Liberty Enlightening the World — and Ellis Island — across New York Harbor.
Photo: Erik Harmon · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons
The Statue of Liberty is the most recognizable monument in America, and reaching her is part of the experience: a ferry ride across New York Harbor to Liberty Island, where Bartholdi's 1886 copper colossus stands 151 feet from her base to the tip of the torch — 305 feet counting the granite pedestal and the star-shaped fort underneath. One ticket and one ferry loop also carry you to Ellis Island, where the restored Immigration Museum and its Great Hall tell the story of the more than twelve million immigrants who passed through between 1892 and 1954 — together, the two islands make a single, moving half-to-full-day visit.
The grounds and both museums are free, but you can't walk, drive, or take the subway onto the islands — every visitor needs a Statue City Cruises ferry ticket (the only authorized operator), departing from The Battery in Lower Manhattan or Liberty State Park in New Jersey. The hard ticket is the upgrade: Crown Reserve — 162 spiral steps from the top of the pedestal to the windows in her crown — sells out months in advance. Pedestal Reserve is the easier get. The Statue of Liberty Museum, home to the original torch she carried from 1886 to 1984, is included with any ferry ticket, so even walk-up visitors get inside something.
Two practical notes. Expect airport-style security before boarding — screening moved in March 2026 to a building behind Castle Clinton on the waterfront side of The Battery — plus a second screening on the island before you go into the pedestal or crown, so build in time. And ignore the sellers working Battery Park: some hawk overpriced tickets, others sell harbor cruises that never land.
Bartholdi's 1886 copper colossus, free to view from the island grounds — and the ferry approach across the harbor is the iconic view.
Insider tipRide the open upper deck: the island sits dead ahead the whole way over from The Battery. Grounds access needs no upgrade — just a ferry ticket.
Plan a trip to this spot →162 narrow spiral steps from the top of the pedestal (no elevator above that point) up through Eiffel's interior framework to small windows in the crown, overlooking the harbor and Manhattan.
Insider tipThe hardest ticket on the island. Children must be 42 inches tall and can't be carried up, your photo ID has to match the name on the ticket, and time at the top is capped at 10 minutes.
Plan a trip to this spot →An open-air observation level atop the granite pedestal, beneath the statue's feet — 215 steps up, easier to get than the Crown, but still a separate reserved upgrade.
Insider tipIf the Crown is sold out, book the Pedestal — far more availability, and it still gets you inside the monument with great views. An elevator runs to the top of the pedestal, though the outdoor deck itself is reached by stairs.
Plan a trip to this spot →The 2019 museum with interactive exhibits, an immersive theater, and the statue's original 1886 torch — included free with any ferry ticket.
Insider tipNo reservation needed — any ferry ticket gets you in, so this is the fallback when the Crown and Pedestal are sold out.
Plan a trip to this spot →The restored station that processed more than twelve million arrivals (1892–1954) — its second-floor Registry Room (the Great Hall) restored with original benches.
Insider tipThe same ferry ticket covers the loop to Ellis Island — don't skip it; it's a full half-day on its own. A multi-year exhibit overhaul is underway, so expect construction noise and the odd gallery closed; as of summer 2026 the first and second floors are open and only a third-floor changing gallery is shut.
Plan a trip to this spot →More than 100 million U.S. arrival records — name, age, occupation, who each traveler was going to meet — covering New York and ports from Massachusetts to Hawaii, free to search at statueofliberty.org.
Insider tipLook your family up online before you sail. The first-floor research room is being rebuilt into a larger Records Discovery Center as part of the museum overhaul, so don't plan on doing the searching on the island.
Plan a trip to this spot →A humid continental climate — cold winters, hot, humid summers, and rain spread fairly evenly year-round (no dry season). Out on the harbor and the open island plazas it feels colder and breezier than inland Manhattan, so add a layer for the ferry. Spring and fall are the most comfortable.
Liberty Island sits in New York Harbor with no road or bridge — the ferry from Lower Manhattan or Jersey City is the only way in, and the crossing itself sets the stage for the visit.
The easiest staging point for road trippers — a cheap lot beside the dock instead of Manhattan garage rates, a quick on-ramp back to the Turnpike, and the same ferry that serves Manhattan.
Plan a trip to Jersey City, NJ →If you're already spending time in Manhattan, departing from The Battery keeps the whole day in the city — just don't plan on driving to the dock.
Plan a trip to New York City, NY →Leave the carLiberty State Park in Jersey City ($7 in Lot 8, easy highway access) is the practical default for road trippers; from the Manhattan side, leave the car at the hotel and ride the subway down to The Battery rather than looking for a garage.
Book aheadBook ferry tickets at statuecitycruises.com in advance — General Admission sells out on busy days, and Crown or Pedestal access requires a separate timed reservation. Crown tickets are released about three to four months out and go quickly.
Not boarding the boat?Castle Clinton in Battery Park (the Manhattan ticketing fort) is a free, walkable landmark; Ellis Island and Liberty Island are visible from the Battery Park waterfront and from Liberty State Park's promenade across the harbor.
Ferry only — from Manhattan or New Jersey, one ticket serves both islands. Buy only from the official operator.
Ticket windows are inside Castle Clinton in Lower Manhattan; security screening and boarding are behind the fort on the waterfront side, in a facility that opened in March 2026. Subway to South Ferry (1), Bowling Green (4/5), or Whitehall (R/W). There is no visitor parking here — only paid private lots along West and South Streets.
The New Jersey departure, off New Jersey Turnpike exit 14B in Jersey City. Ticket windows are in the historic Central Railroad of New Jersey terminal, and Lot 8 by the dock is $7 per vehicle. The ferry stops at both Liberty and Ellis Islands either way.
No lodging on the islands — it's a day trip. Base near a ferry terminal.
Hotels in the Financial District put you minutes from the Battery ferry terminal and the rest of downtown.
Booking tipThe closest Manhattan base; walk to the boat.
Near Liberty State Park, with easier parking and skyline views — the NJ-side departure.
Booking tipHandy if you're driving.
Is it free?
The statue grounds and both museums are free (no NPS entrance fee), but a Statue City Cruises ferry ticket is required to reach the islands — $26 adult, $23 senior 62+, $17 ages 4–12, free under 4. The America the Beautiful pass does not cover the ferry.
How do I visit, and which ferry?
Only Statue City Cruises, departing from The Battery (Manhattan) or Liberty State Park (NJ); one ticket covers the loop to both Liberty and Ellis Islands, about 15 minutes on the water between stops. Book ahead at statuecitycruises.com — same-day tickets often sell out in peak season.
Crown vs. Pedestal vs. General Admission?
General Admission = ferry + grounds + both museums; Pedestal Reserve adds the observation deck under her feet; Crown Reserve adds the 162-step climb above the pedestal. Both upgrades cost 30 cents on top of the ferry fare, and both need a separate timed reservation. Crown booking is limited to four tickets per order and one ticket per person in any six-month window.
How long does it take?
Allow a half to full day to do both islands properly — Liberty Island plus the Statue museum, then the Ellis Island Immigration Museum — plus ferry waits and security. The time printed on your ferry ticket is when to join the security line, not when the boat leaves, and that line can run over an hour on a summer weekend.
What can't I bring?
Expect airport-style screening before boarding, and a second screening on the island for anyone with Pedestal or Crown access. For the Crown you may carry only a phone, a camera (no camera bag), water in a clear plastic bottle, and any medication — no bags, tripods, umbrellas, pens, or food. Lockers at the monument entrance are 25 cents for two hours, quarters only, with a change machine on site. There is no storage at the ferry terminals, so leave the extra gear in the car.
How do I avoid ticket scams?
Buy only from Statue City Cruises — online at statuecitycruises.com, or at the official windows inside Castle Clinton in Manhattan and the old railroad terminal at Liberty State Park. Street vendors near Battery Park sell overpriced tickets or sightseeing cruises that never land on the islands.
Pick your vehicle, line up the stops on the way in and out, and carry the whole route in your pocket.
