Balboa Island / Newport
Beach Ferry Boat Photos - Welcome to wonderful world of Balboa!
From Balboa or Balboa Island you can hop a ride aboard a super duper old
fashioned ferry boat, especially useful for bicyclists, shoppers, and
those out for a beautiful stroll in Newport Beach.
See the Balboa Ferry
Video
There are several ways to get between Balboa Island
and Newport Beach Peninsula. You cann access both from Pacific
Coast Highway but you can also get from one to the other via
a ferry which crosses the channel. Each ferry takes three to four cars
and can carry around 40 passengers. The ride is approx. $1 if you
board on foot. Cars, bicycles, motorcycles and dogs on leash are
permitted, too. Car & driver costs around $2 one way, (extra
passengers pay normal fee). Adult with bike is around $1.25.
If you take a window seat at the Tale of the Whale
Restaurant in the historic Balboa Pavilion, you can sit and watch the
ferry go back and forth. While ferry boat rides in the harbor tend to be
uneventful, I saw a near collision with an out of control sailboat once
and another time when the Santa Ana winds blew, the Admiral made five
attempts to negotiate the ferry into the peninsula dock. For less than a
dollar, it's a simple, fun form of entertainment.
The Balboa Island Ferry has operated
continuously since 1919. The trip across the bay is about a quarter of a
mile and takes usually 10 minutes (only 4 minutes across the bay)
including boarding time.
Drivers beware when entering the
fairy queue on Balboa peninsula, however. There's signage indicating a
certain direction you must get in line and if you don't adhere to the
rules, people will honk, become ballistic or get out of their cars and
go tell the ferry captain, who comes and talks with the poor tourist who
got confused. It's amazing people care so much but it's happened to us
and it wasn't pleasant.
Another thing to watch out for is
the water and ramp. Don't drive down the ramp till the captain or
someone in charge signals. Our father once drove down the ramp, not
knowing what was going on and almost ended up in the water with his car,
I was told by a sibling.
Balboa Island ferry has been shuttling
passengers across the Newport Harbor since 1911
