Major hub

Large port

Medium port

Small port

Seasonal route

Northeast

159 ports

ports: 159
Operators: 41
Charlotte to Essex: 25m
Highlands to Nantucket: 7h 15m

NYC Ferry, NY Waterway and 37 other companies sail between 158 ports in the Northeast. Ferries also sail to the Northeast from Horseshoe Falls and Yarmouth (Nova Scotia). The main crossing, from Charlotte to Essex, takes 25 minutes and runs 22 times a day; the longest within the Northeast, from Highlands to Nantucket, takes 7¼ hours. Some sailings take cars, others foot passengers only. Some lines are seasonal.

Ferries to the Northeast

2 routes

Canada

Horseshoe Falls to Niagara Falls (New York)Maid of the Mist10m4 an hour, late April to early November Yarmouth (Nova Scotia) to Bar HarborBay Ferries3h 30m6 a week, mid-May to mid-October

Ferry companies in the Northeast

Calls at Sunset Park, Rockaway, Brookfield Place and 22 other portsFoot passengers only

7m–2h 4m

Calls at Hoboken, Brookfield Place, Port Imperial and 13 other portsFoot passengers only

5m–1h 15m

Boston Harbor City Cruises

Calls at Boston, Hingham, Charlestown (Boston) and 11 other portsFoot passengers only

10m–1h 35m

The Steamship Authority

Calls at Hyannis, Nantucket, Woods Hole and two other portsCars

45m–2h 15m

Lake Champlain Ferries

Calls at Grand Isle, Plattsburgh, Charlotte and EssexCars

14m–25m

Fire Island Ferries

Calls at Bay Shore, Ocean Beach, Ocean Bay Park and six other portsFoot passengers only

30m

Calls at Highlands, Pier 11 Wall Street, East 34th Street and 14 other portsFoot passengers onlyHigh speed

15m–7h 15m

Cross Sound Ferry

Calls at New London and Orient PointCarsHigh speed

1h 20m

Maine State Ferry Service

Calls at Rockland, Vinalhaven, Bass Harbor and six other portsCars

20m–1h 45m

Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Ferry

Calls at Bridgeport and Port JeffersonCars

1h 15m

Statue City Cruises

Calls at Battery Park, Liberty Island, Ellis Island and Liberty State ParkFoot passengers only

30m–35m

Calls at Greenport and Shelter Island HeightsCars

10m

Casco Bay Lines

Calls at Portland (Maine), Peaks Island, Little Diamond Island and five other portsCars

17m–1h 20m

Hy-Line Cruises

Calls at Hyannis, Nantucket and Oak BluffsFoot passengers onlyHigh speed

1h–1h 10m

Bay State Cruise Company

Calls at Boston, Provincetown, East Boston and two other portsFoot passengers only

10m–1h 35m

Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises

Calls at Midtown Manhattan, Liberty Island, South Street Seaport and Bear MountainFoot passengers only

25m–2h 45m

Cape May-Lewes Ferry

Calls at Cape May and LewesCars

1h 25m

Maid of the Mist

From Horseshoe FallsFoot passengers onlySeasonal

10m

Calls at Shelter Island and North Haven (New York)Cars

5m

Block Island Ferry

Calls at Point Judith, Block Island and NewportCars on some sailingsHigh speed

55m–1h

Downeast Windjammer Cruise Lines

Calls at Bar Harbor, Winter Harbor, Great Cranberry Island and five other portsFoot passengers onlySeasonal

20m–50m

Clayton Island Tours

Calls at Clayton, Boldt Castle and Rock Island LighthouseFoot passengers onlySeasonal

45m–3h 30m

Block Island Express

Calls at New London, Block Island and Orient PointFoot passengers onlyHigh speedSeasonal

1h 20m–1h 30m

Balmy Days Cruises

Calls at Boothbay Harbor, Squirrel Island, Monhegan and Burnt IslandFoot passengers only

15m–1h 30m

Fishers Island Ferry District

Calls at New London and Fishers IslandCars

45m

Davis Park Ferry

Calls at Patchogue, Davis Park and Watch HillFoot passengers onlySeasonal

20m–30m

Isle au Haut Boat Services

Calls at Stonington, Isle au Haut, Duck Harbor and Seal IslandFoot passengers only

45m–1h 30m

Uncle Sam Boat Tours

Calls at Alexandria Bay, Boldt Castle, Clayton and Singer CastleFoot passengers onlySeasonal

10m–1h 45m

Monhegan Boat Line

Calls at Port Clyde, Monhegan and Eastern Egg RockFoot passengers only

55m–1h 15m

Lake George Steamboat Company

Calls at Lake George Village, Bolton Landing, Paradise Bay and BaldwinFoot passengers onlySeasonal

45m–2h 30m

Island Queen Ferry

Calls at Falmouth and Oak BluffsFoot passengers onlySeasonal

35m

Freedom Cruise Line

Calls at Harwich Port and NantucketFoot passengers onlySeasonal

1h 20m

Calls at Great Cranberry Island, Islesford and Northeast HarborFoot passengers only

20m–40m

Rhode Island Fast Ferry

Calls at Quonset Point and Oak BluffsFoot passengers onlyHigh speedSeasonal

1h 45m

Cuttyhunk Ferry Company

Calls at New Bedford and CuttyhunkFoot passengers only

1h

From Yarmouth (Nova Scotia)CarsHigh speedSeasonal

3h 30m

Falmouth Edgartown Ferry

Calls at Falmouth and EdgartownFoot passengers onlySeasonal

45m

Hardy Boat Cruises

Calls at New Harbor and MonheganFoot passengers onlySeasonal

1h–1h 15m

Calls at Montauk, Block Island and New LondonFoot passengers onlyHigh speedSeasonal

1h 15m

Calls at Edgartown and ChappaquiddickCars

1m

Gateway Clipper Fleet

Calls at Station Square (Pittsburgh) and North Shore (Pittsburgh)Foot passengers onlySeasonal

10m

Questions

Where do ferries to the Northeast leave from?

From Horseshoe Falls to Niagara Falls (New York) (10 minutes, four times an hour, late April to early November) and Yarmouth (Nova Scotia) to Bar Harbor (3½ hours, six times a week, mid-May to mid-October).

Which ferry companies sail in the Northeast?

NYC Ferry: Sunset Park, Rockaway, Brookfield Place and 22 other ports. NY Waterway: Hoboken, Brookfield Place, Port Imperial and 13 other ports. Boston Harbor City Cruises: Boston, Hingham, Charlestown (Boston) and 11 other ports. The Steamship Authority: Hyannis, Nantucket, Woods Hole, Vineyard Haven and Oak Bluffs. Lake Champlain Ferries: Grand Isle, Plattsburgh, Charlotte and Essex. Fire Island Ferries: Bay Shore, Ocean Beach, Ocean Bay Park and six other ports. Seastreak: Highlands, Pier 11 Wall Street, East 34th Street and 14 other ports. Cross Sound Ferry: New London and Orient Point. And 33 other companies.

Can I take my car on a ferry in the Northeast?

Partly. Some sailings take cars, others foot passengers only.

Do ferries in the Northeast run all year?

Yes. NYC Ferry, NY Waterway and 24 other companies sail all year round; some lines are seasonal.