Maine’s year-round island and working waterfront communities are vital to the character and sustainability of our coast. We’ve created the following profiles to provide a snapshot of these unique places and highlight data and information on their histories, local economies, education, infrastructure, and other key facts. Click on the islands below to explore each of these communities more.
Casco Bay
Chebeague Island
Pronounced “shuh big”, the island’s name means “isle of many springs.” At almost five miles long and 1½ miles wide, it is the largest island in Casco Bay.
Cliff Island
The smallest year-round island in Casco Bay, Cliff is the last stop “down the bay” on the ferry, and one of several Casco islands that are a part of the City of Portland.
Great Diamond
Great Diamond Island is part of the City of Portland, and the community consists of two islands, Great Diamond and Little Diamond, connected by a sandbar at low tide.
Long Island
Long Island is located in the middle of Casco Bay, approximately six miles off the coast of Portland, and is about three miles long and one mile wide.
Peaks Island
Located about 3 miles from Portland, Peaks Island is the most populated island in Casco Bay and a popular destination for summer day-trippers.
Penobscot Bay
Isle Au Haut
Home to the lesser known section of Acadia National Park, Isle au Haut, French for “high island,” lies in eastern Penobscot Bay, seven miles south of Deer Isle.
Islesboro
Located three miles off Lincolnville Beach, Islesboro is a 14-mile-long island that divides the surrounding waters into East and West Penobscot Bay.
Matinicus
Matinicus Isle is the most remote year-round island in Maine, located 20 miles off Owls Head in the Midcoast. The name Matinicus means “far-out island” in Abenaki.
Monhegan
Generally believed to be the first settled place in the state, Monhegan is a small, rocky island located in Muscongus Bay, 10 miles off the nearest mainland.
North Haven
Separated from neighboring Vinalhaven by a small thoroughfare, North Haven is located 12 miles off the coast of Rockland in the middle of Penobscot Bay.
Vinalhaven
Largely composed of granite, Vinalhaven is Maine's largest year-round island community and is known for its striking natural beauty and thriving lobster fleet.
Down East
Frenchboro
The town of Frenchboro is located on Long Island, near Swan's Island, but incorporates eleven other islands, including Great Duck, Little Duck, and Mount Desert Rock.
Cranberry Isles
Cranberry Isles is made up of five islands totaling 2,045 acres, or 3.2 square miles. Wild low bush cranberries grow on the islands, which gave the archipelago its name.
Swan's Island
Swan’s Island is located off the coast of Maine near Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island. It is a remote island, with ferry service originating in Bass Harbor.
