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Staten Island Hotels: Staying Near the Ferry

Staten Island has fewer hotels than Manhattan. The free ferry takes about 25 minutes to reach Lower Manhattan. Here is how to choose Staten Island hotels, how the ferry works and when Manhattan is the better base.

By Matthew S Crawford Β· Published October 12, 2026

Quick answer

The Staten Island Ferry runs between St. George on Staten Island and Whitehall in Lower Manhattan and has been free to ride. It passes the Statue of Liberty. Hotels are limited, so compare with Lower Manhattan. Confirm schedules before you go.

An orange Staten Island Ferry boat docked in New York Harbor
Photo: Carol M. Highsmith, Library of Congress, public domain

What Staten Island offers

A quieter borough with a waterfront and fewer hotels. St. George is the ferry terminal area.

Aerial of the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island in New York Harbor
Photo: Carol M. Highsmith, Library of Congress, public domain

The ferry

The ferry runs to Lower Manhattan and gives views of the Statue of Liberty. See hotels near Wall Street and our Statue of Liberty guide.

Staten Island or Manhattan

Staying in Manhattan means more choice and less commuting. Compare on our hotel map.

Tips before you book

Open a map and time the walk to the nearest station. Noise a worry? Ask for a high floor. Skim the latest reviews for your exact block. Then compare picks on our hotel map, and see where to stay in NYC if you’re still deciding.

Book your stay

Compare rates on the hotel search page. Need a plan for the rest? Try the trip planner. Hungry later? Open the food map.

How to Plan Staten Island Hotels: Rates, Subway Access, and Seasonal Timing

When researching staten island hotels nyc and planning around Staten Island Hotels, comparing block-by-block walkability, express subway connections, and seasonal rate shifts helps you get the most out of every day in New York City. Across Lower Manhattan & the Financial District and neighboring Manhattan and Brooklyn corridors, nightly hotel prices and ticket demand fluctuate with Broadway schedules, midweek corporate conventions at the Javits Center, and holiday travel peaks. Reviewing our NYC hotel prices by month guide alongside our where to stay in NYC neighborhood breakdown makes it easy to spot high-value travel weeks before you lock in your itinerary.

Comparing Neighborhood Walkability and Express Transit Around Staten Island Hotels

Transit proximity matters just as much as the nightly room rate when moving between Midtown landmarks, museum mornings near Central Park, and evening dinner reservations in Downtown Manhattan. Choosing a hotel within a five-to-eight-minute walk of an express subway stationβ€”such as the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, A, C, E, B, D, F, M, or N, Q, R, W linesβ€”saves both commute time and taxi fares. Travelers arriving via JFK Airport, LaGuardia Airport, or Newark Liberty International Airport should also check how directly their route connects to New York Penn Station, Moynihan Train Hall, or Grand Central Terminal when carrying luggage.

Booking Windows, Refundable Room Rates, and Total Stay Value in New York City

Before finalizing any reservation in New York, always inspect the all-in nightly price including New York City hotel occupancy taxes and any mandatory property or destination fees. Booking a flexible, refundable rate 30 to 45 days ahead lets you secure a proven room in a prime location and re-check live inventory two weeks before check-in if unsold Manhattan rooms drop in price. Pairing smart neighborhood selection with early morning arrival times ensures a smooth, stress-free New York City experience in every season.

Travelers who compare weekday corporate rates against weekend leisure pricing across Midtown Manhattan, Chelsea, SoHo, and the Upper West Side routinely save fifteen to twenty-five percent on comparable four-star rooms.

If your flight or train arrives hours before standard three o-clock check-in, nearly every full-service New York hotel bell desk will store your bags free of charge so you can start exploring Central Park, Fifth Avenue, or the High Line right away.

For families and small groups sharing a room, requesting a higher floor away from street-facing elevators and confirming whether two queen beds or a sofa sleeper are guaranteed in writing prevents surprises at the front desk.

Using contactless OMNY tap-to-pay at subway turnstiles and crosstown buses also caps your weekly transit spend automatically, making it simple to ride between Uptown museums, Broadway theaters, and Brooklyn waterfront parks without buying paper farecards.

Whether you are visiting New York City for a quick forty-eight-hour weekend getaway or a full week of sightseeing, balancing iconic observation decks and Broadway shows with unhurried neighborhood walks through Greenwich Village, the West Village, and DUMBO creates a memorable trip.

During peak autumn foliage weeks in October and the December holiday season around Rockefeller Center, reserving timed-entry observation deck tickets and pre-theater dinner tables ten to fourteen days in advance saves hours of waiting in line.

Visitors staying in Midtown East, Murray Hill, or near Grand Central Terminal also enjoy fast crosstown bus connections and direct access to the East River Ferry landings at East 34th Street and Wall Street Pier 11.

When packing for a multi-day stay in Manhattan, bringing a portable phone battery, a compact umbrella, and broken-in walking sneakers ensures you stay comfortable from morning museum hours at the Met through late-night jazz sets in the Village.

Checking the official MTA Weekender service map on Friday afternoon helps you spot any scheduled weekend subway track maintenance early and choose alternate express lines between Uptown, Midtown, and Lower Manhattan.

Practical Tips for First-Time and Returning New York Visitors

Checking live MTA subway status, packing comfortable walking shoes for ten-thousand-step days across Manhattan avenues, and reserving popular dining tables or timed museum entries a.

Common questions

Is the Staten Island Ferry free?

It has been free. Confirm on the official site.

Does it pass the Statue of Liberty?

Yes, it gives views of it.

Are there many hotels on Staten Island?

Fewer than in Manhattan.

Is it a good base?

For a quiet stay, maybe. Many visitors choose Manhattan.

Keep reading

Where to stay in NYC Β· NYC hotels map Β· Cheaper NYC hotel tips Β· Trip planner

About the author. Matthew S Crawford grew up on Long Island, in Massapequa and then Deer Park. He runs NYCHotelss, an independent NYC hotel guide. Details change. Check rates, hours and policies before you book.