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
Frenchboro
Skip unless you have a boat or want a quiet day-trip by ferry from Bass Harbor: half a day on the island, no overnight needed.
Frenchboro is a tiny island community in Blue Hill Bay, Down East Maine, with a year-round population under 100. There is one seasonal deli, a general store, a conserved 900-acre parcel of trails and beaches, and a lobster festival in August. Most visitors arrive by private boat or the Bass Harbor ferry (35 min). It is a stop for a quiet walk, not a destination.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- Avoid
- Nov–Apr (ferry schedule reduced or weather-dependent)
- Stay
- 0 nights
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 $20–40 (day-trip, no lodging) · Mid $100–150 (includes ferry, lunch, inn stay) (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 · Hancock County Sheriff (non-emergency) 207-667-7575
- 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 |
|---|---|
| Ferry Bass Harbor ↔ Frenchboro, round trip | $20 (check) |
| Lobster roll at Lunt's Dockside Deli | $18–22 (check) |
| Coffee at Offshore Store | $3–5 (check) |
| Harbor House Inn, double room per night | $100–200 (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BHB · Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport
- About 45 min drive to Bass Harbor ferry; rental car needed.
- BGR · Bangor International Airport
- About 1.5 h drive to Bass Harbor.
Typical fares
- Ferry Bass Harbor → Frenchboro
- about $10 one way, 35 min (check)
- Taxi from Bass Harbor ferry to Acadia entrance
- about $30–40 (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
Walk the island's dirt roads and trails; no car rental, no taxi. Bikes possible but not available for hire.
See and do
Known for
- Island solitude and conserved trails
- Lunt's Dockside Deli lobster rolls (July–August only)
- Annual Lobster Festival (2nd Saturday in August)
- Great Duck Light offshore
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Bass Harbor | Ferry from Frenchboro, 35 min | 35 min |
| Acadia National Park | Ferry to Bass Harbor, then drive 20 min to park entrance | About 1 h |
| Bar Harbor | Ferry to Bass Harbor, then drive 25 min | About 1 h |
Sleep
- Frenchboro (Harbor House Inn)
- Only one inn, open May–September; book ahead.
- Bass Harbor / Mount Desert Island
- More options if you day-trip; 35 min ferry away.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hello |
| Thank you | Thank you |
| How much is the ferry? | How much is the ferry? |
| Where is the trailhead? | Where is the trailhead? |
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
- Ferry schedule changes with season and weather: check the Maine DOT ferry page before you go.
- No ATM on the island; bring cash for the store and deli.
- Lunt's Dockside Deli is open July–August only; the Offshore Store has limited hours.
- Deer are protected and nearly tame — do not feed them.
Very safe; the main risks are weather (fog, cold water) and the ferry schedule. No hospital on the island.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Frenchboro yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Island solitude and conserved trails
- Lunt's Dockside Deli lobster rolls (July–August only)
- Annual Lobster Festival (2nd Saturday in August)
- Great Duck Light offshore
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Maine DOT ferry service: www.maine.gov/mdot/ferry/
- Hancock County tourism: www.visitmaine.com/region/down-east-acadia/hancock-county
- Wikivoyage: Frenchboro, revision 4753331 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4753331
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Frenchboro
To the ferry terminal, please
To the ferry terminal, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Hancock County Sheriff (non-emergency)207-667-7575
English only; no local dialect needed.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/frenchboro). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.