In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · United States
Bailey Island
Half-day or a single night: cross the granite crib bridge, eat lobster at Cook's, walk Giant Stairs. Not a base for longer stays.
Bailey Island is a quiet fishing island in Casco Bay, connected to the mainland by US Route 24 and a granite-slab crib bridge. Most visitors come for a few hours of lobster, rocky shoreline and the working harbour. One night is enough to slow down; more than that and you run out of things to do unless you fish or kayak.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- Avoid
- Nov–Apr (many places closed, cold)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $50–80 excl. bed · Mid $80–150 excl. bed · High $150+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Lobster roll (take-out) | $15–22 |
| Whole lobster at Glen's (per lb) | $5–8 |
| Coffee | $2–4 |
| Casco Bay Lines ferry, one way | $8 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- PWM · Portland International Jetport
- About 45 min drive; rental car recommended
Typical fares
- Portland Jetport to Bailey Island by taxi/rideshare
- about $60–80, 45 min (check)
- Casco Bay Lines ferry, Portland to Bailey Island
- about $8 one way, 45 min (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Car or bicycle. The island is small (about 5 km (3.1 mi) end to end); walking works for the main sights. Casco Bay Lines ferry from Portland lands at the town landing.Car or bicycle. The island is small (about 3.1 mi (5 km) end to end); walking works for the main sights. Casco Bay Lines ferry from Portland lands at the town landing.
See and do
Known for
- Bailey Island Bridge (crib bridge)
- Lobster shacks and fresh-off-the-boat lobster
- Giant Stairs rock formation
- Working lobster harbour at Mackerel Cove
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Portland, Maine | Casco Bay Lines ferry or drive via US Route 24 and I-295 | About 1 h |
| Peaks Island | Casco Bay Lines ferry from Portland | About 1.5 h |
| Chebeague Island | Casco Bay Lines ferry from Portland | About 1.5 h |
| Long Island, Maine | Casco Bay Lines ferry from Portland | About 1.5 h |
Sleep
- Bailey Island Motel
- The only motel on the island; on Route 24 near the bridge.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hello |
| Thank you | Thank you |
| How much for a lobster roll? | How much for a lobster roll? |
| Where is the ferry? | Where is the ferry? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Many restaurants and shops close by 8–9 PM, and some close entirely in winter.
- No ATM on the island; bring cash for small purchases.
- Cell service can be patchy; download offline maps.
- The bridge is narrow — drive slowly and watch for pedestrians.
Very safe. The main risks are slippery rocks at Giant Stairs and the narrow bridge road. No violent crime reported.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Bailey Island yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Bailey Island Bridge (crib bridge)
- Lobster shacks and fresh-off-the-boat lobster
- Giant Stairs rock formation
- Working lobster harbour at Mackerel Cove
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Casco Bay Lines: www.cascobaylines.com/
- Bailey Island Motel: www.baileyislandmotel.com/
- Wikivoyage: Bailey Island, revision 4619672 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4619672
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Bailey Island
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/bailey-island). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.