Ferries from Woodside Ferry Terminal (Dartmouth)

Woodside is the commuter end of Halifax Transit's ferry network — a park-and-ride terminal on the Dartmouth side of Halifax Harbour, 12 minutes by water from downtown Halifax. It is the quieter of the city's two ferry routes and the one built around getting people to work.

Weekdays only — this catches people out

The operator is explicit about it: the Halifax–Woodside ferry runs Monday to Friday and does not operate on weekends or holidays. If you are travelling on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, the Alderney crossing from downtown Dartmouth is the one still running.

Service spans 06:37 to 20:37 from Woodside, and the frequency changes through the day rather than staying flat:

• Morning peak (roughly 06:37 to 09:37) — every 15 minutes
• Midday — every 30 minutes
• Afternoon peak (from about 14:37) — back to every 15 minutes

The crossing itself takes 12 minutes: a 06:37 sailing docks in Halifax at 06:49.

Parking is the reason to use this terminal

Woodside has 515 parking spaces and they are free — one of the largest Park & Ride lots in the Halifax Transit system. The contrast with the other ferry terminal is stark: Alderney has 20 spaces and charges about $70 a month even with a transit pass. If you are driving in from the eastern suburbs and leaving the car for the day, Woodside is the terminal that makes that possible.

The terminal is at 9 Atlantic Street, Dartmouth, served by bus routes 6A/B/C and 67, and it has bicycle racks.

Fares

Ferry and bus share one fare on Halifax Transit. A single adult ride is $3.00; seniors (65+) and youth (13–17) pay $2.25, and children under 13 travel free. Multi-ride options bring that down — 10 rides for $27.00, a day pass at $7.50, a 7-day pass at $25.50.

One detail worth knowing: a transfer stays valid for 90 minutes, so the ferry crossing and a connecting bus on either shore are covered by the same fare rather than counting as two trips.

Halifax has two ferry terminals — check which one you need

Halifax Transit runs two separate crossings and they serve different purposes:

• Woodside (this terminal) — southern Dartmouth, weekdays only, free parking for 515 cars, aimed at commuters.
• Alderney — downtown Dartmouth to downtown Halifax, runs seven days a week, minimal parking, the one to take for a weekend trip or an evening out.

Both land at the same Halifax Ferry Terminal on the city's waterfront, so the choice is really about which Dartmouth side suits you and whether you are travelling on a weekday.