Free ferry day is back! This year, Boston is celebrating Boston Harbor Islands National and State Parks on nearby Georges and Spectacle Islands with Free Ferry Day. On Saturday, May 18, ferries to the Boston Harbor Islands will be completely free for all. Don’t miss this chance to explore the islands free of charge!
Whether you’ve never explored Boston’s Harbor Islands or know them like the back of your hand, Free Ferry Day is the perfect day to visit these historic islands. Boston Harbor contains 34 different islands that feature different attractions like national and state parks, hiking trails, Civil War-era forts, and more. Many of these parks and islands are only open to the public during warmer months, so don’t miss your chance to see the hidden natural treasures just off the shores of Boston.
Free Ferry Day kicks off at 8:00 am on Saturday, May 18 when the first free tickets are made available to the public. These tickets are distributed on a first come, first serve basis at the Ferry Center on Long Wharf-North, and when the weather is nice, all free ferry tickets are usually gone by 11:00 am. Note that no tickets are available at the Boston Harbor Islands Welcome Center on the Greenway or Long Wharf South ticket booth.
These free tickets are from Boston only and serve the two Boston Harbor Islands. Ferries will depart Long Wharf for Georges Island at 10:00 am, 12:00 pm, and 2:00 pm; travel time is around 45 minutes.
Ferries for Spectacle Island will depart at 9:30 am, 11:00 am, and 1:00 pm. Travel time is roughly 30 minutes.
Return ferries leave Georges Island every two hours starting at 11:00 am and depart Spectacle Island every two hours starting at 12:00 pm. Service between islands is not available on Free Ferry Day.
Long Wharf is located at 66 Long Wharf, Boston, MA 02110. For more information, visit BostonHarborIslands.org/freeferryday.
