New York City · NYC Ferry
Gov. Island/Yankee Pier ↔ Wall St/Pier 11 · Direct Shuttle
Timing, tickets, parking, bikes, and the details that matter before you board.
Check for new sailing dates ↗Our captured timetable has ended. Use BC Ferries to confirm a newly published sailing before making plans.
Photo: Aude
Photo details: Pier 11/Wall Street ferry terminal in Lower Manhattan.Original ↗ · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗Changes: Resized for web.Commuter guide
Questions riders ask before this trip
Wall Street–Governors Island is the little ferry ride that feels like opening a secret door in Lower Manhattan. This page follows NYC Ferry's direct eight-minute shuttle, which runs only on specifically published dates. The current feed includes limited special weekday service through October 2, 2026, not a standing weekday promise. It is first-come and separate from the Trust ferry at the Battery, so check today's route and final departure before joining a line.
How early should I arrive for the Governors Island shuttle?
Give yourself time to find the correct Pier 11 queue and be there before boarding begins. The shuttle is first-come, first-served, and its final trip changes with the date-specific schedule. Check today's last published departure in each direction rather than relying on the site's general seasonal cutoff. If you miss it, the separately operated Trust ferry may still be an option.
Source: Official NYC Ferry current GTFS schedule ↗What does the Wall Street–Governors Island shuttle cost, and how do I pay?
Use a regular NYC Ferry ticket: currently $4.50 one way, bought in the app or at a landing ticket machine. If you arrive on another NYC Ferry route, the transfer at Pier 11 is free within 120 minutes of activating the original trip. A return journey is not a free transfer, so plan a second fare back.
Source: Official NYC Ferry ticketing information ↗Can I park at Pier 11 or on Governors Island?
Do not build this trip around parking. NYC Ferry says parking is very limited near most landings and discourages driving; Governors Island itself is car-free for ordinary visitors. Pier 11 is much easier by subway, bus, bicycle or a downtown walk. Leave the car outside the waterfront core.
Source: Official NYC Ferry landing parking guidance ↗Source: Official Governors Island vehicle policy ↗Can I take a bicycle on the Governors Island shuttle?
Yes, but bike space is limited. NYC Ferry boats typically hold about eight to ten bicycles, and crew may turn a bike away once the rack is full. Keep it on the outdoor bow unless it is a suitcase-sized folder. Yankee Pier also has a Citi Bike station, so renting after arrival can be the easier choice.
Source: Official NYC Ferry bicycle rules ↗Source: Official Yankee Pier landing information ↗Is this the direct eight-minute ferry or the South Brooklyn route?
This guide is for the dedicated Governors Island shuttle, a direct eight-minute NYC Ferry trip from Pier 11 on specifically published service dates. The current feed includes limited special weekday trips through October 2, 2026. At other times, NYC Ferry may reach Yankee Pier through the South Brooklyn route. Read the service qualifier and today's departures, not just the endpoints, because the stopping pattern is different.
Source: Official NYC Ferry current GTFS schedule ↗Is the Trust for Governors Island ferry the same boat?
No. The Trust runs a separate ferry from the Battery Maritime Building and seasonal Brooklyn departures; NYC Ferry serves Yankee Pier. The operators have different tickets and schedules, and an NYC Ferry ticket is not bought through the Governors Island site. Either can be useful, but join the line for the ticket you actually hold.
Source: Official Governors Island ferry guide ↗How long is the direct Pier 11–Governors Island trip?
NYC Ferry lists about eight minutes for the dedicated shuttle. The ride is brief, but the whole trip includes finding the Pier 11 queue, boarding and walking inland from Yankee Pier. Check the live schedule before leaving; the island visit deserves more planning than the crossing itself.
Source: Official NYC Ferry Governors Island schedule ↗How do I reach Pier 11 without a car?
Pier 11 sits at Gouverneur Lane and South Street. NYC Ferry lists the M15 and several express buses nearby, the 1 at South Ferry, the 2/3 near Wall Street and the J/Z at Broad Street. There are bike racks, a covered waiting area and a ticket office open daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Source: Official Pier 11 landing information ↗