Is Ellis Island worth the time?

As a tour guide, a question I hear a lot is: “Is it worth it to see Ellis Island?” For those who have no familial connection or relation to the people who passed through, its importance and influence can often be overlooked. Which is why I am here to tell you that it is absolutely, 100% worth it.



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How long do I need to visit Ellis Island? It will depend upon what you want to do while visiting. Generally, two to three hours is ample time to visit.

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Overall, almost everyone who came through Ellis Island (around 98% by some counts) was admitted. By contrast, 60% of the immigrants who arrived at Angel Island—most of whom were Chinese—were detained, and it took weeks or months to be released; the longest detention Lee found was 756 days.

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Visiting Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty is an inspiring, striking experience. As dual symbols of freedom and hope, these incredible monuments and their museums give proof to the story of immigration and recognize the human spirit of our nation's ideals.

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I don't think people realize just how steep and tight the stairway up is! The statue museum is amazing and it was just surreal to see it up close! The views from the ferry are better... but it is so worth it to plan ahead and book tickets to climb to the crown at least once in your life!

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Overview: Opened on January 1, 1892, Ellis Island became the nation's premier federal immigration station. In operation until 1954, the station processed over 12 million immigrant steamship passengers.

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Angel Island Hiking This island is truly a hiker's paradise. You can walk all around the island on the paved perimeter road, or take one of the two hiking trails to the top of Mount Livermore, at 700 feet above sea level. The view at the top is spectacular: 360 degrees and you can see Mount St. Helens on a clear day!

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Yes, you can visit Ellis Island by taking a ferry. Ellis Island is free to visit, though there is a fee for the ferry ticket. Only one company has the authorization to provide Ellis Island tickets – Statue City Cruises.

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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.

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Reservation. National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands Passes do not apply at Ellis Island, part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument, which does not charge an entrance fee. The cost of the ferry ticket is not an entrance fee. There is no charge to visit the museum on Ellis Island and Liberty Island.

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Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Plenty of opportunities to wash your hands or get cleaned up. Then you will take a ferry to Ellis Island, again restrooms are aboard the ferries. Finally you will land on Ellis Island where there are restrooms inside the Ellis Island Immigration Museum.

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Visiting the pedestal is a great addition to your trip to Liberty Island. There are 215 steps or approximately 10 stories to climb to the top of the pedestal. There is an elevator for those who cannot use the stairs. Tickets to the pedestal are limited and can sell out in advance.

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Ellis Island Hotel features fully renovated rooms and suites to accommodate any stay from a fun layover to an extended vacation in Las Vegas. Our affordable rates and convenient location near the Strip make Ellis Island the ideal place to drop off your bags and explore!

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Far away from Ellis Island, in every sense, lies Angel Island. The immigration station there was built on the exclusion of one national group, those originating in China, and prejudice and racism against Asian people generally. Detainment and detention rates were far higher than for those who arrived via Ellis Island.

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The Angel Island Immigration Station in San Francisco Bay served as the main immigration facility on the West Coast of the United States from 1910 to 1940. It's shown here in 1935.

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Ellis Island is open every day except Thanksgiving (the 4th Thursday in November) and December 25th.

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By 1954, just three years later, President Dwight Eisenhower was ready to push immigration law enforcement in a radical new direction. That year, the Eisenhower Administration decided to shut down six immigration detention facilities, including the one on Ellis Island.

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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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