Governors Island New York Ferry: A Step-by-Step Guide

You can do the whole trip in five steps, and the ferry is the only way to reach the island.

Step 1: Choose your Governors Island ferry from New York

Most visitors take the Trust for Governors Island ferry from the Battery Maritime Building, at 10 South Street in Lower Manhattan. The Trust's ferry page lists the nearby subway stops as South Ferry, Bowling Green and Whitehall Street. The M9, M15, M20 and M55 buses also stop nearby. For fares and passes on the subway, see our guide to getting around NYC.

Two other ways exist. From May 23 to November 1, 2026, the Trust also runs boats from Brooklyn Bridge Park/Pier 6 and from Red Hook/Atlantic Basin on weekends and holidays. That season ends in about a week, so check the page before you go. Brooklyn boats do not run on weekdays.

The other option is NYC Ferry. On summer weekends and holidays it runs a direct shuttle from Wall Street/Pier 11 in Manhattan, according to NYC Ferry's Governors Island page. At other times it serves the island on its South Brooklyn route. The Trust does not sell NYC Ferry tickets.

All Trust ferries are wheelchair accessible, and so is the island's ground. Not every building is accessible, but Building 110, next to Soissons Landing, is.

Step 2: Pay for your ticket

An adult round-trip ticket on the Trust ferry costs $5, and you buy one ticket for both directions. Children 12 and under, adults 65 and over, NYCHA housing residents, IDNYC holders, military members and Governors Island Foundation members ride free. Everyone rides free on Saturdays and Sundays before 11 a.m.

Reserve even when the ride is free, because the Trust recommends it for all visitors. You can also buy a ticket in person at your departure point. Tickets for a month go on sale on the first day of the month before. You do not pick a return time, and a ticket works on any boat back.

Bikes cost nothing extra at any time. Space for bikes and strollers is limited and goes to whoever arrives first.

Its own tickets are sold separately, and the base one-way fare rose from $4.50 to $5 on October 19, 2026, according to a NYCEDC announcement. If you ride the Trust ferry out and NYC Ferry back, you must buy the NYC Ferry ticket separately.

Pro Tip Take a Saturday or Sunday boat that leaves before 11 a.m. All passengers ride free then, the Trust says, and a morning start gives you the whole day on the island.

Step 3: Pick a boat from the Governors Island schedule

Boats leave Manhattan about every 30 minutes, starting at 7 a.m. On weekends the Trust adds boats every 15 minutes at peak times, which its page puts at 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. From Labor Day through Memorial Day the island closes at 6 p.m., and every visitor must leave on or before the last public boat.

The schedule marks later boats as for island tenants and registered guests, such as people visiting a restaurant or the hotel on the island. The Trust's FAQ says ferries run until 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Still, plan for the 6 p.m. boat if you are an ordinary day visitor.

No crossing time is published for the Trust's own boats. NYC Ferry lists about 8 minutes for its shuttle from Wall Street/Pier 11, and its last scheduled shuttle leaves at 5:30 p.m. Anyone who misses it can take the Trust's ferry instead. Schedules can change, so check the page on the day.

Step 4: Plan your time on the island

Governors Island is a car-free park of about 120 acres, and you can spend a half day on it without a plan. The Trust lists bike rental from Blazing Saddles, Slide Hill, Hammock Grove, a lavender field and a play area as the main things to do. Public art and a free digital guide on the Bloomberg Connects app are listed as well.

Bring your own food and non-alcoholic drinks, or buy from the food vendors, whose hours depend on the weather. The Trust says you may not bring in alcohol, but you can buy it on the island and drink it in marked areas. Grills can be reserved for May through November.

Fort Jay is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Because of construction, you enter through the West Sally Port near Colonels Row, and the path has stairs and uneven, grassy ground. Restrooms are in Building 110 near Soissons Landing, and in trailers at Yankee Pier and South Battery.

Key Takeaway The Trust ferry costs $5 round trip, the island closes at 6 p.m., and the last public boat back leaves at 6 p.m., so a Governors Island trip is a half day, not a full one.

A few rules save trouble. Pets are allowed only from November through April, and you must walk your bike on the ferry. Drones, smoking and motorized scooters are banned. Children under 14 must stay with an adult.

The island sits in New York Harbor, but no official page lists the viewpoints for the skyline or the water. If you want to see the Statue of Liberty up close, the island ferry will not help. The National Park Service says Statue City Cruises is the only ferry service to Liberty and Ellis Islands, so look at a tour statue of liberty option as a separate trip.

On an island with no cars, the ferry schedule decides your day.

Step 5: Decide if a harbor cruise is worth adding

The island ferry is enough if you want a park day, and doing it on your own costs $5. A paid cruise is worth adding when you want a guide, a look at the Statue of Liberty from the water, or a longer ride. None of the three picks below stops at Governors Island. They are separate trips.

Things to Do in NYC's count of GetYourGuide listings in October 2026 found 47 boat trips, with a median starting price of €54 per person.

Liked the ferry ride and want more water? A Circle Line cruise and other harbor cruises run longer than the island crossing. Our page on New York boat tours and harbor cruises compares them.

The 90-minute Starship cruise from €23 leaves from Pier 78 on the Hudson River and includes a live guide. The listing says it is not suitable for people prone to seasickness. The Circle Line ultimate sightseeing cruise from €35 lasts 2.5 hours, has live narration in English and an outdoor viewing deck, and leaves from the Circle Line piers at West 43rd Street. The sunset sail on the schooner Adirondack from €80 is a 2-hour sail with one complimentary drink, run by Classic Harbor Line from Chelsea Piers.

All three carry a rating of 4.6 or higher on GetYourGuide, and free cancellation is available on all three. The Circle Line cruise has more than 7,900 reviews. The sunset sail has 311, the smallest number of the three.