How to get to Liberty Island for free?

Staten Island Ferry It makes dozens of trips a day, leaving every 20-30 minutes. Since the service is completely free, this is a great option for viewing the Statue of Liberty up close. The ferry route brings you directly across New York Harbor and right by the statue and Ellis Island.



That’s an excellent question, and the honest answer is: You cannot get to Liberty Island itself for free. The island is a National Monument managed by the National Park Service, and the only way to get there is via an official ferry service, which requires a ticket.

However, you can see the Statue of Liberty for free and get a fantastic, up-close experience without paying for the ferry. Here’s how to do it, along with the one possible exception for getting to the island.

1. The “Almost Free” Viewing Options (Highly Recommended)

These methods get you extremely close to the statue on the water, for the price of a standard public transit fare.

  • Take the Staten Island Ferry: This is the classic free option. It’s a 25-minute NYC public ferry that runs between Lower Manhattan and Staten Island. It passes directly by the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

    • Cost: FREE (funded by the City of New York).
    • What you get: Amazing, relatively close views and photo ops from the water. You stay on the ferry; it does not stop at Liberty Island.
    • Tip: Go to the right side of the ferry when departing Manhattan for the best views. Catch it on the return trip as well for views from the other side.

  • Take the NYC Ferry (Route: South Brooklyn or Rockaway): This public transit ferry system has routes that go from Brooklyn or Rockaway to Lower Manhattan. These routes go even closer to the statue than the Staten Island Ferry, often passing right between Liberty Island and Ellis Island.

    • Cost

People Also Ask

All visitors must purchase a ticket to board the ferry to Liberty and Ellis Islands. All tickets are available to purchase up to six months in advance. Grounds Tickets are available daily and can be purchased via the Statue Cruises website or in-person at the Statue Cruises ticket booths.

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To get on the boat you'll first need to find your way to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal. The official name is the Whitehall Terminal and it is located in the financial district of Lower Manhattan. The closest metro station is the Whitehall St stops right next to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal.

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The Staten Island Ferry provides service every day, year-round. It is free to ride the ferry. Travel time in either direction between St. George and Whitehall is approximately 25 minutes.

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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.

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Staten Island Ferry Since the service is completely free, this is a great option for viewing the Statue of Liberty up close. The ferry route brings you directly across New York Harbor and right by the statue and Ellis Island. Pros: Of all the free options, the ferry has the best and closest view of the statue.

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It's FREE and you can either get off and spend some time on Staten Island, or simply disembark, walk around and get back on the ferry returning to Manhattan. It is about an hour round-trip.

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NYC DOT operates the Staten Island Ferry, providing free service between Staten Island and Lower Manhattan every day of the week, year-round.

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The park itself is free, but there are costs to go to Liberty Island or Ellis Island by ferry. Parking is free as well, except for the restaurants at the edge of the park. Helpful? There is a parking fee for both NY & Jersey parks to ferry access if you drive.

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Without proper planning, many people end their visit much later than expected, so make sure to leave plenty of time to see everything without feeling rushed. At a minimum, you should budget two hours for the Statue of Liberty and an additional hour if you plan to visit Ellis Island as well.

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Visitors arrive and depart Liberty Island and Ellis Island, located in New York Harbor, via ferries operated by Statue City Cruises. These ferries leave from two locations: The Battery, at the southern tip of Manhattan in New York City, and Liberty State Park in Jersey City, New Jersey.

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Fares – All MTA New York City Transit trains (subways and Staten Island Railway) and local buses (including Limited-Stop and +SelectBusService buses at MetroCard® fare collection machines) accept MetroCard.

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Once you've taken 12 paid rides in a seven-day period, you can ride free for the rest of the week. Here's an example: A rider uses the subway to get to and from work, and takes it on weekends to go into Manhattan to meet friends. They also use the local buses in their neighborhood to run errands.

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Can You Use a MetroCard on NYC Ferries? No, MetroCards are either not accepted or not needed, as some, such as the Staten Island Ferry, are free to take.

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The Ferry runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. In 2022, the Staten Island Ferry's annual on-time performance was 94%. On a typical weekday, five boats make 117 trips, carrying approximately 35,000 passengers. During rush hours, the ferry runs on a four-boat schedule, with 15 minutes between departures.

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Subways, local buses, and Staten Island Railway: $2.90 (Reduced Fare: $1.45) Single ride (only sold at subway vending machines): $3.25. Unlimited 7-day MetroCard: $34 (Reduced Fare: $17)

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The Ferry runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. In 2022, the Staten Island Ferry's annual on-time performance was 94%. On a typical weekday, five boats make 117 trips, carrying approximately 35,000 passengers. During rush hours, the ferry runs on a four-boat schedule, with 15 minutes between departures.

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Take the Staten Island Ferry If you want to see the Statue of Liberty for free, this is the best way to do it. This public ferry will take you to the borough of Staten Island, passing by the Statue of Liberty along the way. To get there, head to the Staten Island Ferry terminal next to Battery Park.

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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.

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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.

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