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- Planning a Nantucket Island, Massachusetts Getaway Vacation Part 2
Planning a Nantucket Island, Massachusetts Getaway Vacation Part 2
- By Super Admin
- Published 09/20/2007
- Visiting and Living in Nantucket, Massachusetts
- Unrated
This is Part 2 of a series of articles.
If you wish to arrive on the Nantucket Islands by car, you will need to decide whether or not to bring your car to the island.
Leaving your car behind:
The majority of people traveling to Nantucket find it more practical to leave their car on the mainland. The island has a convenient shuttle bus system, beach trolleys, bicycle trails, taxis, tours and car rentals that make it easy and convenient to get around, to sightsee and explore Nantucket Island. The following is a few points you need to consider before bringing your own car.
It can be quite an expense to bring your car. The roundtrip fee for a standard size passenger car during the summer season is about $400 (in year of 2007). This does not include extra passengers. There is an additional fee for extra passengers.
If you decide to bring a car be aware that it may add extra stress to your vacation. The island has very narrow roads. They are not designed to accommodate a large volume of cars. Traffic can become quite heavy during the summer. Getting around in your own car may be stressful and difficult. Finding available parking can also prove to be a difficult task.
You can always plan to leave your car on the mainland and park in one of the lots maintained by the ferry companies for a reasonable fee. First determine which ferry company is the most convenient for your travel plans and contact them for more specific information about parking fees and driving directions.
Bringing your car to the Nantucket Island in Massachusetts:
There may be times when it does make more sense to bring your own car to the island. If you are staying for long periods of time, the convenience and/or cost-benefit may outweigh other island transportation options. Taxis, shuttles and/or car rental fees can far outweigh the cost of bringing your own car, especially if you are planning to be in and around Nantucket Island a lot during your stay.
Bringing your own car can also be more convenient when you are traveling with small children, bringing a lot of luggage and other accessories, or staying in a more rural part of the island. In these circumstances, having your own car available for transportation can make your stay much more convenient as well as enjoyable.
Some points to consider if you do decide to bring your car is that you will need to make advance car ferry reservations with the Steamship Authority that sails year round from Hyannis, Massachusetts. These reservations for the summer season generally go on sale in February and sell out very quickly. You will need to plan making your reservation months in advance of your actual vacation date. It can be a difficult task to get a car reservation for the summer, especially if you wait until the last minute.
Arrive at Nantucket by Ferry
This is the option most visitors choose. Several ferry companies service Nantucket Island in Massachusetts. Check which port option will work best for your entire travel plan. Ferry companies operate from three different ports. Some of the Ferry company services are:
• Freedom Cruise Line: This is a seasonal service between Harwichport and Nantucket which carries passengers, bicycles and most pets. There is parking in a private lot available. It takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes in crossing to Nantucket Island. Call for reservations in advance.
• Hy-Line High-Speed Ferry: Provides year-round service between Hyannis and Nantucket. The ferry service carries passengers, bicycles and pets. Approximate crossing time is one hour. Parking is available in Hyannis. There is a parking fee.
• Hy-Line Martha’s Vineyard Ferry: Provides seasonal service between Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, late June through Early September. Crossing time is about 1 hour and 15 minutes. This ferry will carry passengers, bicycles and most pets.
• Hy-Line Traditional Ferry: Provides seasonal service between Hyannis and Nantucket May thru October. Crossing time is about 50 minutes. It carries passengers, bicycles and pets. There is parking available in Hyannis for a fee.
• Steamship Authority – Fast Ferry: Provides year-round service between Hyannis and Nantucket. This is a high-speed passenger ferry service between Hyannis and Nantucket. Carries no vehicles, and has limited bicycle space. There is secured parking available in Hyannis for a fee. Crossing time is about 1 hour.
• Steamship Authority – Traditional Ferry: Provides year-round vehicle and passenger ferry service between Hyannis and Nantucket. Car reservations are necessary. Carries passengers with no advance reservations, transports bicycles for a fee and also transports pets. There is secured parking available in Hyannis for a fee. Crossing time is about 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Continued in Part 3
Disclaimer: The Nantucket, Massachusetts web site listed in the resource box is not associated with or does not promote any of the above services. This article and the web site is an information source for those wishing to plan a vacation or to live in the Nantucket Islands in Massachusetts.
Written by: Connie Limon For more information about living and vacationing in the Nantucket Islands of Massachusetts visit http://smalldogs2.com/NantucketMassachusetts For a variety of FREE reprint articles and special topic articles visit Camelot Articles at http://www.camelotarticles.com
This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.
© 2007 Connie Limon All Rights Reserved
If you wish to arrive on the Nantucket Islands by car, you will need to decide whether or not to bring your car to the island.
Leaving your car behind:
The majority of people traveling to Nantucket find it more practical to leave their car on the mainland. The island has a convenient shuttle bus system, beach trolleys, bicycle trails, taxis, tours and car rentals that make it easy and convenient to get around, to sightsee and explore Nantucket Island. The following is a few points you need to consider before bringing your own car.
It can be quite an expense to bring your car. The roundtrip fee for a standard size passenger car during the summer season is about $400 (in year of 2007). This does not include extra passengers. There is an additional fee for extra passengers.
If you decide to bring a car be aware that it may add extra stress to your vacation. The island has very narrow roads. They are not designed to accommodate a large volume of cars. Traffic can become quite heavy during the summer. Getting around in your own car may be stressful and difficult. Finding available parking can also prove to be a difficult task.
You can always plan to leave your car on the mainland and park in one of the lots maintained by the ferry companies for a reasonable fee. First determine which ferry company is the most convenient for your travel plans and contact them for more specific information about parking fees and driving directions.
Bringing your car to the Nantucket Island in Massachusetts:
There may be times when it does make more sense to bring your own car to the island. If you are staying for long periods of time, the convenience and/or cost-benefit may outweigh other island transportation options. Taxis, shuttles and/or car rental fees can far outweigh the cost of bringing your own car, especially if you are planning to be in and around Nantucket Island a lot during your stay.
Bringing your own car can also be more convenient when you are traveling with small children, bringing a lot of luggage and other accessories, or staying in a more rural part of the island. In these circumstances, having your own car available for transportation can make your stay much more convenient as well as enjoyable.
Some points to consider if you do decide to bring your car is that you will need to make advance car ferry reservations with the Steamship Authority that sails year round from Hyannis, Massachusetts. These reservations for the summer season generally go on sale in February and sell out very quickly. You will need to plan making your reservation months in advance of your actual vacation date. It can be a difficult task to get a car reservation for the summer, especially if you wait until the last minute.
This is the option most visitors choose. Several ferry companies service Nantucket Island in Massachusetts. Check which port option will work best for your entire travel plan. Ferry companies operate from three different ports. Some of the Ferry company services are:
• Freedom Cruise Line: This is a seasonal service between Harwichport and Nantucket which carries passengers, bicycles and most pets. There is parking in a private lot available. It takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes in crossing to Nantucket Island. Call for reservations in advance.
• Hy-Line High-Speed Ferry: Provides year-round service between Hyannis and Nantucket. The ferry service carries passengers, bicycles and pets. Approximate crossing time is one hour. Parking is available in Hyannis. There is a parking fee.
• Hy-Line Martha’s Vineyard Ferry: Provides seasonal service between Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, late June through Early September. Crossing time is about 1 hour and 15 minutes. This ferry will carry passengers, bicycles and most pets.
• Hy-Line Traditional Ferry: Provides seasonal service between Hyannis and Nantucket May thru October. Crossing time is about 50 minutes. It carries passengers, bicycles and pets. There is parking available in Hyannis for a fee.
• Steamship Authority – Fast Ferry: Provides year-round service between Hyannis and Nantucket. This is a high-speed passenger ferry service between Hyannis and Nantucket. Carries no vehicles, and has limited bicycle space. There is secured parking available in Hyannis for a fee. Crossing time is about 1 hour.
• Steamship Authority – Traditional Ferry: Provides year-round vehicle and passenger ferry service between Hyannis and Nantucket. Car reservations are necessary. Carries passengers with no advance reservations, transports bicycles for a fee and also transports pets. There is secured parking available in Hyannis for a fee. Crossing time is about 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Continued in Part 3
Disclaimer: The Nantucket, Massachusetts web site listed in the resource box is not associated with or does not promote any of the above services. This article and the web site is an information source for those wishing to plan a vacation or to live in the Nantucket Islands in Massachusetts.
Written by: Connie Limon For more information about living and vacationing in the Nantucket Islands of Massachusetts visit http://smalldogs2.com/NantucketMassachusetts For a variety of FREE reprint articles and special topic articles visit Camelot Articles at http://www.camelotarticles.com
This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.
© 2007 Connie Limon All Rights Reserved