Directions & Transportation Information
North or south from toll highway, Interstate 95:
From I-95 North, take exit 44 (formerly 6A) onto Route 295 in Portland. (From I-95 South, take exit 52, formerly 9, to reach 295). From rt. 295, take exit 7 to Franklin Street Arterial, which will lead you directly to the Casci Bay Lines ferry terminal and parking garage on Commercial Street. You can park in that garage and purchase round-trip ferry tickets at the office.
If the Casco Bay Lines garage is full, backtrack one light and turn left onto Fore Street. There is another garage there, and several more in the area.
Casco Bay Ferry Lines (774-7871)
Casco Bay Lines offers year-round ferry service between Great Diamond Island and Portland (check for seasonal schedules). Please note that winter ferry runs may stop only at the State or Great Diamond Island Pier (GDI), while most summer ferry runs stop at both the GDI Pier and the Diamond Cove (DC) pier. Be sure to ask whether the ferry you are taking stops at DC, or only GDI, before buying tickets and
labeling your luggage. If you have more luggage than you can carry, items can be shipped in a cart for a fee (or a freight account can be opened) -- go to the Casco Bay Lines Freight area for more information.
Items can also be shipped off-island (called "up-freight") for a fee, homeowners needing this service are advised to call the ferry lines and request a cart since the availability of empty carts on the pier cannot be guaranteed.
Island Transportation
There are no private cars or trucks at Diamond Cove (except for DCHA, service, and emergency vehicles). Each home is permitted one electric golf cart/GEM, which may be used within the Diamond Cove properties and may not be driven to the State pier. If you arrive at the State pier, the Association shuttle bus will meet you and deliver you and your belongings to your destination at the Cove. The shuttle bus also meets ferries arriving at the Cove, and can deliver routine luggage and groceries, as well as larger items for a fee. When you are ready to depart, shuttle service is also available to deliver you to the appropriate pier for departing boats. Call the number for Security/RAs (see DCHA Contacts) and leave your phone number for a call-back. Be sure to call in advance, as some boats may be crowded and require 2 trips with the shuttle bus.
Special Island Transportation Issues
Dog owners should be aware that dogs may ride the Casco Bay ferry (although a dog ticket is required) and except for the 6:35 AM morning "work" run, dogs may ride with their owners on the DCHA shuttle bus -- provided they are well-behaved, on leash, kept on the floor or in carrier, and seated in the rear half of the shuttle bus. Tickets are also required for bicycles.
Handicapped persons should contact the RAs by phone (see Staff Contacts) to arrange for any special transportation needs.
Homeowners needing barge services to move items larger than those which can be carried by the ferry should contact one of the barge operators listed on Staff Contacts page, and coordinate the delivery of items by barge with the on-site manager Roger Shoemaker.