GETTING THERE: New London, Conn., is the starting (and end) point of the loop. To go completely car-free, fly from Washington to New York (round-trip fares from $115) or Hartford., Conn. (from $78 round trip on Southwest), then take Amtrak to New London (from $90 and $56 round trip, respectively). The ferry terminal is a short walk from train station.
By car, New London is about 360 miles, or a six-hour drive, from D.C. There's limited parking at the terminal for $10 a day, and a lot across the street (860-443-1775, $6-$15 daily).
FERRYING AROUND: The full circuit involves five ferries. All but two go year-round; the others roughly run from Memorial Day to Columbus Day.
· The Cross Sound Ferry, which travels from New London to Orient Point, N.Y., takes about an hour and a half and costs $10.50 one way, plus $2 for a bike. Info: 860-443-5281, http://www.longislandferry.com .
· Shelter Island's North Ferry Co. (631-749-0139, http://www.northferry.com ) runs a small commuter boat that takes less than five minutes to sail from Greenport, N.Y., to the north end of the island; one-way fare for a passenger and a bike is $3.
· On the opposite end of the island, the South Ferry Co. (631-749-1200, http://www.southferry.com ) goes to North Haven, N.Y., for $3 one way for a rider and a bike; travel time is minutes.
· The Viking Fleet (631-668-5700, http://www.vikingfleet.com ) runs the Montauk-Block Island route only once a day, at 9 a.m. The trip takes 1 hour 45 minutes and costs $25 one way, plus $7 for a bike. Service ends Oct. 10.
