Rockaway Rocket ferry service returns July 4 for express trips to the beach

If you're beach-bound for the holiday weekend, you can travel in quiet luxury with New York City’s premium ferry option. The Rockaway Rocket is back.

Starting July 4, riders can board the Rocket at Long Island City or Greenpoint at 9:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 4 p.m., with guaranteed seats and express service to the sand for $12 one-way. Return trips to the city depart at 11 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. if you want to avoid waiting in the heat for the standard ferry.

The Rocket is one of three ferry options New Yorkers can take for an easy beach day trip to the Rockaways. If you're not looking to splurge or just want more time on the water, the regular Rockaway route runs more frequently. For $4.50, that ferry travels between the beach and Wall Street, stopping in Sunset Park along the way.

“We’ve expanded the fleet, built larger vessels, and now we run service, in the weekend peaks, every 35 minutes or so out to the beach,” NYC Ferry Executive Director James Wong told Gothamist in May.

The Rockaway Reserve, like the Rocket, only runs on weekends. It also costs $12 and offers a guaranteed boarding time. The Rocket operates through Labor Day, while the Reserve runs through Sept. 7.

The cost of both specialty ferries is up from last summer’s $10 fare. And the rides are now 50% higher than when reserved seating first launched at $8.

“$12 round trip say yes pls,” read one Instagram comment under NYC Ferry’s otherwise well-received social media post.

And even if some grumble about the price hike, ferry ridership is growing. The service saw 7.4 million riders in 2024, its busiest year ever, and is already reporting a 5% increase so far in 2025.

If the premium fare feels steep, or you're just in the mood for a longer ride, the A train, bike or bus are always there too. Just don’t forget your sunscreen.