Regular ferries reach Manhattan from Rockaway, Long Island City, Hunters Point South, and Astoria—not Nassau or Suffolk.
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Most riders who want a ferry to Manhattan from Long Island must first reach a Queens landing, because Nassau and Suffolk do not have regular direct commuter service to Manhattan. Rockaway is the practical ferry for Lower Manhattan, while Long Island City, Hunters Point South, and Astoria work better once the trip has reached western Queens.
The ferry can be a pleasant choice when the Manhattan destination sits near Wall Street, East 34th Street, or East 90th Street. For most trips beginning deep in Nassau or Suffolk, the Long Island Rail Road is faster because the drive or rail transfer to a ferry dock can erase the advantage of traveling by water.
Does A Direct Ferry Leave Nassau Or Suffolk?
No regular passenger ferry currently links Nassau County or Suffolk County directly with Manhattan. Glen Cove built a ferry terminal and tested Manhattan service in the past, but the City of Glen Cove says its planned commuter operation remains postponed until demand can support it.
Other familiar Long Island ferries do not solve this trip. Port Jefferson service crosses to Bridgeport, Cross Sound Ferry runs between Orient Point and New London, and Fire Island boats connect South Shore terminals with barrier-island communities rather than New York City.
That leaves two realistic choices: take the Long Island Rail Road straight into Manhattan, or travel to an NYC Ferry landing in Queens and complete the trip by boat.
Long Island Ferry Routes To Manhattan: Where To Board
Four Queens boarding areas provide the useful water links: Rockaway, the Long Island City landing at 46th Avenue, Hunters Point South, and Astoria. The right dock depends more on the Manhattan arrival point than on the rider’s starting town.
- Rockaway: Use this dock for Wall Street and Lower Manhattan. The boat continues north to East 34th Street and East 90th Street, but those longer rides rarely save time from Nassau or Suffolk.
- Long Island City: The Astoria route reaches East 34th Street in about seven minutes and Wall Street in about 31 minutes.
- Hunters Point South: East River Route A reaches East 34th Street in about nine minutes and Wall Street in roughly 22 minutes.
- Astoria: This dock is useful for East 90th Street, with longer through service to Midtown East and Lower Manhattan.
Compare the full mix of rail, bus, and transfer options before committing to a Queens ferry dock:
Current Routes, Boat Times And Fares
NYC Ferry charges the same base fare across these routes, so dock access and Manhattan arrival point should drive the choice. The times below are scheduled onboard times from current route timetables, not door-to-door estimates.
| Queens Boarding Point | Manhattan Landing | Boat Time And Fare |
|---|---|---|
| Rockaway | Wall Street/Pier 11 | About 60 minutes; $4.50 |
| Rockaway | East 34th Street | About 83 minutes; $4.50 |
| Rockaway | East 90th Street | About 101 minutes; $4.50 |
| Long Island City | East 34th Street | About 7 minutes; $4.50 |
| Long Island City | Wall Street/Pier 11 | About 31 minutes; $4.50 |
| Hunters Point South | East 34th Street | About 9 minutes; $4.50 |
| Hunters Point South | Wall Street/Pier 11 | About 22 minutes; $4.50 |
| Astoria | East 90th Street | About 6 minutes; $4.50 |
| Astoria | East 34th Street | About 21 minutes; $4.50 |
| Astoria | Wall Street/Pier 11 | About 45 minutes; $4.50 |
Schedule note: NYC Ferry changes timetables by season and may split East River service into separate A and B patterns. Check the app on the travel day and arrive before the posted departure.
How Much Does NYC Ferry Cost?
NYC Ferry currently costs $4.50 for a one-way adult ticket. The official NYC Ferry ticketing page also lists a $29 ten-trip pass, a $15 unlimited two-day pass, and free ferry-to-ferry transfers for 120 minutes after activation.
Tickets are sold in the NYC Ferry app and at ticket machines on the landings. Activate a mobile ticket shortly before boarding, not when leaving home, because the transfer window begins when the ticket becomes active.
Summer Rockaway trips can draw heavy beach traffic. A reservable seat may be offered on selected departures, but most regular departures still accept the standard fare subject to available space.
Choosing A Dock From Nassau Or Suffolk
Travelers from Nassau and Suffolk should compare the access leg to the dock against a direct LIRR trip. A ferry transfer makes the most sense when the dock is already near the driving route or when the Manhattan destination is a short walk from the landing.
| Starting Area | Practical Ferry Plan | When It Makes Sense |
|---|---|---|
| Long Beach and southwest Nassau | Drive or use local transit to Rockaway | Lower Manhattan trip with flexible timing |
| Central Nassau | Reach Long Island City or Hunters Point South | Only when already traveling through western Queens |
| North Shore Nassau | Drive to Astoria or Long Island City | East Side destination and off-peak road conditions |
| Western Suffolk | Use LIRR unless the ferry ride is part of the outing | Leisure trip rather than a time-sensitive commute |
| Central or eastern Suffolk | Use LIRR directly to Penn Station or Grand Central Madison | Most Manhattan trips |
Road traffic can change the result quickly. A short boat ride from Long Island City looks efficient on paper, but reaching the waterfront by car and finding legal parking may take longer than the ferry itself.
Staying Near The Manhattan Ferry Landings
Overnight travelers should choose a Manhattan base near the arrival dock or near a simple subway connection. Lower Manhattan works well for Wall Street arrivals, while Midtown East reduces the final transfer after East 34th Street.
Use the map to compare lodging around the ferry landings and the neighborhoods connected to them:
Getting To The Queens Ferry Landings
Dock access is the hardest part of this trip from suburban Long Island. Plan the entire door-to-door route before buying a ferry ticket, including parking, walking time, and the final Manhattan connection.
- Check a direct LIRR trip first. Penn Station and Grand Central Madison usually provide the simplest path from Nassau or Suffolk.
- Choose the Manhattan landing. Wall Street suits the Financial District, East 34th Street suits Midtown East, and East 90th Street suits the Upper East Side.
- Work backward to the Queens dock. Rockaway favors Lower Manhattan; Long Island City and Hunters Point South favor Midtown East; Astoria favors East 90th Street.
- Add a time cushion. Ferry departures are less frequent than subway trains, and a missed boat can add a long wait.
Bikes are accepted on NYC Ferry, and suitcase-size folding bikes travel without an added bike charge. Riders bringing a full-size bicycle should follow the current boarding directions shown in the app or at the landing.
The Right Route By Priority
The fastest choice from Nassau or Suffolk is usually the Long Island Rail Road, while the ferry wins for waterfront access, open-air seating, and direct arrival near Manhattan’s east-side docks. Rockaway is the strongest ferry option for Lower Manhattan; Long Island City or Hunters Point South is the cleanest boat connection to Midtown East.
- For speed: Take LIRR to Penn Station or Grand Central Madison.
- For Lower Manhattan by water: Board at Rockaway and ride to Wall Street/Pier 11.
- For Midtown East: Board at Long Island City or Hunters Point South and exit at East 34th Street.
- For the Upper East Side: Board at Astoria for East 90th Street.
- For a scenic outing: Choose the ferry only after the access trip to the Queens dock has been checked.
Compare the practical door-to-door options for the date and time of travel:
References & Sources
- NYC Ferry.“Ticketing Info.”Lists current base fares, pass prices, ticket purchase methods, and ferry-transfer rules.