Looking for the single best outdoor move this weekend? Take the ferry to Governors Island. It’s 172 acres of car-free open space sitting roughly 800 yards off the southern tip of Manhattan, the ride over costs five bucks round-trip (and it’s free before 11 a.m. on weekends), and the whole island feels like a summer vacation you can pull off in an afternoon. With early-June warmth settling over the harbor, this is the weekend to go.
Why Governors Island Is the Weekend Pick
There are no private cars on Governors Island, which changes everything about how it feels. You step off the boat and the noise of the city drops away. In its place: wide lawns, hammock groves, the Hills with their slides and skyline views, public art installations, and a long waterfront promenade that wraps you in views of the Statue of Liberty, Lower Manhattan, and the Brooklyn waterfront all at once. It is open every day through the season, and on a clear early-summer weekend it is hard to beat.
Getting There: Ferry Details (Verified)
The main ferry leaves from the Battery Maritime Building at 10 South Street in Lower Manhattan, landing at Soissons Landing on the island.
- Fares: $5 round-trip for adults. Free for older adults 65 and over, children 12 and under, NYCHA residents, IDNYC holders, and military servicemembers (former and active).
- Free for everyone on Saturdays and Sundays before 11 a.m. — reservations are still recommended.
- All tickets are round-trip, and you don’t need to pick a return time. Hop on any returning boat.
- No surcharge for bikes at any time, and every ferry is wheelchair accessible.
- Ferries run every 30 minutes, stepping up to every 15 minutes during peak weekend hours.
How to reach the Manhattan ferry by transit: Take the 1 to South Ferry, the 4 or 5 to Bowling Green, or the R to Whitehall Street. Buses M9, M15, M20, and M55 all stop nearby.
Coming from Brooklyn? Seasonal Trust-operated ferries run from Brooklyn Bridge Park / Pier 6 and Red Hook / Atlantic Basin on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays through November 1, 2026. The Pier 6 boat is reachable via the R/2/3/4/5 to Borough Hall/Court Street; Red Hook is near the F/G at Smith–9th Streets (or the B61 bus). The first Brooklyn boats of the morning are free.
What to Do Once You’re There
Spread out a blanket on Hammock Grove and actually use the hammocks. Climb the Hills for the best free skyline-and-harbor view in the city. Walk the full waterfront loop — it’s flat, stroller-friendly, and ringed with benches. Check the island’s events calendar before you go, because summer weekends regularly bring public art, recreation programming, and cultural events to the lawns. Hungry? Seasonal food and drink vendors set up across the island, so you can make a half-day of it without packing everything.
What to Bring
- Sun protection. The island is wide open with limited shade on the lawns — hat, sunscreen, sunglasses. Early June sun off the water is stronger than it feels.
- Water. Bring a refillable bottle; you’ll be walking more than you expect.
- A picnic or cash/card for vendors. Either works. There’s plenty of grass to claim.
- A light layer. The harbor breeze can make it noticeably cooler than the mainland, especially later in the day.
- Your bike, if you like. No ferry surcharge, and the island’s car-free paths are ideal for an easy ride.
Pro Tips
Go early and go free. Catch a weekend boat before 11 a.m. and you’ll pay nothing for the ride and beat the midday crowds. Reserve anyway. Even free tickets are best reserved in advance through the island’s ticketing system so you’re guaranteed a spot. Build in buffer time. If you miss your booked boat, you can join the standby line for the next available departure, but weekends fill up. And check the marine breeze — the harbor runs cooler and windier than Midtown, so that “too warm” forecast on the mainland is often perfect out on the water.
A Quick Safety Note
Most of the island is exposed to full sun, so pace your hydration and find shade during the hottest part of the afternoon, especially if you’re bringing kids. Stay back from the unfenced waterfront edges with small children, and keep an eye on the last ferry of the night — boats run until 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, but you don’t want to be sprinting for the final departure.
For more ways to get outside this season, see our guides to free kayaking on the Hudson and East River and NYC’s best free running routes. The city is your playground — this weekend, make it an island.
Ferry schedules, fares, and hours confirmed via the Trust for Governors Island (govisland.com). Schedules are subject to change; check govisland.com before you head out.
