Major hub

Large port

Medium port

Small port

Seasonal route

United States

357 ports

ports: 357
Operators: 95
Mukilteo to Clinton: 20m
Bellingham to Kodiak: 5½ days

NYC Ferry, Washington State Ferries and 87 other companies sail between 351 ports in the United States. Ferries also sail to the United States from six ports in Canada and the Bahamas, mostly Victoria, Horseshoe Falls and Yarmouth (Nova Scotia). The main crossing, from Mukilteo to Clinton, takes 20 minutes and runs 37 times a day; the longest within the United States, from Bellingham to Kodiak, takes 5½ days. Some sailings take cars, others foot passengers only. Some lines are seasonal.

Ferries to the United States

7 routes

Canada

Horseshoe Falls to Niagara Falls (New York)Maid of the Mist10m4 an hour, late April to early November Victoria to Port AngelesBlack Ball Ferry Line1h 30mTwice a day Pelee Island to SanduskyOwen Sound Transportation Company1h 45mDaily, May to late September Victoria to SeattleFRS Clipper2h 45mDaily Yarmouth (Nova Scotia) to Bar HarborBay Ferries3h 30m6 a week, mid-May to mid-October

Bahamas

Bimini to Fort LauderdaleBaleària Caribbean2h3 a week Freeport to Fort LauderdaleBaleària Caribbean3hTwice a week

Ferry companies in the United States

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

7m–2h 4m

Washington State Ferries

Calls at Seattle, Bremerton, Bainbridge Island and 16 other portsCars

15m–2h 15m

North Carolina Ferry System

Calls at Hatteras, Ocracoke North, Cherry Branch and 10 other portsCars on some sailings

20m–2h 40m

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

5m–1h 15m

San Francisco Bay Ferry

Calls at San Francisco Ferry Building, Vallejo, Richmond (California) and seven other portsFoot passengers only

7m–1h

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

Alaska Marine Highway

Calls at Bellingham, Ketchikan, Juneau and 31 other portsCars

45m–5½ days

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

Golden Gate Ferry

Calls at Larkspur, San Francisco Ferry Building, Sausalito and three other portsFoot passengers only

30m–1h

Calls at Seattle, Bremerton, Port Orchard and three other portsFoot passengers only

5m–39m

Shoreline Sightseeing

Calls at Michigan Avenue, Ogilvie/Union, Navy Pier and two other portsFoot passengers onlySeasonal

25m–30m

Kenai Fjords Tours

Calls at Seward, Aialik Bay, Cape Resurrection and two other portsFoot passengers onlySeasonal

1h–4h

Statue City Cruises

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

30m–35m

Arnold Transit Company

Calls at St. Ignace, Mackinac Island and Mackinaw CityFoot passengers onlyHigh speed

20m

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

Catalina Express

Calls at Avalon, Long Beach, San Pedro (Los Angeles) and two other portsFoot passengers onlyHigh speed

1h–2h 30m

Major Marine Tours

Calls at Seward, Aialik Bay, Cape Resurrection and Northwestern FjordFoot passengers onlySeasonal

2h–4h 15m

Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority

Calls at Sault Ste. Marie, Sugar Island, DeTour Village and three other portsCars

5m–10m

Bay State Cruise Company

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

10m–1h 35m

King County Water Taxi

Calls at Seattle, West Seattle and Vashon IslandFoot passengers onlyHigh speed

15m–22m

Calls at Port Clinton, Put-in-Bay, Kelleys Island and two other portsFoot passengers onlyHigh speedSeasonal

30m–1h

Chicago Water Taxi

Calls at Michigan Avenue, Ogilvie/Union, Chinatown (Chicago) and Chicago AvenueFoot passengers onlySeasonal

15m–45m

Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry

Calls at St. Ignace, Mackinac Island and Mackinaw CityFoot passengers onlySeasonal

16m

Washington Island Ferry Line

Calls at Northport, Washington Island, Jackson Harbor and Rock IslandCars on some sailings

10m–30m

Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises

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

25m–2h 45m

Calls at Catawba Island, Put-in-Bay and Middle Bass IslandCarsSeasonal

20m–40m

Cape May-Lewes Ferry

Calls at Cape May and LewesCars

1h 25m

Maid of the Mist

From Horseshoe FallsFoot passengers onlySeasonal

10m

Mobile Bay Ferry

Calls at Dauphin Island and Fort MorganCars

40m

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

5m

Apostle Islands Cruises

Calls at Bayfield, Devils Island, Raspberry Island and four other portsFoot passengers onlySeasonal

1h–2h 50m

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

Alcatraz City Cruises

Calls at San Francisco Pier 33, Alcatraz and Angel IslandFoot passengers only

15m–55m

Calls at Ventura, Scorpion Anchorage, Oxnard and four other portsFoot passengers only

1h 15m–4h 30m

Block Island Express

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

1h 20m–1h 30m

Lady of the Lake

Calls at Chelan, Fields Point, Stehekin and two other portsFoot passengers only

1h 20m–2h 30m

Lowcountry Ferry

Calls at Hilton Head Island and Daufuskie IslandFoot passengers only

1h

Calls at Ludington and ManitowocCarsSeasonal

4h

Balmy Days Cruises

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

15m–1h 30m

Key West Express

Calls at Fort Myers Beach and Key WestFoot passengers onlyHigh speed

3h 30m

Lāna'i Expeditions

Calls at Maalaea and LanaiFoot passengers onlyHigh speed

1h 10m

Kelleys Island Ferry Boat Line

Calls at Marblehead and Kelleys IslandCarsSeasonal

20m

Black Ball Ferry Line

From VictoriaCars

1h 30m

Fishers Island Ferry District

Calls at New London and Fishers IslandCars

45m

Inter-Island Ferry Authority

Calls at Hollis and KetchikanCars

3h

Savannah Riverboat Cruises

Calls at Savannah and Old Fort JacksonFoot passengers only

1h 30m

Davis Park Ferry

Calls at Patchogue, Davis Park and Watch HillFoot passengers onlySeasonal

20m–30m

Madeline Island Ferry Line

Calls at Bayfield and Madeline IslandCarsSeasonal

25m

Isle au Haut Boat Services

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

45m–1h 30m

From VictoriaFoot passengers onlyHigh speed

2h 45m

Fort Sumter Tours

Calls at Charleston, Fort Sumter and Patriots PointFoot passengers only

30m

Calls at Milwaukee and MuskegonCarsHigh speedSeasonal

2h 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

Plaunt Transportation

Calls at Cheboygan and Bois Blanc IslandCars

45m

Calls at Key West and Dry TortugasFoot passengers onlyHigh speed

2h 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

Beaver Island Boat Company

Calls at Charlevoix and Beaver IslandCarsSeasonal

2h

Freedom Cruise Line

Calls at Harwich Port and NantucketFoot passengers onlySeasonal

1h 20m

Grand Portage Isle Royale Transportation Lines

Calls at Grand Portage, Windigo, McCargoe Cove and two other portsFoot passengers onlySeasonal

1h 30m–7h 30m

Haines Skagway Fast Ferry

Calls at Haines and SkagwayFoot passengers onlyHigh speedSeasonal

45m

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

Baleària Caribbean

From Freeport and BiminiCars on some sailingsHigh speed

2h–3h

Cuttyhunk Ferry Company

Calls at New Bedford and CuttyhunkFoot passengers only

1h

From Yarmouth (Nova Scotia)CarsHigh speedSeasonal

3h 30m

Cumberland Island Ferry

Calls at St. Marys (Georgia) and Cumberland IslandFoot passengers only

45m

Falmouth Edgartown Ferry

Calls at Falmouth and EdgartownFoot passengers onlySeasonal

45m

Sapelo Island Ferry

Calls at Meridian and Sapelo IslandFoot passengers only

30m

San Juan Cruises

Calls at Bellingham, Friday Harbor and Sucia IslandFoot passengers onlySeasonal

2h

Isle Royale Line

Calls at Copper Harbor and Rock HarborFoot passengers onlySeasonal

3h 45m

Calls at Newport Beach and AvalonFoot passengers onlyHigh speed

1h 15m

Manitou Island Transit

Calls at Leland, South Manitou Island and North Manitou IslandFoot passengers onlySeasonal

1h–1h 30m

Calls at Seattle, Lake Union, Kirkland and Husky StadiumFoot passengers only

1h–2h

Hardy Boat Cruises

Calls at New Harbor and MonheganFoot passengers onlySeasonal

1h–1h 15m

Calls at Houghton, Rock Harbor, Windigo and Portage EntryFoot passengers onlySeasonal

1h 30m–6h

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

1h 15m

Owen Sound Transportation Company

From Pelee IslandCarsSeasonal

1h 45m

Smith Island Cruises

Calls at Point Lookout, Smith Island and CrisfieldFoot passengers onlySeasonal

50m–2h

Tangier Cruises

Calls at Reedville and Tangier IslandFoot passengers onlySeasonal

1h 30m–2h

Tangier Island Cruises

Calls at Crisfield and Tangier IslandFoot passengers onlySeasonal

1h 15m

Ship Island Excursions

Calls at Gulfport and Ship IslandFoot passengers onlySeasonal

1h

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 United States leave from?

From Victoria to Port Angeles (an hour and a half, twice a day), Victoria to Seattle (2 hours 45 minutes, every day), Horseshoe Falls to Niagara Falls (New York) (10 minutes, four times an hour, late April to early November), Yarmouth (Nova Scotia) to Bar Harbor (3½ hours, six times a week, mid-May to mid-October), Pelee Island to Sandusky (1 hour 45 minutes, every day, May to late September), Freeport to Fort Lauderdale (3 hours, twice a week) and Bimini to Fort Lauderdale (2 hours, three times a week).

Which ferry companies sail in the United States?

NYC Ferry: Sunset Park, Rockaway, Brookfield Place and 22 other ports. Washington State Ferries: Seattle, Bremerton, Bainbridge Island and 16 other ports. North Carolina Ferry System: Hatteras, Ocracoke North, Cherry Branch and 10 other ports. NY Waterway: Hoboken, Brookfield Place, Port Imperial and 13 other ports. San Francisco Bay Ferry: San Francisco Ferry Building, Vallejo, Richmond (California) and seven 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. And 87 other companies.

Can I take my car on a ferry in the United States?

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

Do ferries in the United States run all year?

Yes. NYC Ferry, Washington State Ferries and 54 other companies sail all year round; some lines are seasonal.