Ferries to Long Island
Long Island is easily reachable by car if you’re coming from New York. However, for many travelers from Connecticut, taking a ferry is the most practical option. For example, the ferry from New London to Orient Point allows you to avoid a lengthy drive of over 220 miles around the coastline. In addition to ferries from Connecticut, our Long Island ferry map also shows ferry routes from nearby islands to Long Island, such as Block Island.
Getting to Long Island from Connecticut
To reach the north side of this region in the Northeast, you should take the Cross Sound Ferry or the Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Ferry from Connecticut. For travelers looking to visit Montauk, the seasonal New London to Montauk route is a fantastic choice, especially during spring and summer.Showing all 3 services
Bridgeport ↔ Port Jefferson
Bridgeport Port Jefferson ferry · 1u 15m🚗 ✓🚐 ✓From $23
Long Island Sound: The ferry gateways
For most travelers, “taking a ferry to Long Island” means bypassing the gridlock of New York City by crossing the Long Island Sound from Connecticut. These two routes handle over 2.5 million passengers and 1 million vehicles annually, functioning as critical floating bridges that save an average of 3 hours of driving time compared to the Throgs Neck Bridge route.
| Route | Operator | Logistics Score |
|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport, CT ↔ Port Jefferson | Port Jefferson Ferry | Central Access: Drops you in the middle of Long Island (Suffolk County). Best for accessing the Hamptons from the west or Stony Brook. 1h 15m crossing. |
| New London, CT ↔ Orient Point | Cross Sound Ferry | North Fork Access: Drops you at the very tip of the North Fork. Best for wine country and accessing Shelter Island. 1h 20m crossing. |
⚠️ Expert Alert: The “Reservation Void” Rule
Unlike a casual dinner reservation, ferry vehicle slots are strictly regulated. You must be in the staging lane 20 minutes before departure. If you arrive 15 minutes prior, they may have already given your slot to a standby driver. Traffic on I-95 in Connecticut is unpredictable; buffer an extra hour.
Unlike a casual dinner reservation, ferry vehicle slots are strictly regulated. You must be in the staging lane 20 minutes before departure. If you arrive 15 minutes prior, they may have already given your slot to a standby driver. Traffic on I-95 in Connecticut is unpredictable; buffer an extra hour.
Onward Connections
- The Shelter Island Link: If you take the ferry to Orient Point but your destination is the Hamptons (South Fork), you must take two more short ferries: North Ferry (Greenport to Shelter Island) and South Ferry (Shelter Island to Sag Harbor).
Visitor Volume & Mode Comparison
- Annual Traffic: ~2.5 million passengers (Combined routes)
- Vs. Driving: Driving from New London to Orient Point via the bridges is 150 miles (3.5+ hours without traffic). The ferry is 16 miles (1 hr 20 min).
- Vs. Train: Taking Amtrak to Penn Station and then LIRR out to the island takes 4+ hours and requires a transfer in Manhattan.
