Park Overview
The Statue of Liberty National Monument is comprised of both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island in both New Jersey and New York. Calvin Coolidge designated the Statue of Liberty as a National Monument in 1924, and Lyndon Johnson added Ellis Island in 1965.
Getting There
The Statue of Liberty is located on Liberty Island, which is in the Upper New York Bay. It is east of Liberty State Park in New Jersey and southwest of Battery Park in Manhattan.
The Ferry
You must take a ferry to the Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island. Tickets must be reserved in advanced, they cannot be purchased at the ferry departure kiosks. The ferry departs every 20-30 minutes from Liberty State Park, Battery Park, Liberty Island, and Ellis Island.
When you purchase a ticket, you only need to pick where you initially depart from, but you don’t have to go back there. You can also choose whether you want to start at Ellis Island or Liberty Island.
I got on the ferry at Liberty State Park and get off at Battery Park. I was on the very first ferry and chose to start on Ellis Island so I could get through most of the museum before it got too crowded. I’d love to go again and get off at Liberty Island first so I can get pictures without people in them!
Click here to see the ferry schedule and purchase tickets.
Fees & Cancellation Stamp
Both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island offer free entry, but you must pay for the ferry service. General admission, which includes a round-trip ferry ride, starts at $24.50 for adults and $12.00 for children. There are other tickets that include admission to the Pedestal or Crown of the Statue of Liberty that cost a little bit more. You can also purchase other specialized tours on either island.
Time Required
I would reserve the entire day to explore Liberty and Ellis Island. There is a lot of information in the Ellis Island museum, and in the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty (if you pay to enter the pedestal). You also need to factor in wait times to get on the ferry, the ferry ride itself, and security lines. I tried to soak in everything I could, knowing I would get back any time soon.
Ellis Island
Ellis Island was the busiest immigrant inspection station in the United States. More than 12 million immigrants came through between 1892 and 1954. The museum is open to anyone by way of self-guided tour. The immigration hospital is open but only through ranger-guided tours.
Know before you go
There is a small cafeteria on both Liberty Island and Ellis Island. You can bring food but I’m not sure I’d bother with all that.
Don’t forget to factor in travel time when visiting. This includes getting to the ferry departure location and traveling between islands. I always find that everything in NYC takes longer than you expect once you add in travel time.
Liberty State Park is the less crowded and parking is free. If you aren’t already staying in NYC I recommend departing from there.
Last Updated: May 28, 2023
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