We are really dreading when our child is too old to not be able to sleep in the car overnight. We drive at night and it is much more pleasant. My ILs are doing an afternoon ferry and I've encouraged them to leave Maryland the Friday evening before and get to at least New London, CT and then get up Saturday morning to make their way to Woods Hole by 4pm.

Anonymous wrote:also I assume people know this but if you miss a ferry you are screwed. you can walk on as a passenger no problem and then they will send you car on the next available ferry which might be like Tuesday afternoon. Been there done that! don't recommend!

AGREE, PP! Excellent advice! Sorry you've been there....

also I assume people know this but if you miss a ferry you are screwed. you can walk on as a passenger no problem and then they will send you car on the next available ferry which might be like Tuesday afternoon. Been there done that! don't recommend!

Anonymous wrote:If your ferry leaves on a Saturday afternoon from Woods Hole, you really need to be in Massachusetts that morning. Cape Cod traffic is horrific on a weekend! I wouldn't risk staying overnight in NYC (are you talking about staying overnight on Friday, then leaving Sat am for Massachusetts?)

I would push through to someplace closer -- maybe say overnight in Providence? Stop in Mystic or Watch Hill, RI, then get as close as you can to the ferry departure. You do not want to stress about missing your ferry!

I would say you can do it from southern CT. I'm the poster who suggested the hotels in Greenwich, NOrwlak and Fairfield. We have done this many times and it was fine but we did get up early and get moving in the morning and we did have major traffic on our way to cape and didn't have much extra time. If you stay in NYC then you have to factor the time getting out of the city and then making the drive. The problem is you just don't know what kind of traffic you might have and everyone goes to the cape on saturdays for their saturday to saturday rentals. And where are you going to park in NYC?? because if you are parked in a garage ( that they park for you) then you might have to wait 15 minutes for them to get your car out etc... I would leave very early if you are planning on staying in nyc

We have also done Mystic, CT. Those hotels also book up on weekends in the summer so make a reservation.

Anonymous wrote:What about going through Long Island? Not the OP but also driving to the Vineyard for first time this year (have always flown) and thinking of stopping in LI to see family. Should we ferry from LI or circle back to 95? Our ferry is on Monday morning.

are you talking about the orient point ferry?? Where in Long island are you going?

I have done this before when visiting Sag Harbor.... took the ferry to shelter island and then north fork and then orient point. It was easy enough and much better than driving back south and then north. The little ferries connecting shelter island are relatively quick and little wait time. The Orient Point ferry you will have to wait a bit.

Be aware that there have been MANY ferry cancellations this summer due to technical issues. Just be prepared.

If your ferry leaves on a Saturday afternoon from Woods Hole, you really need to be in Massachusetts that morning. Cape Cod traffic is horrific on a weekend! I wouldn't risk staying overnight in NYC (are you talking about staying overnight on Friday, then leaving Sat am for Massachusetts?)

I would push through to someplace closer -- maybe say overnight in Providence? Stop in Mystic or Watch Hill, RI, then get as close as you can to the ferry departure. You do not want to stress about missing your ferry!

We're doing this in two weeks and staying in NYC, going to a Broadway show, then making our way. Aiming to get to Woods Hole for the ferry an hour early.

What about going through Long Island? Not the OP but also driving to the Vineyard for first time this year (have always flown) and thinking of stopping in LI to see family. Should we ferry from LI or circle back to 95? Our ferry is on Monday morning.

if you are taking the car ferry from Hyannis on a saturday at 345 then you need to allow lots of extra time. The drive to the cape has tons of traffic on a saturday in the summer. Also you need to arrive at the ferry at 2:45 if it leaves at 3:45. I would definitely break up the trip! If you are not staying in nyc then here are some other suggestions. The Hyatt in Greenwich, CT is a nice hotel and usually not that expensive because it's really big. They have a good restaurant in the hotel too so that could take care of dinner.. And then the best western Black Rock, CT in Fairfield is another good option and there is a Whole Foods nearby, but that will definitely book up so you need a reservation. Another option that will likely book up is Hotel Zero degrees in Norwalk which is right off the Merritt ( another poster suggested the Merritt...the scenery is definitely better, but I would do whatever route was best with traffic). Hotel Zero Degrees also has a good breakfast. Connecticut is a good and easy place to stop to break up the trip

Anonymous wrote:I'd only stay in NYC if it was free, someone you really wanted to see, etc.
The five boros are such a pain.

OP here. We have family/friends in NYC, but would need to check whether we might be able to stay with them. For some reason I thought it would only be an 8-hr drive, but I guess that's if driving overnight.

Thanks all for tips. How early do we need to get to the ferry prior to 3:45?

Our ferry gets us back at noon the following Sat., but right now I'm more nervous about the details for the drive there..

I'd only stay in NYC if it was free, someone you really wanted to see, etc.
The five boros are such a pain.

We used to drive in one shot late when DC would/could sleep easily through the night. But, we switched to stopping in NYC, seeing a show or museum and having a nice dinner. Another option is to leave early and slog to to Mystic and go to the aquarium. It's a longer day, but it gives the kiddo something to look forward to.

Connecticut on 95 just always sucks so be prepared and there are few good alternatives. We've always found taking the Tappan Zee/Hutchison Parkway/Merritt Parkway to be about the same, but it is a change of scenery. The backup at Bourne Bridge is bad on Saturday mornings. So build in extra time. If you miss a Saturday ferry in August, chances are you'll have to walk on and won't be able to get the car on Island until Monday or Tuesday.

Definitely stay in NYC. The ferry won't be bad but there is still a lot of time loading the cars on and off etc. so all told, that's a long trip.

We will be driving in a few weeks to MV with one early elem. child. Any tips or tricks? We're booked for a 3:45 Sat. ferry (taking our car). We may have the option of staying overnight Fri. in NYC, which would break it up a bit.

Thanks!