Directions to Chebeague

There are 2 ferry services:

Cousins Island Ferry - Good points: many more ferries per day; short boat ride; atmosphere on bus & smaller ferry more congenial. Drawbacks: you need to park in the satellite lot on Rt.1 (near the Cumberland/Yarmouth line) and take a shuttle bus to the Cousins Is. ferry dock; you arrive at the Stone Pier on the east end of Chebeague and need to be picked up or bike 3 miles down to our house.

Portland Ferry - Good points: scenic ferry ride (some tourists take it just for the cruise); can walk from the Chandlers Cove dock to our house; ferry tickets are less expensive; Portland is a neat city. Drawbacks: less choice of ferry times; longer boat ride (sometimes more than 2 hrs)

_______________________________________________________

Chebeague Transportation Company (Cousins Island Ferry) 207-846-3700

Click here to go to the Chebeague Transportation Website for ferry times. 

The schedule shows 3 times: the time the bus leaves the satellite parking lot on Rt.1 (this is the time you need to watch); the time the ferry leaves the dock on Cousins Island (this is not so important since you will have arrived with the bus); and the time the ferry leaves Chebeague (for when you have to return to the mainland).

Directions to the satellite parking lot on Rt.1 in Cumberland for the Cousins Island Ferry:

(for Google Maps or Waze, it's easier to use "Thomas Dr., Cumberland, ME" as your destination. This road is across the street from the parking lot)

Route 95 North (in Maine it is the Maine Turnpike)

Take Exit 44 off Maine Turnpike onto Rt. 295. You will pass alongside/through Portland. 

Take Exit 15 off Rt. 295 for Route 1 (southernmost exit for Yarmouth)

Turn Left onto Rt 1; drive about 1/4 of a mile South

Turn Right into bus parking lot (sign for Chebeague Transportation Co. Satellite Parking)
Plan on arriving 10-15 minutes early - in summer it can be crowded & you need more time to load your luggage onto the bus, buy a parking ticket ($15/day), find a parking space, etc. There are portapotties at the parking lot.

You pay for your ferry ticket on the ferry (slight discount for roundtrip).

_______________________________________________________________

Casco Bay Lines (Portland Ferry)

Click here for the Casco Bay Lines Website.

Directions to Casco Bay Lines Terminal, Commercial St., Portland, ME

Route 95 North (in Maine Rt. 95 becomes the Maine Turnpike).

Take Exit 44 off Maine Turnpike onto Rt. 295

Take Exit 7 off Rt. 295 onto “Franklin Street”. Go across town on Franklin St. to end, at Commercial St..

Casco Bay Lines terminal and parking garage is on the other side of Commercial St. Drive up to the building at the end to unload people and luggage, then go to park your car, either in the CBL Parking Garage (most expensive), a parking lot a few blocks away (there are several), or you can try to find a free spot further away (but you have to check signs for specific days a car can't be left overnight - a different day on a different street)

Click here for a Portland Parking Lot Map.

The ferry will stop at several islands before reaching Chebeague, leaving you off at Chandlers Cove. From there it is a 10-15 minute walk to our house. If you want, you can leave your luggage at the dock, and when you arrive at the house drive the car back to retrieve the luggage.

How the ferry works: (tickets, luggage, bikes, dogs...) You must purchase tickets at the counter for people, dogs, and bicycles. If you have a family group it may be worth getting a “book” of tickets. Seniors get a discount. You can bring as much luggage as you can carry. If you have an excessive amount of luggage (more than you can carry) you can ship some of it as “freight”. To ship luggage as freight you have to bring it to the freight area 30 minutes before the ferry leaves. There is a fee per item. ***The return trip from Chebeague to Portland does not require a ticket (if you have freight on the return trip, let the ferry men know and you will make the payment upon arrival in Portland.