The Staten Island Ferry is a passenger ferry service operated by the New York City Department of Transportation. The Staten Island Ferry is one of the last remaining vestiges of an entire ferry system in New York City that transported people between Manhattan and its future boroughs long before any bridges were built. In Staten Island, the northern shores were spiked in piers, competing ferry operators braved the busy waters of New York harbor.

The City has operated the Staten Island Ferry since 1905. Of the 22 million annual riders, roughly 1.5 million of the Staten Island Ferry passengers are tourists wanting to enjoy the view from this free ferry running between Manhattan to Staten Island.

Commuters and tourists can get a view of the harbor and the Statue of Liberty during the ride between lower Manhattan and St. George, Staten Island. Although it’s not a terribly elegant affair, the round-trip free ride allows you an hour-long trip through the New York Harbor.

Ferry Schedule

Staten Island Ferry Schedule
The ferry runs around the clock, every day of the year. Generally, the ferry runs every fifteen minutes during rush hour, and every half hour or hour during nights and weekends. During periods of reduced visibility or heavy weather the schedule may be adjusted.
See the detailed schedule

The ferry operates on a holiday schedule on New Year’s Day, Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. On these days, boats run every 30 minutes between 7:00 am and 11:00 pm.

Route Information

The Ferry operates between the St. George Ferry Terminal on Staten Island and the Whitehall Terminal in Lower Manhattan. The trip is about 25 minutes long. The Ferry is free.

The St. George Terminal is located at 1 Bay Street, Staten Island.

The Whitehall Terminal is located at 4 South Street, Manhattan.

Passengers using wheelchairs are encouraged to use lower-level boarding at both the Whitehall and St. George Terminals. All passengers are required to comply with applicable U.S. Coast Guard Security Regulations regardless of which level they board from.