Boston has no direct Nantucket ferry; go to Hyannis, then take the 1-hour fast ferry or 2h15 car ferry.
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For a Nantucket Ferry from Boston, the workable plan is Boston to Hyannis first, then Hyannis to Nantucket by ferry. Regular public ferries to Nantucket leave from Cape Cod and nearby South Coast ports, not downtown Boston, so the real decision is whether to reach the dock by bus, car, summer train, or skip the ferry and fly.
The easiest all-around route is Boston South Station or Logan Airport to Hyannis, then a high-speed passenger ferry to Nantucket. The cheapest ferry-only leg is the Steamship Authority traditional ferry from Hyannis, but the slower crossing makes more sense for vehicles, bikes, or travelers who care more about price than time.
Once your travel date is set, compare the Boston-to-Nantucket transport options in one place:
Is There A Direct Ferry From Boston To Nantucket?
There is no regular direct public ferry from Boston to Nantucket. Boston travelers usually reach Hyannis first, then ride a one-hour passenger ferry or the Steamship Authority traditional ferry that takes 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Hyannis is the main ferry gateway because it has the most frequent Nantucket sailings. Steamship Authority runs both the traditional ferry and a seasonal high-speed passenger ferry; Hy-Line Cruises also runs a year-round high-speed passenger ferry from Hyannis.
New Bedford is the backup route for some travelers, not a Boston ferry. Seastreak runs seasonal New Bedford to Nantucket sailings, and that can work if you have a car or are starting south of Boston, but it usually adds more ground planning from the city.
Boston To Nantucket Ferry Options Compared
Boston to Nantucket ferry planning is really a mainland-transfer decision: Hyannis is the main year-round ferry gateway, and New Bedford is a seasonal alternative. The table below shows the practical ways to make the trip from Boston.
| Route Option | Typical Time | Rough Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Bus from Boston to Hyannis + Steamship Authority high-speed ferry | About 2 hours by bus, then 1 hour dock to dock | Bus fare varies; ferry is $48.50 one-way for adults |
| Bus from Boston to Hyannis + Hy-Line high-speed ferry | About 2 hours by bus, then 1 hour on the water | Bus fare varies; Hy-Line adult fares are close to $49 one-way |
| Drive or ride-share to Hyannis + high-speed ferry | About 1h30 to 2h30 by road before the 1-hour ferry | Ferry from $48.50 one-way; parking and tolls extra |
| Drive to Hyannis + Steamship Authority traditional ferry | Road time to Hyannis, then 2 hours and 15 minutes on the ferry | $21.50 one-way adult passenger fare |
| CapeFLYER train to Hyannis + fast ferry | Summer weekends only, then 1 hour by fast ferry | Train fare varies; add $48.50 to $49 for the ferry leg |
| Drive to New Bedford + Seastreak ferry | About 1h15 to 1h45 by road, then about 1h40 on the ferry | Adult fares run about $59 one-way in season |
| Fly Boston Logan to Nantucket Memorial Airport | About 45 to 60 minutes in the air | Airfare changes by date; usually costs more than ferry travel |
How Long Does The Trip Take?
A Boston-to-Nantucket ferry day usually takes about 4 to 5 hours door to dock when traffic, check-in, and transfer time are included. The water crossing is short; the mainland leg and waiting time are what stretch the day.
A smooth public-transport plan looks like this:
- Ride a Plymouth & Brockton or Peter Pan bus from Boston South Station or Logan Airport to Hyannis.
- Allow time to get from the Hyannis Transportation Center area to the ferry dock.
- Board a high-speed ferry for the 1-hour crossing to Nantucket.
- Walk from the Nantucket dock into town, or use a taxi, shuttle, or bike rental for beaches farther out.
Summer Fridays and holiday weekends can add serious road delays near the Cape Cod bridges. If you are taking a same-day ferry after landing at Boston Logan, leave a wide buffer or choose a later sailing than you think you need.
Buying Ferry Tickets And Reaching The Terminal
Nantucket ferry tickets should be bought before summer weekends if you need a high-speed sailing or any vehicle space. Steamship Authority notes on its Nantucket schedule page that high-speed passenger reservations are recommended and vehicle reservations are required.
Foot passengers have the easiest trip. You can take luggage aboard, walk off in Nantucket Town, and skip the hardest part of island travel: moving a car. A bike costs less to carry than a vehicle and can be useful if you are comfortable riding to beaches.
Vehicle planning is different. Steamship Authority is the ferry operator that carries cars between Hyannis and Nantucket, and summer vehicle fares are steep. A standard car under 17 feet costs $320 one-way Monday through Thursday from May 15 to September 14, and $370 one-way Friday through Sunday in that same peak period.
Best simple plan: take the bus to Hyannis, ride the fast ferry, and stay in or near Nantucket Town if this is a short trip.
Where To Stay When You Arrive On Nantucket
Nantucket lodging is easiest for ferry travelers in Nantucket Town because both main passenger docks are close to the center. Staying in town lets you walk to restaurants, shops, rental bikes, taxis, and island buses without moving a car across the water.
Beach-focused stays can work well if you are visiting for more than one night, but they add transfer time after the ferry. Siasconset, Madaket, and Surfside feel more spread out than town, so check the bus route, taxi cost, or bike distance before choosing a room.
Compare Nantucket stays on a map before locking in your ferry arrival time:
Car, Bike, And Luggage Rules That Change The Plan
Cars make the Boston-to-Nantucket ferry plan more expensive and harder to reserve, so most short-stay visitors should leave the car on the mainland. Nantucket Town is walkable, island buses cover useful routes in season, and bike rentals are common near the ferry area.
Bring a car only if your lodging is remote, your group has heavy gear, or you are staying long enough to justify the fare and reservation work. Rental cars are also available on Nantucket, which can be simpler than paying to ferry a mainland vehicle.
Bikes are a strong middle option. Steamship Authority charges $8.50 one-way for bicycles on both high-speed and traditional Hyannis-Nantucket service, and bike paths reach several popular beach areas from town.
The Route To Pick
The right route from Boston to Nantucket depends on whether you care most about cost, speed, luggage, or bringing a car. Pick the route that matches the constraint that can ruin the day, not the one that looks shortest on paper.
- Best for most visitors: Boston bus to Hyannis, then a high-speed ferry to Nantucket.
- Best for lowest ferry fare: Steamship Authority traditional ferry from Hyannis at $21.50 one-way for adults.
- Best for a same-day trip: Hyannis high-speed ferry, with the earliest realistic Boston bus and a late return sailing.
- Best if you must bring a car: Steamship Authority traditional ferry from Hyannis with a vehicle reservation made early.
- Best if time beats cost: fly from Boston Logan to Nantucket Memorial Airport, then use a taxi or shuttle into town.
For most Boston travelers, the ferry part is not the hard part. The winning move is choosing Hyannis, giving yourself enough buffer before departure, and treating the ferry ticket as only one piece of the full Boston-to-Nantucket route.
References & Sources
- The Steamship Authority.“Ferry Schedules for Nantucket & Martha’s Vineyard.”Confirms the Hyannis-to-Nantucket high-speed and traditional ferry options, crossing times, and reservation guidance.