Northeast Ferry Map

What dock lines and seasonal crowds look like in the Northeast

Before you head out on a coastal crossing here, plan for a few common problems at the dock so you’re not stuck waiting or scrambling at the last minute:

• The Cross Sound shortcut: To avoid New York City traffic, many drivers take the ferry to Orient Point from New London. It’s a popular vehicle route. If you don’t have a reservation Friday afternoon, expect to wait through multiple sailings in the standby lot while reserved cars board first.
• Steamship Authority rules for the islands: When driving to Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket, the car system is tightly controlled and often sells out months ahead. Many people save both time and money by leaving their cars on the mainland and taking the passenger-only fast ferries to the islands.
• Block Island can be rough: The ferry to Block Island crosses open water that often gets choppy. The slower ferry is usually steadier than the high-speed catamaran. If there’s a small-craft advisory, the larger boat is the safer bet for anyone who gets motion sick.
• Fire Island is passenger-only: Ferries to Fire Island don’t take cars. You’ll be expected to pull or haul your gear from the dock to your house (often with a wagon). Pack light—dock space for oversized luggage can be limited on smaller vessels.
• Smaller routes act more like day trips: Routes like the boat to Salem or to Fort Sumter tend to run out of historic downtown docks, not big industrial terminals. On travel day, finding mainland parking is usually the hardest part.