Just seven miles off the coast of Massachusetts, Martha’s Vineyard is a coastal summer paradise where every beach tells a story. You could spend a lifetime exploring the sand dunes, sea cliffs, and wildlife sanctuaries along the 125 miles of coastline, but first you have to figure out how you’re getting there.
Some travelers drive to Cape Cod to catch the ferry from Woods Hole. Others cobble together train schedules to coordinate with ferries, but that’s onerous. There’s a ferry available from New York, but still can take up to five hours of total travel and requires navigating the open seas. Others choose to fly commercial and are subjugated to arriving hours ahead of time and navigating crowds at big city airports. They might even have to change planes along the way.
There is an easier, faster, more elegant way to reach the best beaches in the Northeast.
Tradewind Aviation offers seasonal scheduled flights to Martha’s Vineyard in their sleek Pilatus PC-12 aircraft. These planes comfortably seat eight guests with ample room for luggage. Tradewind flights operate from private FBO terminals in Teterboro and Westchester, meaning you can arrive just 30 minutes prior to your flight for a quick check-in with no TSA delays. From the New York area, the Tradewind flight to Martha’s Vineyard takes about an hour, delivering you hassle-free to the small private terminal in Martha’s Vineyard (MVY).
Scheduled service flights are available from May through November, with frequent departures (up to 15 flights a day). If you visit Martha’s Vineyard multiple times a year, consider purchasing a Tradewind ticket book, which offers discounts and additional perks. For even more flexibility or flights during the off-season, Tradewind also arranges private charter flights year-round from anywhere in the Northeast. It doesn’t get any more easy or convenient.
Martha’s Vineyard has more than 20 gorgeous beaches, each different from the other, yet all have an unspoiled, natural beauty. The water is calmer on the north, east, and west sides of the island. Big waves can be found on the south shore, which fronts the Atlantic Ocean. While some beaches are private and a few require permits, many are open to the public. In Martha’s Vineyard, there’s a beach for everyone, and these five are among the best.
Photo by: Harbor View Hotel
Katama Beach
For exciting waves, head to the south shore and Katama Beach, also known as South Beach. This is the spot for surfing, body surfing, and boogie boarding in the Atlantic’s rugged waves. Rent a bicycle in Edgartown, grab a lobster roll, and pedal south along a four-mile paved bike path all the way to the beach.
Katama is a barrier beach, and it offers the best of both worlds. On the ocean side, surfers and strong swimmers delight in the pounding surf. On the inland side, casual swimmers, kayakers, and beginner kiteboarders frequent the calm waters of Katama Bay, a protected salt pond. Between the two is a wide, three-mile stretch of golden sand beach that’s perfect for long walks and catching summer rays.
State Beach
Families with small children will love State Beach for the smaller waves and gentle, shallow waters with a gradual slope into deeper water. Located halfway between Edgartown and Oak Bluffs on the Vineyard Sound, State Beach is considered to have the finest sand and the clearest water of them all. Lazy swimming in the salt water, paddleboarding, and kayaking are popular here.
If this beach looks familiar, it’s because many of the iconic scenes from Steven Spielberg’s Jaws were filmed here. The American Legion Memorial Bridge, affectionately known as “Jaws Bridge,” is a must-visit landmark for fans of the classic movie. Jumping off the bridge into the water below has become a beloved summer tradition for locals and visitors alike.
2025 marks the 50th anniversary of Jaws, and the island is pulling out all the stops to celebrate. With themed events highlighting its cinematic history, there’s no better time to visit and immerse yourself in the world of Amity Island. Be sure to check out the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce website for the latest updates on anniversary celebrations and activities.
Whether you’re a fan of the film or just looking for a bit of movie history, this iconic spot is not to be missed.
For a more relaxed way to explore the area, take a leisurely bike ride to State Beach along the paved State Beach Bike Path that runs from Edgartown to Oak Bluffs. The seven-mile ride offers stunning views of the coastline, and you can stop and hop into the water along the way.
Photo by: Tradewind Aviation
Norton Point Beach
This Edgartown beach on the south shore is a 2.5-mile barrier beach separating Katama Bay from the Atlantic. Big waves make this a good spot for surfing, and hikers can follow trails between the dunes on the ocean or bay sides while enjoying expansive views of the wide-open Atlantic shoreline.
Experience the thrill of off-road adventure at Norton Point Beach. With an Over Sand Vehicle (OSV) permit and a four-wheel-drive vehicle, you can let some air out of your tires and drive directly onto the white sand beach. Make a day of it and plan a tailgate party with steamed crustaceans. To preserve the dunes and protect nesting shorebird habitats, vehicles must stay on the designated sandy trail. Just don’t forget to inflate your tires at the air pumps before leaving!
Don’t have a vehicle fit for the sand? There are on-island rentals available with beach permits from Martha’s Vineyard Linen & Rentals and Martha’s Vineyard Auto Rental.
East Beach
For a secluded and peaceful atmosphere, East Beach, sometimes called Leland Beach, is a hidden gem, surrounding more than 100 acres and a half mile of pristine beachfront. Located on the southeastern corner of Martha’s Vineyard on Chappaquiddick Island, it links Cape Pogue Wildlife Refuge and the Wasque Reservation, one of five conservation areas on the Vineyard managed by the Trustees of Reservations. To get there, you need to take a short ferry ride on the three-car ferry and pay a small entry fee.
There’s a serene beauty to East Beach with its calm waters, soft sand, and natural beach grass. You can see for miles down the coastline and observe the natural world while birdwatching, walking along nature trails, and swimming in the crystal-clear water. It’s also a destination for saltwater surf fishing, where you cast your line from the shore into the ocean. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch bluefish and striped bass.
Photo by: Alison Shaw
Moshup Beach
Located on the west side of Martha’s Vineyard at the foot of the red clay Aquinnah cliffs, Moshup Beach is less crowded than other public beaches, and a prime spot for watching the sunset. The majestic landscape’s 150-foot-tall cliffs are composed of sediment from millions of years of glaciers: red and white clay, green sand, white quartz, black soil, and lignite. The cliffs are spectacular in the late afternoon light when the colors seem to glow.
The half-mile stretch of beach is ideal for running, sunbathing (the far end of the beach is clothing optional), or beachcombing for shells and pieces of driftwood in the finely-grained sand. On the ocean side, Moshup waves attract boogie boarders and bodysurfers, while at low tide, you can swim out to the sandbar.
Tour the Wampanoag cultural district, and the red brick lighthouse above the cliffs. The nineteenth-century Gay Head lighthouse was the first to be built on the Vineyard and is the only one with a history of Native American lighthouse keepers.
For those not in the know, Martha’s Vineyard may not seem like the easiest island to get to, but Tradewind makes the journey simple, convenient, and enjoyable. With so many beautiful beaches to discover, now is the time to plan a seasonal escape to this carefree summer colony where every visitor finds their perfect beach.
To learn more about booking a flight to Martha’s Vineyard with Tradewind Aviation, please visit our website.
For scheduled flights, contact scheduledservice@flytradewind.com or call +1 203-267-3305, option 1.
For private charters, contact sales@flytradewind.com or call +1 203-267-3305, option 2.