Ferry from Long Island to Newport, Rhode Island | No Direct

No direct public ferry links Long Island and Newport; use Orient Point to New London, then drive into Rhode Island.

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Planning a Ferry from Long Island to Newport, Rhode Island has one problem: the useful boat does not land in Newport. The practical route is a Long Island Sound ferry to Connecticut, followed by a road or rail connection into Rhode Island.

For most drivers starting on the North Fork, the easiest route is Cross Sound Ferry from Orient Point to New London, then about 56 miles by road to Newport. From central or western Long Island, the Port Jefferson to Bridgeport ferry can work, but it usually adds more Connecticut driving before you reach the Newport Pell Bridge.

Is There A Direct Ferry To Newport From Long Island?

No public passenger or vehicle ferry currently runs directly from Long Island to Newport. The closest practical ferry connection is from Orient Point, New York, to New London, Connecticut, then onward to Newport by car, train plus taxi, or rideshare.

The word “ferry” matters here because there are real boats involved, just not a single through-ferry. Long Island Sound ferries save you from driving back through New York City, but they still leave you on the Connecticut shore.

If you want the most direct planning tool for the full route, compare the ferry, train, bus, and transfer options before locking in a sailing:

Which Route Works Best For Your Starting Point?

The best route depends on where you start on Long Island. Orient Point is the clear choice from the North Fork and East End, while Port Jefferson can make more sense from parts of Suffolk County farther west.

• North Fork or Greenport: use Orient Point to New London, then drive to Newport.
• Montauk: consider the summer passenger ferry to Block Island only if you want an island-hop day, not the fastest route.
• Central Suffolk: compare Port Jefferson to Bridgeport against driving west through Queens and Connecticut.
• Nassau County or western Long Island: driving the whole way can beat the ferry once terminal time is included.

Ferries are most useful when they replace Long Island Expressway and city-area traffic. Ferries are less useful when you spend an extra hour reaching the terminal before the boat even leaves.

Long Island To Newport Ferry Routes: Every Real Option Compared

The real choices are a Connecticut ferry connection, an all-road route, or a seasonal passenger island-hop through Block Island. Cross Sound Ferry is usually the cleanest ferry plan for Newport because New London sits closer to Rhode Island than Bridgeport does.

Cross Sound Ferry’s official schedule page lets you choose Orient Point or New London, pick vehicle or passenger service, and check the exact sailing date before you plan the Connecticut-to-Newport leg: Cross Sound Ferry schedules.

Making The Orient Point Route Work

The Orient Point route works best when you already have a car or can reach the North Fork without a painful detour. The ferry lands in New London, then the drive to Newport follows I-95 east and Rhode Island Route 138 toward the Newport Pell Bridge.

Build your day around three time blocks: terminal arrival, the ferry crossing, and the Rhode Island drive. Vehicle passengers should arrive early enough for check-in and loading, especially on summer Fridays, Sundays, and holiday weekends.

Use this order if you are driving:

1. Choose an Orient Point sailing that gives you daylight for the Rhode Island drive.
2. Reserve the vehicle spot when traveling during peak summer dates.
3. Leave extra time for North Fork traffic near wineries, farm stands, and Greenport.
4. After New London, expect the fastest road path to run through southeastern Connecticut and over the Newport Pell Bridge.

Good fit: this route is strongest for North Fork, Shelter Island, Greenport, Southold, and East End travelers who want to avoid the New York City approach to Connecticut.

Car-Free Travel Is Possible, But Clumsy

A no-car ferry trip can be done, but it takes patience and good timing. The hard part is not the boat across Long Island Sound; the hard part is linking New London, Kingston, Providence, or Newport with bags in tow.

The simplest car-free version is Orient Point to New London as a passenger, Amtrak from New London to Kingston, Rhode Island, then a taxi, rideshare, or RIPTA Route 64 toward Newport. The New London to Kingston train ride is short, but the full trip can stretch because ferries, trains, and local transfers do not always meet neatly.

The summer Providence to Newport ferry is another option after you reach Providence. Seastreak’s 2026 Providence to Newport route runs June 12 through October 12, with adult fares listed at $12 one way and $24 round trip. That route is pleasant on Narragansett Bay, but it is not a direct Long Island solution.

When The Block Island Route Makes Sense

The Montauk to Block Island to Newport route makes sense only as a scenic summer island-hop. Viking Fleet lists the Montauk to Block Island passenger ferry at 1 hour 15 minutes, and the Block Island Ferry lists Newport high-speed passenger fares separately.

This route is passenger-only from Montauk, so it does not solve the car problem. It also depends on seasonal schedules, sea conditions, and whether the Block Island-to-Newport sailing lines up without eating your whole day.

Pick the Block Island route when the ride itself is part of the trip. Skip it when you need to reach a hotel check-in, dinner reservation, wedding, or cruise departure in Newport on a tight clock.

Where To Stay After The Ferry

Newport is worth sleeping in if your ferry connection arrives late afternoon or evening. Staying near the harbor keeps you close to Perrotti Park, Thames Street, restaurants, and the downtown waterfront without needing to move the car again.

The back half of this trip is easier when your lodging matches how you arrive. Drivers can look near downtown, Bellevue Avenue, Middletown, or Jamestown depending on parking needs and price; car-free travelers should stay close to Newport’s harbor or the Gateway Center.

Once you know which ferry and road leg you are taking, compare Newport lodging around the harbor and nearby towns here:

Choose Your Route By Speed, Budget, And Stress

The fastest ferry-based choice for most East End drivers is Orient Point to New London, then drive to Newport. The cheapest choice can be driving the whole way if you are starting far west on Long Island and can avoid peak traffic.

• Pick Orient Point to New London if you are already on the North Fork or eastern Long Island.
• Pick Port Jefferson to Bridgeport if Port Jefferson is much easier for you than Orient Point and Connecticut traffic looks light.
• Pick the all-driving route if you are starting in Nassau County, Queens, or western Suffolk and the ferry terminal detour is longer than the traffic you avoid.
• Pick Montauk to Block Island to Newport only for a summer passenger trip where the water route is the point.
• Pick Providence to Newport ferry only after you have already reached Providence by train, bus, car, or flight.

For a normal Long Island to Newport trip, plan the ferry as a shortcut across Long Island Sound, not as a door-to-door Newport boat. That expectation saves the most time and prevents the connection mistakes that turn a simple coastal trip into a full-day puzzle.