Visiting Chappaquiddick Island — Things to Do and More!

Chappaquiddick Island is a lovely little island off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard. This small island is so different from the main island — it’s a much quieter, much more chilled out part of the Vineyard. If you’re looking for peace and solitude, you can’t do better than here.

I loved my time on Chappaquiddick (also known as Chappy) — it’s a wonderful place to spend an afternoon or a full day when visiting Martha’s Vineyard. Just know that a trip here needs to be planned carefully, as there is exactly one store on the island and few other facilities! More on that below.

Chappaquiddick was originally settled by the Wampanoag people 12,000 years ago, like the surrounding Cape and Islands. The island is sometimes connected to Martha’s Vineyard at Norton Point, most recently was in 2015, thanks to shifting land and erosion. Technically, Chappaquiddick is part of Edgartown, but it’s completely different geographically and culturally.

Today, Chappaquiddick has a year-round population of around 179 people and, as you’d expect, a tight-knit local community. Locals talk about “going to the mainland” when they go to Edgartown and “going to America” when they go to mainland Massachusetts!

But first, the elephant in the room. There’s one thing that everyone knows about Chappaquiddick Island — that Ted Kennedy drove off a bridge on this island in 1969; that his passenger, Mary Jo Kopechne, drowned; that he didn’t report her death until the next day.

Unfortunately, the name Chappaquiddick has become synonymous with this incident (and it didn’t help that the movie about it was simply called Chappaquiddick, either). But remember that this island deserves to be seen for more than just the actions of one person, just as your own hometown is.

Come to Chappaquiddick to enjoy a beautiful place unlike anywhere else in Massachusetts. You’re going to love it here.

(Planning a trip to Martha’s Vineyard? Be sure to check out my guide to the towns of Martha’s Vineyard, as well as profiles on the towns of Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, and Vineyard Haven!)

This post was published in October 2023.

Planning a Visit to Chappaquiddick Island

Chappaquiddick Island feels like a place where time stands still. You might not notice until you pass the fire station…