Planning a Trip

Getting There -- Shelter Island is accessible only by boat; it's about a 10-minute ferry trip from the mainland. If you're driving, take the LIE out to Riverhead, then head north to Greenport or south to Sag Harbor -- the distance is roughly the same. From Greenport on the North Fork, the North Ferry Co. (tel. 631/749-0139) runs every 15 to 30 minutes from 6am to midnight. The price is $9 for car and driver one-way, $2 per extra person or for walk-ons. From Sag Harbor, the South Ferry (tel. 631/749-1200) runs every 10 to 12 minutes from 5:40am to 11:45pm year-round, with extended hours in the summer and extended weekend hours the rest of the year. The price is $12 per car one-way, $1 per person for walk-ons. Since Shelter Island is so small, it doesn't matter which ferry you take, but if you don't want to bother with a car, you can take the Long Island Rail Road (tel. 516/822-LIRR) to Greenport; the ferry is right next to the train station.

Visitor Information -- Contact the Long Island Convention & Visitors Bureau at tel. 877/FUN-ON-LI or 631/951-3440.

Getting Around -- While the island is small, if you really want to explore, you'll need a car. Check out the South Fork section of this chapter for information on rentals. If you just want to relax at your hotel, you can arrange for a pickup at the ferry, or get a taxi by calling Shelter Island Go-fors (tel. 631/749-4252).