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There are buses running nearly every hour to Cape Cod and around our
peninsula. If you're daydreaming about a beach vacation, perhaps you
should hop on one of them! Buses are also a convenient way to take a
daytrip to Boston from Cape Cod if going in that direction interests you.
The rates are quite affordable.
Plymouth & Brockton Bus Company and the Bonanza Bus Line provide
hourly, scheduled motorcoach service between Logan
Airport, downtown Boston, Providence,
New York, Plymouth, and throughout Cape Cod.
To get to Hyannis from Boston, take the Plymouth & Brockton bus
from Logan Airport or downtown Boston to Hyannis.
To get to Falmouth from Boston, take the Bonanza Bus from Logan Airport
and downtown Boston to the Falmouth Bus Depot.
From points south to Cape Cod, take Bonanza Bus from New York, Green
State Airport (Rhode Island), downtown Providence, Fall River, and New
Bedford to Hyannis and the Falmouth Bus Depot.
Bonanza
1 Bonanza Way, Providence, Rhode Island• (888) 751-8800•
www.bonanzabus.com
Bonanza offers 10 daily trips from Boston to
Bourne, Falmouth, and Woods Hole (you can hop a ferry from here to the
islands). Connecting service to other points on the Cape is provided via
the Plymouth & Brockton line, known locally as the P&B (see
below). Bonanza runs seven days a week, 365 days a year, with some seven
trips a day from Boston's Logan International Airport and another three a
day from South Station (downtown Boston). Tickets from Logan Airport to
Bourne run about $17 one-way and $31 round trip. From South Station,
ticket prices are about $12 one-way and $21 round-trip. Bonanza has local
terminals at the following locations: Tedeschi Food Shop, 105 Trowbridge
Road, Bourne, (508) 759-7715; Otis Air Base, Pocasset, Otis Traffic
Circle, Mass. Rt. 28,
(888) 751-8800; Steamship Authority, Woods Hole Wharf, Woods Hole, (800)
556-3815;
Bonanza Terminal, 59 Depot Avenue, Falmouth, (508) 548-7588; and Plymouth
& Brockton Terminal, 17 Elm Avenue, Hyannis, (800) 556-3815; Town
Wharf, Commercial St., Provincetown.
Plymouth & Brockton Street
Railway Company, Inc.
Plymouth & Brockton Bus Terminal, 17 Elm Ave.,
Hyannis• (508) 778-9767, (617) 773-9401• www.p-b.com
Plymouth & Brockton probably handles the most
Cape travelers and commuters, as they service the entire U.S. Rt. 6
stretch from Provincetown into Boston's South Station and on to Logan
International Airport. From Logan Airport to Hyannis a one-way ticket runs
$16 while round-trip fare is $29; from South Station the prices are $12
and $22, respectively. Traveling all the way to Provincetown from Logan
Airport costs $25; a round-trip ticket is $47. At Logan Airport your
tickets may be purchased from the driver when boarding the bus.
Reservations are not necessary. Ask about senior discounts. P&B also
offers commuter books at about half the price of a normal fare. There are
15 bus stops on Cape Cod: Bourne, Barnstable, Hyannis, Yarmouth,
Yarmouth-port, Dennis, East Dennis, Harwich, Brewster Orleans, Eastham,
Wellfleet, Truro, North Truro, and Provincetown.
SeaLine
222 Old Chatham Rd., Dennis• (508) 385-8326, (800)
352-7155
Initiated in 1985, SeaLine offers year-round
regularly scheduled bus service on the Cape between Woods Hole and
Plymouth & Brockton's downtown Hyannis terminal. Run by the Cape Cod
Regional Transit Authority, the bus line makes six round trips during the
week and four on Saturday (no service on Sunday). The cost is a mere $3.50
one way, and half that for seniors, the disabled, and children younger
than age 5. Around the last week in June through Labor Day, SeaLine hooks
up with local trolley shuttles in various towns (Falmouth, Hyannis,
Yarmouth, Dennis, and Mashpee).
B-Bus
222 Old Chatham Rd., Dennis• (508) 385-8326, (800)
352-7155
Unique to the Cape is the B-Bus, a fleet of 30
minivans that will transport you door to door between any towns on the
Cape Monday through Friday (and on weekends in some towns). Appointments
for rides must be made in advance. Adults and children 5 years of age and
older ride for $2 (plus 10 cents per mile if traveling between towns)
while seniors and the disabled pay $1.25 (plus 60 cents a mile if
traveling between towns). Frequent users may want to consider the
economical, no-mileage-fee, three-month Gold Pass, which costs $75, $45
for seniors and wheelchair users (some of the vehicles are wheelchair
accessible). B-Bus is run by the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority.
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In the summertime, when the roads are busiest, several Cape towns offer
trolley rides to certain attractions, town centers, shopping centers, and
area beaches. Trolleys, which have really caught on in the past several
years, are a hybrid form of transportation that blends function and fun.
Passengers use them for plain old transportation and for sightseeing. You
can flag one down at any point during a route, and you don't have to worry
about getting tickets ahead of time because you can pay when you get on.
All the trolleys we list below are run by the Cape Cod Regional Transit
Authority, where you can also pick up a bus schedule. These are available
at local chambers of commerce too. See our Tours and Excursions chapter
for more details.
Cape Cod Regional Transit
Authority
Various locations• (508) 385-8326, (800) 352-7155 (Mass.
only)• www.capecodtransit.org
The CCRTA operates a number of trolleys in various
towns, including Falmouth, Mashpee, Hyannis, Yarmouth, and Dennis. Fares
start at $1 for adults, 50 cents for senior citizens and the disabled, and
go up according to distance, with the highest fare only about $3. While
most of the trolleys are seasonal, two are year-round: the SeaLine between
Hyannis and Falmouth, and the Villager in Hyannis, which goes to
Barnstable Village and the Barnstable County Complex, and in the
off-season makes stops at shopping areas on Mass. Rt. 132. Below we
describe the trolleys run by the CCRTA.
Falmouth's Whoosh Trolley
Falmouth Chamber of Commerce • (508) 548-8500
This ride takes in Main Street to the Falmouth Mall
on Mass. Rt. 28 and goes right into Woods Hole, including the Woods Hole
Steamship Authority and the aquarium. The service runs from Memorial Day
weekend through the end of September, with two trolleys running seven days
a week from June through Labor Day and limited service after that. The
fare is $1, or 50 cents for senior citizens, people with disabilities, and
youths 6 to 17. Children 5 and younger, when accompanied by an adult, ride
for free.
The Villager
• (508) 385-8326, (800) 352-7155 (Mass. only)
Starting at the Plymouth & Brockton bus
terminal in Hyannis, this year-round trolley travels to Barnstable Village
and to the Barnstable County Complex. In the off-season, it makes stops at
the Cape Cod Mall (see our Shopping chapter) and other shopping areas on
Mass. Rt. 132 in downtown Hyannis. In summer, when the Hyannis Area
Trolley takes over the shopping route, The Villager is more of an express
to Barnstable Village, and also goes to Barnstable Harbor, where
passengers can catch a whale-watch boat (see our Whale Watching chapter).
The Villager makes eight round trips a day.
Hyannis Area Trolley
• (508) 385-8326, (800) 352-7155 (Mass. only)
This summertime trolley has two routes, one down
Mass. Rt. 132 to the Cape Cod Mall and other shopping areas, and the other
to Kalmus Beach, both docks, and the marina.
Sea Line
• (508) 385-8326, (800) 352-7155 (Mass. only)
A year-round bus service, the Sea Line runs between
Hyannis and Falmouth, connecting with the Whoosh Trolley in summer and
taking over the Woods Hole route when the Whoosh is not running. It runs
six trips a day all year. The fare is $3.50 for the entire route, with a
minimum fare of $1.
YES Trolley
Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce • (508) 778-1008
An acronym for Yarmouth Easy Shuttle, the YES
Trolley runs down Mass. Rt. 28 and connects with south side beaches from
June to Labor Day. It connects with SeaLine and the Coach of Dennis
Trolley.
Coach of Dennis Trolley
• (508) 778-1008, (508) 385-8326, (800) 352-7155 (Mass.
only)
From mid-June to Labor Day, this trolley runs down
Mass. Rt. 28, with a run down Lower County Road, south beaches, and also
out Mass. Rt. 134 to the Patriot Square shopping center.
H2O
• (508) 778-1008, (508) 385-8326, (800) 352-7155 (Mass.
only)
Instituted in 1996, this minibus runs down Rt. 28
from Hyannis to Orleans. It runs six trips a day all year, increasing to
hourly trips in summer, and you can get on at regular stops or just flag
the driver down! The entire round-trip ride takes an hour or so one way.
The fare is $3.50 for the full ride, $1 minimum increasing by increments
of 50 cents per town. Discount commuting passes are available.
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Cycling is a popular way to get around Cape Cod, especially in summer.
One advantage is that the terrain is relatively flat. You can pedal
through villages and towns or get away from vehicular traffic by taking
one of the Cape's pretty bike trails (see our Biking section in the
Outdoor Spaces and Hiking and Biking Trails chapter). The 25-mile Cape Cod
Rail Trail, which follows the old rail beds, runs from Dennis to Wellfleet
and goes through Nickerson State Park. The Cape has dozens of bicycle
rental businesses that can put you on two wheels; you can get mountain
bikes, kid trailers, even bicycles built for two. Most bike rental places
also sell bicycles, accessories, and parts, in addition to renting
equipment such as helmets and child passenger seats.
Bicycling is a must on the islands during the summer, as well as in
some towns on the Cape. The roads can get clogged, often bringing traffic
to a standstill, especially on weekends and during special events.
Falmouth, Chatham, and especially Provincetown, are ideal for biking
around, saving you the headache of finding a parking space.
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Years ago, rail was the most common way to get to the Cape and to your
town of choice. Today, sadly, rail service is all but gone after Amtrak
eliminated the famous Cape Codder line. At this writing, there are no
plans to revive it. On the bright side, the old rail beds from Dennis to
Wellfleet have been converted into a great bike trail! (See the By Bicycle
section, above, and our Outdoor Spaces and Hiking/Biking Trails chapter.)
Also, a remnant of the old Cape Codder line that runs from Hyannis to
Sandwich has been used in the past by the Cape Cod Railroad for
sightseeing trips with a dining car (see our Tours and Excursions
Chapter); it is a lovely ride that winds through cranberry bogs and
woodlands through the untouched center of the Cape.
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We've saved the best until last. Traveling to the Cape on the water may
be the most relaxing, though not the fastest, way to get here. Several
ferry companies offer fast, reliable transportation between various ports
to the Cape and Islands. It is important to make a reservation, especially
if you plan on crossing with your car, since ferries get booked during
peak season months in advance. Summer reservations, for example, are often
booked by early winter of the preceding year. There are last-minute
cancellations, but be prepared to wait for hours. (Don't forget to book
your return reservation as well.) All Island-bound ferries offer
sufficient pay-per-day parking.
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The Steamship Authority
Woods Hole Wharf, Woods Hole• (508) 778-1008, (508)
477-8600• www.islandferry.com
The Steamship Authority is the only company
offering year-round ferry service from Woods Hole to points on Martha's
Vineyard, and from Hyannis to Nantucket. It's also the only ferry that
transports cars. Keep in mind that taking your car to the Islands can be
very expensive, and it's usually not necessary since you can rent one upon
your arrival. Better yet, rent a bicycle or moped (see our Martha's
Vineyard and Nantucket chapters). We advise you to check the schedule for
boat departures as they change seasonally. The fare for Woods Hole to
Martha's Vineyard is $5 for adults, $2.50 for children ages 5 to 12, and
free for children younger than 5. Ferry service from Hyannis to Nantucket
costs $12.50 one way. The Steamship Authority also offers a seasonal Fast
Ferry to Nantucket from Hyannis and the cost is $42 round trip.
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Island Queen
75 Falmouth Heights Rd., Falmouth• (508) 548-4800•
www.islandqueen.com
For $10 round trip ($5 for children), you can take
the 500-passenger Island Queen from Falmouth Harbor to Martha's
Vineyard from Memorial Day weekend to Columbus Day. The trip is a
leisurely 35 minutes each way, and food service is available on board,
along with a full bar. The passenger-only vessel makes seven trips each
day in summer, and reservations are not needed. The Island Queen is
also available for charters.
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Hy-Line
Ocean Street Dock, Hyannis• (508) 778-2600•
www.hy-linecruises.com
Hy-Line offers the only service between Hyannis and
Martha's Vineyard from early May through late October. The trip takes
about an hour and a half, with scheduled departures throughout the day,
seven days a week. A round trip fare for Hyannis to Martha's Vineyard
costs $25 for adults and $12 for children. The company also services the
Hyannis to Nantucket route and offers inter-island service between
Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. It takes just under two hours to journey
by ferry from Hyannis to Nantucket. Fare is $25 for adults and $12.50 for
children. Hy-Lines High Speed Ferry, the Grey Lady II, makes the
crossing from Hyannis to Nantucket in about an hour and a round-trip
ticket costs $55 for passengers 12 and older and $40 for children 11 and
younger. It's a good idea to call ahead for reservations, especially if
you plan to travel during a holiday weekend or during July and August.
Ferries leave from Dock One, Ocean Street, Hyannis.
Freedom Cruise Line
Mass. Rt. 28, Harwichport• (508) 432-8999•
www.capecod.net/freedom
Sailing from Saquatucket Harbor in Harwichport,
Freedom Cruise Line offers daily passenger service to Nantucket, and you
can bring along your bicycle and pet too. The trip takes about one and a
half hours and round-trip fare is $39 for adults and $34 for children;
one-way fare is $25 for adults and $20 for children. Bicycles are $10
round-trip. Freedom is an 80-passenger ferry, so reservations are
strongly advised. There are also restrictions on how many
"overnighters" the Line can leave overnight on the island, so
reservations are necessary.
Bay State Cruises
MacMillian Pier, Provincetown• (508) 487-9284, (617)
457-1428• www.baystatecruisecompany.com
This is the only company offering daily service
between Provincetown's MacMillian Pier and Commonwealth Pier in Boston.
Express Service (aboard the Provincetown Express) runs seven days
per week from May 20 through October 9. Traditional service (aboard the Provincetown
II) runs weekends from May 20 through June 11 and seven days per week
from June 17 through September 4. Weekend service only then runs from
September 9 through October 9. The Express trip takes about two hours and
costs $25 one way, $40 round trip for all passengers. Traditional service
takes about two and one-half hours and adult tickets cost $18 for one-way
service and $30 round trip. Children ages 4 to 11 ride for $14 one way and
$21 round trip; children 3 and under ride for free. There are also
discounts for seniors: $15 one way and $23 round trip. |
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