Long Island, Maine

Quiet Casco Bay town with beaches and trails

Overview

Long Island left the City of Portland in 1993 to form its own town. Today it balances fishing wharves with vacation cottages and small year-round neighborhoods. Visitors come for easy beaches, birding marshes, and a quieter alternative to the busier inner bay islands.

Key Facts

Population 234

Region Greater Portland

County Cumberland

Founded 1993

Nearest City Portland (45 minutes by ferry)

Town Office Visit official website

What Long Island Is Known For

Long Island Local Highlights

Sandy island beaches

South Beach and Fowler Beach offer gentle surf and wide sand flats.

Easy trails

Short walks through spruce and marshland with coastal overlooks.

Quick ferry ride

Multiple Casco Bay Lines trips daily from Portland’s Old Port.

Things to Do

Swim and picnic

Spend the day on South Beach with views toward Peaks Island.

Explore by bike

Ride the island loop to coves, wharves, and wooded lanes.

Watch lobster boats

Visit the town wharf to see the working fleet and buy fresh catch in season.

Living in Long Island

Long Island offers small-island living with limited services; residents rely on Portland for major shopping. The ferry schedule shapes commuting and school travel.

Weather & Seasons

summer

Mild, 65-78 F

winter

Cold, 20-35 F with ocean wind

spring

Cool and damp, 40-55 F

fall

Crisp, 45-60 F with bright island foliage

How to Get There

Casco Bay Lines passenger ferry from Portland; vehicle access by private barge only.

Satellite preview shows the approximate town outline to help you get oriented before you arrive.

Satellite preview

Long Island outline

Outdoor Recreation

Boating & Sailing

June - September

Fishing in Maine 2026: Complete Freshwater & Saltwater Guide

Year-round (Open water & Ice fishing)

Hiking

Year-round (Best: May - Oct)

Sea Kayaking

Summer & Fall (June - October)

Related Guides

Maine Ferry Guide

How to navigate the confusing mix of state, private, and mail boat ferries to reach the islands.

Maine Islands Guide

From car-free escapes to working fishing communities, Maine's islands offer experiences unavailable on the mainland. Your guide to island adventures.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Long Island known for?

Long Island is known for its sandy beaches including South Beach and Fowler Beach, easy marsh and forest trails with coastal overlooks, and working island wharves. The town seceded from Portland in 1993 to form its own community.

How do you get to Long Island?

Long Island is reached by Casco Bay Lines passenger ferry from Portland's Old Port, with multiple trips daily. The ferry ride is about 45 minutes. Vehicle access is by private barge only.

What activities are available on Long Island?

Long Island offers swimming and picnicking at South Beach with views toward Peaks Island, biking the island loop to coves, wharves, and wooded lanes, birding in marshes, and watching the lobster fleet at the town wharf.