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Major city · United States

Smith Island

Go for one night, not a day trip: ferries from Crisfield run about 1 h and the last boat back leaves mid-afternoon.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Smith Island is a 4 sq mi inhabited island in Chesapeake Bay, reachable only by boat, with about 360 residents, no banks, no ATMs and no police. Most visitors come for one night to eat crab, walk or cycle the flat lanes and kayak the marsh creeks. Day-trippers get about four hours ashore.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
May–Jun, Sep–Oct
avoid Jan–Feb (cold, thin ferry schedule), peak Jul–Aug weekends
Airports
SBY · BWI
Nights
1
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.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Smith Island911 ▾

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

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

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

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

  • CoffeeCoffee or a soft drink$2–4
  • Budget bedWhole cottage (up to 6), a night, per roomUS$250
  • Mid-range bedGuest-house room, a night, per roomUS$150
  • High-end bedGuest-house room, a night, per roomUS$200

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$70 · Mid US$130 · High US$220

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

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

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.

Smith Island cake, the Maryland state dessertCrabbing and oystering villagesKayaking and birdwatching in the marshMethodist island culture
Airports
SBY Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Regional (About 1 h drive to Crisfield, then the ferry; check car rental hours.) · BWI Baltimore/Washington International (About 3 h drive to Crisfield; the usual gateway for most trips.)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    8°C (46°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    9°C (48°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    13°C (55°F)

  4. Apr

    not flagged

    19°C (66°F)

  5. May

    Best

    24°C (75°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    29°C (84°F)

  7. Jul

    Avoid

    31°C (88°F)

  8. Aug

    Avoid

    30°C (86°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    27°C (81°F)

  10. Oct

    Best

    21°C (70°F)

  11. Nov

    not flagged

    15°C (59°F)

  12. Dec

    not flagged

    10°C (50°F)

Best: May–Jun, Sep–Oct. Avoid: Jan–Feb, Jul–Aug. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (31°C (88°F)), coolest Jan (0°C (32°F) low), wettest Jul (10 rain days), driest Sep (7). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Smith 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

8°C (46°F)

0°C (32°F)

9 rd

Feb

9°C (48°F)

0°C (32°F)

8 rd

Mar

13°C (55°F)

4°C (39°F)

9 rd

Apr

19°C (66°F)

9°C (48°F)

9 rd

May

24°C (75°F)

14°C (57°F)

9 rd

Jun

29°C (84°F)

19°C (66°F)

9 rd

Jul

31°C (88°F)

22°C (72°F)

10 rd

Aug

30°C (86°F)

21°C (70°F)

9 rd

Sep

27°C (81°F)

18°C (64°F)

7 rd

Oct

21°C (70°F)

12°C (54°F)

7 rd

Nov

15°C (59°F)

6°C (43°F)

8 rd

Dec

10°C (50°F)

2°C (36°F)

9 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

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

Getting around

Walk or cycle; the island is flat and small. Some guest houses lend bikes, kayaks and canoes. Golf carts and skiffs are used by residents; ask your host about informal lifts. No car rental.

Nearest full guides

Straight-line distance, not travel time

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Crisfieldgo

Door to door: About 1–1.5 h

Passenger ferry from Ewell

The mainland side of the crossing; seafood houses and the ferry dock.

Point Lookout

caution

Door to door: About 1 h

Passenger ferry from Ewell

Seasonal and schedule-limited; check sailings before planning around it.

Tangier Island

skip

Door to door: Half a day or more

Private boat or a long crossing via the mainland

Not a practical same-day hop from Smith Island.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

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

Ewell

Main landing, most guest houses, the deli and the inn; walk to everything.

Tylerton

Smaller village across the island; quieter, fewer beds, reachable by boat or a long walk.

Rhodes Point

Third village, mostly residential; limited visitor beds.

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

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
$60–110 excl. bed
Mid
$110–180 excl. bed
High
$180+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Guest-house room1 × 1 night × US$150US$150
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$130US$260
Passenger ferry, round trip2 × US$40US$80
Kayak or bike hire, one day2 × US$30US$60
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$58
Trip total≈ US$319 per person per day, bed includedUS$638

2026 estimate in US dollars; mainland travel to Crisfield excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Smith Island cake, whole or by the slice$5–30
Crab cake plate at a local restaurant$18–30
Coffee or a soft drink$2–4
Passenger ferry, one way$20–25

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Very low crime and no police on the island; the real risks are weather on the water, no medical facilities and no ATMs. Carry cash and check the marine forecast before any kayak or skiff trip.
  • No ATMs, banks or card-friendly tills everywhere: bring cash.
  • No medical facilities on the island; the nearest hospital is on the mainland.
  • Cell and data coverage is patchy: download offline maps and ferry times before you leave Crisfield.
  • Ferries are weather-dependent and can sell out in summer: book ahead and confirm the return sailing.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
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.

Smith IslandSmith 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 embassies on the island; the nearest consulates are in Washington, DC and Baltimore. US visitors: 911.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Crisfield → Ewell ferry: about $20–25 one way, about 1 h
  • Point Lookout → Ewell ferry: about $20–25 one way, about 1 h
  • Kayak hire, one day: about $30

Say or show

  • How much is it? — How much is it?
  • Do you take cards? — Do you take cards?
  • Where is the ferry dock? — Where is the ferry dock?

Cash is king here: no ATMs on the island.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

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 Smith 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 Jan–Feb (cold, thin ferry schedule), peak Jul–Aug weekends · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 3 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Ferry timetable and last-return fixtures for Crisfield and Point Lookout, field-checked for 2026.
  2. Bed inventory by village with cash-only notes and cancellation terms.
  3. Kayak and bike rental points with opening hours and weather cutoffs.
  4. Eat pages for the deli, the inn restaurant and the cake bakers, with last orders.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources