BlaakLane.com arranges chauffeur service for Nantucket with a mainland car to the Hyannis ferry docks and an island car at Steamboat Wharf, Straight Wharf or Nantucket Memorial Airport (ACK), including private jet arrivals. Every leg carries a fixed fare shown before you confirm. Island and mainland legs are driven by vetted local affiliates; each confirmation names the operator and the chauffeur assigned.
Plan the crossing first, then the car
Nantucket is about 30 miles out to sea from Hyannis, so the boat or the flight sets the timetable and the chauffeur is booked around it.
- Steamship Authority traditional ferry, Hyannis to Steamboat Wharf: about 2 hours 15 minutes, year-round, the only boat that carries vehicles.
- Steamship Authority high-speed ferry, Hyannis to Steamboat Wharf: about 1 hour, seasonal, passengers only.
- Hy-Line high-speed ferry, Hyannis to Straight Wharf: about 1 hour, passengers only; Hy-Line also runs a seasonal inter-island boat to Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard.
- Freedom Cruise Line, Harwich Port: a seasonal passenger service from the lower Cape.
- Fly to ACK: year-round flights from Boston and Hyannis, with seasonal service from New York and other cities in summer.
Check current sailings on the Steamship Authority and Hy-Line Cruises sites. The two Hyannis terminals are on different streets, South Street for the Steamship Authority and Ocean Street for Hy-Line, so tell us which one when you book.
Boston to Hyannis by chauffeur
Boston Logan to Hyannis is about 70 miles and takes 1 hour 20 minutes to 2 hours in normal traffic; summer weekends at the Sagamore Bridge can double that. The car drops you at the ferry terminal curb with your bags. Logan pickups are flight-tracked with 30 minutes of included waiting on domestic flights and 60 minutes on international arrivals, counted from actual landing; see our Boston Logan page. Travellers coming by train can start at Boston South Station. From New York the drive to Hyannis is about 250 miles, 5 to 6 hours, and from Providence about 85 miles, 1 hour 30 minutes.
Cape Cod Gateway Airport in Hyannis has short flights across to ACK, which is another way to skip the boat on a busy day.
Nantucket Memorial Airport (ACK): arrivals and private aviation
ACK is about 3 miles southeast of town, typically a 10-minute drive to Main Street and 15 minutes to Siasconset. Airline pickups are at the curb outside the terminal, where the chauffeur texts you the vehicle; a name-board meet and greet is an add-on, and add-ons are only available in selected locations.
In July and August, ACK handles very heavy private jet traffic for an island of its size. Private aircraft use the airport's general aviation terminal, and chauffeurs meet passengers at the terminal door or planeside where the airport allows it. Send the tail number with the booking so the car follows the actual arrival. Our private aviation page describes how FBO pickups work, and airport notices are on the Nantucket Memorial Airport site.
Cars on Nantucket: the honest picture
The island is roughly 14 miles long, and much of it is conservation land with narrow roads. Bringing a car over requires a Steamship Authority reservation on the slow boat, and summer space goes quickly. Other things that shape island driving:
- The town core has cobblestone streets, one-way lanes and very little parking, especially around Main Street and the wharves.
- Summer brings heavy cycling and pedestrian traffic on every road into town.
- Beach driving at places like Great Point needs a separate permit and a four-wheel-drive vehicle, and is not a chauffeur service.
- Large vehicles are scarce on the island, so Sprinters and minicoaches for weddings should be booked early and may need to cross by ferry.
The Town of Nantucket publishes transport and parking rules on its official website.
Where island trips go
From town, the main runs are to Siasconset ('Sconset) at the eastern end, about 7 miles; to Wauwinet at the head of the harbour; to Surfside and Cisco beaches on the south shore; and to Madaket in the west for sunset. Landmark hotels that generate pickups include the White Elephant near the harbour, The Wauwinet, the Nantucket Hotel and Resort, and the Cliffside Beach Club. Brant Point Lighthouse guards the harbour entrance you pass on every ferry. An hourly chauffeur suits a day with lunch in 'Sconset and dinner in town.
Nantucket events by month
- Late April: the Daffodil Festival, with a vintage car parade to 'Sconset.
- Memorial Day weekend: the Figawi sailing race from Hyannis, which fills boats and hotels.
- June: the Nantucket Film Festival.
- July and August: peak season, with weddings nearly every weekend.
- October: Cranberry Festival at the Milestone Bog.
- Early December: the Christmas Stroll on Main Street.
Weddings and house parties
Nantucket weddings often use a church in town and a reception at a private house, a hotel or a tent in 'Sconset. A coordinator plans the vehicles, confirms the plan in writing and staggers guest runs so cars are not queued on narrow lanes. See wedding limousine.
International arrivals bound for Nantucket
Visitors from abroad normally clear customs at Boston Logan or a New York airport and connect onward. From Logan, the chauffeur waits up to 60 minutes after actual landing at no extra charge, then drives to the Hyannis dock or to Cape Cod Gateway Airport for the short flight across. On a summer Saturday, leave at least two and a half hours between a scheduled landing and a ferry departure. Private aircraft arriving from outside the United States must clear customs at a designated airport before continuing to ACK.
Choosing the right car on the island
The executive SUV is the practical default on Nantucket, with room for four and their luggage and enough clearance for the sandy lanes that lead to many summer houses. Sedans work for dinner in town. For weddings, a Sprinter or minicoach carries guests together and avoids a line of cars on a narrow lane. Stretch limousines are rarely practical on the island's small streets.
Booking, vehicles and fares
Book each leg at /book/: for example Logan to the Hyannis dock, then Straight Wharf to your house. The fixed fare covers the chauffeur, fuel and included waiting, with no meter. Executive SUVs are the usual island choice for four people and beach bags; sedans suit couples; vans and Sprinters carry groups. All nine classes are listed on the fleet page, and rates explains what a fare covers. Child seats are free on request. Many guests pair the island with Martha's Vineyard or Boston.
Cancellation and weather
A Nantucket booking cancelled more than three days out costs nothing; the charge is 10% from 72 hours, 50% from 48 hours and the whole fare from 24 hours or on a no-show. Fog and wind can delay ferries and flights; tell the 24/7 desk and the car is re-timed to your new arrival.
