Stonington is a working fishing village at the southern end of Deer Isle, where Maine Route 15 ends. It had 1,056 residents in the 2020 census, according to Wikipedia, which calls it the largest lobster port in Maine. It is also the departure point for the mailboat to Isle au Haut, part of which belongs to Acadia National Park, and it has a small arts scene and a restored 1912 opera house.
Planning your visit? Read our guide to things to do in Stonington and our Deer Isle guide for the rest of the island, including things to do on Deer Isle.
Stonington is best known as Maine’s biggest lobster port, the jumping-off point for Isle au Haut, and a granite town that was named for its quarries.
Stonington, Maine at a glance
- County: Hancock County.
- Population: 1,056 (2020 census), according to Wikipedia.
- Incorporated: February 18, 1897, when the Legislature incorporated Green’s Landing as Stonington, a name taken from its granite quarries, according to Wikipedia.
- Villages: Burnt Cove, Oceanville, Green Head and Clam City, per Wikipedia.
- Size: 37.84 square miles, of which only 9.81 is land, per Wikipedia.
- Neighbor: the town of Deer Isle covers the northern part of the island and has most of the craft school and preserves.
Things to do in Stonington
Take the mailboat to Isle au Haut
The Isle au Haut mailboat leaves from Stonington Harbor and travels 6 miles south to the island, according to the boat company. The Isle au Haut Town Landing is a year-round stop, and the Duck Harbor landing in Acadia National Park is seasonal; the company listed it as running May 16 to October 12 in 2026, and we have not seen 2027 dates. Visit Maine says the company also runs lobster-fishing tours, lighthouse tours and Seal Island puffin cruises. Check the schedule and fares on the company’s site before you plan, or call (207) 367-5193. See our national parks in Maine guide for the rest of Acadia.
Opera House Arts at the Stonington Opera House
The Stonington Opera House at 1 School Street was built in 1912 on the site of an earlier hall that burned in 1910, and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 16, 1991, according to Wikipedia. After closing in the late 1980s it was reopened by the nonprofit Opera House Arts in 2000. Wikipedia says it now hosts mainly film screenings and theater, and Visit Maine lists movies, concerts and other events. Check the current schedule before you go.
Hike Settlement Quarry Preserve
The Island Heritage Trust describes trails of about 1.5 to 1.8 miles (the trust gives both figures) winding through an old quarry, with an easy half-mile access road, a viewing platform and views of the Merchants Row islands and Isle au Haut. From the Deer Isle causeway, the trust says to drive south on Route 15 for about 8 miles, then turn right onto Oceanville Road; the parking lot is on your right in less than a mile. Day use only, no fires, stay on the trails.
Galleries, kayaking and the water
Visit Maine names the Geoffrey Warner Studio/Owl Furniture, The Turtle Gallery and the Deer Isle Artists Association, and The Maine Magazine names The Art of Evelyn Kok in Stonington village. Old Quarry Ocean Adventures rents kayaks in Stonington, according to The Maine Magazine, which also describes Sand Beach, a small public cove with granite rocks about five minutes from the village. Our earlier page also mentioned the Deer Isle Granite Museum; we could not confirm its hours or season, so call before you go.
A note on the harbor: Stonington’s waterfront is a working one, not a marina. Treat docks and wharves as working property and ask before walking on one.
Haystack and Nervous Nellie’s
The Haystack Mountain School of Crafts and Nervous Nellie’s Jams and Jellies are both on Deer Isle, a short drive north. See our Deer Isle guide for the Haystack tour schedule and details.
Where to eat in Stonington
Visit Maine names Stonecutters Kitchen, the Harbor Café, The Cockatoo Portuguese Restaurant and 44 North Coffee, plus Aragosta, which has moved to Goose Cove Road in Deer Isle (see our Deer Isle guide). The Maine Magazine describes the Harbor Cafe as a local diner known for omelets and oatmeal with fresh berries, and Stonecutters Kitchen and Harbor View Store as serving lobster rolls and 18-inch Green Island pizzas at a picnic table over the fish pier. It also names the seasonal Acadia House Provisions. Our earlier page listed Fisherman’s Friend and Stonington Ice Cream; we could not confirm their current status, so check before you go.
Where to stay in Stonington
Visit Maine lists the Inn on the Harbor, Boyce’s Motel and Greenlaw’s Camping & RV Park (primitive sites and full hookups, hot showers and a pickleball court). On Deer Isle it names the Pilgrim’s Inn, the Inn at Ferry Landing and the Deer Isle Hostel. Availability and seasons vary, so confirm before you book.
Stonington’s lobster port
Wikipedia calls Stonington the largest lobster port in Maine, and says its fishermen landed 14,854,989 pounds worth $46.3 million in 2011. That is old data, and we have not checked the latest rankings from the Maine Department of Marine Resources, which reported statewide lobster landings of 78.8 million pounds worth $461 million for 2025. Landings shift from year to year, so treat the ranking as a long-standing reputation rather than this year’s number.
Getting to Stonington, Maine
Stonington is at the end of Route 15, reached by driving down the Blue Hill Peninsula and across the Deer Isle–Sedgwick suspension bridge, then south through Deer Isle. By our estimate it is about two hours from Bangor, a little over two hours from Bar Harbor and roughly three and a half hours from Portland. Allow extra time in summer.
Best time to visit Stonington
Summer brings the full Isle au Haut schedule, open galleries and restaurants. Duck Harbor service in Acadia is seasonal, and some restaurants close in the colder months, so winter is quiet. In our view early fall is a good time for the preserves, but check what is open.
A short history of Stonington
- About 1870: granite quarrying becomes a major industry, drawing many Italian stonecutters and masons, per Wikipedia. Work later moved to offshore islands such as Crotch Island.
- 1897: Green’s Landing is incorporated as Stonington.
- 1912: the Stonington Opera House is built.
- Granite uses: Wikipedia says stone from the area went into structures including the Brooklyn Bridge approaches, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and Yankee Stadium.
Stonington, Maine FAQ
What is Stonington, Maine known for?
Its lobster fleet, its granite history, the mailboat to Isle au Haut, and its working-waterfront character at the southern end of Deer Isle.
What are the best things to do in Stonington?
Take the mailboat to Isle au Haut, hike Settlement Quarry, see a show at the Stonington Opera House, browse the galleries, and eat on the waterfront. See our things to do in Stonington guide.
Is Stonington the same as Deer Isle?
No. Stonington has been a separate town since 1897. It sits on the same island as Deer Isle, and both are reached by the same bridge.
How do you get to Stonington, Maine?
By car, across the suspension bridge at Sedgwick and down Route 15. See the directions above.
How big is Stonington?
1,056 people in the 2020 census, according to Wikipedia.
Day trips from Stonington
- Isle au Haut: by mailboat from Stonington Harbor, with part of Acadia National Park.
- Deer Isle village: a short drive north, by our estimate 15 to 20 minutes. See our Deer Isle guide.
- Castine: a historic village across the bay, about an hour and a half away by our estimate. See our Castine guide.
Looking for work in Stonington? Browse Jobs in Stonington on JobsInMaine.com.
Our details come from Wikipedia, Wikipedia’s Stonington Opera House page, the Isle au Haut Boat Services, Visit Maine, The Maine Magazine, the Island Heritage Trust and the Maine Department of Marine Resources, checked November 9, 2026. Dates, hours and businesses change, so confirm before you go.