This handy guide details exactly how to get from Times Square to the Statue of Liberty by subway or taxi and includes information about the ferry.
This guide can also be used to get from the Statue of Liberty to Times Square.
How Far is the Statue of Liberty from Times Square?
The distance from Times Square to the Statue of Liberty is 10 km (6.2 miles) which takes around 20 minutes to travel by car and then another 15 minutes by ferry.
As the Statue of Liberty is located on Liberty Island which is a tiny island in the New York Harbor, you can’t get there completely by car or train.
You can take a car/train most of the way but you will also need to take a ferry over from Manhattan to Liberty Island.
The best way to get to the Statue of Liberty from Times Square is by subway and then ferry.
You can take the subway from Times Square to Battery Park and from there take the ferry over to Liberty Island.
Alternatively, you can get a taxi from Times Square to Battery Park.
When you get to Liberty Island you can either explore by yourself or you could pre-book a private tour where your guide will tell you all about the history, construction and design of the statue.
Below I go into more detail on each of these options including prices, how long it takes, schedules and more.
Subway from Times Square to Statue of Liberty
Getting from Times Square to the Statue of Liberty by subway is definitely the easiest option.
You don’t have to worry about traffic at all with the subway (traffic is the main disadvantage of getting a taxi).
Taking the subway train from Times Square to the Statue of Liberty takes around 50 minutes overall including the ferry.
That’s around 20 mins on the subway, 15 mins walking and waiting for the ferry then 15 mins on the ferry itself.
Below I list exactly how to get to the Statue of Liberty by subway.
Directions to the Statue of Liberty by Subway
- Go into the Times Sq-42 St subway station.
- Take line 1 and get off at the last stop which is South Ferry.
- This will take around 20 minutes on the train and is 13 stops.
- From South Ferry, you need to walk through Battery Park to the ferry terminal which takes around 6 minutes on foot.
- From Battery Park, you can take the ferry over to Liberty Island.
Here’s exactly where the ferry terminal in Battery Park is located:
You can alternatively take the R train from Times Square to Whitehall St-South Ferry instead. This will also take around 20 minutes on the train and is 11 stops.
Whitehall St and South Ferry are actually 2 stations connected together.
When you board the subway, make sure it’s heading in the right direction because for each subway line there will be two trains (one going each way).
You need to ensure that the subway is going downtown.
The subway trains come once every 5 minutes during the day time. The NYC subway runs 24 hours a day but at night the trains are less frequent.
Taking the subway is the best way to get to the Statue of Liberty from Times Square if you’re on a budget as the subway costs just $2.75.
Bear in mind that you will also have to pay for the ferry to get over to Liberty Island.
I’ve included more information about the ferry to the Statue of Liberty below including the ferry times and cost.
Taxi from Times Square to Statue of Liberty
An alternative to taking the subway is jumping in a taxi which is definitely an easier and more comfortable way to travel but it is more expensive.
You can’t take a taxi all the way from Times Square to the Statue of Liberty as the statue is on a small island by itself and cars can’t reach here from the mainland.
You can take a taxi from Times Square to Battery Park and from there you will need to take the ferry over to Liberty Island.
You could also take an uber from Times Square to the Statue of Liberty if you prefer.
The taxi ride from Times Square to Battery Park takes between 20 and 45 minutes depending on traffic.
This area is one of the busiest in New York so the traffic can get really heavy at certain times of day.
Taking a taxi isn’t a good idea during peak times (around lunch time and when people start and finish work) as the traffic is really bad (and I mean really bad).
You’ll end up spending double the journey time compared to taking the subway!
Times Square to Statue of Liberty Taxi Fare
The taxi fare from Times Square to Battery Park will cost around $25. It could cost a little bit more if the traffic is really bad but $25 is the average that you’ll pay.
You’ll then have to take the ferry over to Liberty Island from here which will cost another $24.
In total, that’s $49 for the entire journey. The $24 ferry fare is for the return trip so it includes transport to and from Liberty Island.
You could save a little bit of money by using Uber instead of a standard yellow cab.
Using Uber’s price estimator, this journey will cost around $18.79 which is about $6 cheaper than using a yellow cab.
Bear in mind that these are price estimates and the exact fare could be slightly different on the day so it could be worth checking both.
Times Square to Statue of Liberty Ferry
The ferry to the Statue of Liberty leaves from Battery Park and is run by Statue Cruises.
Be careful when buying your ticket for the ferry. You’ll sometimes be approached by sellers who are selling fake tickets in Battery Park.
Either pre-book ahead online or buy from the official ticket office.
You can pre-book your ferry ticket on the Statue Cruises website or if you want a tour guide then book this Statue of Liberty tour (it includes the ferry tickets and a tour guide).
If you’re just looking for great views of Lady Liberty and you’re not fussed about queuing for the ferry and wandering around the island for hours then book a super express cruise.
The super express cruise takes you onto the water giving you amazing, unobstructed views of the statue. You’ll also have a tour guide who will tell you all about the monument.
It’s ideal for those on limited time as taking the regular ferry and wandering around the island can easily take half a day.
💡Helpful Tip: For more common New York City tourist scams, check out my post on if Manhattan is safe.
Statue of Liberty Ferry Times
The exact ferry times to the Statue of Liberty vary seasonally. The above image shows the December morning departures from Battery Park (not the full schedule).
The ferry starts running between 8:30AM and 9:30AM depending on the time of year.
They tend to start earlier during the summer and peak tourist season and start a bit later in the winter when there’s less tourists.
The last departure from Battery Park is usually at 3:30PM and the final ferry leaves Liberty Island at 5PM.
The ferry usually comes every 20-25 minutes. The crossing itself takes 15 minutes.
You can see the most up-to-date schedule on the Statue Cruises website. They have a handy date checker where you can put in the date of your visit and see the exact timetable on that day.
Ferry Fare to Statue of Liberty
The ferry fare to the Statue of Liberty is $24 for a return trip.
This ticket also includes access to the park which surrounds the Statue of Liberty as well as an audio tour and access to the museum.
The $24 ticket is the general admission ticket which is the cheapest one. You can pay more for additional extras like access to the ‘crown’ area within the Statue of Liberty itself.
Crown access tickets book up well in advance so it might be impossible to get one if you’re booking last minute.
You’ll need to book at least 2-3 months in advance to get inside the crown of the Statue of Liberty.
If you’re going to be doing a lot of sightseeing then I recommend getting the New York City Explorer Pass as it includes admission into loads of New York’s top attractions for a good price.
This pass includes tickets to see the Statue of Liberty which includes admission and the ferry crossing.
Can you See the Statue of Liberty from Times Square?
No, you can’t see the Statue of Liberty from Times Square.
As Times Square is around 10 km from the Statue of Liberty and it’s surrounded by skyscrapers, you’re not able to see the Statue of Liberty from here.
You actually can’t see that much from Times Square as the building block most of the view.
The Empire State Building is just 1km from Times Square and even then, you can’t see it!!
Can you See the Statue of Liberty from Manhattan?
You can see the Statue of Liberty from Manhattan. The best view is found at Battery Park which is located on the southernmost tip of Lower Manhattan.
From here, you can see the Statue of Liberty which is located on Liberty Island within the New York Harbor.
There are tons of other spots in New York where you can see the Statue of Liberty including from the free Staten Island ferry, from the One World Observatory and from Brooklyn Bridge.
The One World Observatory is pretty exciting as you head up to the 100th floor of the building for panoramic views of NYC including the Statue of Liberty.
And that’s it!
Hopefully you now know how to get to the Statue of Liberty from Manhattan.
If you’re doing more exploring of NYC then you might also be wondering how to get from Penn Station to Times Square.
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