Ferry From Cape Cod To Long Island

Let’s clear up the big question first: you can’t hop on a ferry in Cape Cod and step off in Long Island. There is no direct ferry between those two exact spots. But don’t sulk into your clam roll just yet.

The smart, scenic, and slightly adventurous workaround is to drive to New London, Connecticut, then take the Cross Sound Ferry to Orient Point, New York. It’s not technically Cape Cod to Long Island. It’s more like Cape Cod to Connecticut to Long Island, with a boat in the middle.

Why the Direct Route Doesn’t Exist

Cape Cod and Long Island are both sandy, salty, and stubbornly peninsular. They stare across a whole lot of water, but no ferry company has made that exact run a regular thing. Trust me, people ask.

You’ll find plenty of ferries around Cape Cod: Woods Hole to Martha’s Vineyard, Hyannis to Nantucket, Provincetown to Boston. They’re great. They just don’t point toward Long Island.

On the Long Island side, ferries mostly connect to Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Block Island. So the trick is to plug into one of those routes and build a little road-and-sea combo.

The Classic Workaround: New London to Orient Point

Here’s the move. Drive from Cape Cod to New London, Connecticut. Depending on where you start on the Cape, that’s roughly two to three hours, traffic gods willing.

Then sail with Cross Sound Ferry from New London to Orient Point. The ride takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes. It’s short enough to feel easy, long enough to eat a pretzel and pretend you’re a sailor.

Orient Point lands you on the North Fork of Long Island. From there, you can drive to Greenport, Riverhead, or onward to the Hamptons and beyond. Hello, wineries and lobster rolls.

What to Know Before You Go

Reservations are your friend, especially in summer and on weekends. Cars fill up fast, and “winging it” is a lovely idea until you’re staring at a full ferry.

Arrive at least 30 to 60 minutes before departure if you’re bringing a vehicle. Foot passengers have it easier, but you still don’t want to be the person sprinting down the dock with a rolling suitcase.

Check the schedule carefully. Cross Sound Ferry runs year-round, but times change with the seasons. Weather can also shuffle things, because the ocean has opinions.

Amherstview Ferry at Zane Stirling blog

Onboard: What’s the Vibe?

The ferry is comfortable, practical, and surprisingly fun. There’s indoor seating, outdoor decks, and enough sea breeze to make your hair look like you just survived a wind tunnel.

Grab a snack, find a rail, and watch for lighthouses, sailboats, and maybe a gull with a bad attitude. The views across Long Island Sound are legitimately lovely.

If you’re traveling with kids, they’ll enjoy the open deck. If you’re traveling with adults, they’ll enjoy the fact that nobody has to drive for a while.

Other Island-Hopping Options

Want a more scenic, more complicated route? You could weave through Rhode Island and Block Island. Take a ferry from Point Judith to Block Island, then catch a seasonal ferry from Block Island to Montauk.

That route is charming, but it’s not simple. It involves multiple schedules, more driving, and a higher chance of saying, “Wait, which ferry are we on?”

There’s also the drive-around option: Cape Cod to Long Island via Boston, Providence, New Haven, and New York. It works, but you’ll spend more time in traffic and less time feeling the sea spray.

For most people, the New London-to-Orient Point ferry is the sweet spot. It cuts out a big chunk of I-95 misery and turns a road trip into a mini cruise.

Tips for a Smooth Trip

Book early. Pack light. Bring a jacket, even in summer, because the deck can be breezy and you’ll thank yourself later.

Ferry To Connecticut – Long Island Ferry Timetable – NXULY

Keep snacks and water handy. Ferry food is fine, but having your own backup granola bar can save you from hangry mutiny.

If you’re driving an EV, check charging options near the terminals. If you’re driving a giant RV, check height and length rules before you show up. Size matters on a boat.

And give yourself buffer time. Ferries are punctual until they’re not, and the ocean doesn’t care about your dinner reservation.

Cost and Timing

Fares vary by vehicle size, season, and whether you’re a foot passenger or bringing a car. A car-and-driver ticket costs more than a walk-on, naturally. Check the website for current prices before you budget your lobster roll fund.

Summer weekends are the busiest, so book early and aim for mid-morning or early afternoon if you can. Off-season trips are quieter, cheaper, and honestly kind of dreamy.

Sunset crossings are gorgeous, but they fill up. If you score one, bring a camera and maybe a tiny bit of romance. Even if it’s just you and a bag of chips.

The Bottom Line

So no, there isn’t a magical direct ferry from Cape Cod to Long Island. But the workaround is genuinely enjoyable, especially if you like boats, snacks, and not sitting in traffic.

Drive to New London, sail to Orient Point, and roll onto Long Island feeling like you cracked a secret code. You didn’t just get there. You made the journey part of the fun.

Pack a sense of humor, charge your phone, and let the salt air do its thing. The road may bend, but the ferry still floats, and that’s a pretty great reason to smile.