BY FERRY · USA FERRY TRIPS

Ferry Trips in the USA: The 15 Worth Boarding

39 crossings  ·  from $19 a head

American ferries carry you to the sight rather than past it. The 15 below cover the harbour islands, the fort boats and the bay runs, with timed-entry notes and what each ticket includes.

New York City: Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island with Ferry - Starting at Liberty State Park in Jersey City
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New York City: Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island with Ferry

1.Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island with Ferry

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 18,683 reviews · 5 hours · from $19Our pick

Board a Statue City Cruises ferry from Liberty State Park in Jersey City and explore Liberty Island and Ellis Island at your own pace. Your $19 ticket includes round-trip transport, multilingual audio guides, the Statue of Liberty Museum, and the Ellis Island National Immigration Museum. Plan on four to six hours, plus airport-style security.

“It was so gorgeous on top! Dont think anything needs to be improved!!”

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Fort Sumter Admission and Self-Guided Tour with Roundtrip Ferry - Meeting the Park Ranger at Fort Sumter
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Fort Sumter Admission and Self-Guided Tour with Roundtrip Ferry

2.Fort Sumter Admission and Self-Guided Tour with Roundtrip Ferry

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3,343 reviews · 2 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $43

Take a 30-minute narrated ferry from Liberty Square or Patriots Point to Fort Sumter. A National Park Service ranger introduces the fort, then you have about an hour to see the ruins, museum, bookstore, and harbor views. The ferry has restrooms and snacks, but the fort itself has no public restrooms.

“Dress warm for this waterway to history! Informative Ranger shared a quick tour of the forts origin and self proclaimed Best looking Ranger Andy celebrated our 25th anniversary with a toast to Sunday TODAY. Cheers!”

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Boston to Martha's Vineyard Day Trip with Optional Island Tour - Oak Bluffs, gingerbread cottages, and free time
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Boston to Martha’s Vineyard Day Trip with Optional Island Tour

3.Boston to Martha’s Vineyard Day Trip with Optional Island Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3,162 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $129

Leave Boston early in a 24-passenger minibus, ride through Cape Cod, and cross Vineyard Sound by ferry to Martha’s Vineyard. Explore independently or add a three-hour island tour covering Edgartown, Aquinnah, the Gay Head Cliffs, and all six island towns. Guides such as Tom, Elaine, Jonathan, and Johnny Boston are known for lively local commentary.

“Very informative, friendly guides. We very much enjoyed our tour of the island and history, as well as the food!”

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Charleston: Fort Sumter Entry Ticket with Roundtrip Ferry - Choosing Liberty Square or Patriot’s Point
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Charleston: Fort Sumter Entry Ticket with Roundtrip Ferry

4.Fort Sumter Entry Ticket with Roundtrip Ferry

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 2,879 reviews · 2 hours · from $43

Ride a narrated ferry from Liberty Square or Patriot’s Point to Fort Sumter, where a National Park Ranger explains the opening battle of the Civil War. You get about an hour on the island to see the fort ruins, museum, cannons, and store before returning by boat. The trip lasts about two hours and 15 minutes.

“Have the guided walk with the group to tell the stories once at the fort”

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San Francisco: Alcatraz Ticket, Ferry, & Self-Guided App - The ferry crossing: a short ride with big views
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San Francisco: Alcatraz Ticket, Ferry, & Self-Guided App

5.Alcatraz Ticket, Ferry, & Self-Guided App

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,460 reviews · 3 hours · from $79

Meet at Pier 33 for a ferry to Alcatraz Island, then explore the cell blocks, prison corridors, outside grounds, and San Francisco views with a self-guided app. The official ticket and ferry are included, but there is no live guide. You can stay on the island as long as you wish and return on a later ferry.

“We were a party of 6 celebrating a milestone birthday… Alcatraz was at the top of the birthday girls bucket list, so it had to be done!! What a fabulous experience from start to finish, everyone of the staff members we encountered were friendly, energetic and amazing!! They even sung “happy birthday “ it was everything we hoped for and more! We had a fabulous time and would definitely recommend a visit.”

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Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Guided Tour with Ferry - Crossing New York Harbor to Liberty Island
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Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Guided Tour with Ferry

6.Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Guided Tour with Ferry

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,189 reviews · 2 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $59

Meet at 1 Bowling Green, then cross New York Harbor to Liberty Island and Ellis Island. Your English-speaking guide handles ferry entry and adds stories about Lady Liberty and immigration. Choose a two-hour Statue of Liberty visit or a four-hour option with Ellis Island, its museum, and audio guide. Crown and pedestal access is not included.

“The guide Joe was awesome. It was well worth the money. He knew the history. He knew how the system works. Felt at ease immediately.”

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San Francisco Golden Gate To Sausalito Bike Tour - Palace of Fine Arts and Crissy Field
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San Francisco Golden Gate To Sausalito Bike Tour

7.San Francisco Golden Gate To Sausalito Bike Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 751 reviews · 1 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $75

Ride from Fisherman’s Wharf across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito with guides such as Ryan, Mia, Adam, or Ginger. You’ll follow a mostly flat waterfront route, stop at the Palace of Fine Arts and Crissy Field, then explore Sausalito on your own. Classic bikes and e-bikes are available, with a ferry return at your expense.

“From start to finish this experience was spectacular. Efficient, clean, friendly, and knowledgeable. We had a guided tour that was safe and enjoyable. Mia was our guide, who provided us many places to stop for beautiful pictures, along with wonderful historical facts about the locations. We would do this again in a heartbeat. Our family consists of two adults and two teens. We rented the E bikes, highly recommend them to make the tour more enjoyable.”

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City Cruises Salem High Speed Ferry to/from Boston - What You See on the 50-Minute Crossing
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City Cruises Salem High Speed Ferry to/from Boston

8.City Cruises Salem High Speed Ferry to/from Boston

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 727 reviews · 50 minutes (approx.) · from $42

Take a fast catamaran between Boston and Salem in about 50 minutes. Choose an outdoor deck or cushy indoor seat, buy coffee, drinks, and snacks from the galley, and listen for commentary from guides such as Donald or Mikayla. Plan ahead for cool, choppy weather and remember that a round trip requires two one-way tickets.

“Quick direct way to get from Boston to Salem. Pretty views and they point out the sites around both areas”

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Olympic National Park Small Group Day Tour w/Scenic Ferry 2CanGo - Lake Crescent and the forest around Marymere Falls
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Olympic National Park Small Group Day Tour w/Scenic Ferry 2CanGo

9.Olympic National Park Small Group Day Tour w/Scenic Ferry 2CanGo

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 624 reviews · 11 hours (approx.) · from $148

This 11-hour small-group trip from Seattle combines round-trip Bainbridge Island ferry rides with Hurricane Ridge, Lake Crescent, and seasonal walks or snowshoeing. A guide such as Tony, Ryan, Duan, or Andy handles the driving, park entry, lunch, snacks, and water. Expect a full day, long road stretches, and weather-dependent plans.

“The best things about the tour are that they pick customers up and drop customers off from the hotel, a completely hassle-free tour. they provide lunch and drinking water for the tour. The tour guide is friendly and has full knowledge about what she is going to introduce.”

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San Francisco: Alcatraz, Ferry & Audio Tour w/ Night Option - Inside the Cellhouse with the official audio tour
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San Francisco: Alcatraz, Ferry & Audio Tour w/ Night Option

10.Alcatraz, Ferry & Audio Tour w/ Night Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 617 reviews · 3 hours · from $78

Take the official ferry from Pier 33 to Alcatraz, then explore the cellhouse and island at your own pace. Your ticket includes the official Cellhouse audio tour plus a separate companion guide covering Indigenous history, gardens, protests, families, and island life. Choose the night option for evening ferry service and ranger introductions.

“This was s brilliant tour and experience. Very well organized, I loved the self tour guide- such a good stories told by prople who were actually the prisoners there. I highly recommend it is definitely worth the money!!!”

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San Francisco: Muir Woods & Sausalito Tour with Ferry Option - The bus ride across the Golden Gate Bridge
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San Francisco: Muir Woods & Sausalito Tour with Ferry Option

11.Muir Woods & Sausalito Tour with Ferry Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 515 reviews · 5 - 8 hours · from $91

Cross the Golden Gate Bridge by air-conditioned bus, walk among giant redwoods in Muir Woods, then spend time in Sausalito. Your English-speaking guide, such as Doug, Don, or Heather, provides local stories and photo stops. Choose the ferry option for a scenic return to San Francisco, or add a guided bike tour.

“Tony the tour guide was amazing nd informative. I would highly reccomend.”

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Hilton Head to Savannah Round-Trip Ferry Ticket - Meeting at Harbour Town at 9 a.m.
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Hilton Head to Savannah Round-Trip Ferry Ticket

12.Hilton Head to Savannah Round-Trip Ferry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 507 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $88

Meet at Harbour Town at 9 a.m. for a 1-hour-45-minute cruise aboard the Spirit of Harbour Town. Choose air-conditioned seating or the covered upper deck, buy snacks and drinks, and listen as the captain points out wildlife and waterways. In Savannah, you have about four hours for lunch, shopping, walking, or an optional trolley ride.

“The trip was very good. The captain was knowledgeable of the area and gave us key points along the way and visiting ships, from Hilton Head to Savannah. She was very kind and helped my wife and I while boarding. The crew was nice and helpful. My only complaint was that we did not have enough time ashore. We needed the full 4 hours, but got about 3 1/2 hrs.”

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From Seattle: Round Trip by High Speed Ferry to Victoria, BC - Food, drinks, and the duty-free shop
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From Seattle: Round Trip by High Speed Ferry to Victoria, BC

13.Round Trip by High Speed Ferry to Victoria, BC

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 479 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $192

Take the passenger-only FRS Clipper from Pier 69 in downtown Seattle to Victoria’s Inner Harbour. The roughly three-hour crossing offers roomy economy seats, cafe service, duty-free shopping, Puget Sound views, and easy access to central Victoria. Bring a valid passport or approved enhanced ID, and check the seasonal return schedule carefully.

“Clipper crew was very friendly and helpful; overall a good experience. Might do it again just a little longer.”

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Egmont Key Ferry from Ft. DeSoto Park - Nearly three hours on an island with no roads
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Egmont Key Ferry from Ft. DeSoto Park

14.Egmont Key Ferry from Ft. DeSoto Park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 352 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $49Top rated

Take Hubbard’s Ferry from Fort De Soto Park to Egmont Key, a remote island reached only by boat. The 45 to 60 minute ride may bring dolphins, turtles, rays, manatees, and sea birds. You’ll have nearly three hours to explore beaches, trails, tortoise habitat, shells, shark teeth, and old fort ruins before returning with the crew.

“The boat ride to and from was fun and relaxing. The guides were great. We saw dolphins and rays, plus beautiful scenery. The island itself was really nice and had tons of cool history and beauty. We saw tons of tortises and found lots of shells. We packed sandwiches and drinks which worked out well for us.”

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San Francisco: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus with Ferry & Alcatraz Tour - Start at Jefferson Street near Fisherman’s Wharf
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San Francisco: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus with Ferry & Alcatraz Tour

15.Hop-On Hop-Off Bus with Ferry & Alcatraz Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 324 reviews · 2 days · from $159

See San Francisco by open-top bus, cross the Golden Gate Bridge, stop at Chinatown, Haight-Ashbury, Golden Gate Park, Fisherman’s Wharf, and more. Your package also includes a timed ferry to Alcatraz and its excellent self-guided audio tour. Live guides may add local stories, with commentary offered in several languages.

“Amazing day in board. Plenty of stops. Loads of information.”

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Newest in USA Ferry Trips

★ 4.0Seattle, WA to Victoria, BC High-Speed Passenger Ferry: ONE-WAYFrom $13676 reviews
★ 4.7Victoria, BC Round-Trip Ferry TourFrom $15748 reviews
★ 4.0Hilton Head to Daufuskie Island Round-Trip Ferry TicketFrom $4267 reviews
★ 3.0FROM FLORIDA: Bahamas Day Escape By FerryFrom $28453 reviews
★ 3.5Bimini or Grand Bahama Island by FerryFrom $22516 reviews
★ 4.2Miami: Bahamas Full-Day Trip by FerryFrom $25922 reviews
★ 3.9Bimini Island Day Trip by FerryFrom $28929 reviews
★ 4.0Morning Muir Woods & Sausalito Tour w/ FerryFrom $104105 reviews
★ 4.0Alcatraz Inside Access Ferry and Audio Tour with Night OptionFrom $90138 reviews
★ 4.0Boston Day Tour by Ferry: Salem Witch Trials Past to PresentFrom $129127 reviews
★ 4.0Catalina Island Ferry from Newport Beach to Avalon136 reviews
★ 4.5Daufuskie Island Daily Round Trip Ferry TicketsFrom $60144 reviews
★ 4.6Newport Beach: Ferry Ticket to/from Catalina IslandFrom $47138 reviews
★ 4.5San Francisco Combo: Ferry Building Food Tour and AlcatrazFrom $181152 reviews
★ 4.5Provincetown and Cape Cod High Speed Ferry to/from BostonFrom $79170 reviews

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