Peaks Island ferry tickets are round trip: adults pay $16 in peak season, and boats leave Portland most days year-round.
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The Peaks Island ferry is short, frequent, and easy once you know the ticket rules. When you buy Ferry Tickets to Peaks Island, the fare covers a round trip from the Casco Bay Lines terminal on the Maine State Pier in Portland, Maine.
The main choice is not which ferry company to use. Casco Bay Lines operates the public ferry. The choice is whether to go as a walk-on passenger, bring a bike, bring a dog, or try to take a vehicle on a car-ferry sailing.
For a normal day trip, walk on. The passenger fare is far cheaper than taking a car, and Peaks Island is small enough to cover on foot, by bike, or by golf cart rental once you arrive.
If you want to compare the Portland-to-Peaks route with transfers and nearby travel options, start here after checking the ferry timing you need:
How Much Do Peaks Island Ferry Tickets Cost?
Peaks Island ferry tickets cost $16 round trip for adults during the 2026 peak season and $8 round trip during the off-peak season. Children ages 5–17, seniors 65 and older, and eligible disabled riders pay half fare.
Peak season passenger rates run from April 18 through October 12, 2026. Off-peak passenger rates apply outside that window, with the published 2025–2026 off-peak period ending April 17, 2026.
Children under 5 ride free. Bikes, dogs, mopeds, motorcycles, and cars need separate tickets or vehicle fares, so the total price changes fast if you bring more than yourself.
Peaks Island Ferry Tickets: What The Fare Covers
Peaks Island ferry tickets are round trip, not one-way, and the regular ticket is collected in Portland when you board. Casco Bay Lines defines a round trip as travel to an island and a return on a different boat.
That setup is handy for day trips because you do not have to pick an exact return boat when you buy a regular passenger ticket. You still need to match the right seasonal fare, since a ticket bought at one fare level must be valid for the date of travel.
Regular tickets expire 60 days after purchase. That matters if you buy early, change plans, or visit near the seasonal fare switch.
Buying Ferry Tickets In Portland
Casco Bay Lines sells tickets at its terminal on the Maine State Pier, and passengers board from Portland for the outbound trip. The terminal address is 56 Commercial Street, a central waterfront location near the Old Port.
Casco Bay Lines says passenger tickets can be bought at the terminal, are round trip, and are collected in Portland at boarding; the details are listed on the official Peaks Island passenger fares page.
Accepted payment methods include cash, check, MasterCard, Discover, and Visa. Summer weekends and holiday periods can create lines at the ticket window, so build in extra time before the sailing you want.
Passenger, Bike, Pet, And Vehicle Costs
The cheapest Peaks Island ferry ticket is the walk-on passenger fare. The most expensive common choice is taking a standard passenger vehicle during peak season, when a car under 20 feet without a discount pass can cost $150–$170 round trip.
The table below uses currently published Casco Bay Lines rates for Peaks Island passenger and vehicle travel.
| Ticket Or Vehicle | When It Works | Current Round-Trip Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Adult walk-on passenger | Any passenger sailing | $16 peak, $8 off-peak |
| Child ages 5–17 | Any passenger sailing | $8 peak, $4 off-peak |
| Senior 65+ or eligible disabled rider | Any passenger sailing | $8 peak, $4 off-peak |
| Child under 5 | Any passenger sailing | No charge |
| Bicycle | With a passenger ticket or as freight | $7 adult bike, $3.50 child bike |
| Animal ticket | Dogs must be leashed; service animals ride under ADA rules | $4.50 |
| Moped | Car-ferry sailing only | $30 peak, $20 off-peak |
| Motorcycle | Car-ferry sailing only | $51 peak, $33 off-peak |
| Passenger car under 20 feet, no discount pass | Car-ferry sailing only, first-come for noncommercial vehicles | $150–$170 peak, $70–$100 off-peak |
Portland To Peaks Island Ferry: Timing And Boarding
The Portland to Peaks Island ferry runs on seasonal schedules, and the 2026 summer schedule is valid from June 20 through September 7. Summer service has frequent departures, with many daytime sailings carrying both passengers and cars.
On the summer schedule, Casco Bay Lines marks car-ferry departures with “cf.” Those are the sailings that can carry vehicles as well as walk-on passengers.
For passengers, arrive early enough to buy tickets and reach the boarding area before the boat loads. For vehicles, the rules are tighter: noncommercial vehicle tickets are first-come, first-served, and the vehicle must be in the car-ferry staging lane at least 15 minutes before departure.
Timing tip: Peak summer afternoons can feel easy on foot and slow by car. Walk-on passengers have the most flexible trip because they are not tied to vehicle space.
Should You Take A Car To Peaks Island?
Most visitors should not take a car to Peaks Island. The vehicle fare is high, noncommercial vehicle loading is first-come, first-served, and the island is easy to handle without a car for a day trip.
A car can make sense if you are staying overnight with heavy luggage, transporting mobility equipment, or handling a household-style island stay. For sightseeing, a bike or golf cart rental on the island is usually simpler.
- Walk on if you are visiting for a few hours, eating lunch, biking, or walking the island loop.
- Bring a bike if you want more range without paying vehicle fares.
- Take a car only if the car itself solves a real problem.
Where To Stay After The Ferry
Peaks Island has limited lodging, so many travelers sleep in Portland and take the ferry over for the day. Staying near Portland’s waterfront cuts the stress because the Casco Bay Lines terminal is close to the Old Port.
If you want to stay on or near Peaks Island, compare the island first, then widen the map to Portland if the available stays are thin:
The Right Ticket For Your Trip
The right Peaks Island ferry ticket depends on what you are bringing, not on a complicated route choice. Casco Bay Lines is the ferry, Portland is the departure point, and Peaks Island is the stop.
For most travelers, the cleanest plan is:
- Buy an adult round-trip passenger ticket at the Portland terminal.
- Add a bike ticket only if you want to ride the island loop yourself.
- Add an animal ticket if you are bringing a dog.
- Skip the car unless you have luggage, access needs, or an overnight reason.
- Check the current seasonal schedule before leaving your hotel, since ferry times change by season.
A Peaks Island day trip works best when you keep the ticket simple: walk on in Portland, ride over, return on a later boat, and leave the car out of the plan unless it truly earns the extra cost.
References & Sources
- Casco Bay Lines.“Ferry Passenger Fares.”States current Peaks Island passenger fares, ticket rules, age categories, payment methods, bike fares, and animal fares.