The Staten Island Ferry is free, runs 24/7, and slides past the Statue of Liberty like a front-row seat you didn’t pay for — but the real question for a family is whether the island beyond the terminal delivers enough to make the crossing more than just a boat ride.
Day Trip
Free Activity
National Recreation Area
Family-Friendly
Outdoor Adventure
It does, with one caveat worth knowing upfront: Staten Island is spread out in a way Manhattan isn’t. The National Recreation Area sites — Fort Wadsworth and Great Kills Park — sit on opposite ends of the island, and without a car, bus connections eat into your day more than you’d expect. But the payoff is real. The ferry costs nothing and gives you a 25-minute harbor tour every time. The parks are genuinely uncrowded, even on summer weekends. And you get a version of New York City that feels like a small coastal town rather than a tourist corridor. For families who want breathing room, harbor views, and outdoor space without the price tag of Manhattan, this day trip delivers something the other boroughs can’t.
What Getting Around Staten Island Actually Takes
The first thing to understand: Staten Island stretches twelve miles north to south, and the bus network, while functional, does not move at Manhattan speed. From the St. George ferry terminal, reaching Fort Wadsworth takes about 15 minutes by bus. Getting to Great Kills Park on the south shore runs closer to 45 minutes. The Staten Island Railway helps — it runs from St. George south to Tottenville — but it’s a single line, and not every attraction sits near a stop.
What this means for a family day: you can’t do everything. I’d pick one or two anchors and build around them. A typical successful trip looks like: ferry → Fort Wadsworth and Alice Austen House on the east shore → lunch near St. George → Snug Harbor for the gardens. Or: ferry → Snug Harbor for the morning → Historic Richmond Town in the afternoon → pizza on the way back to the ferry.
The good news: parking is easy and free at most sites if you drive. But if you’re visiting from Manhattan without a car, the ferry is the obvious move, and you’ll want to commit to one part of the island rather than trying to cover it all.
The Greenbelt covers 2,800 acres of continuous forest across the middle of Staten Island — the largest wild green space in any of the five boroughs, yet most visitors never know it exists.
— Travels with Sophie
Which NRA Sites and Nearby Attractions Deliver for Families
The National Recreation Area on Staten Island includes two main sites — Fort Wadsworth and Great Kills Park — both part of the larger Gateway National Recreation Area that spans multiple boroughs. But a family day here works best when you pair the NRA sites with Staten Island’s other family-friendly anchors.
Fort Wadsworth: History Beneath the Bridge
Fort Wadsworth sits on 226 acres directly under the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, with commanding views over the Narrows — the entrance to New York Harbor. It’s one of the oldest continuously operated military installations in the country, and the National Park Service runs the site with walking trails, an overlook, and a small visitor center. The grounds are open daily from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM. The visitor center keeps more limited hours, so check ahead. I’d build this into a late-afternoon stop — the light on the bridge at sunset is worth the timing, and it pairs naturally with the Alice Austen House a short walk away.
Great Kills Park: Beach, Trails, and Real Quiet
Great Kills Park, on the south shore, combines a swimming beach, marina, and miles of trails through dune ecosystems — a different landscape from the Greenbelt’s forest interior. It’s part of the same Gateway NRA system. Fishing piers draw a dedicated local crowd year-round. Parking and beach access are both free. The south shore beaches here are cleaner and far less crowded than Coney Island or the Rockaways on a typical summer weekend. Bring your own gear — rentals are limited. This is the spot for a full beach day without the crowds.
Snug Harbor: Gardens, Museums, and a Chinese Scholar’s Garden
Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden spreads across 83 acres with 19th-century Greek Revival buildings, manicured gardens, and several museums. The New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden is the standout — built by craftsmen from Suzhou, China, using traditional techniques and materials brought from China, it’s one of only a handful of authentic classical Chinese gardens outside Asia. The Staten Island Children’s Museum sits on the grounds with 10 hands-on exhibits, making this the easiest anchor for a family with younger kids. For my family, the grounds alone justify the trip — the kids run the gardens while you get the harbor views. Grounds access is free; individual museums and gardens charge separately, typically $3–8. Parking fills fast on summer weekends — arrive early or take the S40 or S44 bus from the ferry terminal.
The Greenbelt: Forest Without Leaving the City
The Greenbelt covers nearly 3,000 acres of continuous forest, wetlands, and trails across the middle of Staten Island — the largest wild green space in any of the five boroughs. The trail network runs more than 35 miles, with flat easy walks and demanding hill routes that open onto harbor views. The Blue and White Trail Loop is a good entry point for new visitors. Over 300 bird species have been recorded here, part of the Atlantic Flyway migration corridor. Entry is free. The Greenbelt Nature Center provides trail maps and seasonal programming.
South Beach and the FDR Boardwalk
The FDR Boardwalk stretches 2.5 miles along the east shore from Fort Wadsworth to Miller Field — one of the longest boardwalks in the world, built in 1937. It’s far less crowded than Coney Island on a summer weekend. Bike rentals are available at Sand Lane if you want to cover the full length without walking round-trip. The Staten Island September 11 Memorial, known locally as “Postcards,” sits directly on the boardwalk — a quiet, respectful stop worth including.
The Ferry, the Costs, and How to Link It All Together
The Staten Island Ferry is the obvious starting point. It’s free, runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and takes 25 minutes each way. Boats run every 30 minutes during peak hours and every hour overnight. Depart from Whitehall Terminal at the bottom of Manhattan — a short walk from Bowling Green or South Ferry subway stations. No ticket, no booking, no cost. Just walk on.
I’d skip the 9 a.m. ferry rush — the boats are packed with commuters. Mid-to-late morning is quieter, and the light is better for photos. Stand on the left side of the departing Manhattan boat for a clearer look at the Statue of Liberty. Most tourists crowd the right side.
Once you’re on Staten Island, the Staten Island Railway runs from St. George south to Tottenville, useful for reaching Historic Richmond Town and the south shore beaches. Buses connect to most attractions, but budget more time than you would in Manhattan. A car makes everything easier, with free parking at most sites.
Costs are low. The ferry is free. Grounds access at Snug Harbor and the Greenbelt is free. Fort Wadsworth is free. Great Kills Park beach access is free. Individual museums and gardens charge small fees — typically under $10. Pizza lunch runs $15–25 per person. A full day for a family of four can easily stay under $100 including lunch.
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If you’re visiting from Manhattan and want to pair the free ferry views with an actual landing at Liberty Island, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Guided Tour covers both landings with a guide — a different experience from the ferry fly-by.
What to Pack and When to Go
Comfortable walking shoes are the main thing — you’ll cover more ground than you expect, especially if you’re combining the ferry terminal with Snug Harbor or the boardwalk. Layers matter for the harbor breezes, which can be cool even on warm days. Bring sunscreen and water, especially for the Greenbelt or South Beach, where shade is limited.
Spring and fall are ideal for the Greenbelt and Snug Harbor gardens. Summer weekends bring crowds to South Beach and the FDR Boardwalk — still far less crowded than Coney Island, but the parking lots fill earlier. Weekday mornings are quietest across the board.
If you’re bringing young kids, the Staten Island Children’s Museum at Snug Harbor is a reliable reset point — 10 hands-on exhibits under one roof, easy to find, and included with Snug Harbor grounds access.
- Take the S40 or S44 bus from the ferry terminal to Snug Harbor — it drops you at the main entrance.
- Fort Wadsworth grounds open at 6:00 AM, but the visitor center opens later — check current hours before heading over.
- The Staten Island Railway runs from St. George to Tottenville — use it for Historic Richmond Town and south shore beaches.
- Denino’s Pizzeria in Port Richmond has been serving thin-crust pizza since 1937 — cash helps but cards work now.
- Weekday mornings on the ferry mean sharing the boat with commuters rather than tour groups — quieter ride, better views.
Staten Island’s New York Harbor National Recreation Area — Your Questions
Is the ferry really free for families?
Completely free in both directions since 1997. No ticket, no reservation, no fare. You just walk on. It runs 24/7/365, so there’s no schedule pressure — though overnight boats run less frequently.
Can we visit the NRA sites and Snug Harbor in one day?
You can, but pick one NRA site — either Fort Wadsworth on the east shore or Great Kills Park on the south shore — and pair it with Snug Harbor. Trying to hit both NRA sites in one day without a car means a lot of bus time that could be spent actually enjoying the places.
Is the area around Fort Wadsworth and Great Kills Park safe for kids?
Yes. Both are National Park Service sites with regular visitors and open sightlines. Fort Wadsworth sits in a busy residential area beneath the bridge. Great Kills Park is more isolated but well-trafficked during daylight hours. Standard park awareness applies — keep an eye on kids near the water and stick to marked trails.
What’s the best pizza near the ferry terminal?
Enoteca Maria on Hyatt Street is a short walk from the terminal and rotates different immigrant grandmothers into the kitchen — each cooking her own culture’s menu. It’s not the classic Staten Island thin-crust style, but it’s the most interesting meal within walking distance of the boat.
Does the National Recreation Area have any fees?
Fort Wadsworth and Great Kills Park are free to enter. No entrance fees, no parking fees. The visitor center at Fort Wadsworth has limited hours, but the grounds and trails are open dawn to dusk.
Closing Thought
The ferry is free and the views are spectacular, but what makes Staten Island’s National Recreation Area work for a family day is something harder to quantify: the space. The Greenbelt’s 2,800 acres of forest, the boardwalk that stretches for miles with room to breathe, the beaches where you can spread out without stepping over someone else’s towel — that’s the real value. It’s not the cheapest day trip in New York City because it’s cheap. It’s the cheapest because it’s free, and the experience it buys you is room to move. For families who’ve spent a few days in Manhattan’s crowds, that alone is worth the ferry ride — and it’s the kind of day that reminds you why the full range of New York City experiences goes so far beyond the skyline.
Sources
Things to Do on Staten Island: Complete Visitor’s Guide. Love to Visit New York, 2026.
Staten Island County NYC Guide. NYC Explored, 2026.
Staten Island Guide: Ferry, Parks, Waterfront, Eats & Hidden Gems. The New York Insider, 2026.
Staten Island Waterfront Redevelopment 2026. Manhattan Monday, 2026.
Staten Island Guide: Ferry, Zoo, Snug Harbor. Facts About New York City, 2026.
