How long is the Halifax ferry ride?

At just $2.75 (exact cash only!), the 15-minute ride across the harbour on the Alderney Ferry from Halifax to Downtown Dartmouth is a must-do Halifax experience for visitors and locals alike.



The Halifax Transit ferry system, which connects downtown Halifax with Dartmouth, provides one of the most scenic and affordable commutes in Canada. The ride between the Halifax Ferry Terminal and the Alderney Ferry Terminal (Downtown Dartmouth) takes approximately 10 to 12 minutes. If you are taking the ferry to the Woodside Terminal, the journey is slightly longer, taking about 12 to 15 minutes. These ferries typically run every 15 minutes during peak commuter hours (morning and afternoon) and every 30 minutes during evenings and weekends. In 2026, the ferry remains a favorite for tourists because it offers a "mini-cruise" experience of the Halifax Harbour for the price of a standard bus fare (around $2.75 CAD). It is a highly reliable service, though it can occasionally be delayed by heavy fog or high winds, which are common in the Atlantic maritime climate.

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At just $2.75 (exact cash only!), the 15-minute ride across the harbour on the Alderney Ferry from Halifax to Downtown Dartmouth is a must-do Halifax experience for visitors and locals alike.

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WAYS TO PAY
  1. Onboard. Pay onboard the ferry. Credit/debit card ONLY. View onboard prices.
  2. Frequent User. Purchase a card and then pre-load credit. Manage your credit, top-ups, and cards online. The crew will scan your card when you travel. View concession prices.
  3. Fleet Card.


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Halifax Transit offers two ferry services: The Alderney Ferry service crosses from Halifax to Alderney Landing in downtown Dartmouth and the Woodside Ferry service crosses from Halifax to Woodside. Both locations have Park & Ride lots.

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Dartmouth's Alderney Ferry is located in downtown Dartmouth. The Woodside Ferry is located in Woodside, on Pleasant Street. Both locations have Park and Ride lots. Ferry service is accessible and integrated with the bus services.

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The Nova Scotia government is permanently removing fees from all seven of the ferry services operating within the province. Premier Iain Rankin announced the change today at the Englishtown ferry, where a boat transports people across St. Anns Bay between Englishtown and Jersey Cove in northern Cape Breton.

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The CAT: Maine, USA to Nova Scotia The high-speed CAT ferry travels between Bar Harbor, Maine and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia in just 3.5 hours. RVs, pickups, SUVs, cars, tour buses, motorcycles, and bicycles are welcome aboard The CAT - as well as walk-on passengers and four-legged friends.

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The ferries take approximately 15 minutes to travel between Dartmouth and Halifax. Schedules and terminal information are available on the Halifax Transit website.

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