Long Island, ME

Long Island is a small island town in Casco Bay, part of Cumberland County, Maine. With a year-round population of only a few hundred residents, the community retains a quiet, close-knit character that contrasts with the urban energy of nearby Portland. The island is best known for its rugged shoreline, panoramic views of the bay and the open Atlantic, and its role as a peaceful residential enclave just a short ferry ride from one of New England's most celebrated small cities. Long Island lies roughly three miles off the coast of Portland, which serves as both its connection to the mainland and its primary gateway for visitors.

The most immediate draw beyond Long Island itself is the city of Portland, just across the bay. Reachable in about twenty minutes by the Casco Bay Lines ferry, Portland offers a historic Old Port district of brick buildings, boutiques, and seafood restaurants, along with a working waterfront, the Portland Museum of Art, and a celebrated culinary scene. Travelers can easily combine an island stay with day trips into the city, returning each evening to the slower pace of bay-side life.

A short drive south of the Portland ferry terminal, the Cape Elizabeth coast is home to one of the most photographed lighthouses in the country. Portland Head Light, situated within Fort Williams Park, has stood since the early 1790s and remains an active aid to navigation. The surrounding park offers cliffside walking paths, rocky Atlantic shoreline, and picnic areas that draw visitors throughout the warmer months.

To the north, Freeport is roughly a twenty-five-minute drive from downtown Portland and is widely recognized as a shopping destination, anchored by the flagship store of the outdoor outfitter L.L.Bean. The town also features a walkable village center with outlet stores, restaurants, and convenient access to the surrounding Maine woods and coastline.

Long Island's appeal for short-term rentals lies in this rare combination: a genuine island setting with commuter-ferry access to Portland's restaurants, culture, and waterfront, plus easy driving distance to coastal landmarks and shopping villages. Guests who choose the island can wake to ocean views and seabirds, spend a day exploring a historic lighthouse or browsing the Old Port, and return each evening to a place where traffic and crowds feel very far away.