Nantucket vs Martha's Vineyard vs Cape Cod | Which New England Escape Is Best For You?

Nantucket vs Martha’s Vineyard vs Cape Cod: which one is for you? All three places are AMAZING but very different. Discover the perfect New England coastal summer vacation you’ve always dreamed of! This post contains affiliate links. If you choose to use my links to purchase certain items, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. I appreciate your support.

If you’re here, then you’re obviously contemplating Nantucket vs Martha’s Vineyard vs Cape Cod, and I cannot say I blame you one little bit!!! Trust me, you cannot go wrong with any of them, but one may be a better match depending on what you want.

I’m Aunt Nege, a working registered nurse who stumbled on coastal New England during COVID because I just needed to take off my mask and breathe some fresh ocean air. It was the closest place I could hop in a car and drive to during tough times. Needless to say, I fell in love with the area IMMEDIATELY and my “why go to the same place over and over again when there is so much to see in the world” motto flew right out the window. I kept going back!

I’m a huge planner, and I quickly realized that some of the exact information I was looking for simply didn’t exist. I wanted to know the difference between Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, and I found very little helpful information. I decided to film a quick TikTok and post it with like 100 followers just to practice editing. It did really well, and I decided to post a follow-up, throwing Cape Cod into the mix. Well, that post went viral, and I gained over 2,000 followers in a weekend! So here I am summing it up for anyone who prefers Pinterest and reading a blog post over social media (which is honestly me 🙂 I hope this helps you! I will embed the TikTok below if you would like to see it.

This post compares Nantucket vs Martha’s Vineyard vs Cape Cod.

@lifeinaptb
Nantucket vs Martha’s Vineyard vs Cape Cod- here’s what makes each one special, and which I’d recommend depending on your vibe. ✨ Save if you’re planning a trip soon! #nantucketvsmarthasvineyardvscapecod #nantucket #marthasvineyard #capecod #capecodsummer
♬ original sound – Life in Apt B

As someone who hits these places regularly, i have curated my favorite coastal essentials to make sure you have what you need no matter which place you choose to visit! Amazon Coastal New England Summer Essentials

1. Nantucket

Nantucket vs Cape Cod vs Martha's Vineyard

Overall Vibe: Enchanting, whimsical, straight out of a storybook. Preppy and upscale. You literally cannot miss the New England charm.

Why people love Nantucket:

It is bursting with quintessential New England charm at every turn
Cedar shake houses accessorized with hydrangeas and roses
Cobblestone streets
Sonset Bluff Walk: A stunning 2-mile walk along a public footpath that runs through the backyards of all of the cottages. So you have floral-covered cottages on one side and the ocean on the other. It is so dreamy!!! DO NOT MISS THIS!
Stunning beaches that are not as busy as the other islands
Cozy and intimate atmosphere that is less crowded than the other two places
High-end restaurants and adorable boutique shopping
You can easily get around by bike or a bus

Considerations:

$$$$$ It is the most expensive of the three
You can only get here by ferry or tiny plane.
The smallest of the three
The least amount for kids to do. (Don’t get me wrong, I hear there are things for them to do, and any kid likes going to the beach, but the other islands, hands down, have more to do for kids.)
This destination to me leans more towards slow down and relax than have a million things planned

Ideal for: Those who can afford it, LOL! Those looking for a relaxing or romantic “coastal, novel-like” getaway, quintessential New England coastal charm at its max, or seeking a quiet luxury summer weekend. It seems like it would be a photographer’s dream! It’s the perfect pick if you only have 1 day, because it is the smallest of the three.

2. Martha’s Vineyard

Martha's Vineyard vs Nantucket vs Cape Cod

Overall Vibe: The most casual, laid back, diverse, artsy, and dare I say a little hippie? It was not what I expected (I expected a larger Nantucket), and I sort of love that about Martha’s Vineyard. The locals have a strong presence, which makes the whole place, in my dinky opinion. This island stays true to itself despite being outnumbered by visitors all summer long. The locals want you to see their island, and it shows. Social and economic classes melt together and are respectful of one another. Somehow, this island makes me want to toss my “plan” out the window and just enjoy the moments.

Why people love Martha’s Vineyard:

Diversity
Gingerbread cottages (Oak Bluffs) and colorful towns
Jaws was filmed here and you can easily visit filming locations
A decent variety of family-friendly things to do, but Cape Cod will have more, mostly because it is bigger. (Let’s face it, they all have beaches, which the kids love)
Oak Bluffs: Lively and energetic, great for kids (calm beach nearby)
Edgartown: A Typical picturesque New England town with great shops and views
Aqquinnah Cliffs: Multi colored clay cliffs along the ocean offering stunning views
Great hikes, bike paths, and a variety of beaches all offering a different vibe
Great middle-of-the-road destination. There is a good variety of things to do without being overwhelming for both adults and children. I feel like Martha’s Vineyard could be as fancy or as laid back as you want it to be, depending on where you choose to stay and what you choose to do.
A variety in lodging and price points
You can get around by bike or bus

Considerations:

$$$$ Not as expensive as Nantucket, but still pricey.
You can only get here by ferry or plane.
Book early for summer because places fill up fast
You can bring your car over on a ferry, but the car ferry reservations fill fast, and you may have to pay a good amount for parking at your lodging.
While you can get around on a bike, you will likely need to take the bus to some areas. Renting a car for a day is a good idea because the island is decent-sized and there are really cool places to explore if you have the freedom to do so.

Ideal for: Those seeking a blend of coastal New England charm and local character. Many people go here every summer, and I can totally see why! It gives you a variety of activities and the permission to relax all at the same time. If you go yearly, I think you know where to go and can just relax and enjoy the summer and some good family time. I think it is great for families, couples, and groups, alike.

3. Cape Cod

Cape Cod vs Nantucket vs Martha's Vineyard

Overall Vibe: In one word, nostalgic. I am a millennial, and I feel like I step back into the 90s when I go to Cape Cod. Every day living seems simple, and the mom-and-pop ice cream shops remind me of my hometown and childhood. It gets so busy that I feel like locals can get drowned out by tourists or those who come for the summer. If you don’t know any better, you’ll peg tourist behavior and vibes on the locals, which would be a mistake. I find the locals to be friendly and welcoming, so long as you’re respectful of them and others.

Why people love Cape Cod:

$$$ The most affordable of the three. Put simply, the size of Cape Cod offers a larger variety of accommodations, including more affordable options.
You can easily drive to Cape Cod
The largest of the three
In one word: VARIETY. A large number of towns, ranging from quaint to lively. I love that you can have it all on Cape Cod, in a way.
An endless number of drive-up beaches: Bayside beaches are calmer, great for kids, and exploring during low tide.
The food! I find the food here to be my favorite because of the sheer size of Cape Cod and the variety in restaurants it can offer. It is jam packed with restaurants for every budget, ice creams shops, and seafood shacks.
Many activities for the whole family, such as: Mini golf, museums, beaches, antique shops, vineyards, bike paths, walking trails, and dune trails. This is just grazing the surface. There are SO many things to do.
The most family friendly of the three places, in my opinion

Considerations:

Summer traffic is real
Some beaches can get very crowded
It can get very crowded in the summers in general, probably because of how easy it is to get to compared to the other islands. Often people use Cape Cod as a base and hop to the other islands for a day.
Doesn’t have quite the “island” vibe as Nantucket or Marthat’s Vineyard. Though it still screams and feels “coastal summer”.
The “no-see-ums” (as locals call them) or “gnats” (what most of us tourists would say) can be relentless at sunset on the beaches if there is not enough wind.
You really need a car to get around

Ideal for: Anyone who doesn’t want to hop on a ferry. Also, great for families, especially if they are on a budget, but would still love a New England summer vacation. I will say, I feel like you can easily plan a couples trip, girls trip, extended family trip, and group trip and have a wonderful time with plenty of things to do for everyone to do what they want.