STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The Staten Island Ferry, operated by the Department of Transportation (DOT), is Staten Island’s only direct link to Manhattan.
Service is free to all passengers for the 5.2-mile voyage between St. George and Manhattan that takes approximately 25 minutes, depending on the weather.
Boats run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, providing at least two trips an hour in both directions, with higher frequencies during peak commuting times.
Prior to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, more than 22 million people a year -- or approximately 70,000 each weekday -- rode the ferry.
No motor vehicles are allowed on the ferry, though bicycles are permitted on the lower level.
The two ferry terminals are in St. George on Staten Island and at Whitehall (also called South Ferry terminal, after the subway station), next to Battery Park in Lower Manhattan.
FERRY SCHEDULE
The weekday schedule for the Staten Island Ferry is as follows.
From Staten Island
From 6 a.m. to 7 a.m., every 20 minutes
From 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., every 15 minutes
From 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., every half-hour
From 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., every 20 minutes
From 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., every 15 minutes
From 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., every half-hour
From Manhattan
From 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m., every half-hour
From 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., every 20 minutes
From 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., every 15 minutes
From 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., every half-hour
From 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., every 20 minutes
From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., every 15 minutes
From 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., every 20 minutes
From 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m., every half-hour.
On weekends, the Staten Island Ferry provides service every half-hour to and from Staten Island.
The weekend schedule is also in effect on the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
All schedules are subject to change without notice. For periods of reduced visibility or heavy weather, schedule may be adjusted. For updates, check nyc.gov/dot or contact 311.
PARKING
Street parking in St. George is limited, but there are various parking lots in the area for those using the Staten Island Ferry.
There is an NYC DOT Municipal parking lot at the St. George Ferry Terminal that features 222 parking spots. Open 24 hours, the lot accepts change, credit cards or parking cards at Muni Meters. Residents may also pay using the ParkNYC mobile app. The ParkNYC Zone number for the lot is 525706. The hourly parking rate is $1.50 per hour, while the daily parking rate is $12. There is an 18-hour limit for parked cars.
Ferry riders can also use the NYC DOT Municipal parking lot and garage at the Staten Island Courthouse at 54 Central Avenue that features 721 parking spots. The lot is open on weekdays, from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., on Saturdays, from 8 a.m. to 12 a.m., and on Sundays, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Residents must pay at the lot’s cashier booth. The first hour costs $2.75, with each subsequent hour costing $3, up to a maximum of $12 per day. Monthly permits are available online for $100 per month.
Parking is also available at the nearby Empire Outlets Parking Garage, located just a few hundred feet from the terminal. The garage, located at 55B Richmond Terrace, is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Residents receive a parking slip upon arrival and must pay at a machine located within the garage before using the paid parking slip to exit. Pricing varies depending on the amount of time spent in the lot, costing $5 for up to three hours, $10 for up to five hours, $15 for up to 10 hours and $25 for up to 24 hours. A $9.50 day rate is also available for commuters, as well as a $189.35 monthly commuter rate. Click here for more information regarding parking at Empire Outlets.
BICYCLISTS
All cyclists are required to board the boat on the lower level at both the Whitehall Terminal in Manhattan and the St. George Terminal, located at 1 Bay St. on Staten Island.
Riders must dismount and walk their bicycles while in the waiting area and when boarding and departing the boat.
All bicycles must be stored in the designated bicycle storage area on the lower level of each vessel and riders may be subject to security screenings at the terminal.
The DOT is not responsible for any stolen or damaged bicycles.
SECURITY
All ferry riders may be subject to security screenings by NYPD personnel and K9 units.
Those who refuse the random screenings are not be permitted to board the boat and are required to leave the terminal.
The terminals are under 24/7 CCTV surveillance and NYPD officers are stationed in both terminals and on all vessels at all times.
TRANSIT CONNECTIONS
The Staten Island Ferry serves as a vital connection to other forms of mass transit both on Staten Island and in Lower Manhattan.
The St. George Terminal features connections to the Staten Island Railway, as well as the S40, S42, S44, S46, S48, S51, S52, S61, S62, S66, S74, S76, S78, S81, S84, S86, S90, S91, S92, S94, S96 and S98 bus routes.
The Whitehall Terminal features connections to the 1, 4, 5, J, R, W and Z subway lines, as well as the M5, M15, M15 SBS and M20 bus routes.
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