In September 2000, ferry service began connecting the town of Haverstraw with the town of Ossining across the Hudson River during weekday rush hours. Now that service has expanded to operate on weekends from 9:30 am to 9:30 pm, with boats timed to connect at Ossining with Metro-North trains to and from Grand Central. You can even get a weekly or monthly combination rail pass and ferry ticket (the UniTicket) at a discount, making it cheaper and easier than ever to get from Rockland and Orange County to Westchester, the Hudson Valley and New York City via Metro-North. 

If you’ve never stepped foot on the Haverstraw-Ossining ferry, don’t fret: We’ve created a short guide to riding it from one side of the Hudson to the other — a trip that takes less than half an hour each way and that quickly connects you to trains heading north and south on Metro-North's Hudson Line.

GUIDE TO THE HAVERSTRAW-OSSINING FERRY

If you’re coming from Haverstraw, head to the ferry dock not far from Emeline Park and the Waterfront at The Harbors apartment complex. (If you drove, you’ll find a free parking lot nearby.) There, you’ll find the NY Waterway ferry ready to take you across the Hudson. Once you’ve purchased your ticket — which you can do at a ticket booth in Haverstraw or on the NY Waterway app — and made your way on board, you can either grab a seat inside or, if you don’t mind a strong breeze, head to the small outdoor deck at the back of the boat. 

On the way to Ossining, sit back and enjoy the scenic views along the Hudson, including Croton Point Park or the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge off in the distance. Before you know it, you’ve crossed the river.

From the dock in Henry Gourdine Park, you’re less than a minute from Ossining’s Metro-North station. Best of all, the ferries are timed to connect with Metro-North trains to and from Grand Central. From there, you’re well on your way to parts upstate or down into the city.

By the way, the Haverstraw-Ossining ferry is a great way for Yankees fans in Orange and Rockland counties to get to and from home games on the weekends; take the ferry and hop on a southbound Metro-North train to the Yankee Stadium-E 153 St station, a trip of just 30 minutes. It’s a great option for cyclists, too, as bicycles are allowed on the ferry at all times. 

WHAT TO DO IN HAVERSTRAW

If you’re making the trip from Ossining, check out what Haverstraw has to offer. For example: did you know that the oldest chocolate store in New York is located there? Lucas Candies (6 Main Street) has been in business since 1896, serving hand-made and high-quality chocolate. 

A few doors down, you’ll find something just as unique: a museum dedicated to bricks. The Haverstraw Brick Museum pays tribute to the town’s time at the center of the Hudson Valley brick-making industry in the 19th century and its role in the development of the area at large, as well as the importance and legacy of brickyards and brick-making in New York.

You’ll find excellent views of the Hudson at Emeline Park, right by the ferry dock. There's some Revolutionary War-era history on site, too, in the form of a monument noting the nearby location of Benedict Arnold’s infamous 1780 deal to hand over West Point to the British. And if you’re into architecture, take a stroll along adjacent First Street and tour the houses along the block — a fun mix of styles ranging from Federal to Queen Anne Victorian to Italianate. 

Come off the ferry hungry? Go get something to eat at one of the many Dominican restaurants in town. Haverstraw boasts one of the largest Dominican communities in the United States, who represent roughly a third of its population. Liona’s Restaurant (5 Broadway) excels at traditional Dominican food like mangu, mofongo, and bacalao. Around the corner, treat your sweet tooth at Vilma’s Bakery (29 Main Street), where you’ll find tres leches cake, flan, dulce cortado, empanadas, and much more. 

GETTING THERE

For a full ferry schedule between Ossining and Haverstraw, check out NY Waterway’s weekday and weekend service tables. Weekend service is currently scheduled to run until November 10. For more information on fares and the UniTicket, click here.