United States
New York
Yellow cabs thread the skyscraper canyons. The subway runs 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Staten Island Ferry / NYC Ferry / NY Waterway
Updated on August 2, 2026
How to ride
- 1Work out which ferry company you needSeveral separate operators run "the ferry" here, from different piers at different fares. Pick yours by destination.
- 2Just walk onto the Staten Island FerryNo ticket needed - just walk on from the waiting room at Whitehall (Manhattan) or St. George (Staten Island).
- 3Buy your NYC Ferry ticket before boardingYou can't buy on board - get your ticket on the official app or from the vending machine at the landing.
- 4Activate the ticket right before you boardActivate only once you're at the slip. Show the screen or the paper ticket to the deckhand as you board.
- 5For NY Waterway, buy a ticket for your routeThe private Hudson River crossings. Buy a ticket for your specific route at the pier office or in its own app.
- 6Transfer to a different route within 120 minutesAn NYC Ferry ticket can't be reused for the return leg on the same route; only transfers to a different route are free.
Fares
Single fares5
Passes & multi-ride2
Estimates use exchange rates as of November 4, 2026
Payment
Tap to ride 
IC card 
App tickets 
Paper tickets 
Cash Quick facts
Fares
NYC Ferry Unlimited 2-Day48 hours unlimited on all NYC Ferry routes, $15, sold in the app only
Daily fare capNo daily fare cap - every boarding costs a fresh one-way fare.
Transfer discounts（Limited）Free between different NYC Ferry routes within 120 min; none with the subway.
Facilities
Lifts (step-free)Both Staten Island Ferry terminals have lifts and escalators, and wheelchair or mobility-device users board from the lower level with no paperwork needed in advance. NYC Ferry publishes its own ADA policy.
Suitcases & luggage（Limited）Aisles must stay clear; large items may mean waiting for the next boat.
Toilets（Limited）None in the NYC Ferry waiting areas at the landings.
Rules
Eating & drinking on board（Limited）No outside food or drink on NYC Ferry boats; a concession stand is on board.
Smoking（Banned）Bans e-cigarettes too; in terminals, only in designated open areas.
Pets（Limited）Service animals always; other pets need a carrier or muzzle.
Fare evasion fine（Unverified）No gates; a deckhand checks tickets at boarding. No published fine amount found.
Apps & info
Journey planner app (Google Maps, Citymapper)
English signageEnglish throughout; the SI Ferry timetable also comes in translated versions.
Operating hoursThe Staten Island Ferry runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Its published timetable shows departures every 15-20 minutes in weekday rush hours and every 30 minutes at other times and at weekends, with a crossing of about 25 minutes; holidays use the weekend timetable. Terminal waiting rooms close intermittently between 1:00 and 4:30 for security sweeps. NYC Ferry's FAQ describes service as 6:00-22:00, 365 days a year, but its own published route timetables fall outside that: the Rockaway-Soundview route's first weekday departure is 5:05, while the Governors Island shuttle runs only from late morning to late afternoon on seasonal weekends. Headways range from about 12 to 45 minutes by route and time of day (seasonal timetables).
Heads-up
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Ticket touts around The Battery
Never buy a ferry ticket from someone approaching you on the street. Only one operator is authorized to land at the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, and its only on-site window is inside Castle Clinton. The Staten Island Ferry has no tickets at all.
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A one-way ticket won't cover the return on the same route
An NYC Ferry one-way ticket cannot be used for the return leg on the same route. The free transfer only covers a different route within 120 minutes of activation, so buy a separate ticket for the way back.
Timetable
Editor Naotaka