History & Culture · New York City
The Staten Island Ferry is a free ride past the Statue of Liberty
The orange boats between St. George and Lower Manhattan have run free since 1997, and they pass close to the Statue of Liberty along the way.
Published June 21, 2026 · Last verified June 21, 2026
For a simple harbor ride, take the orange boat. The Staten Island Ferry carries about 22 million people a year between the St. George terminal on Staten Island and the Whitehall terminal in Lower Manhattan. The crossing takes roughly 25 minutes each way, and on the trip you glide right past the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Best seats are on the right side heading toward Manhattan.
The City of New York has run the ferry since 1905, and it has been completely free to ride since 1997. There is no ticket and no turnstile. If anyone tries to sell you a ferry ticket near the terminal, walk away. It is run by the NYC Department of Transportation, not a tour company.
Locals treat it as a commuter line, so it runs every day, all year, around the clock. For visitors it doubles as the simplest harbor ride in the city: orange boat, open water, skyline, Statue of Liberty, and no ticket window.
The ride also explains Staten Island a little. The borough is part of the city, but the daily crossing gives it a harbor rhythm that feels different from a subway commute.
Where to see it
Catch it at the St. George Ferry Terminal, 1 Bay Street, Staten Island, or at the Whitehall Ferry Terminal (South Ferry), 4 South Street, in Lower Manhattan. No ticket needed; just walk on. Trains and buses connect at both ends. Check the current sailing times on the NYC DOT schedule before heading down, since night service is less frequent.