Block Island Ferry: Every Boat on Your Day

Block Island's ferries leave Point Judith all year: the Block Island Ferry's traditional boat takes 55 minutes and carries cars, its high-speed boat 30 minutes in season. An adult pays $12.30 one way and $24.60 round trip on the traditional ferry, $29 and $58 on the high-speed. In summer more fast boats sail from Newport, New London, Orient Point and Montauk. Pick a port and a day to see every boat both ways and the last one back.

How to use it

Choose the day you go and, if you like, the port you leave from. The answer gives the last boat back that day and the first one over; each line that sails that day gets its card: every departure from the mainland and from the island, when each one gets in (the last one back in red), the crossing time, the fares and how to book. Lines that do not sail that day say why: out of season, no service printed for a holiday, or next year's boats not posted yet. The answer also counts the hours a day trip gives you on the island, over and back from the same port. Under the boats, the car box says whether car reservations are open for your day, when the standby list opens and what a car costs. The link under the answer keeps your port and day.

The Block Island Ferry's boats come from its own day-by-day schedule, held to its printed 2026 sheet: a boat the sheet does not print would say added, and where the online schedule prints a time twelve hours off the sheet (it shows a 6:00 AM boat back on November 24 and 25 where the sheet prints 6:00 PM), the card gives the sheet's time and says what the online schedule shows.

The five lines

• The Block Island Ferry's traditional ferry sails from Point Judith all year, every day but Christmas on its 2026 sheet: The ferry terminal for our year-round Traditional and seasonal Hi-Speed ferries departing Pt. Judith located at the fishing port of Galilee (Narragansett, RI). Sailing time from Pt. Judith on our Traditional ferry is 55 minutes. It is the only boat that carries cars. Traditional ferry tickets are available online (in advance) or at the ticket windows on the day of travel. Same-day tickets must be purchased at the terminal.
• The Block Island Ferry's high-speed ferry from Point Judith carries passengers only: Sailing time on the Hi-Speed is 30 minutes. Its 2026 sheet runs it from May 8 to October 12 and over Thanksgiving week, November 25 to 29 (not on Thanksgiving Day). High Speed ferry tickets are available online (in advance) or at the ticket windows on the day of travel. We strongly recommend purchasing your tickets in advance due to limited seating.
• The Block Island Ferry's high-speed ferry from Newport runs in summer: Sailing time from Newport is approximately 1 hour. In 2026 it ran from June 19 to September 7. All of our ferries dock in downtown Old Harbor, Block Island, where most of the island’s hotels, beaches, shops, and restaurants are easily accessible by foot.
• The Block Island Express sails from New London in summer, from May 22 to September 20 in 2026: Crossing time is approximately one hour thirty minutes and varies according to vessel, tides and currents, weather conditions, etc. Ferry docks at Old Harbor, Block Island. From Long Island: You can connect via Cross Sound Ferry from Orient Point and transfer to the Block Island Express in New London and now we have improved direct service between Orient Point and Block Island!
• Viking Fleet runs a fast ferry from Montauk: Seasonal interstate passenger fast ferry service. In 2026: We will begin running Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays May 22nd to June 14th. June 19th to September 14th we will run daily. September 18th until October 12th we will run Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. It lands on the other side of the island, at Champlin's on the Great Salt Pond: Situated on Block Island’s beautiful Great Salt Pond, Champlin’s Marina & Resort (401-466-7777).

The traditional ferry's week, October 26 to November 22, 2026

From Point Judith and back, as its schedule runs every week of that period; from November 30 on, Fridays and Saturdays run fewer boats, and the holiday weeks run their own (the planner gives each day).

First boat over and last boat back, fall and winter 2026

From Point Judith: the first boat over – the last boat back (in brackets, the boats over that day), from the Block Island Ferry's own schedule. A dash: no boat that day. The other ports have no boats until their summer season.

The fares

One way and round trip, an adult and a child, as each line prints them. A child is 5–11 on the Block Island Ferry and under 12 on the Block Island Express. Rates include municipal landing fees. All rates subject to a rate increase at a future date without notice.

On the traditional ferry a senior (65 and over) pays $11.80 one way and $23.60 round trip, a same-day round trip is $22.60 an adult, and children 0–4 ride free; they ride free from Newport too, while the high-speed ferry from Point Judith charges an infant (0–4) $7 and $14. On the Block Island Express children under 2 are free, and *Fares apply to both New London to Block Island and Long Island to Block Island Service. Its fares page adds: Due to the extremely high price of fuel, Block Island Express has implemented a 20% Fuel Surcharge on all fares. It has not posted 2027 fares yet. Viking Fleet's pages print no fares: they show when you book. Bikes over 50 lbs. must be transported on the Traditional Ferry.

Taking a car

Only the Block Island Ferry's traditional ferry from Point Judith carries cars. All vehicle reservations must be made by phone. Reservations must be made in advance for motor vehicles by calling 866-783-7996 Ext 3. On October 18, 2026: Now taking reservations through January 3, 2027. All Reservations must be canceled 7 days in advance of departure date to receive a refund.

The car's fare is for the car: Passenger tickets for vehicle reservations will be purchased on the date of travel at the Vehicle Check-In Window when you arrive (Drivers ticket is NOT included with the vehicle ticket). Vehicle fares include monthly fuel surcharge which changes on the 16th of each month. No reservation? Standby is first come first serve for the day, not per sailing time. Standby signup is available in person only. Daily Standby signup begins each calendar day one hour prior to the first ferry departure time that day. Being approved for Standby transportation that day does not guarantee you a return ferry reservation. Motorcycles and mopeds can be transported on the Traditional Ferry only. We do not accept advanced reservations; space is available on a first come first serve basis.

Parking at the ferry

At Point Judith, in Galilee: All lots are independently owned, and pricing ranges from $10-$20/day, depending on the time of year. In Newport: The cost is $5.00/car per hour, up to $40.00 for the day. In New London: The Block Island Express Dock is right across from Amtrak's New London station, so it's easy to leave the car at home!

Worked examples

The last October weekend from Point Judith. Point Judith to Block Island, Saturday, October 24: the last boat back leaves at 5:00 PM. Only the traditional Block Island Ferry from Point Judith runs that day. Over: 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 2:30 PM and 5:00 PM. Back: 8:15 AM, 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM. A day trip: in at 9:55 AM on the first boat, out at 5:00 PM on the last, 7 h 5 min on the island.

Thanksgiving Day. Block Island, Thursday, November 26: the last boat back leaves at 12:30 PM. Only the traditional Block Island Ferry from Point Judith runs that day. Over: 11:00 AM. Back: 12:30 PM. The last boat back leaves 35 min after the first one over gets in: too short for a day trip, so plan a night on the island.

The Friday after Thanksgiving, both boats. Block Island, Friday, November 27: the last boat back leaves at 5:00 PM. The last boat back is the high-speed Block Island Ferry to Point Judith; the first over is the traditional Block Island Ferry from Point Judith at 8:30 AM. Running: traditional Block Island Ferry from Point Judith (3 over, 2 back) and high-speed Block Island Ferry from Point Judith (2 over, 2 back). A day trip from Point Judith: in at 9:25 AM on the traditional Block Island Ferry, out at 5:00 PM on the high-speed Block Island Ferry, 7 h 35 min on the island.

Christmas Eve. Block Island, Thursday, December 24: the last boat back leaves at 2:30 PM. Only the traditional Block Island Ferry from Point Judith runs that day. Over: 10:00 AM. Back: 2:30 PM. A day trip: in at 10:55 AM on the first boat, out at 2:30 PM on the last, 3 h 35 min on the island.

Common mistakes

• Arriving at the departure time. All ticket holders must be on board at least 15 minutes prior to departure or your spot may be forfeited to standby. It is recommended you leave yourself at least 45 min-1 hour prior to sailing time to arrive at the ferry terminal.
• Bringing the car 15 minutes early. All vehicles with a reservation must be at the dock and checked in at the car ticket window 1-HOUR prior to departure time.
• Planning to buy today's ticket online. Same-day tickets must be purchased at the terminal. Buy ahead online, or at the window on the day.
• Waiting at Old Harbor for the Montauk boat. Viking Fleet docks at Champlin's on the Great Salt Pond; the Block Island Ferry and the Block Island Express dock at Old Harbor.
• Driving to New London in the fall. The Block Island Express runs in summer only (May 22 to September 20 in 2026); from late September the boats leave Point Judith.
• Counting on the boat back in a storm. On rare occasions, the ferries do get cancelled due to inclement weather, such as high winds or rough seas. Schedule subject to change without notice.

Questions people ask

How long is the ferry to Block Island?

55 minutes from Point Judith on the Block Island Ferry's traditional boat, and 30 minutes on its high-speed boat (May 8 to October 12 and November 25–29, 2026). From Newport its high-speed ferry takes about 1 hour, and the Block Island Express from New London about 1 hour 30 minutes, both in summer.

How much is the ferry to Block Island?

On the traditional ferry from Point Judith, $12.30 one way and $24.60 round trip an adult ($22.60 back the same day), $5.15 and $10.30 a child (5–11), and free for children 0–4. The high-speed ferry is $29 and $58 an adult from Point Judith, $26 and $51 from Newport. The Block Island Express charged $33.25 and $66.50 in 2026. A car costs $39.60 one way, its people extra.

Can you bring a car to Block Island?

Yes, on the Block Island Ferry's traditional boat from Point Judith only, with a reservation made by phone (866-783-7996 Ext 3); reservations run through January 3, 2027. Without one, a car can join the standby list, in person, from an hour before the day's first boat. A standard-size car is $39.60 one way and $79.20 round trip, a full-size one $48.70 and $97.40; the driver and every passenger buy a passenger ticket too.

Is the Block Island Ferry running today?

The planner opens on today's date in Rhode Island and lists every boat the line's schedule has that day. The traditional ferry from Point Judith runs every day through January 3, 2027 except Christmas Day, when its sheet prints NO SERVICE. Wind and sea can still stop a boat, so check the Block Island Ferry's page on the day.

Is there a Block Island fast ferry in the fall?

Only over Thanksgiving week: the high-speed ferry from Point Judith runs on November 25, 27, 28 and 29, 2026, not on Thanksgiving Day. Its 2026 season ran from May 8 to October 12, and from Newport from June 19 to September 7. The Block Island Express ran from May 22 to September 20, 2026, and Viking Fleet from Montauk until October 12.

Where is the Block Island ferry parking?

At Point Judith the lots around the Galilee terminal are private, $10–$20 a day by the Block Island Ferry's page, depending on the time of year. In Newport, $5 an hour up to $40 a day. In New London the Block Island Express dock faces the Amtrak station, so you can come by train.

Is there a New London to Block Island ferry in winter?

No. The Block Island Express sails from New London in summer only: from May 22 to September 20 in 2026, about 1 hour 30 minutes. It has not posted its 2027 boats yet. Out of season the boats leave Point Judith.

Can you do a Block Island day trip?

Yes, on most days. On a fall Saturday such as October 31, 2026, the traditional ferry gets you in at 8:55 AM on the first boat, out at 6:00 PM on the last, 9 h 5 min on the island; on a Tuesday such as November 3, with two boats each way, in at 9:25 AM on the first boat, out at 4:00 PM on the last, 6 h 35 min on the island. On Thanksgiving Day there is one boat each way, 35 minutes apart, so plan a night.

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