Operating Hours & Seasons

The main building on Ellis Island National Immigration Museum.

NPS Photo

Ellis Island is open every day except the fourth Thursday in November (Thanksgiving) and December 25. Weather can influence the ability of the ferries to run. Please check out Twitter, or look for alerts on our website in the event of inclement weather. To enjoy both Ellis and Liberty Islands with ample time, plan to be on a Statue City Cruises Ferry that departs from The Battery, NY, or Liberty State Park, NJ before 1:00 P.M.

Warning: Statue City Cruises is the ONLY ferry service authorized by the National Park Service to sell tickets for, and provide transportation to Liberty and Ellis Islands. Numerous third-party vendors sell tickets at higher prices or for boats that do not land at the islands. We strongly recommend that tickets only be purchased at www.statuecitycruises.com or by calling 1 877 LADYTIX (1-877-523-9849).

If you plan to purchase tickets the day of your visit they should only be purchased at the Statue City Cruises ticket windows at Castle Clinton in The Battery, NY, or at the Statue City Cruises ticket windows in the historic railroad terminal in Liberty State Park in Jersey City, NJ.

 

Boat Schedule June 24, 2023 - September 04, 2023

FIRST FERRY Departs from Mainland	LAST FERRY Departs from Mainland	CLOSING FERRY Departs from Ellis Island
9:00 A.M.	5:00 P.M. *	7:00 P.M. **

Boat Schedule September 05, 2023- October 09, 2023

FIRST FERRY Departs from Mainland	LAST FERRY Departs from Mainland	CLOSING FERRY Departs from Ellis Island
9:00 A.M.	4:00 P.M. *	6:00 P.M. **

Boat Schedule October 10, 2023 - December 23, 2023

FIRST FERRY Departs from Mainland	LAST FERRY Departs from Mainland	CLOSING FERRY Departs from Ellis Island
9:00 A.M.	3:30 P.M.*	5:15 P.M.**

Boat Schedule December 24, 2023

FIRST FERRY Departs from Mainland	LAST FERRY Departs from Mainland	CLOSING FERRY Departs from Ellis Island
9:00 A.M.	1:30 P.M. *	3:15 P.M. **

* The last departure from Battery Park will not stop at Ellis Island. Visitors on the last departure from Battery Park will only be able to visit Liberty Island. Visitors on the last departure from Liberty State Park will have the choice of visiting either Liberty Island or Ellis Island, but not both.

** Ellis Island begins closing 30 minutes prior to the final departure.