Is There a Ferry From Newport, RI to Martha’s Vineyard?

Eric DawsonByEric Dawson Boats & Cruises

For travelers asking, is there a ferry from Newport, RI to Martha’s Vineyard, the answer is no direct ferry departs Newport. Rhode Island Fast Ferry leaves Quonset Point in North Kingstown for Oak Bluffs, about 16.9 miles and approximately 25 minutes by car from Newport.

Plan to reach Quonset Point 45 minutes before departure, then allow about 95-105 minutes for the crossing. Off-peak adult fares begin at $75.00 one-way, and parking costs $15.00 per calendar day as of September 2026.

Where Does the Rhode Island Ferry Leave From?

Travelers need a separate connection to the Quonset Point terminal in North Kingstown, where Rhode Island Fast Ferry departs for Martha’s Vineyard.

Direct-Answer Route Box

The ferry uses these terminals. Beyond that, the terminal stands at 1347 Roger Williams Way, North Kingstown, RI 02852, while the island dock is at 10 Circuit Avenue Extension, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557.

For Newport travelers, the relevant transfer reaches Quonset Point in North Kingstown, where the water crossing begins.

  1. Travel from Newport to the terminal.
  2. Use 1347 Roger Williams Way for the Rhode Island Fast Ferry terminal.
  3. Follow the stated arrival guidance.
  4. Board for Oak Bluffs at 10 Circuit Avenue Extension on Martha’s Vineyard.

Oak Bluffs is the ferry’s Martha’s Vineyard arrival, rather than Vineyard Haven. The dock sits in Oak Bluffs Harbor at Oak Bluffs Marina, at the intersection of Circuit Avenue Extension and Seaview Avenue Extension.

Terminal parking is available for boarding drivers.

Passengers should treat Newport as the starting city and Quonset Point as the ferry port. Rhode Island Fast Ferry publishes 2026 departures from Quonset Point, making the transfer necessary before any crossing to Oak Bluffs begins.

Is There a Ferry from Newport RI to Marthas Vineyard?

Why Newport Search Results Cause Confusion

Search results for Newport ferry travel can blend separate Rhode Island and Massachusetts routes into one itinerary. Rhode Island ferry service from Newport serves Block Island, while the Martha’s Vineyard crossing uses a different departure point. Visitors should treat Newport as the starting city for their ground connection, not as the Martha’s Vineyard ferry terminal.

Quonset Point is the practical Rhode Island departure for passengers beginning in Newport. Its ferry arrives at Oak Bluffs, rather than Vineyard Haven, which matters when arranging island transportation or meeting someone. The service uses the Ava Pearl.

Allow Time for the Connection

Passengers should allow the required advance arrival time. Because boarding begins 15 minutes before sailing, travelers leaving Newport need to account for both the drive and the advance-arrival requirement. A taxi between Newport and Quonset Point is estimated at $50-$65.

Other Martha’s Vineyard routes depart from Massachusetts, not Newport. Seastreak New Bedford provides passenger-only service and is diverted to Vineyard Haven for the remainder of the 2026 season beginning September 20. Steamship Authority Woods Hole offers a vehicle-capable crossing that takes 45 minutes, with advance vehicle reservations required.

Selection comes down to the island arrival point, vehicle needs, and the extra connection from Newport. Travelers without a vehicle can buy Steamship Authority walk-on tickets at terminals on the day of sailing. Bookings for the Quonset Point ferry deserve extra attention because tickets are non-refundable unless Ticket Assurance is purchased.

Quonset Point Ferry Schedule, Fares, and Arrival Rules

Rhode Island Fast Ferry’s published 2026 schedule lists 18 sailings from 8:30 AM to 10:45 PM. Crossing estimates run about 95 to 105 minutes, and tides and weather affect travel time. Check current booking information because listed times are not tied to individual operating dates.

Terminal Timing and Fares

Passengers should arrive as stated above. Boarding follows the stated timing. Travelers disembark at the Oak Bluffs Harbor location identified earlier.

Beyond the adult fares stated above, riders aged 60 and older pay $70 one way, while tickets for children aged 3 to 11 cost $58. Infants aged 0 to 2 pay $30 one way. Each Oak Bluffs trip includes a $0.50 port fee plus a fuel surcharge reviewed weekly.

Parking follows the rate stated above. Rhode Island Fast Ferry lists conflicting bicycle charges on its own page, so passengers should confirm bike pricing during booking.

Tickets, Bags, and Boarding Rules

Each passenger fare includes one personal item up to 14 by 18 by 8 inches and one carry-on bag up to 24 by 16 by 10 inches. Additional suitcases cost $10 one way and cannot exceed 62 linear inches. Leashed pets and pets kept in carriers travel without an added charge.

Light fare and a full bar are available onboard, while passengers may bring their own food. Personally brought alcohol should not be consumed until arrival on Martha’s Vineyard. Smoking, vaping, and electronic cigarettes are prohibited during the crossing.

Ticket modifications require 24 hours’ notice and cost $10 per person without Ticket Assurance. Assurance costs 15% of the reservation and permits covered refunds when exercised at least two hours before departure. Missing a booked sailing invalidates the ticket and requires a new reservation.

Standby passengers board first come, first served when unclaimed reservations are released 3-5 minutes before departure. Security inspections under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 can include passengers and luggage. Refusing an inspection results in denied boarding.

Baggage, Bikes, Pets, and Onboard Details

Rhode Island Fast Ferry baggage allowances include two items, pets travel free under onboard controls, and bicycle charges need booking confirmation because published prices conflict. Each personal item must fit within 14″x18″x8″, while each carry-on is limited to 24″x16″x10″. Measuring both items at home helps prevent a baggage issue at the terminal.

Included Bags and Bicycle Prices

Larger bags carry a $10 one-way charge per suitcase and cannot exceed 62 linear inches. Return travel raises that suitcase charge to $20. Packing around those limits is the simplest approach for travelers carrying clothing or beach equipment.

Bicycle details require care because Rhode Island Fast Ferry publishes conflicting charges on the same page. One fare list gives bikes at $10 one-way and bikes with trailers at $20 one-way.

Elsewhere, the operator lists bikes at $8 each way and trailers at $12 each way. Electric bicycles and scooters appear at $20 one-way. Confirmation through the booking process is sensible before bringing any bicycle or trailer.

Pets, Tickets, and Onboard Rules

Pets travel at no extra cost when kept on a leash or in a carrier. Owners should plan for that rule during check-in and throughout the voyage.

Ticket handling also matters before departure from Quonset Point. Rhode Island Fast Ferry emails tickets with a Quick Response (QR) code, or passengers can print them at the Quonset office. Keeping a return ticket accessible avoids relying on an island counter.

Onboard, the Ava Pearl offers light fare and a full bar. Passengers can bring their own food, but alcohol brought aboard should wait until reaching Martha’s Vineyard. Smoking, vaping, and e-cigarette use are prohibited. Food and drink plans should account for that alcohol rule before departure.

Seastreak New Bedford Parking and Same-Day Costs

Seastreak offers two New Bedford parking choices, and its passenger-only ferry follows the seasonal diversion noted above. For an adult taking a same-day round trip, the listed fare totals approximately $59.40 after the stated purchase fees are applied. The comparison below puts the two named parking facilities alongside each other.

New Bedford Parking Options

Parking choices differ by service, location, and calendar-day price rather than by access to the same terminal. Valet parking is the on-site choice, while Whale’s Tooth is offsite at 532 Acushnet Avenue, New Bedford, MA 02740. Holiday valet pricing applies during the listed 2026 holiday periods, and Whale’s Tooth takes fully cashless payment.

Parking option Cost Location or dates
Valet parking $30 per calendar day New Bedford terminal
Whale’s Tooth offsite parking $15 per calendar day 532 Acushnet Avenue, New Bedford, MA 02740
Holiday valet parking $40 per calendar day May 22-25, July 2-5, and September 4-7, 2026

Starting at $55, the 3% booking fee adds $1.65, producing $56.65. The approximately 5% temporary fuel surcharge adds $2.75 when calculated from the listed base fare. That arithmetic yields $59.40. Because the fuel surcharge is described as approximately 5%, the total is a purchase example rather than a fixed checkout quote.

Additional bag fees apply beyond the included carry-on allowance. Non-electric bicycles cost $9 one-way or $18 round-trip, while electric bicycles cost $18 one-way or $36 round-trip. Passenger-only vessels cannot carry cars, motorcycles, mopeds, or motor scooters.

Published sailings include New Bedford departures at 8:45 AM and 2:00 PM. The timetable pairs those trips with Vineyard Haven returns at 12:30 PM and 5:30 PM. Separately, Seastreak identifies September 23 through 25 as canceled dates.

Ticket rules matter for same-day plans. Seastreak says all tickets are non-refundable unless trip protection is purchased. Trip protection permits refunds up to two hours before departure, except a sailing before 9:30 AM requires notice by 5 PM on the preceding day. Once the boat has sailed, tickets are neither refundable nor exchangeable.

Regional departure choices serve different itinerary needs. New Bedford has its own passenger route and parking arrangements, while Woods Hole is the vehicle-capable terminal where advance vehicle reservations are required.

Steamship Authority from Woods Hole

Steamship Authority’s Woods Hole service provides a vehicle-capable route to Martha’s Vineyard, unlike the passenger-focused alternatives described for Rhode Island and New Bedford. Crossing takes 45 minutes, and drivers need an advance vehicle reservation. Walk-on passengers buy tickets at the terminal on sailing day. The service therefore suits travelers whose island plan includes taking a car across the water.

Woods Hole’s terminal is at 1 Cowdry Road, Woods Hole, MA 02543, putting the Steamship Authority departure on Cape Cod. Vineyard Haven’s terminal is at Union St & Water St, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568. Seasonal Oak Bluffs service uses the terminal at 1 Seaview Ave, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557.

Route selection begins with the traveler’s vehicle needs and preferred island arrival. The Newport approach noted earlier reaches Quonset Point, while Woods Hole supports vehicle transportation. Those departure points serve different travel patterns rather than interchangeable stops.

Vehicle reservations distinguish the Woods Hole option from a walk-on trip. Drivers should reserve before travel, since the Steamship Authority requires advance reservations for every vehicle crossing. Foot passengers have a different process: terminal purchases are available on the day of sailing.

Reservation timing is therefore part of the Woods Hole plan for drivers, rather than an optional last-minute step. Walk-on ticketing retains same-day flexibility at the terminal.

Arrival planning should account for Martha’s Vineyard terminal possibilities on the Steamship Authority route. Vineyard Haven is named as a terminal, while Oak Bluffs is seasonal, so booked sailing determines the island dock. Confirming the ticket’s terminal helps match onward island plans to the correct port.

Practical planning centers on matching the departure location, the arrival terminal, and the ticketing process to the trip. Before booking, travelers should separate a vehicle itinerary from a walk-on itinerary and identify the appropriate terminal. That approach keeps the route choice aligned with travel arrangements already in place, on the mainland and on Martha’s Vineyard for both travel directions.

Choosing the Right Martha’s Vineyard Arrival

Arrival choice comes down to the island town that fits the stay and the mainland terminal that fits the approach. Quonset Point serves Oak Bluffs, while Seastreak follows its seasonal diversion. Neither route departs from Newport itself, so the city requires a mainland connection. The names are easily confused because both trips are marketed for Martha’s Vineyard.

Oak Bluffs from Rhode Island

Oak Bluffs Harbor is the island arrival point.

Vineyard Haven from New Bedford

Seastreak’s New Bedford service ends at Vineyard Haven, creating a different island arrival from the Rhode Island Fast Ferry. Seastreak follows its seasonal diversion. Vineyard Haven and Oak Bluffs are separate island arrivals, not interchangeable dock names. Travelers staying in Vineyard Haven can select that arrival point directly.

Woods Hole provides a third mainland departure point through the Steamship Authority, separate from the Rhode Island and New Bedford choices. Port choice should follow the island itinerary first and the mainland starting point second. Travelers with lodging or plans near a named arrival town have a clear reason to favor the matching service. Comparing the planned destination before choosing a terminal avoids treating every Martha’s Vineyard ferry as interchangeable.

Match Quonset Point with Oak Bluffs and New Bedford with Vineyard Haven before committing to the drive. Confirm the sailing’s listed arrival port as part of booking, especially when a seasonal service has a stated diversion. Arrange the mainland connection around the chosen terminal rather than searching for a Newport pier, then keep the ferry’s own timing and ticket terms with the reservation.

I would put the operator’s published Quonset schedule and fare structure ahead of the broader itinerary estimates because the operator sets the sailing times, boarding rules, and charges. For a passenger traveling round trip without a car, the $115 Quonset off peak fare is $31 more than Seastreak’s $84 round trip fare before parking, so New Bedford deserves consideration if Vineyard Haven is the better arrival point. I would choose Woods Hole instead when bringing a vehicle, since that route accepts vehicles with advance reservations.

Trips from Newport

For this trip, travelers use the previously noted departure location.

Quonset Point travel plans should add the operator’s requested 45-minute pre-departure arrival window to the Newport drive. Boarding follows the previously stated timing, leaving late arrivals less time for terminal procedures.

Newport-to-Quonset transport has estimated driving costs of $3-$5, while a taxi is estimated at $50-$65. Travelers who drive themselves should account for the previously stated daily parking cost.

Rhode Island Fast Ferry tickets are non-refundable unless Ticket Assurance is purchased. Changes require 24 hours’ notice, and a passenger without Assurance pays a $10.00 modification fee per person. Passengers who miss a scheduled departure need a new reservation.

Vineyard Fast Ferry

Quonset Point’s Rhode Island Fast Ferry route arrives in Oak Bluffs Harbor rather than Vineyard Haven.

Rhode Island Fast Ferry’s mainland terminal stands at 1347 Roger Williams Way, North Kingstown, RI 02852.

The Oak Bluffs dock is located at Oak Bluffs Marina and is shared with the Island Queen Ferry. Rhode Island Fast Ferry identifies the Ava Pearl as the vessel serving its Martha’s Vineyard route.

Rhode Island Fast Ferry publishes two crossing descriptions on its own route page, about 95 minutes and approximately 105 minutes. Tides and weather affect the trip duration, so travelers should confirm the booked sailing time before setting their connection plans.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Far Is Quonset Point from Newport, Rhode Island?

From Newport, Quonset Point is 16.9 miles away, with a drive of approximately 25 minutes. Rhode Island Fast Ferry asks passengers to arrive at least 45 minutes before departure.

Where Does the Quonset Point Ferry Arrive on Martha’s Vineyard?

Its dock is at 10 Circuit Avenue Extension, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557.

How Long Is the Rhode Island Fast Ferry Crossing?

Rhode Island Fast Ferry gives crossing times of approximately 95 minutes and 105 minutes on its route page. Tides and weather conditions affect the trip duration. Confirm the sailing time when booking.

Can I Take a Car on the Ferry from Woods Hole to Martha’s Vineyard?

The Steamship Authority provides vehicle-capable service from Woods Hole to Martha’s Vineyard. Beyond that, the crossing takes 45 minutes. Advance reservations are required for vehicles.

What Does Seastreak Parking Cost in New Bedford?

Seastreak valet parking costs $30 per calendar day in New Bedford. Whale’s Tooth offsite parking costs $15 per calendar day at 532 Acushnet Avenue. Holiday valet parking costs $40 per calendar day on specified 2026 holiday dates.

What Happens if I Miss a Rhode Island Fast Ferry Sailing?

A missed Rhode Island Fast Ferry sailing invalidates the ticket, requiring a new reservation. Contact the operator 24 hours before departure to avoid forfeiture. On sold-out departures, standby boarding is first-come, first-served.

References

Sources read in September 2026.

Eric Dawson

I'm Eric Dawson, and I write The Money Watch from north Columbus, Ohio. Most of what I cover comes from my own life: renting, a 2014 Honda Fit, parking, computers, food and the bills behind all of it. I spent four years in an apartment-property office and eleven on a distributor's operations desk, reading leases and invoices. Where you need real information, I research the maker's or agency's own page and independent sources and report what they publish. I don't give tax, investment, legal or medical advice.