A boat across Boston Harbor sounds like the expensive way to commute. It is not. The East Boston ferry runs from Lewis Mall in Jeffries Point to Long Wharf, and the MBTA charges $2.40 one way, which is exactly what a subway ride costs.
The MBTA lists the route as seasonal service, so do not assume a winter commute by boat. If you are weighing an East Boston apartment partly on the strength of the boat, the season matters more than the fare does.
What does the East Boston ferry cost?
The East Boston ferry is priced as an inner harbor Zone 1A route. Per the MBTA's ferry fares page, checked September 2026:
- One-way, full fare: $2.40
- One-way, reduced fare: $1.10
- Monthly pass: $90.00
The one-way fare matches the subway, and the $90.00 monthly pass matches the low end of the MBTA's commuter rail monthly CharlieTicket prices. For a ten-minute harbor crossing with a skyline view, it is one of the better-value rides the MBTA sells, and most people assume it is a premium product.
Where it runs, and for how long
The two terminals, as the MBTA names them, are East Boston (Lewis Mall) and Long Wharf (North) - Gate 5B. Long Wharf North puts you next to Aquarium, which is on the Blue Line, so the boat and the train land you in much the same part of downtown.
On weekdays, boats leave East Boston every 30 minutes from 7:00 AM to noon and again from 2:30 PM to 7:30 PM, with no departures in between. Boats leave Long Wharf from 7:15 AM to 11:45 AM and from 2:15 PM to 7:45 PM. Weekend service is lighter: East Boston departures run from 9:00 AM to noon and from 3:30 PM to 8:30 PM. Each crossing takes 10 minutes, per the MBTA's schedule effective August 17, 2026, so check the current schedule before you plan around it.
The important word on the MBTA's route page is "Seasonal Service." That is the MBTA's label. It means the boat is not a year-round fixture, and the page does not publish the dates on which the season starts and ends.
For part of the year it is an excellent commute, and for part of the year you need another plan.
Two things to know before you board
The MBTA's East Boston ferry pages leave one important detail blank and set one payment rule that catches subway riders off guard. The callout below covers both.
How you pay. Per the MBTA's ferry fares page, "CharlieCards are not accepted on ferry." The ferry takes the mTicket app, paper ferry tickets, zone-specific CharlieTickets and contactless payment. Cash is not accepted on the East Boston ferry. Cash is not accepted on board, so get your ticket in the mTicket app or at a subway station before you go.
The seasonal dates. The MBTA's route page says the service is seasonal and does not say when the season begins or ends.
Confirm the season with the MBTA (617-222-3200) before you rely on this boat to get to work.
The MBTA lists ticket booths only at Rowes Wharf and Hingham, so do not plan on buying a ticket at the East Boston dock.
How the harbor routes compare
The reason the East Boston fare looks surprising is that most MBTA ferry routes are not priced this way. The inner harbor routes are the exception. All figures from the MBTA ferry fares page, checked September 2026.
| Route | Zone | One-way | Reduced | Monthly pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Boston, Charlestown, Harbor Loop | Inner Harbor, Zone 1A | $2.40 | $1.10 | $90.00 |
| Winthrop, Quincy | Zone 1 | $6.50 | $3.25 | $214.00 |
| Lynn | Zone 2 | $7.00 | $3.50 | $232.00 |
| Hingham and Hull | up to Zone 5 | $9.75 | $4.85 | $319.00 |
East Boston sits in the cheapest band the MBTA has for boats, at roughly a quarter of the Hingham fare. That reflects distance and zone, so the pricing is reasonably predictable even though the season is not.
Is the East Boston ferry monthly pass worth it?
At $90, the ferry pass is the MBTA's Zone 1A monthly pass, which the MBTA says is also valid on the subway, bus, Commuter Rail Zone 1A and Silver Line. The arithmetic is straightforward: two trips a day at $2.40 is $4.80, so the pass pays for itself at about nineteen commuting days a month, which is roughly a normal working month.
The complication is seasonality, but it costs you less than it looks. The Zone 1A monthly pass is the same $90 as a standard Monthly LinkPass, and on a CharlieTicket it also covers the subway and bus, so in a month the boat is not running you still have a working subway pass. The trade-off is that it comes on a paper CharlieTicket rather than a CharlieCard.
Should you pick an apartment because of the East Boston ferry?
Weight the East Boston ferry when you choose an apartment, but do not lean on it.
Living within a short walk of Lewis Mall in Jeffries Point gets you a fast, pleasant crossing to downtown for subway money during the season. That is a real quality-of-life difference.
The East Boston ferry should not replace the Blue Line in your planning. The Blue Line is the year-round spine of the neighborhood, so choose an East Boston apartment on the train first and the boat second. Our guide to living in East Boston as a renter covers the Blue Line, the sub-areas and what the stock is like.
If the boat is part of your plan, browse East Boston listings on the map view to see how close each one sits to Lewis Mall.
The Fairmount Line is another MBTA route that costs the same as the subway, covered in our Fairmount Line guide.
FAQ
How much is the East Boston ferry? $2.40 one way at full fare, $1.10 reduced, and $90.00 for a monthly pass, per the MBTA ferry fares page checked in September 2026. That is the same one-way price as the subway. The crossing takes 10 minutes.
Does the East Boston ferry run in winter? The MBTA lists it as seasonal service and does not publish the season's start and end dates on the route page. Check with the MBTA rather than assuming it runs year-round.
Can I use a CharlieCard on the ferry? No. The MBTA's ferry fares page says "CharlieCards are not accepted on ferry." Use the mTicket app, a paper ferry ticket, a zone-specific CharlieTicket or contactless payment. Cash is not accepted on the East Boston ferry.