bakerstreet

I've seen those two options to get to Nantucket for a day trip -- Freedom Cuirse Line ferry from Harwichport (Option #2 looks good); and the Hi-speed ferry (Grey Lady) on the Hy-Line cruises from Hyannis. Factoring in the drive to and from Chatham, which is the option taking less time for a round-trip to Nantucket from Chatham? Looks like it would be the former since Harwich looks closer, but I've never been in the area and may be missing something. Or is there a better, faster option directly from Chatham?

Thanks!

Lookin_Glass

I've only gone out of Hyannis. I would think that the schedule options would be as important to look into. Nantucket has some really great dining so taking a later ferry would afford you a full day, if you are into great dining. Good luck.

Lookin_Glass

Also I think it is the Steamship Authority that offers discounted same day return trip passage for part of the week on their fast ferry.

Rastaguytoday

I've flown to Nantucket from Hyannis. You're talking about a 20-25 minute flight.

If it's a day trip, I would definitely fly.

Time is money.

vincenzo32951

LOL. Yes, but the time can cost too much money.

R/T fast ferry for two, about $150 total; time each way: about an hour.

R/T air for two, about $250 (nonrefundable); time each way: about 20-25 mins.

For $100, about the price of a nice dinner on Nantucket, you save about 90 mins. max.

The ferry from Harwichport takes about 20 mins. longer each way and leaves less often, so Hyannis is probably your best bet.

Ackislander

Vincenzo gets it. Fares across all the options are laddered on a very nice time/money matrix.

The problem with the 20 minute flight even if money is no object is that the airport is a minimum of 20 minutes fro Main Street on a good day, and August has no good traffic days. Plus you have another $10 or so per person cab fare, and the flying from Hyannis doesn't look good.

If the weather looks rough, take the Steamship. If the weather is good, it is a toss-up except for the SSA having more trips. What about the Hy Line? They are nice people, but their boats are more expensive and frequently [always?] 5 to 10 minutes late. In practice we almost always take the Steamship because it is more convenient to where we live.

bakerstreet

Thanks for your feedback!

My trip is Chatham-Nantucket-Chatham. I can't find a ferry to Nantucket that departs from Chatham, or an airport in Chatham, so it looks like my closest departure points are either Harwichport (ferry) or Hyannis (ferry (Hy Line or Steamship) or air). Mapquest says Chatham to Hyannis driving is about 45 minutes and Chatham to Harwichport is about 15 minutes. Therefore, departing from Hyannis adds about an hour to the roundtrip to even get to/from the departure point. We may be a group of 5, so given the factors in my outing, it's looking like a ferry from Harwhichport makes the most sense.

Thanks all for your input. I wanted to be sure I wasn't overlooking something.

Ackislander

Sounds reasonable to me!