Peaks Island
Peaks Island is a fifteen-minute ferry ride from downtown Portland , which makes it the easiest island trip in Maine and the only one you can do on a whim. Roughly a thousand people live here year-round, and the population multiplies in summer.
It is a genuine community rather than a resort (there is a school, a library and a fire station) and it is small enough to ride around in under an hour.
Getting there
Casco Bay Lines runs the ferry from the Maine State Pier on Commercial Street, with frequent sailings year-round and a longer schedule in summer. You can take a car, but the reservation system and the cost make it a poor idea for a day trip. Take a bike, or rent one at the landing.
Buy a round-trip ticket and check the return times before you set off, particularly outside summer, when sailings thin out in the evening.
Things to do
Ride the island loop. The road around the perimeter is a little under four miles, with the back shore (facing open ocean rather than the city) the reason to do it. The rocks there are exposed and the view runs out past the other Casco Bay islands.
The Umbrella Cover Museum is exactly what it sounds like and is a genuinely charming twenty minutes. The Fifth Maine Regiment Museum and the Eighth Maine Regiment Memorial, both Civil War veterans' buildings on the shore, are open in summer. Battery Steele, a huge overgrown World War II gun emplacement in the island's interior, is open to walk through and considerably more atmospheric than it sounds.
There are small beaches at Sandy Beach and along the eastern shore, and kayak rentals near the landing for paddling around the smaller islands.
When to go
Summer is the obvious season, but the island is at its best in September when the day-trippers thin. Winter crossings are cold and beautiful, and most island businesses close, so bring what you need.
Note that the island's few restaurants and the one small store keep short and seasonal hours. Do not plan a late lunch there without checking first.
Common questions
Is Peaks Island worth visiting?
Yes, and it is the easiest island trip from Portland. The draw is the crossing itself and a slow loop around the shore, with open water views on the back side of the island. Half a day is enough for most people. If you want a quieter, less-visited island, the outer Casco Bay stops take longer to reach.
Do you need a car on Peaks Island?
No. The island is small enough to walk or bike around, and most visitors rent a bike or a golf cart near the landing instead of bringing a vehicle over. Cars can cross on the boat, but space is limited and it is rarely worth the trouble for a day trip. The shore road is the standard loop.
Can you stay overnight on Peaks Island?
Yes. There are a small number of inns, guesthouses, and short-term rentals, but no resorts or chain hotels, so options are limited and fill up in summer. Staying over changes the trip: the day crowd leaves on the evening boats and the island goes quiet. Book well ahead if you want a summer weekend.
Do people live on Peaks Island year-round?
Yes. Peaks is part of the city of Portland and has a year-round community with its own school, library, and stores, so it is a neighborhood as much as a destination. The population swells in summer and drops sharply after Labor Day. That is worth remembering: much of what you pass is someone's home, not a resort.
