I desperately needed a bathroom. I didn't know when the ferry would arrive. I was in line for it. And I had to just suffer. It was awful. I also didn't know if there was a restroom on the ferry so I sat in my car and suffered some more. After crossing, I stopped at the first gas station I came upon. It was so gross too. Disgusting. And I used that. I wish more info was posted about the times the ferry arrives (like a countdown digital clock) and restrooms. The ride was smooth and didn't take long. I was so glad I didn't have to pay for the ferry. read more

The is a certain amount of convenience in taking the ferry. We had to wait 20 minutes in line and then 20 minutes on the boat to cross. We were directed to park against the outer wall- so I couldn't open my door to get out. So I couldn't get to the front and maybe watch the dolphins. That kinda made me sad. But still -it beats taking the 2 hour drive to get around Galveston Bay. read more

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It's always fun to ride the ferry over to Galveston and back. I can see why they still have a ferry service here. This water is the pathway to the Port of Houston and large tankers and cargo ships pass through this area many times a day. It would have to be a very big bridge to span this area and still allow the ship traffic. The workers are quite nice and direct you on to the ferry in an orderly fashion. They have to balance the boat so the boat is slowly filled on each side to maintain the balance. Once the last vehicle is on board they shut the ramps and the ferry starts it's short journey. The ride is about 20-30 minutes or so depending on the wind and waves so you have time to go upstairs for a better view. The seagulls love to fly around as the ferry kicks up the surf. When you are having a bad day, just go ride the ferry, it is a lot of fun and you will feel better in no time. read more

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I took the ferry across from Galveston and I want to answer the one question I got asked a lot: Yes, it is completely free or vehicles and passengers. It is considered part of the Texas highway system so it is funded by road and gas taxes. The ride over from Galveston took about 20 minutes and I spent them sitting in the driver's seat of my vehicle. I managed to get a front row spot on the ferry (it's all luck, no strategy) to watch the crossing. As much as that was nice, I do need to find a car wash to rinse off what will soon be dried salt from the spray. The ride was smooth, easy and simple. Just follow the directions of the workers, set your brake and look around. Yes, there is cell phone coverage the whole time you're crossing Bolivar Roads. There was not much of a wait this morning because I was here during off peak. When the ferry loads, they take medical exemptions first and then permit holders. So it can be a bit during peak hours. Exiting at Port Bolivar was uncomplicated. When the worker pointed at me, I went. I followed the signs and was on my way. Easy! [Review 889 of 2024 - 644 in Texas - 21918 overall] read more

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very late, very dark, and pretty much tired of everything except cars on boats and sleeping in a proper bed; now and here the former leads directly to the latter and it was just a matter of waiting for the boat to come in. wind whipping across the channel makes for a long lonely wait as a half dozen or so cars and trucks and a lone tanker line up. my phone indicates Texas DOT rest area WiFi is available but it seems a tragic fiction as I never could get connected despite a fair signal - 12 of 17 bars - so it's just me switching between bad 'twangy-music' stations; more like boot-rap and hat-bands than true country, not that any of them are even wearing boots or hats and no, trucker caps and the like don't count nor will raggedy flannel shirts replace tailored rhinestoned jackets but this is a car ferry review... so we eventually get boarded and underway and the salt spray is covering everything and it looks icky out there... land fall on the other side and it's shift change so we wait for everyone to trade places before debarking and heading off into Galveston for late night refreshments and the all night Perry Mason channel on TV. not quite the experience it once was but maybe because it was daylight then and an early spring and generally a better place in time. still, the trip is worth the time if you can make time, maybe get sandwiches and sodas and do the round trip sitting top side on a warm sunny day... may not be the thrillest of thrill rides but what thrills is there will be so utterly worth it; there ain't much gets better than a slow boat ride with with someone special sitting there beside pitching and catching a little woo. read more

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Decided to take this way because the time, effort, gas, and money it saves! On a Sunday mid afternoon, there was no line! There was a boat that just arrived when we pulled in, so it was a mere 5 minute wait for the cars to get off! My favorite thing is when they direct you to the front because the view is so beautiful! We could see the sun, water, and birds perfectly from the car. Also loved getting out to stretch in fresh air! Easily beats sitting in highway traffic. The workers were very direct and patient as they guided people into the different lanes. Would recommend going on the ferry, especially if it saves you time on your route! read more

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Black lady made me circle back into the back of the line because unknowingly went into the wrong lane that was open without a cone, made me miss a ferry back since she refused my suggestion of just backing up because there was still a huge space where i could get back. had to wait 1 unnecessary hour in my car. Get better workers. read more

Terrible wait! We have been here for over an hour. 3 ferry's come and gone. The lane with medical exceptions keep filling up the boats. We move up about 2 cars each time. There needs to be a notice about the long waits. read more

Fun and free ride on the ferry. Drive your car on and chill whist soaking in the ocean views! You can also get out of your car, but must return a few minutes before the ferry ride ends. Four stars instead of five because of the ridiculous lines during peak seasons and times. It's on my list of things to do when out-of-towners are visiting. Fun and relaxing. read more

Worst run ferry operator I've seen globally. 150 minute estimated wait time when arriving at Bolivar Peninsula dock on a Monday afternoon at 15:00. Unbelievable waste of time. read more

Loves this ferry just to watch the dolphins and see a different part of Galveston- perfect efficient and free!

Absolutely ridiculous wait time on a Sunday mid-morning. Why are only two ferries running? Over an hour and a half to get across. And we were lucky! By the time we boarded the ferry, there were three more full lines of traffic waiting to board than when we arrived. SMH...you've got five boats...doesn't make much sense to have three at the dock with this many people waiting...on the weekend... read more

Port Bolivar Ferry - Ferries Near Me

"The Ferry" is the only way vehicles can get directly from Galveston Island to the Bolivar Peninsula or visa versa. The Ferry is actually several ferries that move people and vehicles back and forth. They are large enough to carry large Class A and Class B vehicles. If I remember correctly, vehicles carrying hazardous chemicals are not allowed on the ferry and must take the long way around on Interstate 10 through Winnie, TX. During peak times, the lines for the ferry can be excruciating long. They are often 90+ minutes long or longer. Line-cutting is a ticket-able offense and is enforced. If you are a tourist and are simply wanting to get on the ferry to take a ride across and back, I would suggest being a walk-on passenger. That way, you can bypass the line, park your vehicle, walk onto the ferry, and simply ride across. Stay on the ferry and ride back on the same ferry. A ride across the channel takes approximately 15 minutes. You may not have a line on one side and suddenly find a line on the other side that could be excruciatingly long. Once you're on the ferry (by vehicle or by foot), you can get out and walk around. Restrooms are available upstairs if needed. Keep in mind the trip is fairly short so make it quick. It has been my personal experience that lines are longer on the weekends. Typically, on Saturday and Sunday, lines are longer in the morning on the Galveston Island side and longer on the Bolivar side in the afternoons. Again, that is my personal experience. I am not a frequent user of the ferry so my experience may be different than what is actually most common. TIP: The surface of the ferry is asphalt. Summer temperatures in Galveston can easily be 100°. Please do not plan on walking onto the ferry barefooted. TIP II: Keep your eyes peeled for dolphins. You can often see them feeding in the area. Bottom line - Easy to use when commuting between Galveston Island and Bolivar. Long lines during peak times can be anguishing. Pack your patience. Don't cut in line. Enjoy your trip. read more

I was very impressed with the speed of loading and unloading. I don't think we had to wait very long to go either direction. The employees were nice and it was a quick and efficient trip and we even saw 2 dolphins. That made my day! Well done TX DOT read more

How can anyone pass up a free ride from Bolivar to Galveston and vice versa? Getting on the ferry is always fun. First, there's always dolphins playing within line of site. Not just occasionally, but every time I have been on the ferry, as a dolphin enthusiast, nothing's better than seeing that. Then there is the feeding of the birds. Bring a bag of chips or crackers and the birds will eat out of your hands. If you are brave enough to do that. Occasionally they do get you just a bit, and yes, it does hurt. Their beaks are meant to do damage. I've been 'got' just once, and I quickly learned to keep the food at the very tips of my fingers.. This always makes the kids squeal with delight. Yes, it's a bit of a wait from time to time, rarely the 15 minutes the website brags about, but IMHO, very worth it. read more

There's more than one YELP for the ferry location...sooo this is my second review for the same place. It's a well oiled machine that runs efficiently ...lines can be long on the weekends but these vessels go go go. read more

They have a website you can check for wait times. My major complaint is on the Bolivar side, they have added a medical emergency lane. Idiots like me use the standard lane and wait 2 hours to get on the ferry. There is no way the 300 cars that passed me all had medical emergencies. I called the ferry number and said it was 95 degrees and my lane had not moved the past two times the ferry landed. I told them I was very hot and they had to get me out. They said they had 3 ferries running which were actually 2 ferries running. They saw the wait time had backed up over 2 hours and they added 2 more ferries. I have never been so hot in my life. I doubt I will ever ride the ferry again. They still do security screening. Website to check wait times https://traffic.houstontranstar.org/ferrytimes/ read more

I love the ferry. I personally have been traveling on the Ferry since I was a young girl. It's a great break in a day at Galveston. And who doesn't like a FREE boat ride?? It's a wholesome activity you can share with friends and family. I would suggest that you walk on to the ferry if there is a long line (which is normal). When you walk on, you can bypass the very long line of cars waiting to get on the ferry and park in the parking lot to the right. read more

What can you say about the ferry? It's fun to park your car on a boat and go across a body of water. The whole road from Willis to the ferry is amazing views. From Galveston to Bolivar Peninsula is not to shabby either. It's an experience that has to be had by any or every one. read more

While being on a road trip, I decided to stay in this historic city for two days. Meanwhile, going over tourist flyers & yelp, came across this and decided to give this a try. This has become of the most memorable evening's of my life!!! 30-45 min, Free, yes your cars go on it but can also be parked on the lot for free (highly recommend to take your car if you're exploring crystal beach on the other end), runs approx every 30 min, kid safe. Now since the facts are out of the way, let me get to the good stuff- - Get out of your car once the ferry is in motion and first you'll be greeted by a flock of sea gulls (guessing, I'm no bird expert) upon exit and entrance. Pet them, feed them, hide away in fear..it's super fun!!!! I've never seen so many birds this close to me. It's magical!! - Try your best to ride on this ferry in evening hours and it'll be the most romantic evening of your life. Seagulls flying with you, gulf of mexico underneath, sounds of water dancing and soothing cool air touching your face as you lean in and watch over the breathtaking sunset skies. I'm out of words, it was like a poem. - It is a very organized ferry, they work hard in aligning every car in order and do so quickly. Impressive! - On the other end is Port Bolivar...a very quiet Crystal beach waiting for you. (approx 10 min away). It started to rain when I reached...Loved every moment! There is also a lighthouse, can't really go inside, its a private property. Tourist or not you'll be a fool to skip this... read more

Port Bolivar Ferry - Port bolivar light house - Ferries Near Me

We visit the Port Bolivar Ferry quite a lot when we go down to Galveston. On a good day, the wait time is short and you get to enjoy a nice breeze as the Ferry makes its way across from Galveston to Bolivar. You may even get to see dolphins. On a not so great day, you can wait more than two hours in your car listening to your favorite mix inching forward in what seems like a never ending parade of cars. I will definitely be back, I definitely make sure I check the wait times before turning on Ferry Road. https://www.txdot.gov/driver/travel/ferry-schedules.html read more

This was a very enjoyable experience for me the first day that we came on this. The fact that this is a free service to get across the gulf in your vehicle without an insurance claim for the total loss of your car is pretty awesome! You get to watch dolphins hopping around in the water and other ships and ferries. Don't make the same mistake I did when you are getting ready to leave Galveston. Since the first day I went, I got straight through both directions, I thought I would do it one last time before I left. Terrible idea, it is not always as easy as just driving on and enjoying the ferry adventure. I got myself surrounded/trapped by a VERY LONG line of traffic going and coming back which set us back 2 hours. They really don't manage the lines very well here. I would be sitting in line to go, a line of cars would come flying past me half an hour after I had already been sitting in line and that line would still get loaded first. I felt my temper getting tested over that sort of improper loading etiquette on the workers end, but otherwise, it is still a free service. read more

Free! So much fun to ride. You can feed the seagulls from the back Easy going. Two decks you can walk up to see. Very efficient. Said they depart every twenty minutes. Good spot checking cars for security concerns. read more

The wait was tremendously ridiculous, 1hr and 45min to ride it from Galveston, the wait back wasn't as bad. The view was incredible but also bummed out about the time we spent waiting. However, we do understand, it is busy, especially during the summer. Definitely had fun! read more

No communication from anyone that works here. What they don't tell you is when you arrive to Port Bolivar there's is no way getting back to Galveston but the ferry back. Waited for over 2 hours because only 1 ferry was running back to the "city". Worst time and worst time consuming thing ever. Do not waste your time. read more

Never an issue from Galveston to Bolivar, but going back... what a pain. No rhyme nor reason to loading. If you don't have a local priority pass, be prepared to wait. Workers on Bolivar side also have a bad attitude! They know you don't have options, so they simply do not care. read more

We were off visiting a friend at his beach house on the Peninsula so a ferry ride was in order. Lucky for us there was no wait so we drove on to the ferry with no problems. The staff is friendly and they direct you with politeness. Once the ferry gets going you can get out of your car to see the sunset, the dolphins or just a nice view of the water. This was a highlight for the kiddos. On this day is was super chilly so a jacket was needed. The beaches on the peninsula are quiet and serene (at least on this day) but I heard the summer can get busy and waits on the ferry can be up to two hours. read more

Quick to unload cars on the way in! We decided to take the Ferry back to Galveston instead of leaving on the highway off of Bolivar Peninsula. It was a Monday morning and everyone had pretty much left out the day before. There was a small line and it looks longer than it is because this is a one lane road and the port here isn't as big as the Galveston one. I think we probably waited a total of 20 or 25 minutes to board the Ferry which isn't bad. I could see this backing way up if you're trying to leave on a Sunday during peak season. There was a snow cone food truck on the side of the road if you are stuck in line! I don't mind waiting because I just love to ride the Ferry! read more

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This has been on my Galveston to-do list for awhile. It's free, you get to go see another island, and I have never been on a drive on ferry before. There's a first time for everything! We went on a Saturday afternoon and I was afraid it might be busy. Luckily it's off season and it wasn't bad at all. We only had to wait about 20 minutes to get on. We searched for dolphins but did not see anything that day. We did see the shipwreck which was cool! This is a must-do if you want to explore Crystal Beach/Port Bolivar. Fort Travis is over there, a pretty lighthouse, as well as some pretty beaches. read more

Port Bolivar Ferry - The Shipwreck view from the ferry - Ferries Near Me

This Ferry ride is a wonderful opportunity to do something free with your family if your not using it for regular travel the way I do most of the time. You will almost always see an abundance of dolphins swimming along side or within close proximity of the ferry. You will pass by interesting things such as Seawolf Park. (Seawolf Park is managed by the Galveston Island Park Board of Trustees and offers views of Galveston harbor, picnic sites, a playground area and a lighted fishing pier. The Park is also home to the American Undersea Warfare Center, which is supported and operated by the Cavalla Historical Foundation). There are bathrooms located on both sides of the Ferry before getting on as well as on the ferry. This is a real cool thing to do with your children. read more

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The experience was first class..while the lines presented a great wait it was a beautiful mom & daughter first...we wind was high & so is our King so the creation was incredible....the men & women working do not get the credit due...yet I commend their diligence & tolerance! Ferry is read more

Port Bolivar Ferry - Last to board but the experience was fascinating due to the hardworking men & women devoting to safety! - Ferries Near Me

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Such a fun experience! It was raining and we still had a great time! The staff were very helpful and nice! Getting on the ferry was super smooth and simple! We crossed over to Port Bollivar which was a lot of private property but very Cool! We ate at tiki hut and I was disappointed with the service, food and atmosphere read more

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Park your car on the ferry for a fun, free ride! Going upstairs and taking pictures makes for a fun time, and we almost always see dolphins when we go, so that's nice. If your too close to the edge by the cars, you might get splashed. Sometimes there's a line to go on the ferry, but even when there is, the people who work there are really efficient and it goes by fast. If you only want to ride the ferry and don't need to drive anywhere, you can park your car and just wait near the entrance and walk onto the ferry and ride back. I'm happy they have something like this for the locals and tourists alike! read more

The ferry serves 2 main purposes. 1. Transportation connecting Galveston Island to the Bolivar Peninsula 2. A fun, free adventure! During peak travel season (aka summer), the wait can be atrocious. But, that comes with the territory, what can you do? If you are early, or if it is not the busy season, there is often little to no wait. You can drive onto the boat, or walk on. There are bathrooms upstairs, as well as a looking deck. From the back of the boat, you can feed seagulls, and from the front and sides of the boat, you can often see dolphins! read more

Very inefficient system, specially on Bolivar side. Don't waste your time if you are on vacation.

FREEEeEeeeeeee!!! Can't beat that with a stick! I saw a dolphin too. We arrived about 7:00pm (Friday) and had to wait about 4 rounds/ferries, but it didn't take too long. There were several ferries running. We drove on, got out and took the stairs up. Walked around and enjoyed the view. Saw the sunken ship, submarine and oil rigs. It was only about 20 minutes long but was very relaxing. read more

Port Bolivar Ferry - We had to wait about 4 rounds/ferries, but it didn't take too long. There were several ferries running. - Ferries Near Me

This was the most frustrating experience I've ever had on vacation. We rode the ferry over to bolivar peninsula on a Sunday and had a long wait of about an hour then but that is expected. What wasn't expected was when we headed back on Wednesday morning we waited in a short line for over an hour and a half to watch countless cars go in front of us in the "medical emergency" lane. We did actually have a boat held for a short time for an actual medical emergency in an ambulance. We were so frustrated with how the ferry was handled that next time we will be going the 2 hours out of the way to take the bridge or won't be coming back at all. Seriously very disappointing after such a great visit to the island. read more

I grew up in South East Texas and the Bolivar Penninsula was always a huge part of my summers as a kid. Getting to cross the ferry was always a big deal - and it was always fun. Even now, it's still something interesting to do. If you're lucky you'll see dolphins or schools (swarms?) of jelly fish. You'll also see Sea Wolf Park (which is closed?) and a sunken/rotting ship. During the summer or spring break the wait times can be a little rough, but the ferries keep moving without fail no matter how busy. read more

Loved this free ferry ride from the Bolivar Peninsula to Galveston! Lots to look at - seagulls, pelicans, dolphins, people - good time! read more

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The ferry is run by t he Texas Department of Transportation.. and with the limited amount of workers and the very large flow of traffic in the holiday seasons.. they do a great job. Never had a problem with the travel time or the operations. They do their best to accommodate patrons on both sides of the landing. It is a FREE service and you get important travel assistance to connect you to the island. read more