NYC’s popular Rockaway Rocket and Rockaway Reserve are returning this summer to cruise New Yorkers straight to Rockaway Beach. And while service will be expanded this season, we’ll unfortunately have to hand over more cash.
Each summer New Yorkers flock to the beach in an effort to find some relief from the city’s brutal heat–and considering this summer is going to be hotter than usual, we’re not expecting anything different. Both the Rockaway Rocket and the Rockaway Reserve make getting to the beach much easier, and now the service is returning this weekend!
The NYC Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and NYC Ferry officials announced that NYC Ferry’s 2025 summer schedule will officially be in full swing beginning this Memorial Day weekend, announcing the return of both the Rockaway Rocket and Rockaway Reserve.
However, this summer beachgoers will have to hand over $12 to secure a seat on both ferries, a $2 increase from last summer and significant jump compared to the $4.50 base fee a ferry trip typically costs. With that being said, ferry riders are typically packed like sardines on their journey to the Rockaways, and the services include priority boarding and a guaranteed spot on board a specific departure, so you’re certainly paying for convenience here.
And to combat the services’ every-growing ridership, this year the fleet has been expanded, the vessels are larger, and service is more frequent during weekend peaks (every 35 minutes), according to NYC Ferry Executive Director James Wong.
Rockaway Reserve 2025 Summer Service
On weekends and holidays, riders can reserve a spot on select morning trips towards the Rockaways and afternoon trips back to Wall St./Pier 11 and Brooklyn Army Terminal along the Rockaway route.
The Rockaway Reserve will make trips to the beach from 9am to 2pm and back from 3pm to 8pm.
🗓 Memorial Day weekend through September 7th
Rockaway Rocket 2025 Summer Service
The Rockaway Rocket will provide a dedicated beach service operating two direct morning trips to Rockaway from Long Island City and Greenpoint and two afternoon return trips back.
Last year’s service ran on the following schedule on Saturdays and Sundays:
- Departing Long Island City at 9:30 am & 12:30 pm
- Departing Greenpoint at 9:41 am & 12:41 pm
- Departing Rockaway at 2:30 pm & 5:30 pm
🗓 July 4th through Labor Day weekend
Note: Onboard bike space is limited for both services, so if you would like to bring your bike onboard you must additionally reserve a $0 bicycle ticket in advance when purchasing your Rockaway Reserve or Rocket ticket.
A report from the NYCEDC that analyzed NYC’s last beach season found that NYC beaches saw 11.6 million beachgoers in 2024, a year-over-year increase of more than 230,000 people. Additionally, NYC Ferry recorded its highest ridership to the Rockaways since the end of the pandemic in summer 2024, with more than 167,000 passengers boarding at Wall St./Pier 11 and Sunset Park/BAT.
And the NYC Ferry is already seeing a 5% increase in ridership this season, with eight record-setting weeks to start the year. So if you’re planning to head to Rockaway Beach this summer via the ferry, be sure to take advantage of reserving your spot in advance!
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. stated:
As Rockaway’s historic renaissance continues, ensuring New Yorkers and tourists alike have easy access to the peninsula’s acclaimed beaches, cuisine and culture is a critical investment…So I couldn’t be more excited to welcome back the Rockaway Rocket and the Rockaway Reserve for what’s shaping up to be another successful beach season.
Be sure you make the most of your beach day with our ultimate guide to Rockaway Beach!