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Major city · United States

Woods Hole

Give Woods Hole half a day plus one ferry departure: walk the village, see the aquarium and Nobska Light, then sail to Martha's Vineyard.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Woods Hole is a small village in the town of Falmouth, at the southwest tip of Cape Cod, and it is the year-round ferry terminal for Martha's Vineyard. Almost everything sits within a 15-minute walk: the Steamship Authority dock, the marine science campuses, a free aquarium, a lighthouse and a handful of waterfront restaurants. Most travellers pass through in half a day on the way to the island; one night is enough to see it properly.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Jun–Sep for ferries, beaches and the film festival; May and Oct for quiet walking weather
avoid Jul–Aug weekends (ferry and parking crush), Jan–Mar (many places closed)
Airports
BOS · PVD · HYA
Nights
1
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Woods Hole911 ▾

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Woods Hole, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee and a pastry$5–9
  • BeerDraught beer at a waterfront bar$7–10
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–25
  • Budget bedWeekly rental house (up to 6), a night, per roomUS$300
  • Mid-range bedInn or B&B double room, a night, per roomUS$260
  • High-end bedInn or B&B double room, a night, per roomUS$450

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$90 · Mid US$170 · High US$320

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Steamship Authority ferry to Martha's VineyardWoods Hole Oceanographic InstitutionMarine Biological LaboratoryNobska LightShining Sea Bikeway
Airports
BOS Boston Logan International (About 1 h 30 min by car; Peter Pan bus runs to Falmouth and Woods Hole (check current schedule)) · PVD Rhode Island T. F. Green (About 1 h 15 min by car; often the easier rental-car arrival) · HYA Cape Cod Gateway (Hyannis) (Seasonal flights; about 45 min by car)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    4°C (39°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    5°C (41°F)

  3. Mar

    Avoid

    8°C (46°F)

  4. Apr

    not flagged

    13°C (55°F)

  5. May

    Best

    18°C (64°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    23°C (73°F)

  7. Jul

    Care

    26°C (79°F)

  8. Aug

    Care

    26°C (79°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    22°C (72°F)

  10. Oct

    Best

    17°C (63°F)

  11. Nov

    not flagged

    12°C (54°F)

  12. Dec

    not flagged

    7°C (45°F)

Best: May–Jun, Sep–Oct. Mixed: Jul–Aug. Avoid: Jan–Mar. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (26°C (79°F)), coolest Jan (−4°C (25°F) low), wettest Dec (11 rain days), driest Jul (8). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Woods Hole: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

4°C (39°F)

−4°C (25°F)

10 rd

Feb

5°C (41°F)

−4°C (25°F)

9 rd

Mar

8°C (46°F)

−1°C (30°F)

10 rd

Apr

13°C (55°F)

4°C (39°F)

10 rd

May

18°C (64°F)

9°C (48°F)

10 rd

Jun

23°C (73°F)

14°C (57°F)

9 rd

Jul

26°C (79°F)

18°C (64°F)

8 rd

Aug

26°C (79°F)

18°C (64°F)

8 rd

Sep

22°C (72°F)

14°C (57°F)

8 rd

Oct

17°C (63°F)

9°C (48°F)

9 rd

Nov

12°C (54°F)

4°C (39°F)

10 rd

Dec

7°C (45°F)

−1°C (30°F)

11 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

On foot: the village is compact, 15 minutes end to end. By bike: the Shining Sea Bikeway starts beside the ferry terminal and runs about 6.5 km to Falmouth centre, mostly along the coast. In summer the WHOOSH trolley loops Falmouth and Woods Hole (check the current route and fare). A car is a liability here in July and August: village parking fills early and is time-limited.

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Martha's Vineyard (Vineyard Haven)

go

Door to door: 45 min crossing plus boarding

Steamship Authority passenger ferry from the village dock

Year-round; cars need a reservation well ahead, foot passengers usually walk on.

Falmouth

go

Door to door: 25–35 min

Shining Sea Bikeway by bike, or the summer WHOOSH trolley

Bike path is flat and coastal; rent in Falmouth or Woods Hole.

Nobska Light

go

Door to door: About 15 min each way

Walk west along Nobska Road from the village

Best at sunset; the tower itself is closed.

Mashpee and the Mashpee Wampanoag Museum

caution

Door to door: About 30 min

Car, via Route 28

Check museum hours before driving; limited public transport.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Village centre (Water St and Woods Hole Rd)

Walk to the ferry, restaurants and museums; the only place to stay if you have an early sailing.

Woods Hole Road toward Falmouth

Inns and B&Bs 1–2 km (0.6–1.2 mi) from the dock; cheaper, still walkable or a short bike ride.

Falmouth centre

More beds and restaurants; 6–7 km (3.7–4.3 mi) away, reachable by the Shining Sea Bikeway or the WHOOSH trolley in summer.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$90–150 excl. bed
Mid
$150–260 excl. bed
High
$260+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Inn or B&B double room1 × 1 night × US$260US$260
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$170US$340
Steamship Authority round trip to Vineyard Haven, foot passenger2 × US$22US$44
Bike rental, one day2 × US$40US$80
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$75
Trip total≈ US$415 per person per day, bed includedUS$829

2026 estimate in US dollars; ferry tickets and car rental excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee and a pastry$5–9
Lobster roll$25–35
Fried seafood plate$22–32
Draught beer at a waterfront bar$7–10
Steamship Authority foot passenger, Woods Hole to Vineyard Havenabout $11 each way (check)
Village parking, per hour$1–3
eSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–25

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Very safe for a US resort village; the real risks are summer traffic on Woods Hole Road, bicycles sharing the narrow village streets, and cold water at nearby beaches — no lifeguards off-season.
  • Ferry parking: the Steamship Authority lots fill on summer mornings; arrive 45–60 min before a vehicle sailing and book cars well ahead.
  • Village parking is scarce and metered; park in Falmouth and bike or take the trolley in peak season.
  • Many restaurants and the historical museum close or cut hours from November to April.
  • Nobska Light is a working Coast Guard station: the tower is not open for climbing.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Falmouth police (non-emergency)
+1 508-457-2526
Steamship Authority
+1 508-477-8600

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Woods HoleWoods Hole

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Falmouth police (non-emergency)+1 508-457-2526
  • Steamship Authority+1 508-477-8600

Embassy

No embassies in Woods Hole; consulates-general are in Boston, and national embassies in Washington, DC.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Steamship Authority, Woods Hole → Vineyard Haven: about $11 foot passenger each way, 45 min (check)
  • WHOOSH trolley, Falmouth–Woods Hole: small flat fare, summer only (check)
  • Taxi Woods Hole → Falmouth centre: about $20–30

Say or show

  • Where is the Steamship Authority dock? — Where is the ferry terminal?
  • One round trip to Vineyard Haven, please — One round trip to Martha's Vineyard, please
  • Do you take cards? — Can I pay by card?
  • Is there parking near the ferry? — Is there parking nearby?

Tipping: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink at bars.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Woods Hole. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Jun–Sep for ferries, beaches and the film festival; May and Oct for quiet walking weather · avoid Jul–Aug weekends (ferry and parking crush), Jan–Mar (many places closed) · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Ferry-day contract: Steamship Authority departure times, walk-on versus vehicle rules, parking fallback in Falmouth.
  2. Four walking clusters with anchors: the ferry dock, Water Street, the science campuses, Nobska Road.
  3. Place pages with verified hours (Science Aquarium, Ocean Science Discovery Center, Historical Museum) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Summer and storm fixtures so ferry-cancellation days can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources