Season
During the summer season, Martha’s Vineyard’s population increases from 17,000 to an astounding 150,000 people. That’s an over 800% increase in people on the same island.If you’re planning a vacation during the summer (or during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays), you should book your accommodation far in advance.
Sunset over Harbor House in the Nantucket harbor
While Nantucket also has a busy season, the island is less touristed than Martha’s Vineyard. There are roughly 10,000 permanent residents that live on Nantucket year-round.
During the summer, this increases to about 50,000 people. That’s a 400% increase in summer tourists! Nantucket only has a handful of hotels and inns, so it’s also important to book your accommodation as soon as possible.
Nantucket vs. Martha’s Vineyard: Geography
With rolling hills and rocky cliffs, Martha’s Vineyard is an outdoor lover’s paradise. There are also several beaches and harbors where you can spend the day enjoying the sea breeze. However, it’s important to note that some Martha’s Vineyard beaches are private and may only be accessible to visitors with permits allowing them to do so.
Nantucket’s geography is much flatter compared to Martha’s Vineyard. While you don’t get the diverse cliffs and hill that you’ll find on Martha’s Vineyard, you will find sandy beaches and quaint towns. Nantucket is also famous for its three distinct lighthouses.
The Sankaty Head Lighthouse is a brick structure built in 1850
When it comes to Martha’s Vineyard vs. Nantucket, both islands offer plenty of activities for beachgoers, outdoor enthusiasts, and families alike. You can spend the day cycling along the coast, visiting the Flying Horse Carousel, or admiring the colorful Gingerbread Houses in Oak Bluff. You can also make a quick day trip to neighboring Chappaquiddick Island for an afternoon of golf or sunbathing.
Nantucket also offers a mix of cultural and outdoor events for all types of travelers. Take a leisurely stroll along Sconset Bluff Walk, hop on a boat for an afternoon harbor tour, or visit the Whaling Museums in the heart of downtown Nantucket.
You can also rent a bike and explore one of the 30 or so public beaches lining the island’s coast.
The Nantucket Whaling Museum celebrates the island’s history as a whaling port.
Nantucket vs. Martha’s Vineyard: Atmosphere
Martha’s Vineyard’s laid-back vibe and relaxed atmosphere make it a desirable destination for those looking to escape the city. While the island is a hotspot for celebrities, musicians, and politicians, the overall feeling is casual and laid back. Everyone may be in shorts but some of those swimshorts are Vilebrequin. Think preppy boho.
The Brotherhood of Thieves is a restaurant named after a pamphlet written on Nantucket against slavery in the USA. Nantucket had a large Quaker population who were fervent abolitionists.
On the other hand, Nantucket has more of an upscale vibe. While it’s perfectly acceptable to hit the town in flip flops and shorts, the vibe is preppy chic.
Both of the Cape Cod Islands have plenty of gourmet restaurants where you’ll spot some of the most affluent vacationers in the world from Wall Street, government and Hollywood.
Martha’s Vineyard vs. Nantucket
We know families in London who have homes in Nantucket but we knew this Cape Cod island was not the choice for us. Too small, too conservative. It is also just too far for us to travel when you consider we have to add an international flight into the mix.
Martha’s Vineyard has an affluent African American community and quite a few mixed-race families like us. We also loved Martha’s Vineyard for its cosmopolitan liberalism, artsy flair, and intellectual leanings. When you know, you know.
Choosing between Nantucket vs. Martha’s Vineyard comes down to your personal taste and vacation style. Both islands have their personal devotees who wouldn’t consider living on the other island!
In all honesty, you can not make a wrong decision with either island because both are pretty special. It’s like trying to decide between beer and wine. People have their preferences but both are pretty great.
Getting to Nantucket
Nantucket definitely has less ferry services and airlines flying to it.
How to Get From Martha’s Vineyard to Nantucket
Getting to both Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket is relatively easy. Martha’s Vineyard is only seven miles off the mainland, which means a ferry ride from Cape Cod only takes about 35-minutes. Nantucket is a bit further (30-miles from Cape Cod) and takes anywhere from one to three hours, depending on where you’re departing from.
Ferry to Nantucket passing by Brant Point Lighthouse
You can take the ferry from Martha’s Vineyard to Nantucket if you’d like to see both islands on your trip. Operated by Hy-line Cruises, this inter-island ferry between Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket takes one hour and leaves three times a day during tourist season.
How To Get To Nantucket from Cape Cod
The Steamship Authority runs car ferries from Hyannis in Cape Cod to Nantucket which takes a little over 2 hours. There’s a passenger only catamaran from Hyannis to Nantucket that cuts the time down to an hour.
You can fly from Hyannis to Nantucket on Nantucket Airlines in about 15 minutes. You can also take Cape Air from JFK in New York or Logan in Boston directly to Nantucket in about 1 hour or, 1/2 hour, respectively.
The Martha’s Vineyard vs. Nantucket island friendly rivalry overlooks the fact that both places are pretty special.
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There is no longer a hostel on Nantucket. It closed around 2018 or 2019
2019! Thanks for the update! It was supposed to open in 2020 but like so many other things, closed up. Just saw that even the Hyannis hostel is closed until 2022, such a shame for budget travelers.
So I suppose you wouldn’t visit your friends in Nantucket because the island isn’t black enough, liberal enough, or big enough. Thanks for pointing out your preferred audience.
I don’t know where you get that idea from?? We have visited Nantucket plenty and think it is beautiful. We would not buy a house there because we have more limited choices in getting to Nantucket than we have for getting to Martha’s Vineyard. When you have to coordinate an international flight from London into either Boston or New York, then a rental car to Woods Hole to coincide with a ferry schedule, logistics play an important part in any summer home destination. Our London friends with a house in Nantucket are empty nesters with much more flexibility to travel.
Paul, people who are not white and male need to think about who inhabits areas before visiting. This can be a personal safety issue as well as simply not wanting to expose oneself to potential discrimination or prejudice. Or maybe one would just like to be surrounded by some others who look like them. Move along if this info isn’t helpful to you.
Paul-Wow that was a huge assumption on your part. I didn’t get that feeling at all
I loved your article and found it to be 100% accurate about Nantucket, where I lived up until five years ago. I left Nantucket because it was too conservative for me. I’ve often wondered if Martha’s Vineyard would be a better fit. Your article is SO helpful, thanks!!
thanks! glad you found it helpful.
MARTHA’S VINEYARD has always been my childhood dream place to visit as l read it said you must have a permit to do so.
I was reading LIFE MAGAZINE ABOUT THE BLACK HERITAGE THERE GOT MY ATTENTION in the 1967
DIANE HARDY
Yes, there is a big African American community that spent there summers on the Vineyard going back decades.
Very helpful article. We will be on the cape for a week and are trying to decide which island to take a day trip to. MV is shorter travel time, but Nantucket sounds easier to navigate without a car. Thanks
yes it is!