# Things to Do on Staten Island With Kids, Starting With the Ferry

*Staten Island has no subway, but it has a free ferry with the Statue of Liberty in it, a children's museum, a zoo and a fort with a harbor view. Eleven places, with the bus numbers and the prices checked.*

By Dan Fitzpatrick, Boroughs & Brood. Updated Monday, October 5, 2026. Canonical: https://boroughsandbrood.com/guides/things-to-do-on-staten-island-with-kids.html

Good for: All ages, Under $25, Staten Island.

**The short answer:** The best things to do on Staten Island with kids start with the free Staten Island Ferry (about 25 minutes from Lower Manhattan). Then try the Staten Island Children's Museum and the free grounds at Snug Harbor, the Staten Island Zoo (free after 2pm on Wednesdays) and the harbor views at Fort Wadsworth.

The first of the things to do on Staten Island with kids is free, takes about 25 minutes and has the Statue of Liberty in it: the Staten Island Ferry. After that the borough opens up into a children's museum, a zoo, a garden, a fort with a harbor view and a village of old houses, almost none of which require a car if you plan the buses. This guide covers 11 places, with the ferry, bus or railway to each, checked on the venues' own pages in early October 2026.

Staten Island is the one borough with no subway at all. It has the Staten Island Railway, a handful of important buses and the ferry. That sounds like a problem and is mostly a puzzle, so I've put the bus numbers next to each place, taken from the venue's own page wherever the venue gave one. Where it didn't, I've said so.

> Rule for Staten Island: do one thing at the St. George end, one thing in the middle, and take the ferry home while everyone still likes you.

## Things to do on Staten Island with kids: the quick version

- Start with the ferry: free, 5.2 miles, about 25 minutes each way, with Lower Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island on the way.
- Best museum: the Staten Island Children's Museum at Snug Harbor, $10 a head, with a new exhibit due this month.
- Best zoo: the Staten Island Zoo, free on Wednesdays after 2pm, with a Spooktacular on October 17 and 18.
- Best free view: Fort Wadsworth, open daily from 6am to 9pm.
- Best old-house day: Historic Richmond Town, open Wednesday to Sunday through December.
- Best off the beaten track: Conference House Park, at the far end of the Staten Island Railway.

Check each bus time on the MTA's trip planner before you go. Bus and ferry timetables change. I haven't promised any bus frequency, and the ferry's comes from Wikipedia rather than the city's page.

## The ferry and St. George

### Staten Island Ferry (St. George, Staten Island)

Free, runs every day of the year between the Whitehall Terminal in Lower Manhattan and the St. George Terminal, and takes about 25 minutes over 5.2 miles. Per Wikipedia, a boat leaves about every 30 minutes at most hours of the day and night, more often at rush hour. The views are Lower Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Governors Island and the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge.

A rule for the outer decks: hold small hands. The railings are for looking over, not for climbing, and the wind can be a surprise. The ferry takes bicycles in a designated storage area. The city's page doesn't say anything about strollers, so check with the terminal staff. NYC DOT lists a passenger service office on 212-839-3061 for questions.

- Subway: At Whitehall: 1 to South Ferry (accessible per the MTA), 4/5 to Bowling Green (accessible), R/W to Whitehall St (not). At St. George, the Staten Island Railway station is accessible per the MTA
- Cost: Free
- Time: 25 minutes each way; allow an hour with terminal waits
- Check first: Current timetable and any service change notices on NYC DOT's site
- Website: https://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/ferrybus/staten-island-ferry.shtml

## Snug Harbor: museum, garden and zoo-adjacent bus rides

### Staten Island Children's Museum (Snug Harbor, Staten Island)

The borough's children's museum sits on the Snug Harbor grounds at 1000 Richmond Terrace, Building M. Admission is $10 for adults and for children, with under 1s and members free, and it recommends buying tickets ahead. Its exhibits include Pets & People, Sea of Boats, House About It, Big Games and Portia's Playhouse. Its "Great Explorations" exhibit is due to reopen as "Explore Staten Island" this month, so ask which version you'll get.

A Snack Zone Cafe runs 11am to 1pm on Wednesday to Friday, and there are vending machines and outdoor picnic tables. It closes on the major holidays, including Thanksgiving.

- Subway: No subway on Staten Island. Ferry to St. George, then the S40 bus to Snug Harbor (the S40 is named on Snug Harbor's page); check the bus time
- Cost: $10 adults and children, under 1 free
- Time: 2 to 3 hours with a five-year-old
- Check first: Open Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm; buy tickets in advance
- Website: https://www.sichildrensmuseum.org/

### Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden (Snug Harbor, Staten Island)

The grounds and gardens are free, open seven days from dawn to dusk, with the Botanical Garden included. In October through March the hours are shorter and the gates close earlier, so don't stay for the sunset. There's free on-site parking, and Snug Harbor's page lists restrooms but not where.

A construction note: partial closures of Chapel Road are planned from 7am to 3:30pm Monday to Friday from August 2026 to mid-2027. Bring a packed lunch: the Children's Museum has outdoor picnic tables, and the grounds cost nothing.

- Subway: S40 bus from the St. George ferry terminal (named on Snug Harbor's page); check the stop and time
- Cost: Free grounds and gardens
- Time: 1 hour for the grounds alone
- Check first: Shorter gate hours October to March; Chapel Road weekday closures
- Website: https://snug-harbor.org/

### Chinese Scholar's Garden (Snug Harbor, Staten Island)

A Chinese garden inside Snug Harbor with its own ticket: adults $5, seniors and students $4, ages 5 and under free. The fall hours started on October 4: Saturdays and Sundays only, 11am to 4pm, last entry 3:30pm, until December 6. Staten Island residents get in free on the first Friday of each month with proof of address.

It is a quiet, ornamental place. Take a child who can walk slowly and doesn't need to shout, and don't take a scooter.

- Subway: S40 bus from the St. George ferry terminal (named on Snug Harbor's page); check the stop and time
- Cost: Adults $5, seniors/students $4, 5 and under free
- Time: 30 to 45 minutes
- Check first: Saturday and Sunday only from October 4 to December 6
- Lesser known: yes
- Website: https://snug-harbor.org/chinese-scholars-garden/

## Zoo, village and a fort with a view

### Staten Island Zoo (West Brighton, Staten Island)

Open daily from 10am to 4:45pm, closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Adults (15 and up) are $12, seniors (60+) $9, ages 3 to 14 $8, and under 3s free. On Wednesdays admission is free after 2pm, which makes it the best-value afternoon on the island. The zoo has a free lot at Martling Avenue and Clove Road.

The Spooktacular is on October 17 and 18 from 2:30pm to 8pm, with timed entry. The Kids Korral was showing as closed on the zoo's page, so don't promise it.

- Subway: S48 bus from the St. George ferry terminal, exiting at Forest Ave and Clove Rd (per the zoo)
- Cost: Adults $12, seniors $9, ages 3 to 14 $8, under 3 free; Wednesdays free after 2pm
- Time: 2 hours
- Check first: Timed entry for Spooktacular; Kids Korral status
- Website: https://www.statenislandzoo.org/

### Historic Richmond Town (Richmondtown, Staten Island)

A historic village at 441 Clarke Avenue. For fall the hours are Wednesday to Sunday, 11am to 4pm (through December), and it closes on Thanksgiving, the day after, and Christmas Day. General admission includes a guided tour and the Historical Museum, but the page I read didn't list the price, which is sold at the Village Store in the Courthouse Visitor Center. Free parking is on site. The S74 bus runs there, the village says.

The daily Open Village programs run May to August, so don't expect costumed demonstrations in October. Check the events calendar for anything Halloween-related.

- Subway: S74 bus (named on the village's page); no subway on the island
- Cost: Price not listed on the page I read; sold at the Village Store
- Time: 1.5 to 2 hours
- Check first: Wednesday to Sunday 11am to 4pm; Halloween events on the calendar
- Website: https://www.historicrichmondtown.org/

### Fort Wadsworth (Rosebank, Staten Island)

A National Park Service site at 210 New York Avenue with a harbor overlook, Battery Weed with a lighthouse, and walking and biking trails across 226 acres. It's open daily from 6am to 9pm, and the visitor center, with indoor exhibits about the fort's defense of the city, is open Friday to Monday from 10am to 4pm. No admission fee is listed.

For a child who likes big views, this is better than a museum. The Narrows and the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge are right there. It's exposed to wind, so bring a coat.

- Subway: S51 bus from the St. George ferry terminal to the park entrance on Bay Street (per the NPS)
- Cost: No fee listed (free)
- Time: 1 to 1.5 hours
- Check first: Visitor center open Friday to Monday only; restrooms not listed on the page I read
- Lesser known: yes
- Website: https://www.nps.gov/gate/learn/historyculture/fort-wadsworth.htm

### Alice Austen House (Rosebank, Staten Island)

A historic house at 2 Hylan Boulevard on the water. Open Tuesday to Friday 1pm to 5pm and Saturday and Sunday 11am to 5pm, closed Mondays, Thanksgiving, the Friday after, Christmas, New Year's Day, and all of January and February. The page I read doesn't list an admission price or say whether the grounds are open without a ticket, so call before you go.

The ferry plus the S51 bus from Bus Ramp B at the terminal gets you there in about 15 minutes. It pairs well with Fort Wadsworth, which is on the same bus line.

- Subway: Ferry to St. George, then the S51 bus (Bus Ramp B) to Hylan Blvd and Bay St, about 15 minutes (per the house)
- Stroller: Ramp entrance to the house from the back parking lot; first floor largely wheelchair accessible
- Cost: Not listed on the page I read
- Time: 1 hour
- Check first: Admission price and grounds access: 718-816-4506
- Lesser known: yes
- Website: https://aliceausten.org/

## The south and the green belt

### Conference House (Tottenville, Staten Island)

A museum house at 7455 Hylan Boulevard, inside Conference House Park, at the far south end of the island. House tours are Saturdays and Sundays, 12pm to 4pm, at $10 a person. The park has more historic buildings, the Ward House, the H.H. Biddle House and the Rutan-Becket House, plus a guide to its historic trees.

The Staten Island Railway to Tottenville is the nearest transit, then a walk, which the Conference House's own page confirms. It's a long ride from St. George. Bring snacks and enough patience for the whole line.

- Subway: Staten Island Railway to Tottenville (accessible per the MTA), then walk
- Cost: $10 per person for house tours
- Time: 1 to 1.5 hours, plus a long ride
- Check first: House open Saturday and Sunday only; book tours online
- Lesser known: yes
- Website: https://www.conferencehouse.org/

### Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art (Lighthouse Hill, Staten Island)

A small museum of Tibetan art on a hilltop at 338 Lighthouse Avenue, with views over Raritan Bay and historic gardens. Open Wednesday to Sunday, 1pm to 5pm. General admission is $10, students and seniors $7, with SNAP and WIC participants free. The site says nothing about children's prices or strollers, so ask before you bring a toddler. Honestly, it suits calm, curious older children.

- Subway: No subway; the museum's site links to a map for directions. Check the bus on the MTA trip planner
- Cost: Adults $10, students/seniors $7; child price not listed
- Time: 1 hour
- Check first: Closed Monday and Tuesday; child price and stroller access
- Lesser known: yes
- Website: https://www.tibetanmuseum.org/

### Greenbelt Nature Center and High Rock Park (Greenbelt, Staten Island)

The Greenbelt Conservancy's Nature Center is at 700 Rockland Avenue, and its headquarters at High Rock Park is at 200 Nevada Avenue. The conservancy says its parks (High Rock and Willowbrook) and trails are open every day from dawn to dusk. The page I read didn't give the Nature Center's hours, if it's free or what's there for children, so phone first on 718-351-3450. The trails are the point.

Freshkills Park, the former landfill, has its North Park Phase 1 open, but its interior is only open during scheduled programs, per its website. Check its calendar before you drive.

- Subway: No subway; plan a bus or car, and check the MTA trip planner
- Cost: Trails open dawn to dusk; Nature Center cost not listed on the page I read
- Time: 1 to 2 hours
- Check first: Nature Center hours: 718-351-3450
- Lesser known: yes
- Website: https://www.sigreenbelt.org/

## A day plan, and what to skip

Day one for a family with a four-year-old: ferry out, S40 to Snug Harbor, the Children's Museum, then the grounds for a picnic, and the ferry back. Day two: the zoo, on a Wednesday after 2pm if you want it free. Older children: Fort Wadsworth and Alice Austen House on the same S51 bus line, then the S51 back to St. George.

What I'd skip with small children: Conference House on a first trip, because the railway ride is long, and the Jacques Marchais Museum unless your child enjoys quiet. And on dates: SI Parent's fall list also shows an Italian Festival and car show at Casa Belvedere and the Westerleigh Folk Festival, but it gave me no dates, so I haven't included them.

## Questions people ask

**Is the Staten Island Ferry free?** Yes. The Staten Island Ferry has been free since 1997. It runs between the Whitehall Terminal in Lower Manhattan and the St. George Terminal in Staten Island, and the crossing takes about 25 minutes.

**How often does the Staten Island Ferry run?** It runs around the clock, with a boat about every 30 minutes at most hours and more often at rush hour, according to Wikipedia. Check NYC DOT's timetable for the day you travel.

**What are the best things to do on Staten Island with kids?** Start with the free ferry, then try the Staten Island Children's Museum and the Snug Harbor grounds, the Staten Island Zoo, Fort Wadsworth for the harbor view, and Historic Richmond Town for old buildings.

**How do I get to the Staten Island Zoo from the ferry?** Take the S48 bus from the St. George ferry terminal and get off at the corner of Forest Avenue and Clove Road, according to the zoo. Admission is free on Wednesdays after 2pm.

**How do I get to the Staten Island Children's Museum?** The museum is in Building M at Snug Harbor, 1000 Richmond Terrace. The S40 bus from the St. George ferry terminal serves Snug Harbor, and there is free on-site parking. Tickets are $10 for adults and children, and under 1s are free.

**Is there a subway on Staten Island?** No. Staten Island has the Staten Island Railway, buses and the ferry. The railway runs from St. George to Tottenville, and the ferry connects to the 1, 4/5 and R/W subway lines in Lower Manhattan.

**What is free to do on Staten Island with kids?** The ferry is free, Snug Harbor's grounds and Botanical Garden are free, Fort Wadsworth has no listed fee, and the zoo is free on Wednesdays after 2pm. Staten Island residents also get into the Chinese Scholar's Garden free on the first Friday of each month.

## Sources

- NYC DOT: Staten Island Ferry: https://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/ferrybus/staten-island-ferry.shtml
- Wikipedia: Staten Island Ferry (crossing time, frequency): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staten_Island_Ferry
- Staten Island Children's Museum: visit: https://www.sichildrensmuseum.org/visit/
- Snug Harbor: visit: https://snug-harbor.org/visit/
- Snug Harbor: directions and parking: https://snug-harbor.org/visit/directions-parking/
- Snug Harbor: Chinese Scholar's Garden: https://snug-harbor.org/chinese-scholars-garden/
- Staten Island Zoo: plan your visit: https://www.statenislandzoo.org/plan-your-visit
- Staten Island Zoo: home page (Spooktacular): https://www.statenislandzoo.org/
- Historic Richmond Town: visit: https://www.historicrichmondtown.org/visit
- National Park Service: Fort Wadsworth: https://www.nps.gov/gate/learn/historyculture/fort-wadsworth.htm
- Alice Austen House: visit: https://aliceausten.org/visit/
- Conference House: https://www.conferencehouse.org/
- Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art: https://www.tibetanmuseum.org/
- Greenbelt Conservancy: https://www.sigreenbelt.org/
- Freshkills Park: https://freshkillspark.org/
- SI Parent: stuff to do: https://siparent.com/category/stuff-to-do
- MTA: accessible stations: https://new.mta.info/accessibility/stations