Staten Island Ferry: A Step-by-Step Guide

Riding is free, and you can do the whole trip in five steps.

Step 1: Get to Whitehall Terminal in Lower Manhattan

Whitehall Terminal is the Manhattan end of the ferry, at the southern tip of the island. The subway is the simplest way there, and the ferry's own page says the subway runs at all times at these stops. A 1 train to South Ferry stops next to the terminal. Ride in the first five cars, because the ferry's page says you must be in those to get off at that station. The 4 and 5 trains stop at Bowling Green, and the R train stops at Whitehall Street.

The M5, M15 and M20 buses also serve the terminal. The subway fare is $3, paid by tapping a contactless card or phone. For fares and passes, see our guide to getting around NYC.

Both terminals have escalators and elevators. Wheelchair users are encouraged to board on the lower level, which is described on the ferry's terminals page.

Step 2: Pick a departure time

Boats leave Whitehall every 30 minutes for most of the day and night, and every 15 to 20 minutes at weekday rush hour. The ferry's schedule page lists weekday rush departures from about 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. and from 4 to 8 p.m. At all other times, boats leave on the hour and half hour. Weekends and holidays work the same way, with a boat every 30 minutes.

Here is how the service looks at a glance.

Pro Tip Skip the weekday boats between about 6:30 and 9:30 a.m. and between 4 and 8 p.m. if you want a seat on deck, because the ferry's schedule page warns that rush-hour boats are packed.

The schedule page says a boat counts as late when it leaves more than six minutes after its posted time. It also says service can change without notice, so check nyc.gov/dot or call 311 before you go. In bad weather or low visibility, the schedule may be adjusted.

Step 3: Ride the Staten Island Ferry

Riding the Staten Island Ferry costs nothing, and you walk on without a ticket. The City of New York runs the service, and the ferry's website warns about scammers who try to sell tickets. Random screening by NYPD officers and dogs can happen at any time, so keep your bag easy to open.

The crossing covers 5.2 miles, according to NYC DOT's ferry facts page, and takes about 25 minutes. Head up and outside once you are on board. According to the ferry's site, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are visible from the deck, and the skyscrapers and bridges of Lower Manhattan can be seen too.

Free Wi-Fi works in both terminals and on the boats. Pets are allowed only if they are caged or muzzled, apart from service animals. Bicycles are allowed, but riders board on the lower level and walk the bike through the terminal.

The ferry runs both ways, and the schedule lists a separate set of departures from each terminal. For a round trip, plan to board the next boat back at St. George. No official page describes the turnaround in more detail. If you want to see Staten Island itself, the Staten Island Railway runs 24 hours a day from St. George.

A commuter ferry is the one harbor view in New York that costs nothing and needs no booking.

Step 4: Know what the free ride does not give you

The free ferry passes the Statue of Liberty, but it never lands there. The Statue of Liberty sits on Liberty Island, and the National Park Service says Statue City Cruises is the only ferry service that brings visitors to Liberty and Ellis Islands. That means you cannot hop off the Staten Island Ferry for a closer look.

Two paid options solve that. The official Statue City Cruises ticket from €29 covers the round-trip ferry, both islands and both museums, and it takes about five hours. Pedestal and crown access are not included. The 50-minute Statue of Liberty express cruise from €26 is run by Circle Line. It stays on the water and does not include a visit to the island.

Key Takeaway The Staten Island Ferry is free and goes past the Statue of Liberty, but only Statue City Cruises boats land on Liberty Island.

Things to Do in NYC's count of GetYourGuide listings in October 2026 found 17 boat trips with the Statue of Liberty in the title, from €22 per person.

The free ride has other limits. No official page lists a guide or commentary on the crossing, so you see the sights without context. Rush-hour boats are crowded, and the 25 minutes fly by. Short on time, or traveling with a group that needs seats? Plan your crossing outside rush hour.

Step 5: Decide if a paid trip is worth adding

The free ferry is enough if you only want a harbor ride and a look at the skyline. Doing it on your own costs nothing, and you choose the time. A tour is worth the money when you want a guide, a landing on Liberty Island or a longer ride on the water.

The guided bus and walking tour from €88 is a six-hour day run by USA Guided Tours with a live guide. A ferry ride is part of it, and so are a bus and bottled water. Attraction tickets and lunch are not included, and the listing says groups average 32 people. The meeting point is 770 7th Ave. It suits a first-time visitor who wants the free ferry with a guide's context.

Liked the free ferry and want a longer ride? A harbor cruise is the next step. A Circle Line cruise and other boat tours can run longer than the free crossing. Our page on New York boat tours and harbor cruises compares them.

Each of the three listings above carries a rating of 4.6 or higher on GetYourGuide, and free cancellation is available on all three. The Statue City Cruises ticket has more than 21,000 reviews. The guided day has 228, the smallest number of the three.