The only way to access the Statue of Liberty is via Ferry.
You can board the ferry from Battery Park, New York and Liberty Statue Park, New Jersey.
The first ferry leaves at 8.30 am.
To plan a perfect trip, you need to know the Statue of Liberty ferry schedule from Battery Park and Liberty State Park.
The Statue of Liberty ferry schedule differs depending on the season.
Here is the Statue of Liberty ferry schedule from New York and New Jersey:
| Seasons | First ferry departure | Last ferry departure |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-March to Late May | 8.30 am | 3.30 pm |
| Late May to early September | 8.30 am | 5 pm |
| Early September to Mid October | 8.30 am | 4 pm |
| Mid-October to Mid-March | 9 am | 3.30 pm |
All ferry tickets include a round-trip. You need to confirm your departure docks before you book!
During the summer, the ferries are available every 20 minutes to cater to the large crowds.
In the winter, ferries are available every 30 to 40 minutes as the crowds thin down.
The Statue of Liberty ferry schedules from New Jersey and New York are more or less the same.
Liberty Island Ferry Schedule
The Liberty Island Ferry Schedule is not constant.
You will find that the Liberty Island Ferry Schedule varies depending on the time of the year, as follows:
| Tourist Season | First Ferry | Last ferry |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-March to Late May | 8.30 am | 5 pm |
| Late May to Early September | 8.30 am | 6.45 pm |
| Early September to Mid October | 8.30 am | 5.45 pm |
| Mid October to Mid March | 9 am | 5 pm |
Ellis Island Ferry Schedule
The Ellis Island Ferry Schedule varies based on the season.
Here is the Ellis Island Ferry Schedule:
| Tourist Season | First Ferry | Last ferry |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-March to Late May | 8.30 am | 5.15 pm |
| Late May to Early September | 8.30 am | 7 pm |
| Early September to Mid October | 8.30 am | 6 pm |
| Mid-October to Mid March | 9 am | 5.15 pm |
When Is The Statue of Liberty Ferry Service Closed
Like the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, the ferry service is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
It is open on all other days of the year.
Statue of Liberty Ferry from New York
Visitors traveling from New York must take their ferry to Battery Park.
The first ferry from Battery Park leaves at 8:30 am and the Statue of Liberty Ferry Schedule from Battery Park remains the same throughout the year.
It takes 25 minutes to reach the Statue of Liberty and 15 minutes to reach Ellis Island.
It takes around 10 mins from Ellis Island to get back to Battery Park.
The entire loop: Battery Park to Liberty Island, then Ellis Island and back to Battery Park takes 50 mins.
Reaching Battery Park
You should take public transportation to reach Battery Park from New York.
You could use the Subway or the Bus to get to Battery Park.
By Subway
You can take Local 1 and R trains, which stop at South Ferry/Whitehall Street Station.
It’s a five-minute walk from here to South Ferry Station.
You could use EXPRESS (Lexington Avenue Line) trains 4 and 5. These stop at the Bowling Green Station.
It’s a short 2-minute walk to the Statue of Liberty from there.
By Bus
Take the M5, M15, or M20, and get off at the South Ferry stop. You will see the sign for the Statue of Liberty right ahead.
Statue of Liberty Ferry from New Jersey
If you are in New Jersey, you can board the ferry from Liberty State Park.
Liberty State Park ferry address: Liberty State Park, 1 Audrey Zapp Drive, Jersey City, NJ.
Liberty State Park isn’t well connected via public transport, but you do have ample parking spaces around.
It costs $7 to park near Liberty State Park.
Getting to Liberty State Park
Due to the varied connectivity, the Liberty State Park ferry isn’t as popular as the Battery Park ferry.
But here is how you can reach Liberty State Park.
By Light Rail
The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail can reach the Liberty State Park Station. The station is 1.6 km (1 mile) from the ferry location.
By Car
Taking an Uber seems like a better option, as it will drop you right at the ferry location.
You can get an Uber for $13!
You can park your vehicles for free at Statue of Liberty Parking if you prefer to drive. It’s a quick walk to the Liberty Ferry location.
Or you could park at the Liberty State Park’s ferry dock parking slots for $7.
Statue of Liberty Ferry Routes
You can take two different routes to visit the attractions, depending on the ferry you take.
The Ferry Route From Battery Park
The first stop after you set sail from Battery Park is the grand Statue of Liberty, standing tall on Liberty Island.
Next, you visit Ellis Island and, finally, back to Battery Park.
In short,
Battery Park > Statue of Liberty > Ellis Island Immigration Museum > Battery Park
This route is best for a summer day.
You can take an early morning ferry to Liberty Island, and by the sun’s up top, you are inside the Ellis Museum.
According to Battery Park’s Statue of Liberty ferry schedule, the first ferry leaves at 8:30 am.
You can book your ferry from Battery Park and have a chill morning sailing without any booking hassles.
Remember to choose your starting point as Battery Park, New York, while booking.
The Ferry Route From Liberty State Park
From Liberty State Park, you will visit the Ellis Immigration Museum on Ellis Island first.
Then, visit the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island, and sail back to Liberty State Park ferry dock.
In short,
Liberty State Park > Ellis Museum > Statue of Liberty > Liberty State Park
This route is best for an afternoon or winter trip.
If you take the ferry from the mainland at 1 pm, you will finish Ellis Island by 3 pm. This gives you ample time to visit the Statue of Liberty during the evening.
The island is open till 6:45 pm, leaving you around 3 hours to explore Liberty Island!
You can book your ferry from Liberty State Park and have a chill morning sailing without any booking hassles.
Remember to choose your starting point, Liberty State Park, New Jersey, while booking.
How Long Does The Liberty Ferry Ride Last
From Battery Park or Liberty State Park, each ferry ride takes around 15 to 20 mins.
Due to crowd sizes, you may have to wait for your turn to board the ferry.
But there is a ferry every 20 to 25 mins, so you will catch one!
If you wish to skip the lines during boarding and get VIP access to the ferry, book an express ticket in advance.
Sailing from Liberty Island to Ellis Island, or vice-versa takes 15 mins.
Note: During the peak seasons, you may have to wait more than an hour to catch a ferry!
Return Ferry: Battery Park or Liberty State Park?
You can choose to return to whichever ferry dock- Battery Park or Liberty State Park- it doesn’t matter where you boarded.
But be careful and don’t board the wrong ferry. Often, guests end up at Liberty State Park instead of Battery Park, or vice-versa.
You cannot re-board the same ferry to return to the other dock.
If you get the dock wrong, you can use the Liberty Landing Ferry Service to return to New York!
How To Go On A Statue of Liberty Ferry
You need to purchase a ferry ticket to board the boat.
All Statue of Liberty tickets online include a round ferry trip ticket.
All tickets include the following:
- A Ferry ride to Liberty Island, Ellis Island, and back to the Mainland
- Access to the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island
- Access to the Statue of Liberty Museum on Liberty Island
- Access to the National Museum of Immigration on Ellis Island
- Audio Guide
You can purchase Statue of Liberty ferry tickets online in advance to secure your entry to the island and the ferry.
Statue of Liberty Ferry Boat
State Cruises owns and maintains all the Statue of Liberty ferry boats. There are a total of 10 boats available.
Depending on the schedule, you may get to board any of these boats!
Food & Beverages On The Ferry
Statue of Liberty ferry boats have healthy snack bars. These sell a variety of healthy snacks and beverages.
The ferry ride is only 15 mins- too short to buy and have a snack. But you can always carry them with you to the islands.
Accessibility Of The Boats
All boats are wheelchair accessible but don’t offer wheelchairs.
If you need assistance, all you need to do is contact the Ticket Office Manager. They will ensure your safe passage.
A State Cruise staff member will help you get on and off the boats.
While the boats don’t have wheelchair-accessible washrooms, the Islands do.
Recommended reading:
- Statue of Liberty tickets
- The Statue of Liberty’s opening hours
- How to reach the Statue of Liberty
- Statue of Liberty cruise and helicopter tours
- Last Minute Statue of Liberty tickets
