Buses from NYC to the Hamptons
Hampton Jitney
Depart: Various locations in Brooklyn and Manhattan.
Arrive: Various locations along the South Fork.
Duration: 1.5-3.5 hours depending on pickup and drop-off.
Cost: $30 one way, $53 round trip. Discounted tickets for riders over 60 and under 12.
Notes: Montauk Line runs ever day. Westhampton Line runs M-F. Special rates available Tues-Thurs. Complimentary water bottle and muffin.
Hampton Luxury Liner
Depart: Various locations in midtown.
Arrive: Various locations along the South Fork
Duration: 1.5-3.5 hours depending on pickup and drop-off.
Cost: $39 one way, $78 round trip.
Notes: No service to Westhampton. Service to Montauk only on the weekends. Movies, wi-fi, power plugs, snack bar, library offered, plus complimentary gift bags on select trips.
Trains from NYC to The Hamptons
Long Island Rail Road
Depart: Penn Station, transfer in Jamaica.
Arrive: various locations in Long Island.
Duration: 2-3.5 hours depending on destination.
Cost: Around $23 peak and $16 off peak. Lower rates for senior citizens and disabled.
Notes: Purchase tickets online for a cheaper rate. You must have a permit to bring your bike on the train.
How to get to Shelter Island
LIRR to Greenport
Depart: Penn Station, transfer in Ronkonkoma.
Arrive: Greenport, NY (within walking distance of ferry).
Duration: 2.5-3 hours.
Cost: About $23 peak and $16 off peak. Lower rates for senior citizens and disabled.
Notes: Purchase tickets online for a cheaper rate. You must have a permit to bring your bike on the train (http://www.mta.info/mnr/html/mnrbikepermit.htm).
Greenport Ferry to Shelter Island
Depart: Greenport, North Ferry
Arrive: Shelter Island
Duration: Less than 10 minutes.
Cost: $2 foot passenger. $9 one way vehicle and driver, $13 same day round trip-$2 for every additional person, $1 extra for SUVs. One way bike and rider $3, $5 same day round trip. One way motorcycle and rider $6, $8 same day round trip.
Notes: Ferry runs 6am to midnight about every 20 minutes. 1am departure from Greenport on Fri & Sat and 5:10am departure from Shelter Island on Mondays before Labor Day. Check the schedule for different times on Labor Day weekend. No auto reservations, first come first serve. Autos, bike and motorcycles pay on board, cash or checks only. For directions to Greenport, and activity ideas while in town, read offManhattan’s “Greenport, NY: A Taste of Wine, History and the Sea“
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
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Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram