Point Judith Ferry Terminal, Narragansett, RI to Block Island Ferry, New Shoreham, RI Ferry

30 sailings a day from Point Judith out to Block Island, first at 06.30 and last at 20.00. The traditional ferry takes about 55 minutes to cross the twelve miles of open Atlantic; the seasonal high-speed service does it in roughly half that.

The early boats are not for visitors

A 06.30 departure, nearly two hours before the island sends anything back, is what a lifeline looks like: workers, contractors and freight going out before the day starts. Block Island has no bridge, and everything that arrives — building materials, groceries, the islanders' own cars — comes across on these sailings.

Which boat you need depends on what you are carrying

Only the traditional ferry from Point Judith carries freight and vehicles. The high-speed boat takes passengers with two pieces of luggage, capped at 30 lb each, stowed in racks rather than the cabin — a US Coast Guard requirement, not a company rule. Boxes, tools and bulk shopping are refused. Interstate Navigation suggests shipping goods on the traditional ferry and travelling yourself on the fast one.

Before you drive to Galilee

The terminal sits in the fishing port of Galilee at 304 Great Island Road, Narragansett — about 45 minutes from T.F. Green airport and 20 from Amtrak's Kingston station, with no direct public transport to either. Vehicle space is booked by phone only, tied to a named driver who must show matching photo ID at check-in, and anything over seven feet tall must be declared because it changes both availability and price.