A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Ocean City vs. Martha's Vineyard for Resorts, Families, Couples, and Food

Should you visit Ocean City or Martha's Vineyard?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Ocean City or Martha's Vineyard? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Ocean City

Ocean City is a energetic, fun-filled, and laid back city. It's also popular because of the beaches, nightlife, and food.

Martha's Vineyard

Martha's Vineyard is a coastal, peaceful, and affluent island. This is a great small town that is just waiting to be explored. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include food, beaches, and hiking.

Ocean City and Martha's Vineyard: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Ocean City or Martha's Vineyard?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Martha's Vineyard. Although Ocean City and Martha's Vineyard are popular destinations, Martha's Vineyard has more sights and attractions for tourists. Martha's Vineyard is very popular for its food, resorts, hiking, shopping, small town charm, and impressive beauty, while Ocean City attracts visitors for its nightlife. Ocean City is more touristy than Martha's Vineyard and is popular for its miles of sandy beach, fun-filled activities, and thrilling water sports. Martha's Vineyard is famous for its natural beauty, charming New England towns, and upscale local shopping. It is also well known for the Aquinnah Cliffs.

How is Ocean City different from Martha's Vineyard?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Martha's Vineyard and Ocean City. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Ocean City or Martha's Vineyard?

For an educational experience, head to a museum or a notable sight in either Ocean City or Martha's Vineyard.

Ocean City offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. Most people spend their time on the beach, but for the rainy days you can check out the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum or the Art League of Ocean City.

While most people don't head to Martha's Vineyard specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. There are a couple of local museums in the area as well as the Martha's Vineyard Museum.

Is the Food Better in Ocean City or Martha's Vineyard? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Martha's Vineyard is a well-known place for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Ocean City is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

Dining out in Martha's Vineyard is an experience not to be missed. The region prioritizes sustainable agriculture and there are many local eateries that range from upscale to more casual. You'll find the greatest number of options during the peak summer months, but regardless of when you visit, you're sure to eat well.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Ocean City. Themed restaurants are popular in the area. You'll also find all-you-can-eat seafood buffets and casual diners with pancakes and waffles. Pizza, burgers, and other fast food options are also abundant.

Is Ocean City or Martha's Vineyard Better for Nightlife?

Ocean City is a great city for its evening party scene. However, Martha's Vineyard is not known for nightlife.

The nightlife in Ocean City has something for everybody. Happy hours are popular at the bars in the area. You'll also find live music and DJ led parties. Head to the boardwalk, which will overwhelm your senses. There are neon lights, colorful rides, and arcades filled with people and activities.

Most people don't head to Martha's Vineyard specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. There's more of a laid back vibe, but the best towns in the evening are Edgartown and Oak Bluffs.

Is Ocean City or Martha's Vineyard Better for Resorts?

Martha's Vineyard is a world-class destination for its resorts. Also, Ocean City is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its luxury resorts.

For the ultimate resort vacation, Martha's Vineyard is a great choice. There are beautiful and luxurious resorts that attract celebrities and socialites. Many have pools and serene outdoor spaces that you can enjoy.

Vacationers can choose from a number of terrific resorts in Ocean City. There are many oceanfront resorts with pools and rooms with ocean views. The hotels along the beach tend to be the most expensive, but if you find a place across from the Coastal Highway, it's very challenging to walk to the beach.

Is Ocean City or Martha's Vineyard Better for Beaches?

For a relaxing beach holiday, both Ocean City and Martha's Vineyard are superb choices.

Ocean City is considered a top beach destination. There are ten miles of sandy beach that are lined with hotels and resorts. A festive boardwalk runs along the coastline and has many rides, arcades, restaurants, and more. The beach offers waves and warm water during the summer months.

Martha's Vineyard is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. The beaches are scenic and peaceful. Head to northern side of the island for shallow water, or south for more surf. While there are some public beaches that are open to everyone, there are also beaches that require a parking or town beach permit to visit.

Is Ocean City or Martha's Vineyard Better for Hiking?

Martha's Vineyard is a popular place for the nearby hiking options. However, Ocean City is not a hiking destination.

Martha's Vineyard is a good destination for hiking. There are miles of trails around the island that pass through fields or along the coastline. The island is mostly flat, so the hikes are relatively easy for all skill levels.

Ocean City is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Ocean City or Martha's Vineyard?

Martha's Vineyard is a well-known place for its shopping areas. However, Ocean City is not a good city for shopping.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Martha's Vineyard. There are no malls, so you'll enjoy shopping at local stores that sell a mix of locally made items and name brand. There are many art galleries as well as craft festivals during the summer months.

Ocean City is a good destination for shopping. You'll find surf stores and souvenir shops along the three mile boardwalk. There are also many vendors and shopping centers along the Coastal Highway. For something a little more interesting you can head to the Inlet Village.

Is Ocean City or Martha's Vineyard Better for Families?

Ocean City is an amazing city to visit for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Martha's Vineyard is not as popular, but is still a nice island for its family-friendly activities.

With a huge array of activities for kids, Ocean City is very family-friendly. Beyond the family-friendly beach, there's also minigolf, dolphin tours, and themed-restaurants that are perfect for kids. Head to the Jolly Roger amusement park for a thrilling afternoon or spend some time visiting Ripley's Believe It or Not. The boardwalk is lined with activities for both kids and adults. There are also candy shops, ice cream parlors, and pizza joints where you can grab a bite to eat.

Martha's Vineyard is a family-friendly place to visit. You can visit local farms or go to a local baseball game. There's also cafes, ice cream shops, and donut shops that kids will enjoy.

Is Ocean City or Martha's Vineyard Better for Couples?

Martha's Vineyard is a world-class destination for couples. Also, Ocean City is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for romance.

Martha's Vineyard makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. It's filled with charming bed and breakfasts and plenty of New England charm. Couples will enjoy the quaint restaurants and mix of history, small town charm, and outdoor adventure.

Ocean City makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Hotels line the beach, many with beautiful views and nice pools. You can take long romantic walks along the coastline or head to one of the many seafood restaurants in town.

Is Ocean City or Martha's Vineyard Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Ocean City and Martha's Vineyard offer reasonable public transit options.

Public transit is generally limited in Ocean City. There are boardwalk trams as well as shuttle buses, but most people have their own vehicle, and its recommended you have a private car to get around.

Public transit is mostly limited in Martha's Vineyard. Access to the island is limited to boat and air. There's a bus service that connects the towns.

Is Ocean City or Martha's Vineyard a more walkable city?

Martha's Vineyard is a popular place for its ease of walking around. However, Ocean City is not a good city for its walkability.

Martha's Vineyard is a somewhat walkable island. Many of the towns have walkable downtown areas, but traveling between towns and into the countryside requires a vehicle.

Ocean City is generally not a very walkable city. If you stay at an oceanfront hotel or on the ocean block, it's possible to walk to the beach. If you stay further back, you'll have to cross the Coastal Highway, which is eight lanes of busy traffic.

For even more information, also check out Is Ocean City Worth Visiting? and Is Martha's Vineyard Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Martha's Vineyard or Ocean City?

How long in Ocean City or Martha's Vineyard?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Ocean City and Martha's Vineyard. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Ocean City than in Martha's Vineyard. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Ocean City, and 1-3 days is enough time in Martha's Vineyard.

Families should spend more time in Ocean City than Martha's Vineyard. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Ocean City, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Martha's Vineyard than Ocean City. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Martha's Vineyard that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Ocean City than Martha's Vineyard if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Ocean City.

One day in Ocean City or Martha's Vineyard?

With nightlife and food around the destination of Ocean City, there's plenty to do. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It offers something for everyone.

Martha's Vineyard might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. Anyone can find something fun to do here. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Martha's Vineyard, one day is sufficent for most.

A weekend in Ocean City or Martha's Vineyard?

With food and nightlife around the energetic city of Ocean City, there's plenty to do. Your budget might influence how long you stay. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

Even though Martha's Vineyard is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this island.

Five days in Ocean City or Martha's Vineyard?

With nightlife and food around the laid back destination of Ocean City, there's plenty to do. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. If you have five days, this city makes for a great vacation. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here.

Martha's Vineyard, a popular island, is full of activities for travelers. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Ocean City or Martha's Vineyard?

Ocean City is a popular choice for travelers. It's also a relaxing resort destination. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. One week here is typical. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Martha's Vineyard is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America, The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ocean City and Martha's Vineyard, we can see that Martha's Vineyard is more expensive. And not only is Ocean City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ocean City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ocean City and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Martha's Vineyard would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Martha's Vineyard than you might in Ocean City.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ocean City Expensive? and Is Martha's Vineyard Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Ocean City or Martha's Vineyard?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Ocean City or Martha's Vineyard in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Ocean City as well as Martha's Vineyard. Most visitors come to Ocean City for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Additionally, the summer months attract visitors to Martha's Vineyard because of the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

Ocean City is around the same temperature as Martha's Vineyard in the summer. The daily temperature in Ocean City averages around 77°F (25°C) in July, and Martha's Vineyard fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).

Ocean City receives a lot of rain in the summer. Ocean City usually gets more rain in July than Martha's Vineyard. Ocean City gets 4.3 inches (110 mm) of rain, while Martha's Vineyard receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Ocean City or Martha's Vineyard in the Autumn?

Both Martha's Vineyard and Ocean City are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Ocean City because of the shopping scene. Also, the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Martha's Vineyard this time of year.

In the autumn, Ocean City is a little warmer than Martha's Vineyard. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Ocean City in October average around 58°F (14°C), and Martha's Vineyard averages at about 53°F (12°C).

In October, Ocean City usually receives around the same amount of rain as Martha's Vineyard. Ocean City gets 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain, while Martha's Vineyard receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Ocean City or Martha's Vineyard in the Winter?

Both Martha's Vineyard and Ocean City during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Ocean City this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Martha's Vineyard for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Martha's Vineyard. It's quite cold in Ocean City in the winter. In January, Ocean City is generally much warmer than Martha's Vineyard. Daily temperatures in Ocean City average around 35°F (2°C), and Martha's Vineyard fluctuates around 28°F (-2°C).

Ocean City usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Martha's Vineyard. Ocean City gets 3.6 inches (93 mm) of rain, while Martha's Vineyard receives 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Ocean City or Martha's Vineyard in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Ocean City and Martha's Vineyard. Many travelers come to Ocean City for the beaches. Also, many visitors come to Martha's Vineyard in the spring for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.

Ocean City is a little warmer than Martha's Vineyard in the spring. The daily temperature in Ocean City averages around 54°F (12°C) in April, and Martha's Vineyard fluctuates around 48°F (9°C).

In April, Ocean City usually receives less rain than Martha's Vineyard. Ocean City gets 3.2 inches (81 mm) of rain, while Martha's Vineyard receives 3.7 inches (94 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Martha's Vineyard and Ocean City