Swan's Island

A Working Island a Ferry Ride from Acadia

Swan’s Island sits in Blue Hill Bay, about six miles south of Mount Desert Island, and the Maine State Ferry Service carries cars, bikes, and walk-on passengers there from Bass Harbor. The 40-minute crossing on the M/V Captain Henry Lee is an easy add-on to any visit to the Acadia region.

What you find on the other side is a working island with roughly 350 year-round residents, three small villages, a beloved lighthouse, and a sandy beach that rivals anything on the mainland. Swan’s Island has no tourist attractions in the conventional sense. There are no galleries, no gift shops, no whale watch boats. What it has is the unvarnished reality of Maine island life: lobster wharves, general stores, white clapboard churches, and the kind of quiet that only exists when you are surrounded by water.

Burnt Coat Harbor Light

The Burnt Coat Harbor Light, perched on Hockamock Head at the entrance to Burnt Coat Harbor, is the island’s landmark. Built in 1872, the 32-foot tower and attached keeper’s house sit on a grassy point with wide views of the harbor and the outer islands. The lighthouse was automated in 1975 and the keeper’s house is now maintained by the town. The tower is open to visitors in summer, and the views from the top are among the best of any lighthouse in Maine.

The walk from the road to the lighthouse crosses a meadow and then descends to the rocky point. From the lighthouse grounds, a path leads down to the shore where you can explore tide pools and granite ledges.

Fine Sand Beach

Fine Sand Beach (also called Quarry Pond Beach or Carrying Place Beach) is a surprising stretch of white sand on the island’s southern shore. The beach is sheltered, the sand is genuinely fine, and in midsummer the water is about as warm as Maine ocean water gets. It is a lovely spot for families and one of the nicest beaches in the Downeast region.

Access is from a short path off the main road. There are no facilities at the beach.

The Three Villages

Swan’s Island has three distinct villages, each with its own character:

Atlantic is the ferry landing village on the north end. The ferry terminal, post office, and a small store are here. This is where you arrive and depart.

Minturn sits on a harbor on the western side of the island. The lobster wharf is active, and the harbor is a scenic one. A small library serves the community.

Swan’s Island (the village) is in the center of the island and has the town office, fire station, and church.

The drive between the three villages takes only a few minutes, but the roads wind through spruce forest with occasional water views.

Getting There

The Maine State Ferry Service operates the car ferry from Bass Harbor, on the southwestern tip of Mount Desert Island. The crossing takes 40 minutes. Tickets are round trip, sold online through MaineDOT or at the terminal. For summer 2026 (June 1 to September 30), an adult round trip is $23, a vehicle is $55, an adult with a bike is $29.75, and children 5 and under ride free. Off-season fares are lower, and rates change, so check the Maine State Ferry Service fares page before you go.

On the 2026 summer schedule (April 14 to November 2), boats leave Bass Harbor five or six times a day, roughly between 7:30 AM and 5:15 PM. Times vary by day of the week and season, and winter service runs on a different schedule, so check the current timetable before you go.

Bass Harbor is about 25 minutes from Bar Harbor and 20 minutes from Southwest Harbor. Park at the Bass Harbor terminal lot if you are walking on, or drive your car aboard.

When to Go

Practical Notes

Bring food and water. There is a small store near the ferry landing but options are limited. There are no restaurants open to the public in the traditional sense.

Cell service is spotty. Plan your ferry return before you lose signal.

The island is small enough to explore by bicycle in a few hours. Bring your bike on the ferry and ride between the three villages, the lighthouse, and the beach.

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