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Pricing and Costs of Ferries

Find the cheapest way to get goods and services to your customers via ferries

By Thomas Langford
If you have a business near the water, you may need to use ferry transport companies to serve your customers. In places where ferry services are established, short-haul and ocean ferries are usually a faster alternative to driving (or sometimes the only alternative) and a cheaper alternative to flying. Still, ferries do have their costs.

When traveling on ferry routes, the price of transport depends on whether or not you are taking a vehicle with you and how large that vehicle is. For example, a large tractor trailer truck will cost more than a car. This guide will help you understand the pricing and costs of ferries by explaining prices for:

1. Large trucks;

2. Cars, vans and SUVs;

3. And passengers.

 

Get rates for putting large tractor trailer trucks on a ferry boat

On a ferry, space is at a premium, so large tractor trailer trucks must pay a premium price. Rates vary greatly depending on the ferry system, but trucks will usually pay the most. For example, a tractor trailer traveling between Point Judith and Block Island, Rhode Island, will pay about $5 per foot. A tractor trailer traveling between Long Island, New York, and Bridgeport, Connecticut, will cost about $165 one way.
Try: The Block Island Ferry travels between Newport and Point Judith, Rhode Island, and Block Island. Cars, vans and trucks are welcome on the ferry, with an advance reservation. The Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Steamboat Company ferries trucks between Long Island and Connecticut.

Learn the cost of ferry transport for cars, vans and SUVs

Cars, vans and SUVs are generally priced in the same category by ferry operators, and you will probably have to pay about $50 to $60 for a one-way crossing. Be aware that you may have to pay more for an oversize van or SUV, and passengers in the vehicle are often extra.
Try: Cross Sound Ferry Services operates vehicle and passenger ferries between Long Island, New York, and several points in New England. Plaunt Transportation runs the ferry between Cheboygan, Michigan, and Bois Blanc Island.

Consider the option of parking your vehicle and buying a passenger ferry ticket

If you do not need to deliver any goods to customers at the ferry's destination point, it may be less expensive for you to park your car near the ferry dock, take the ferry, and take a taxi or bus to your final destination. Passenger rates on ferries vary by destination, but you can expect to pay between $5 and $30 for a one-way ticket and about $10 per day to park. Ferry operators charge more for a ride on a high-speed ferry.
Try: The Steamship Authority provides traditional and high-speed ferry service in Massachusetts between Hyannis, Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. The Maine Department of Transportation operates ferry boats to several islands off the state's coast.

 

  • If you plan on using ferry boats to transport vehicles, make your reservations as soon as possible. Many ferries fill up, especially in peak season.
  • If you are taking a car or truck onto a ferry, be sure to know the ferry service provider's reservation procedures. Often you must arrive at the dock one hour before the departure time or you will lose your slot.

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