The North Fork is easier to understand once you picture it as a long, narrow stretch of land running east from Riverhead toward Orient Point.
Long Island splits into two forks at the East End. The South Fork heads toward the Hamptons and Montauk. The North Fork runs along Long Island Sound, with farms, vineyards, small towns, beaches, inlets, and ferry connections along the way.
Most visitors use “North Fork” to mean the towns and hamlets from Riverhead east to Orient Point, especially the places along Route 25 and Sound Avenue.
Quick North Fork map overview
| Area | Where it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Riverhead | Western gateway to the North Fork | Aquarium, outlets, breweries, family stops, easier access from points west |
| Aquebogue | East of Riverhead | Farm stands, wineries, quieter start to the North Fork |
| Jamesport | Western/central North Fork | Wineries, farm stands, Sound-side roads, slower day trips |
| Mattituck | Central North Fork | Love Lane, casual food, wineries, farm stands, Mattituck Inlet |
| Cutchogue | Central North Fork | Wineries, farms, older North Fork feel, quieter roads |
| New Suffolk | South of Cutchogue on Peconic Bay | Small waterfront, quiet bay views |
| Peconic | Between Cutchogue and Southold | Wineries, farm stands, central North Fork location |
| Southold | Eastern-central North Fork | Restaurants, inns, beaches, wineries, quieter base |
| Greenport | East of Southold | Restaurants, shops, harbor, ferry, hotels, walkable village |
| East Marion | Between Greenport and Orient | Quiet stays, access to Greenport and Orient |
| Orient | Near the eastern end | Quiet roads, old houses, Orient Beach area |
| Orient Point | Tip of the North Fork | Cross Sound Ferry, water views, Connecticut connection |
Where does the North Fork start?
The North Fork starts around Riverhead, where Long Island begins to split into the North Fork and South Fork. If you are driving from New York City, Nassau County, or western Suffolk, Riverhead is usually the first major North Fork-area stop.
For visitors, the North Fork feeling usually gets stronger as you continue east from Riverhead into Aquebogue, Jamesport, Mattituck, Cutchogue, Southold, and Greenport.
Where does the North Fork end?
The North Fork ends at Orient Point, the eastern tip of the peninsula. Orient is the hamlet near the end of the North Fork, while Orient Point usually refers more specifically to the physical point at the far eastern end.
Orient Point is also where you catch the Cross Sound Ferry to New London, Connecticut.
Is Greenport on the North Fork?
Yes. Greenport is one of the main visitor towns on the North Fork. For visitors, Greenport is usually the easiest North Fork town to understand: restaurants, shops, hotels, waterfront, carousel, museums, and the ferry to Shelter Island are all close together.
Is Riverhead part of the North Fork?
Yes, but people use the term differently. Geographically, Riverhead is the western gateway to the North Fork. For trip planning, Riverhead is best treated as the gateway.
North Fork towns from west to east
Riverhead
Riverhead is the entry point for many North Fork trips. It has bigger roads, more traffic, more commercial development, and more year-round services than the smaller towns farther east.
Aquebogue
Aquebogue is one of the first places where the drive starts to soften after Riverhead. You begin to see more farm stands, wineries, open land, and smaller roads.
Jamesport
Jamesport is a quieter western North Fork stop with wineries, farm stands, and access to Sound-side roads.
Mattituck
Mattituck is one of the most useful towns in the middle of the North Fork. It has Love Lane, casual food, shops, Mattituck Inlet, nearby wineries, and easy access to farm stands.
Cutchogue
Cutchogue is wine-country North Fork. It has vineyards, farm stands, older homes, quieter roads, and a more spread-out feel than Greenport or Mattituck.
New Suffolk
New Suffolk is small and quiet, with a Peconic Bay feel instead of a Long Island Sound feel.
Peconic
Peconic sits between Cutchogue and Southold and is easy to pass through without realizing how central it is.
Southold
Southold is one of the best North Fork bases if you want to be near good restaurants, wineries, beaches, farm stands, and Greenport without staying directly in Greenport.
Greenport
Greenport is the North Fork’s easiest town for visitors. It has restaurants, bars, shops, hotels, a harbor, the carousel, museums, and the North Ferry to Shelter Island.
East Marion
East Marion sits between Greenport and Orient. It is quiet, residential, and useful if you want to be near Greenport without sleeping in the middle of the village.
Orient
Orient is the quiet eastern end of the North Fork. It has old houses, slower roads, water nearby, and a more remote feel than Greenport or Southold.
Orient Point
Orient Point is the tip of the North Fork. Most visitors know it because of the Cross Sound Ferry to New London, Connecticut.
Best North Fork town for your trip
First visit
Choose Greenport or Southold. Greenport is easier if you want restaurants, shops, hotels, and the ferry nearby. Southold is better if you want a quieter base with access to wineries, beaches, and restaurants.
Wineries
Choose Cutchogue, Peconic, Southold, Mattituck, or Jamesport. These areas give you better access to vineyards and farm stands.
Restaurants
Choose Greenport or Southold. Greenport gives you the most walkable restaurant cluster. Southold gives you several of the area’s better dinner reservations without the same village crowds.
Families
Choose Greenport, Mattituck, or Riverhead. Greenport has the carousel, waterfront, shops, museums, and ferry. Mattituck has Love Lane, casual food, and nearby farm stands. Riverhead has bigger family attractions and easier access from points west.
No-car trip
Choose Greenport. It is the easiest North Fork town to visit by train, and you can walk to restaurants, shops, museums, the waterfront, and the ferry.
North Fork vs South Fork map
The South Fork includes the Hamptons and Montauk. It is more famous, more expensive, more crowded, and more beach-resort oriented.
The North Fork is quieter and more agricultural, with wineries, farm stands, small towns, marinas, inlets, Sound beaches, and Greenport as the main visitor village.
Common North Fork map mistakes
Thinking Greenport and Riverhead are close
They are both on the North Fork, but they are not interchangeable. If your dinner is in Greenport and your hotel is near Riverhead, you still have a real drive.
Booking a place that says “Greenport area” without checking the map
East Marion, Southold, and Peconic can all be good places to stay, but they are different from staying in walkable Greenport village.
Assuming all beaches are public and easy
North Fork beach access varies. Some beaches have resident rules, parking restrictions, seasonal permits, or limited facilities.
Featured Sponsors
FAQ
What towns are on the North Fork of Long Island?
The North Fork usually includes Riverhead and the towns and hamlets east toward Orient Point, including Aquebogue, Jamesport, Mattituck, Cutchogue, New Suffolk, Peconic, Southold, Greenport, East Marion, Orient, and Orient Point.
Is Greenport on the North Fork?
Yes. Greenport is a village on the North Fork in the Town of Southold. It is one of the main visitor towns, with restaurants, shops, hotels, a harbor, museums, a carousel, and ferry access to Shelter Island.
Is Riverhead part of the North Fork?
Yes, Riverhead is generally treated as the western gateway to the North Fork. Some visitors think of the North Fork more narrowly as the stretch east of Riverhead, but Riverhead is part of the broader North Fork area.
Where does the North Fork begin and end?
The North Fork begins around Riverhead, where Long Island splits toward the East End. It ends at Orient Point, the eastern tip of the peninsula and the location of the Cross Sound Ferry to Connecticut.
Is the North Fork the same as the Hamptons?
No. The Hamptons are on the South Fork. The North Fork is the quieter fork along Long Island Sound, known for wineries, farms, Greenport, small towns, ferries, oysters, and a more low-key East End feel.