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Major city · United States

Shelter Island

Go for 2 nights by car or bike, May–Oct: no town centre, no bus, and the last ferries leave around midnight.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
May–Jun, Sep–Oct
avoid Jul–Aug (crowds, ferry queues, peak room rates), Nov–Apr (many places closed)
Airports
ISP · JFK · LGA
Nights
2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Shelter Island is a 6.5 sq mi town between the North and South Forks of Long Island, reached only by the North Ferry from Greenport or the South Ferry from North Haven. There is no village core and no public bus: you drive, cycle or walk. Two nights covers the beaches, Mashomack Preserve and a slow loop; one night works if you arrive early and leave late.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Shelter Island, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$4–7
  • Sit-down mealSit-down dinner, main$25–45
  • Street or quick mealDeli sandwich$10–16
  • BeerBeer at a bar$8–12
  • Budget bedCabin or cottage for a family, a night, per roomUS$250
  • Mid-range bedInn or B&B double room, a night, per roomUS$320
  • High-end bedInn or B&B double room, a night, per roomUS$650

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$120 · Mid US$220 · High US$420

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Mashomack Nature PreserveCrescent Beach and Kissing RockNorth and South FerriesQuiet bays, no chain hotels
Airports
ISP Long Island MacArthur (Islip) (About 1 h 15 min by car to the North Ferry, then the crossing) · JFK John F. Kennedy International (About 2 h 30 min by car to Greenport in summer traffic) · LGA LaGuardia (About 2 h 30 min by car to Greenport)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Shelter Island: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

4°C

−4°C

9 rd

Feb

5°C

−3°C

8 rd

Mar

9°C

1°C

9 rd

Apr

14°C

5°C

9 rd

May

19°C

10°C

9 rd

Jun

24°C

15°C

8 rd

Jul

27°C

19°C

7 rd

Aug

27°C

19°C

7 rd

Sep

23°C

15°C

7 rd

Oct

17°C

9°C

7 rd

Nov

12°C

4°C

8 rd

Dec

7°C

−1°C

9 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Car, bike or foot only. The island is about 6.5 sq mi with two-lane roads and no public bus; taxis are few, so book ahead or plan to cycle. Bikes can cross on both ferries. Distances are short: North Ferry to South Ferry is roughly 15 min by car.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Greenportgo

Door to door: About 30 min

North Ferry from Shelter Island, about 10 min, then walk into the village

Cafés, a brewery and the waterfront; easy half-day without a car.

Sag Harborgo

Door to door: About 40 min

South Ferry, then about 15 min by car via Route 114

Bookshops and wharf restaurants; parking is tight in summer.

Montauk

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

South Ferry, then Route 114 and Route 27 east

A long day in summer traffic; better as an overnight.

Westhampton Beachcaution

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min

South Ferry, then Route 114 and Route 27 west

Village and ocean beach; go early on weekends.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Shelter Island Heights

South Ferry side; inns, the Heights historic district and Crescent Beach within a short drive.

Shelter Island Center

The IGA, pharmacy and most year-round services; central for driving anywhere on the island.

West Neck and Shore Road

Waterfront hotels and the sunset side on Peconic Bay; car needed for everything.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$90–150 excl. bed
Mid
$150–280 excl. bed
High
$280+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Inn or B&B double room1 × 2 nights × US$320US$640
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$220US$880
North Ferry, car and driver, one way1 × US$20 · checkUS$20
South Ferry, car and driver, one way1 × US$20 · checkUS$20
Bike rental, one day2 × US$45 · checkUS$90
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$165
Trip total≈ US$454 per person per day, bed includedUS$1,815

2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$4–7
Deli sandwich$10–16
Pizza, one pie$18–28
Sit-down dinner, main$25–45
Beer at a bar$8–12
Ferry crossing, car and driverabout $20 (check)
Bike rental, one day$35–60 (check)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Very low crime; the real risks are narrow roads shared with cars, ticks in the woods, and summer heat on exposed beaches.
  • Ferry queues back up on summer weekends: arrive early for the North Ferry from Greenport.
  • Many restaurants and inns close or cut hours from November to April: check before booking.
  • Roads are narrow with no shoulders in places; ride single file and use lights.
  • Cell coverage is patchy in parts of Mashomack Preserve.
  • Ticks are present in woods and tall grass: use repellent and check after walks.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Shelter Island Police (non-emergency)
631-749-0600
Poison Control
1-800-222-1222

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Shelter IslandShelter Island

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Poison Control1-800-222-1222

Embassy

No consulates on the island; nearest are in New York City. US visitors: 911 for anything urgent.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • North Ferry, Greenport → Shelter Island, car and driver: about $20 one way (check)
  • South Ferry, North Haven → Shelter Island, car and driver: about $20 one way (check)
  • Taxi across the island: $15–30 (check)

Say or show

  • Where is the ferry? — Where is the ferry?
  • One ticket, please — One ticket, please
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Is there a taxi? — Is there a taxi?
  • What time is the last ferry? — What time is the last ferry?

Tipping: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% taxis.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Shelter Island. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (crowds, ferry queues, peak room rates), Nov–Apr (many places closed) · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Ferry-to-bed contract for both crossings: last departures field-checked, walk-on vs car fares, queue times.
  2. Four walking and cycling clusters with rescue anchors: the Heights, Crescent Beach, Mashomack, West Neck.
  3. Place pages with verified hours (Mashomack, Crescent Beach, Ram's Head plaque) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Seasonal-closure fixtures so gates A–D can go green outside summer.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources