Loading Page...

How long is a round trip Staten Island Ferry ride?

How Long is the Staten Island Ferry Round Trip? You should plan for at least 60 - 90 minutes for your journey once you arrive at Whitehall Ferry Terminal in Lower Manhattan. The ferry rides each way are approximately 25-30 minutes.



People Also Ask

Can I stay on the Ferry for round-trip? No. All passengers must debark from the Ferry after every trip and can re-board the boat through the waiting room.

MORE DETAILS

Staten Island Ferry The Staten Island Ferry is a free transportation service provided between Manhattan and Staten Island. Each boat is quite large, carrying over 4,000 people. But the route across New York harbor takes you directly in front of the statue.

MORE DETAILS

First off, avoid traveling at or around the commuter rush hours of 7:00 to 8:45 am and 5:00 to 6:45 pm! Even the boats right before and after these times are often very busy. Traveling in the late morning and early afternoon is your best chance to get a boat that isn't overly packed.

MORE DETAILS

The Staten Island Ferry boasts a 24-hour schedule. That's right: it never stops. It takes trips every half hour on the half hour, and every 20 minutes during rush hour. Each ferry has a capacity of around 5,000 people, and daily ridership frequently tops 70,000 passengers a day.

MORE DETAILS

Eliminating the ferry fare was seen as an action to standardize Staten Islanders' MetroCard fares with those of commuters in other boroughs. Despite the fact that the ferry fare had netted $6 million in annual revenue for the city, its abolition only cost the city about $1 million.

MORE DETAILS

Due to the smaller size of the boat, the trip was a bit less smooth than what riders of the Staten Island Ferry have come to expect, with choppy water resulting in a bumpy ride at one point.

MORE DETAILS

If you're getting on from the Manhattan side, go to the right (starboard) side of the boat for the best view of the Statue of Liberty. From the Staten Island side, go to the left (port). The ride is 25 minutes each way with boats departing every 30 minutes on either side on weekends.

MORE DETAILS

The Staten Island Ferry SIF ferry - Staten Island Ferry serves 2 ferry terminals in the NYC area departing from St. George Ferry Terminal and ending at Whitehall Ferry Terminal.

MORE DETAILS

The Ferry ride is free. All passengers are required to comply with applicable U.S. Coast Guard Security Regulations regardless of which level they board from. The Staten Island Ferry does not carry cars.

MORE DETAILS

Activities, Attractions, & What to Do
  1. Staten Island Ferry. ...
  2. Barrett Park Staten Island Zoo. ...
  3. Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden. ...
  4. Garibaldi - Meucci Memorial Museum. ...
  5. Alice Austen House. ...
  6. The Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art. ...
  7. Oakwood Beach. ...
  8. Historic Richmond Town.


MORE DETAILS

During rush hour, you could be out here for at least an hour, said Elroy Wallace, deckhand. Inland you may get a temperature of 20 degrees, but on the water it could feel like minus 10. Deckhands say they dress in layers, some with as many as three layers of trousers and six layers on their upper bodies.

MORE DETAILS

If you want to take photos of the Statue of Liberty, go up the flights of stairs until you reach the top deck, and go to the right side of the ferry. There is an outdoor deck on each side of the upper deck that you can stand on to get good photos. Coming back, you'll need to be on the left side of the ferry.

MORE DETAILS

The ferry operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with boats leaving every 15 to 20 minutes during peak hours and every 30 minutes at other times. Apart from NYC Ferry's St. George route, it is the only direct mass-transit connection between the two boroughs.

MORE DETAILS

We ask that you finish your beverage prior to leaving. Alcoholic beverages can only be sold (1) per I.D. at a time with a limit of (2) drinks per passenger. No outside food or beverages shall be consumed on board NYC Ferry vessels at any time.

MORE DETAILS

You 'queue' at the entrance and when the ferry docks it takes about 10 minutes to empty and another 10 to load. The crossing takes 20 minutes. At Staten island, if you can get off quick you may be able to rush round and get straight on the ferry back. We missed it so had about a 30 minute wait for the next one back.

MORE DETAILS

How long is the entire trip? Sailing time to each island is approximately 15 minutes. If you remain on boat for ride only without visiting either monument, it will be one hour and fifteen minutes. If you visit both islands the time depends on the time you spend on both islands.

MORE DETAILS

TIP: The Staten Island Ferry cruises past the Statue of Liberty for free. You can also reach the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island from the New Jersey side of the Hudson River at Liberty State Park in Jersey City (map).

MORE DETAILS

Stand on the port side (right side) at the back of the ferry going out to the Statue of Liberty. It will give you the best views of the city and of the statue as you approach. Book ahead of time on the Government Website, for reserved tickets and skip the security lines.

MORE DETAILS