Boston Harbor Cruises ferry approaches Boston’s Long Wharf North

GENERAL INFORMATION

There are thirty islands within Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area, but unless you have your own boat, there are only three you can get to during the summer using the public ferry service: Georges, Peddocks, and Spectacle. Service to Spectacle Island runs from mid-May through Columbus Day. Service to Peddocks Island is from mid-June through Columbus Day. Service to Georges Island is from mid-June through Labor Day. In the spring and fall, the ferry does not run every day, whereas from mid-June through Labor Day it runs daily. Ferries depart from Boston at Long Wharf North and the Hingham Shipyard at the southern end of the harbor. In addition, the privately owned Outward Bound Education Center boat brings visitors to Cathleen Stone Island (formerly Thompson Island) on the weekends from mid-May through Columbus Day. For current ferry ticket prices and a schedule, see the Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park web page.

Most of the people visiting Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area are locals who just want to get to their favorite island, and trying to figure out how to do so is not very complicated. However, from the perspective of an island-hopping tourist who wants to visit all of the islands, ferry service is not all that efficient because different docks only service certain islands. Visitors can usually get to Spectacle and Georges islands on the same day, but Peddocks and Thompson islands each require a separate day to visit.

Ferry docked at Spectacle Island in Boston Harbor

FERRY DOCKS

Ferry service to Georges, Peddocks, and Spectacle islands is provided by Boston City Cruises (BHC). The ferries to Georges and Spectacle depart from Long Wharf North in downtown Boston. The ferry to Peddocks Island departs from the Hingham Shipyard.  A third dock, the EDIC Pier in South Boston, services Cathleen Stone Island.

Long Wharf North in Boston (1 Long Wharf, Boston)

There is no parking at the wharf, but there are plenty of parking garages in the area. However, the wisest decision is to take public transportation. The Aquarium station on the MBTA Blue Line is just a couple minutes’ walk away. The State Street stop on the Orange Line is .3 mile from the pier.

Ferries departing from Long Wharf North service Georges and Spectacle islands. Tickets can be purchased online in advance on BHC’s Boston Harbor Islands Ferry web page. You can also purchase tickets at the ferry terminal right up to departure time, assuming tickets remain.

Great views of Boston await those departing from Long Wharf North

Hingham Shipyard (28 Shipyard Drive, Hingham)

The ferry departing from Hingham Shipyard services Peddocks Island. Tickets can be purchased online in advance on BHC’s Boston’s Peddocks Island web page or at the ferry terminal before departure, assuming tickets remain. 

Parking for those visiting Peddocks is free as long as you get a pass from the ticket office and park in one of 250 designated spots in the large parking lot. The dock also services the MBTA commuter ferry to Boston, and those passengers must pay for parking. Give yourself plenty of time because you must return to your car and put the parking pass on the dashboard, and perhaps move your car if you parked in the wrong spot. The free spots aren’t the most convenient, so you’ll have a decent walk ahead of you. If time allows and Hingham is not too far from you, go the day before and purchase your ticket and get a pass, that way all you have to do is show up in the morning and get on the ferry.

There is a huge shopping mall in the same general area as the ferry dock, so be sure not to park in the mall parking lot.

If you plan on camping on Peddocks Island, be sure to get a special pass from the ticket office to place on your dashboard.

EDIC Pier #10, Boston

Cathleen Stone Island Outward Bound Education Center operates a private ferry to Cathleen Stone Island from the EDIC Pier. This is located in a commercial district. A public parking garage is located at 12 Drydock Avenue. Tickets must be purchased in advance—no walk-ups. Visit Outward Bound Education Center’s Public Access web page purchase tickets.

FERRY SYSTEM TIPS

When purchasing tickets on the BHC ferries for Georges or Spectacle islands, you only need to specify your departure time. You may return to the Long Wharf dock on any return ferry. When purchasing a ticket to Peddocks Island, you must choose a departure and return time.

Annual National Park Passes, or any type of pass from the National Park Service, are not valid for ferry tickets.

The BHC ferries are large, but there is a legal passenger limit. If you plan to purchase a ticket on the day of your departure at the ferry terminal instead of in advance online, the easiest ticket to get is one for the very first departure. As the day progresses, more passengers purchase tickets, so arrive as early as possible to get one. (If you are in Hingham and traveling to Boston during the week on the MBTA commuter ferry, this advice does not apply. The early boat is the one that will be packed because the passengers are those going to work. Thus, if that’s the ferry you are taking, arrive very early.)

The bigger concern is getting a ferry back to Long Wharf from Georges or Spectacle islands because return trips are not booked when purchasing a ticket. Thus, you might decide to leave at 1 PM, and if everyone else on the island has the same plan, it is possible that you can’t get on the boat and must wait until the next departure. As mentioned, the ferry is large, so chances of this happening are slim, but it can happen. Be sure to keep an eye on the line to board the boat, and if everyone seems to be heading to the dock, don’t wait until the last minute to get in line.

Ferry arriving at Georges Island in Boston Harbor

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