Shelter Island ferry hours and guide
Two companies run the Shelter Island ferry, car and passenger ferries to Shelter Island, New York. North Ferry Company (North Ferry) runs the Greenport–Shelter Island ferry from Greenport on the North Fork. South Ferry Company (South Ferry) runs the Shelter Island–North Haven ferry from North Haven, near Sag Harbor. Both ferries shuttle across through posted hours every day of the year, and neither takes reservations.
Schedules up to date as of October 26, 2026
Contents
Shelter Island ferry hours
North Ferry
The Regular hours run from October 26, 2026 to May 30, 2027.
| Days | Posted hours |
|---|---|
| Mondays through Fridays | 5:00 AM to 12:00 AM1 |
| Saturdays and Sundays | 5:30 AM to 12:00 AM2 |
- The first boats leave Shelter Island at 5:00 and 5:30 AM and Greenport at 5:15 and 5:45 AM. Boats then leave every 8 to 15 minutes. The last boats leave Shelter Island at 10:15, 10:45, 11:15 and 11:45 PM, and Greenport at 10:00, 10:30, 11:00 and 11:30 PM and midnight.
- The first boats leave Shelter Island at 5:30 AM and Greenport at 5:45 AM. Boats then leave every 8 to 15 minutes. The last boats leave Shelter Island at 10:15, 10:45, 11:15 and 11:45 PM, and Greenport at 10:00, 10:30, 11:00 and 11:30 PM and midnight.
South Ferry
| Days | Posted hours |
|---|---|
| Sundays through Thursdays | 5:20 AM to 11:50 PM1 |
| Fridays and Saturdays | 5:20 AM to 1:50 AM2 |
- Boats leave every 10 to 15 minutes. The first boats leave Shelter Island at 5:20 AM and North Haven at 5:30 AM. The last boats leave Shelter Island at 11:45 PM and North Haven at 11:50 PM.
- Boats leave every 10 to 15 minutes. The first boats leave Shelter Island at 5:20 AM and North Haven at 5:30 AM. The last boats leave Shelter Island at 1:45 AM and North Haven at 1:50 AM.
Neither Shelter Island ferry runs to a timetable. Boats shuttle across through the posted hours, and the notes under each table give the first and last boats from each side. North Ferry says weather, traffic and ambulance stand-by can delay its departures.
Shelter Island ferry fares
North Ferry
| Fare type | One way | Same-day round trip |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicles | ||
| Car, van or pickup and driver | $16.00 | $26.00 |
| Each extra passenger in a vehicle, up to two | $3.00 | – |
| Motorcycles and bicycles | ||
| Motorcycle and driver | $8.00 | $10.00 |
| Bicycle and rider | $4.00 | $6.00 |
| Passengers | ||
| Walk-on passenger | $3.00 | – |
- North Ferry takes cash and checks only. Vehicles, motorcycles and bicycles pay on board. Walk-on passengers buy tokens at the North Ferry office or from the machines in its passenger terminals. The car rate covers vehicles under 22 feet long, and children 10 and older pay as passengers.
South Ferry
| Fare type | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicles | ||
| Car under 22 feet | $18.00 | $25.00 |
| Motorcycle | $9.00 | $12.00 |
| Bicycle | $5.00 | $8.00 |
| Passengers | ||
| Passenger | $2.00 | $4.00 |
- South Ferry collects fares on board and does not take credit cards. Round trips must be completed the same day. Walk-on passengers under 8 ride free with an adult, and children in car seats or booster seats ride free. Vehicles 22 feet and longer pay truck rates by length.
North Ferry and South Ferry are separate companies, and a ticket from one does not work on the other. Both collect vehicle fares on board. South Ferry charges the same fares all year.
Both companies sell discount passes, and both price trucks and commercial vehicles by size. North Ferry sells its FerryPass cards and walk-on tokens at its office in Shelter Island Heights.
Shelter Island ferry details
| Operators | North Ferry Company (Greenport–Shelter Island) and South Ferry Company (Shelter Island–North Haven) |
|---|---|
| Crossing time | About 4 minutes on South Ferry |
| Vehicles | Both carry cars, trucks, motorcycles and bicycles. The car rate on each covers vehicles under 22 feet long. |
| Reservations | Not taken on either ferry. Vehicles board first come, first served. |
| Payment | North Ferry takes cash and checks only. South Ferry does not take credit cards and has an ATM near each dock. |
| Bicycles | Carried on both. North Ferry cyclists wait in the staging area in front of its passenger terminal. South Ferry cyclists wait beside the gate until the crew waves them aboard. |
| Walk-on passengers | North Ferry walk-ons pay with tokens from its office or terminal machines. South Ferry walk-ons pay on board. |
North Ferry terminals in Greenport and Shelter Island Heights
| Terminal | Address |
|---|---|
| Greenport ferry terminal | 305 Wiggins Street, Greenport, NY 11944 |
| Shelter Island Heights ferry terminal | 12 Summerfield Place, Shelter Island Heights, NY 11965 |
North Ferry gives 305 Wiggins Street as the GPS address for the Greenport ferry terminal. There is no ferry access from 3rd Street. From New York City, drivers take the Long Island Expressway east to its last exit, exit 73, then County Road 58 and Route 25 east to Greenport. Signs marked "To Route 114 South" lead to Sixth Street and then Wiggins Street.
The ferry line at Greenport loops away from the dock and back into the staging area, facing the slips. Cars wait in the ferry line across the street from the slips. Drivers from New England reach Greenport on the New London–Orient Point ferry, then drive west on Route 25. North Ferry lists the Long Island Rail Road and the Hampton Jitney among its connections.
South Ferry terminals in North Haven and Shelter Island
| Terminal | Address |
|---|---|
| North Haven ferry terminal | 400 Ferry Road, Sag Harbor, NY 11963 |
| Shelter Island ferry terminal (South Ferry) | 135 South Ferry Road, Shelter Island, NY 11964 |
From Sag Harbor, drivers follow Route 114 north to the North Haven ferry terminal. Drivers wait in the right-hand ferry lane. The left lane is for traffic not taking the ferry, and South Ferry can send drivers who wait there or cut ahead to the back of the line.
On Shelter Island, Route 114 runs north about 4 miles from the South Ferry dock to the North Ferry staging lane, which is marked on the right-hand side of the road.
Boarding the Shelter Island ferry
On South Ferry, drivers turn off their headlights, put away their phones and wait for the gate to open and a crew member to wave them aboard. Once parked, drivers set the parking brake, turn off the engine and stay in the vehicle until the crew takes payment. Riders on foot or on bicycles leave the boat after all vehicles have driven off.
Riders crossing Shelter Island between Greenport and North Haven ride both ferries and pay each company. South Ferry suggests allowing 90 minutes to drive from North Haven to the Cross Sound ferry at Orient Point by way of both ferries.
Shelter Island ferry FAQs
Does the Shelter Island ferry take reservations?
Neither Shelter Island ferry takes reservations. North Ferry and South Ferry board vehicles first come, first served.
Does the Shelter Island ferry take credit cards?
Neither Shelter Island ferry takes credit cards. North Ferry takes cash and checks only, and South Ferry has an ATM near each of its docks.
Does a South Ferry ticket work on North Ferry?
A South Ferry ticket does not work on North Ferry. North Ferry and South Ferry are separate companies with separate tickets.
Which ferry goes from Shelter Island to Greenport?
North Ferry runs the Greenport–Shelter Island ferry from Shelter Island Heights to Greenport on the North Fork. South Ferry runs to North Haven, near Sag Harbor.
How long is the South Ferry ride to Shelter Island?
The South Ferry crossing between North Haven and Shelter Island takes about 4 minutes.
Do kids pay on the Shelter Island ferry?
On North Ferry, children 10 and older pay as passengers. On South Ferry, walk-on passengers under 8 ride free with an adult, and children in car seats or booster seats ride free.