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NYC to Shelter Island

Shelter Island has no bridge, so every trip ends on a ferry: the South Ferry from the Sag Harbor side or the North Ferry from Greenport.

Fares and schedules checked October 2026.

The Hampton Jitney stops nearby in Sag Harbor: 9 scheduled trips from Manhattan in the current timetable, taking 2 h 20 min at best and 2 h 50 min at worst, for $43 prepaid or $51 on board. The nearest LIRR station is Bridgehampton, 2 h 00 min from Penn Station on the Friday express.

Typical scheduled Jitney time

2 h 35 min by Jitney

Scheduled running times from Midtown to Sag Harbor for Shelter Island range from 2 h 20 min to 2 h 50 min depending on the trip; the quickest Friday trip leaving between 1 and 6 PM takes 2 h 35 min. Traffic can push any of them later; the schedule is the operator's planning figure.

NYC to Shelter Island: options in the current timetables
ModeScheduled timeCostDetail
Hampton Jitney2 h 20 min to 2 h 50 min$43 prepaid, $51 on board9 trips from Manhattan; first leaves Midtown 9:00 AM, last 10:00 PM
Ambassador class2 h 20 min to 2 h 50 min$68 prepaid, $78 on boardSame stops, select trips only: 3 of those trips run as Ambassador coaches
LIRR2 h 00 min on the Friday express from Penn$33.00 peak, $24.50 off-peak, to or from Penn StationMost trains start at Jamaica or Hunterspoint; the Friday express and the weekday 5:13 PM train start at Penn Station

The Shelter Island figures for the Jitney and LIRR are scheduled times from the operators' own data, with effective dates on each board below. Car time is a no-traffic estimate.

By Hampton Jitney, via Sag Harbor

Shelter Island has no Jitney stop of its own, so this uses Sag Harbor. The timetable below is the Montauk Line schedule effective 10/15/2026 to 1/6/2027. Each row is one bus: when it leaves Midtown, when it reaches Sag Harbor, and the scheduled running time. The Jitney guide explains the lines, the fare options and the booking rules.

Hampton Jitney to Sag Harbor

Montauk Line, eastbound. Effective 10/15/2026 to 1/6/2027.

LeavesFromArrives Sag HarborScheduledDays and notes
9:00 AM40th St.11:20 AM2 h 20 minDaily
9:30 AM40th St.11:50 AM2 h 20 minFri; Ambassador coach
11:30 AM40th St.2:15 PM2 h 45 minMon–Fri; Ambassador coach
12:00 PM40th St.2:35 PM2 h 35 minDaily
2:15 PM40th St.4:50 PM2 h 35 minDaily
4:00 PM40th St.6:50 PM2 h 50 minDaily
5:00 PM40th St.7:50 PM2 h 50 minDaily; Ambassador coach
7:00 PM40th St.9:35 PM2 h 35 minDaily
10:00 PM40th St.12:20 AM +12 h 20 minDaily

Official timetable and booking: Hampton Jitney: view the timetable. Schedules change by season; confirm before you travel.

Coming back from Shelter Island, via the Sag Harbor stop, 12 trips run to Manhattan, taking 2 h 15 min to 2 h 45 min. The first leaves at 5:45 AM and the last at 8:00 PM.

Hampton Jitney from Sag Harbor to Manhattan

Montauk Line, westbound. Effective 10/15/2026 to 1/6/2027.

LeavesFromArrives MidtownScheduledDays and notes
5:45 AMSag Harbor8:30 AM2 h 45 minSat & Sun
7:15 AMSag Harbor10:00 AM2 h 45 minMon–Fri; Ambassador coach
8:00 AMSag Harbor10:30 AM2 h 30 minDaily
9:45 AMSag Harbor12:30 PM2 h 45 minDaily
12:30 PMSag Harbor3:00 PM2 h 30 minDaily; Ambassador coach
1:15 PMSag Harbor3:30 PM2 h 15 minDaily
2:45 PMSag Harbor5:30 PM2 h 45 minDaily
4:30 PMSag Harbor7:00 PM2 h 30 minSun
5:00 PMSag Harbor7:30 PM2 h 30 minSun; Ambassador coach
6:05 PMSag Harbor8:30 PM2 h 25 minDaily
7:40 PMSag Harbor10:00 PM2 h 20 minSun; also Mon through 11/30; Ambassador coach
8:00 PMSag Harbor10:30 PM2 h 30 minSun; Westside drop-off

Official timetable and booking: Hampton Jitney: view the timetable. Schedules change by season; confirm before you travel.

By train, via Bridgehampton

The Long Island Rail Road's Montauk Branch serves Shelter Island through Bridgehampton. On the winter timetable the Friday express leaves Penn Station at 4:07 PM and arrives at 6:07 PM; other trains start in Jamaica or at Hunterspoint Avenue and need a connection from Manhattan. The board lists every scheduled train; weekday and weekend patterns differ. Fares to Bridgehampton from Penn Station are $33.00 peak and $24.50 off-peak, or $41.00 and $33.00 bought on board, per the MTA fare chart in effect since January 4, 2026.

LIRR to Bridgehampton

Montauk Branch, eastbound. Timetable data for Oct 26, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027.

LeavesFromArrives BridgehamptonScheduledDays and notes
12:40 AMJamaica2:56 AM2 h 16 minSat–Sun
1:05 AMJamaica3:22 AM2 h 17 minMon–Fri
7:15 AMJamaica9:24 AM2 h 09 minSelect weekend dates
8:15 AMJamaica10:20 AM2 h 05 minSat–Sun
8:18 AMJamaica10:23 AM2 h 05 minMon–Fri
10:27 AMJamaica12:39 PM2 h 12 minSat–Sun
11:41 AMJamaica1:51 PM2 h 10 minMon–Fri
12:14 PMJamaica2:34 PM2 h 20 minSat–Sun
4:07 PMPenn Station6:07 PM2 h 00 minFri
4:30 PMHunterspoint Avenue7:05 PM2 h 35 minMon–Fri
5:13 PMPenn Station7:54 PM2 h 41 minMon–Fri
6:31 PMJamaica8:52 PM2 h 21 minMon–Fri
8:50 PMJamaica11:02 PM2 h 12 minMon–Fri
9:45 PMJamaica11:52 PM2 h 07 minSat–Sun

Official timetable: MTA Long Island Rail Road: view the timetable. Schedules change by season; confirm before you travel.

LIRR from Bridgehampton toward New York

Montauk Branch, westbound. Timetable data for Oct 26, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027.

LeavesToArrivesScheduledDays and notes
1:43 AMJamaica4:05 AM2 h 22 minMon–Fri; change at Jamaica for Penn or Grand Central
6:14 AMLong Island City8:57 AM2 h 43 minMon–Fri
7:34 AMJamaica9:48 AM2 h 14 minSat–Sun; change at Jamaica for Penn or Grand Central
12:04 PMJamaica2:29 PM2 h 25 minMon–Fri; change at Jamaica for Penn or Grand Central
12:15 PMJamaica2:11 PM1 h 56 minSelect weekend dates; change at Jamaica for Penn or Grand Central
3:20 PMJamaica5:25 PM2 h 05 minMon–Fri; change at Jamaica for Penn or Grand Central
3:47 PMJamaica5:56 PM2 h 09 minSat–Sun; change at Jamaica for Penn or Grand Central
5:39 PMJamaica7:46 PM2 h 07 minSat–Sun; change at Jamaica for Penn or Grand Central
8:30 PMJamaica10:35 PM2 h 05 minSat–Sun; change at Jamaica for Penn or Grand Central
10:40 PMJamaica1:00 AM +12 h 20 minMon–Fri; change at Jamaica for Penn or Grand Central

Official timetable: MTA Long Island Rail Road: view the timetable. Schedules change by season; confirm before you travel.

The LIRR times for Shelter Island above are the winter 2026-27 data MTA has published through late February 2027. Summer service, including the Cannonball, is announced in spring, and this page will be updated then.

By car

Cars cross on the South Ferry from North Haven (Sag Harbor side) or the North Ferry from Greenport. Both take cars on a first-come basis with no reservations, and both charge by vehicle. For traffic by day and season, read the guides to Friday traffic and Sunday traffic.

Getting around Shelter Island when you arrive

From the Jitney stop in Sag Harbor, the South Ferry's dock is at 400 Ferry Road. Foot passengers cross the same way as cars; check the ferry page for current fares. On the island, plan a taxi or a bike.

The South Ferry runs every 10 to 15 minutes, 365 days a year, with a first boat at 5:20 AM and a last boat at 11:45 PM Sunday through Thursday and 1:45 AM Friday and Saturday. Fares are cash only.

The North Ferry's car rate is $16 one way and $26 same-day return, with foot passengers at $3 each way. Neither ferry takes reservations.

South Fork stops, west to east
  1. SpeonkLIRR
  2. WesthamptonLIRR, Jitney
  3. QuogueJitney
  4. East QuogueJitney
  5. Hampton BaysLIRR, Jitney
  6. SouthamptonLIRR, Jitney
  7. Water MillJitney
  8. BridgehamptonLIRR, Jitney
  9. Sag HarborJitney (nearest)
  10. WainscottJitney
  11. East HamptonLIRR, Jitney
  12. AmagansettLIRR, Jitney
  13. NapeagueJitney
  14. MontaukLIRR, Jitney

Square marks an LIRR station. Round marks a Hampton Jitney stop only. The highlighted stop is the one this page is about or nearest to it.

Common questions

Can you take the Jitney to Shelter Island?

Not directly. The Jitney stops in Sag Harbor, and you cross on the South Ferry, or ride the North Fork line to Greenport and cross on the North Ferry.

Do the Shelter Island ferries take reservations?

No. Both ferries board on a first-come basis.

Sources

Checked October 2026. Operators revise schedules and fares; use the official pages below for the final word.