Memorial Day weekend is the official start of New York’s summer transit season, and as of today three different beach services either launch or expand. NYC Ferry’s Rockaway Reserve reservation system opens for tickets tomorrow, the MTA’s Q35 starts diverting into Jacob Riis Park today, and the Bx12 weekend service to Orchard Beach kicks off Saturday. If you take a bus or boat to the beach, this is the article to bookmark.
NYC Ferry: Rockaway Reserve Tickets Go On Sale Tomorrow
NYC Ferry’s Rockaway Reserve program — the reserved-seat upgrade for weekend trips to and from Rockaway Beach — returns this summer, with tickets becoming available for purchase starting Saturday, May 23, 2026. The program runs on summer weekends and major holidays through Labor Day.
How it works:
- Reserve tickets cost $12 per person (in addition to the regular fare structure).
- Reservations available up to two weeks in advance.
- Reserved boarding is at Wall Street/Pier 11 and Sunset Park/Brooklyn Army Terminal.
- You must be on the Rockaway Reserve line at least 10 minutes prior to your ticketed departure or you may not board your planned vessel.
- Most seats on every boat remain unreserved, so regular $4.50 one-way, $2.90 (10-pack), or $1.45 discount fares still get you on the ferry as usual — no reservation required for the standby line.
Tickets are purchased through the NYC Ferry app.
NYC Ferry Summer Schedule Reminder
The summer 2026 schedule took effect Monday, May 18 and remains in place through September 13. A few things worth knowing for this weekend:
- Rockaway-Soundview frequency: Wall St/Pier 11 and Sunset Park/BAT have departures to and from Rockaway every 25 minutes on summer weekends. Trips making all stops (from Ferry Point Park down through Soundview, East 90th, East 34th, Stuyvesant Cove, Wall St, Sunset Park, to Rockaway) run approximately every 50 minutes.
- Memorial Day, Monday May 25: All NYC Ferry routes will run on a weekend schedule.
- South Brooklyn weekend extension: The South Brooklyn route extends to Sunset Park/BAT and Bay Ridge on weekends and skips Governors Island. Free Governors Island shuttle from Pier 11 runs 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- East River weekend split: The East River route splits into A and B services on weekends — free transfers at DUMBO, Wall St/Pier 11, or East 34th Street if your stop isn’t on your boat’s line.
On busy weekends NYC Ferry says crews will actively manage vessel capacity to make sure riders can board at each landing — so expect deck-staff to count people on at high-volume Rockaway-bound trips.
MTA Buses: Two Beach Routes Activate This Weekend
Q35 to Jacob Riis Park (Starting Today)
Effective today, Friday, May 22, 2026, through Labor Day on Monday, September 7, the Q35 is providing seasonal summer beach service directly to and from Jacob Riis Park. The route diverts mid-route into the park, stopping on Rockaway Beach Boulevard at the Bath House.
Hours of the beach diversion:
- Weekdays: 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
- Saturdays and Sundays: 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (note: the press release lists 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. for the weekend start times — check the MTA’s bus alerts before heading out for the latest beach-diversion window).
If you’re a regular Q35 rider not heading to the beach, build a few extra minutes into your trip — the diversion adds time mid-route.
Bx12 Weekend Service to Orchard Beach (Starting Saturday)
The Bx12 weekend service to Orchard Beach in the Bronx begins Saturday, May 23 and runs every weekend, plus Memorial Day, through the end of August. This is the easiest way to get to Orchard Beach by transit — connect from the 6 train at Pelham Bay Park station.
Memorial Day Bus Schedule
On Monday, May 25, MTA buses operate on a Sunday schedule. Important: routes that don’t normally operate on Sundays will not run on Memorial Day either. Check your specific route before you leave — limited-stop and express routes are the most likely to be out of service. Express buses from Staten Island will offer additional earlier departures from Manhattan today (Friday) between 12:00 p.m. and 1:35 p.m. for the early holiday exodus.
Staten Island Ferry
The Staten Island Ferry between Whitehall and St. George continues to run free, 24/7, with standard summer frequency. If you’ve never done it, taking the ferry out and back at sunset is one of the best free things to do in the city on a summer Friday — and you skip every road closure and shuttle bus on this list.
Bottom Line
Memorial Day weekend is when the New York summer infrastructure flips on. Beach buses, beach ferries, Hamptons rail service, and Bronx park buses all kick into summer mode within a 48-hour window. The fastest, cheapest way to most NYC beaches is still public transit — and this weekend, you have more options than at any point since last September. Plan ahead, watch the bus diversions, and if you’re heading to Rockaway on a packed Saturday, the $12 reserved-seat ticket is worth the peace of mind.
Sources: MTA Press Release, May 21, 2026 | NYC Ferry Summer 2026 Schedule | NYC Ferry Rockaway Reserve announcement
