Ferry to Cabbage Key from Pine Island | Times, Fare & Dock

Island Girl Charters runs scheduled water taxis from Pineland Marina to Cabbage Key, with fares from $38 each way.

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For the ferry to Cabbage Key from Pine Island, the simplest choice is Island Girl Charters from Safe Harbor Pineland Marina in Bokeelia. The listed fare starts at $38 each way, and the reservation system gives an approximate one-hour travel time.

Cabbage Key has no bridge or road access, so this is a passenger boat rather than a vehicle ferry. Reserve the outbound and return legs before driving to Pine Island, since a seat home is not guaranteed merely because the outbound trip is booked.

Available route and transfer choices can be compared here:

How Do You Take The Water Taxi?

Island Girl Charters carries passengers from Safe Harbor Pineland Marina at 13921 Waterfront Drive, Bokeelia, Florida, to the dock at Cabbage Key. Reservations are required, and Island Girl asks passengers arriving by car to check in about 30 minutes before departure.

1. Reserve a Pineland-to-Cabbage Key departure and a separate Cabbage Key-to-Pineland return.
2. Enter the marina address rather than “Cabbage Key” in driving directions; the island itself cannot be reached by car.
3. Park at Pineland Marina, where the current listed charge is $11 per calendar day.
4. Check in with Island Girl Charters and confirm the return boat before boarding.
5. Be back at the Cabbage Key dock ahead of the booked return time; boats follow a multi-island operating schedule.

Online reservations should be made at least 24 hours ahead. For same-day travel, call Island Girl Charters at 239-633-8142 because online inventory may no longer show a workable departure.

Pine Island To Cabbage Key Ferry Options Compared

The scheduled Island Girl water taxi is the practical choice for a simple day trip or overnight stay. Sightseeing cruises suit travelers who want narration and a fixed lunch stop, while private boats cost more but give a group control over timing.

Tropic Star departs from Jug Creek Marina in Bokeelia, not Safe Harbor Pineland Marina. Its lunch cruise is a sightseeing outing with a fixed island stop, so it is less flexible than a scheduled water taxi for overnight guests.

Island Girl publishes seasonal departures on its official Cabbage Key schedule. Check the selected date before leaving home because weather, traffic, and vessel operations can change the running plan.

Current Departure Times By Season

Island Girl currently lists six daily Pineland departures from mid-October through July, then a reduced pattern from August through October. Pineland times and Cabbage Key times are separate dock departures, not automatic round-trip pairings.

Choose an outbound and return combination that leaves enough island time after the approximate crossing. A 9 a.m. departure with a 1:15 p.m. or 4 p.m. return is more workable for lunch than treating the next listed Cabbage Key time as the return boat.

Connection buffer: Island Girl asks travelers to allow up to three hours for water-taxi variations during peak periods. Avoid tying the last return to a tight flight, show, or dinner reservation.

Where To Stay Near The Route

Overnight travelers can stay at Cabbage Key Inn or base themselves on Pine Island near Pineland Marina. A room near the departure dock reduces the chance that mainland traffic disrupts an early boat.

Compare lodging around Cabbage Key and the Pine Island departure area here:

Cabbage Key Inn places guests on the island after day visitors leave, while Tarpon Lodge in Pineland keeps travelers on the mainland close to the marina. Reserve the boat at the same time as the room so both directions fit the stay.

What To Expect At Pineland Marina

Safe Harbor Pineland Marina has onsite parking and the Island Girl departure point, but passengers should arrive with time for parking, check-in, and loading. The parking charge is assessed by calendar day, which matters for overnight stays.

• Address: 13921 Waterfront Drive, Bokeelia, FL 33922.
• Parking: $11 per calendar day; arrivals after 5 p.m. should prearrange parking with Island Girl.
• Check-in: About 30 minutes early when arriving by car.
• Bags: Island Girl permits one suitcase and one carry-on per person and asks travelers with more to call ahead.
• Late arrival: Staff may place late passengers on a later boat if space exists; off-schedule service carries an added charge.

Summer thunderstorms and busy-season boat traffic can shift timing. Pack medication, valuables, and a dry layer in a small bag that stays with you rather than in checked luggage.

Plan Your Time On Cabbage Key

A short lunch visit needs roughly 90 minutes on the island, while two to three hours leaves room for the restaurant, nature trail, gift shop, and water-tower view. Cabbage Key is not a beach stop, so travelers seeking sand should use a cruise that also visits Cayo Costa.

Cabbage Key Inn and Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner throughout the year. Lunch is not included in either the Island Girl fare or the Tropic Star ticket, and restaurant prices can change.

Pets are not accepted on the property except ADA service animals. Overnight guests should also bring needed supplies because Cabbage Key has no general store.

Which Return Time Should You Book?

Day-trippers should take a morning boat and reserve the latest midafternoon return available on their travel date. The right pairing depends on the seasonal timetable, restaurant plans, and whether the boat makes other island stops.

• Brief lunch: A 9 a.m. outbound with a 1:15 p.m. return usually leaves enough time for the crossing and meal.
• Lunch plus a walk: Pair a 9 a.m. outbound with a 4 p.m. return when that run operates.
• Later start: An 11 a.m. outbound works better with the 4 p.m. return than the 1:15 p.m. boat.
• Overnight stay: Reserve both legs before paying for lodging, and leave a large buffer before any flight from Fort Myers.

The scheduled Island Girl water taxi is the strongest fit for most travelers because it runs from Pine Island, accepts one-way bookings, and offers several departure windows. Tropic Star is better for a fixed sightseeing day, while a private captain makes sense when a group needs a custom return.