For an island 30 miles out to sea, Nantucket is surprisingly easy to reach. Whether you prefer to arrive by high-speed ferry with the harbor unfolding ahead of you or fly directly onto the island, there are several convenient ways to turn a New England getaway into a Nantucket escape.
So, how do you get to Nantucket? Most travelers choose one of two options: take a ferry to Nantucket, usually from Hyannis on Cape Cod, or fly directly into Nantucket Memorial Airport (ACK). Additional ferry routes and regional airports offer even more flexibility depending on where your trip begins.
Here’s everything you need to know before you go.
The Quick Answer: How Do You Get to Nantucket?
The easiest ways to reach Nantucket are:
- From Cape Cod: Take a high-speed Nantucket ferry from Hyannis in approximately one hour.
- From Boston: Fly nonstop from Boston Logan International Airport to Nantucket, or travel from Boston to Hyannis and connect to a ferry.
- From New Bedford: Take seasonal high-speed ferry service directly to Nantucket.
- By car: Drive to Hyannis and leave your vehicle on the mainland, or reserve vehicle space aboard the Steamship Authority’s traditional ferry.
- By air: Fly into Nantucket Memorial Airport (ACK), with year-round and seasonal flights from several East Coast cities.
Your best option comes down to where you’re traveling from, your schedule, and whether the journey across Nantucket Sound is part of the experience you want.
Taking a Ferry to Nantucket from Cape Cod
For many visitors, arriving by water feels like the official beginning of a Nantucket vacation.
If you're researching Cape Cod to Nantucket transportation, Hyannis offers the largest selection of ferry departures and is the primary mainland gateway to the island.
Hy-Line Cruises: Hyannis to Nantucket
Hy-Line Cruises operates a year-round high-speed ferry to Nantucket from Hyannis. The trip takes approximately one hour, with frequent departures during the busier travel season.
It’s a particularly convenient choice if you're traveling without a car on the island. Step aboard in Hyannis, settle in for the ride across Nantucket Sound, and about an hour later you'll be arriving in Nantucket Harbor with downtown just beyond the docks.
During peak summer weekends and holidays, booking your Nantucket ferry in advance is recommended.
Steamship Authority: Passenger and Vehicle Ferries
The Steamship Authority also travels between Hyannis and Nantucket and gives visitors two distinct options.
Its seasonal high-speed passenger ferry makes the crossing in approximately one hour, while its traditional ferry takes approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes. The traditional service can also transport cars and trucks, making it the option to consider if bringing a vehicle to the island is essential to your trip.
Vehicle availability can be limited during popular travel periods, so advance reservations are especially important if you intend to bring a car. For most visitors staying in downtown Nantucket, however, leaving the car behind can make the trip simpler.
Other Ferries to Nantucket
Hyannis isn't your only option.
New Bedford to Nantucket
Seastreak offers seasonal service between New Bedford and Nantucket. For the 2026 season, service runs from April into October, and the typical New Bedford-to-Nantucket crossing takes approximately one hour and 40 minutes.
This can be an attractive route for visitors coming from Rhode Island, southeastern Massachusetts, Connecticut, or other points west of Cape Cod because it may eliminate the need to drive farther onto the Cape.
Harwich Port to Nantucket
Travelers already staying farther down Cape Cod can also look at Freedom Cruise Line, which sails seasonally from Saquatucket Harbor in Harwich Port. Its Nantucket crossing takes less than 80 minutes, with 2026 service beginning in late May.
For anyone planning a larger Cape Cod to Nantucket itinerary, this gives you another way to build the island into your trip without returning to Hyannis.
Flights to Nantucket: Flying Directly to ACK
If getting to the island as quickly as possible is the priority, consider flying.
Nantucket Memorial Airport (ACK) is located directly on the island and is served by both year-round regional flights and seasonal service from major East Coast hubs. The Town of Nantucket currently lists year-round connections including Boston, Hyannis, New Bedford, New York/JFK, and Martha’s Vineyard through Cape Air/Nantucket Air, along with additional seasonal routes from American, Delta, JetBlue, and United.
Seasonal nonstop destinations can include airports serving:
- Boston
- New York City
- Washington, D.C.
- Newark
- Philadelphia
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Westchester County
Exact routes and frequencies vary by airline and season, so check current schedules when booking your trip.
For travelers connecting from farther away, flying through Boston or New York can make flights to Nantucket particularly convenient.
Nearby Airports for a Nantucket Vacation
If a nonstop flight to Nantucket doesn't work with your itinerary, several nearby airports can serve as useful gateways.
Nantucket Memorial Airport (ACK)
The simplest option is, of course, ACK itself. Flying directly onto the island eliminates the ferry connection altogether and puts you just a short ride from downtown Nantucket.
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
For travelers arriving from across the United States or internationally, Boston Logan is one of the most useful gateways to Nantucket. From Boston, you can connect to a flight to ACK or continue overland to Hyannis for a ferry.
Cape Cod Gateway Airport (HYA)
Located in Hyannis, Cape Cod Gateway Airport is particularly convenient for travelers combining air and island transportation. Cape Air operates island service from HYA, and the airport is located in the same community as the major Hyannis ferry terminals.
New Bedford Regional Airport (EWB)
Cape Air/Nantucket Air lists year-round service between New Bedford and Nantucket, while New Bedford also offers seasonal Seastreak ferry service. That combination makes the South Coast another useful gateway to consider.
Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport (PVD)
For travelers approaching from Rhode Island or Connecticut, Providence can be another alternative. Seastreak specifically recommends T.F. Green for travelers using its New Bedford ferry route, placing an airport-to-ferry combination within easy reach.
How to Get to Nantucket from Boston
One of the most common questions first-time visitors ask is how to get to Nantucket from Boston.
There are two primary choices.
Option 1: Fly Boston to Nantucket
Flying Boston to Nantucket is the fastest and most direct approach when schedules align. Cape Air operates year-round Boston service, while JetBlue also lists seasonal Boston flights to ACK.
This is particularly appealing for a shorter Nantucket weekend when you want to maximize your time on the island.
Option 2: Boston to Hyannis, Then Take the Ferry
For the classic arrival, travel from Boston to Hyannis and board a ferry to Nantucket.
You can drive to Cape Cod or take regional bus transportation. Peter Pan Bus Lines currently provides service between Boston Logan Airport and Hyannis, and passengers can connect from the Hyannis Transportation Center to the Steamship Authority terminal.
Once in Hyannis, choose a roughly one-hour high-speed ferry or the longer traditional Steamship Authority crossing.
If you're searching for a “Boston to Nantucket ferry,” it's important to know that the most common route is not a direct ferry from downtown Boston. Instead, you'll travel from Boston to Hyannis, then cross Nantucket Sound by ferry.
Should You Fly or Take the Nantucket Ferry?
Both have their advantages.
Take the ferry if you want the quintessential island arrival, are already visiting Cape Cod, or enjoy making the journey part of the vacation.
Fly if you're planning a quick getaway, connecting through a major airport, or simply want to spend as much of your trip as possible on Nantucket.
For many first-time visitors, the high-speed Nantucket ferry from Hyannis offers the best combination of convenience and experience. There’s something unmistakably Nantucket about approaching the island from the water and watching its harbor, boats, and gray-shingled skyline come into view.
Do You Need a Car on Nantucket?
Not necessarily—and for a downtown stay, you may find you don't want one.
Nantucket Resort Collection includes four distinctive boutique properties—Veranda House, Chapman House, Regatta Inn, and Sherburne Inn—in and around Nantucket’s historic downtown, placing guests close to the island’s shops, restaurants, waterfront, and iconic cobblestone streets.
That means arriving as a walk-on ferry passenger can be one of the easiest ways to experience the island.
Tips for Planning Your Trip to Nantucket
Ferry and flight availability can change with season, demand, and weather, so leave some flexibility in your travel plans. During summer and major Nantucket weekends, reserve transportation well in advance; the Steamship Authority specifically encourages advance high-speed ferry reservations during popular periods because sailings can reach capacity.
And remember: getting there is part of the fun. Whether you're soaring over Nantucket Sound or standing on the deck as Brant Point comes into view, the moment you arrive has a way of making the mainland feel very far away.
Turn the Journey Into a Five Star Stay
Once you've figured out how to get to Nantucket, the best part is deciding what you'll do when you arrive.
If your search for the perfect island escape began with “Five Start Weekend,” consider turning that inspiration into a stay of your own with Nantucket Resort Collection's Five Star Stay package, inspired by the Nantucket storytelling that has made The Five Star Weekend such a beloved beach read.
The package includes a signed copy of The Five Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand along with a beautifully designed keepsake map featuring iconic Nantucket locations, inviting you to explore the island through the places and atmosphere that inspired the story.
Whether you arrive on the afternoon ferry to Nantucket or touch down at ACK, settle into the heart of historic downtown and let your own Nantucket story begin.
Plan your Five Star Stay with Nantucket Resort Collection and make the journey across the Sound just the first chapter of your getaway.
