General tickets &
payment options

San Francisco Bay Ferry operates on a first come, first served basis. Reservations are only available for special service to Oracle Park and Chase Center.

How to pay fares

There are three ways to pay fares for regular service

Clipper

We recommend Clipper for regular riders or those who ride other Bay Area transit services.

Youth, senior and disabled passenger discount cards are available through Clipper. Clipper START is available for qualifying low-income residents. A single Clipper card (physical or digital) can only be used for a single passenger at a time.

San Francisco Bay Ferry App

If you’re a visitor or riding with a family or group, we recommend you buy mobile tickets using the SF Bay Ferry app. Activate a ticket for each passenger in your group just before you board and show it to the deckhand at the gates.

Paper Tickets

Paper tickets are sold at Bay Crossings in the Ferry Building. If you don’t have Clipper and cannot download the SF Bay Ferry app, you can buy paper tickets on the ferry using cash or card. You may be required to wait in a second line, so we don’t recommend this if you can avoid it.

Ticket Prices

Our ferry routes fall into the following zones:

Zone 1

Alameda Seaplane, Harbor Bay, Oakland & Alameda, Richmond 

Zone 2

South San Francisco

Zone 3

Vallejo

Short Hop

Pier 41 Short Hop, Alameda Short Hop

ZonesClipper, Paper or Mobile TicketDiscount Clipper, Paper or Mobile TicketChildren under 5
Zone 1$4.70$2.30 FREE
Zone 2$7.20$3.60 FREE
Zone 3$9.60$4.70 FREE
Short Hops$1.00$0.50 FREE

Discount Clipper

Includes Clipper START, RTC Clipper, Senior Clipper and Youth Clipper. For mobile tickets, use the discount paper ticket categories and verification methods listed below. Learn More

Discount Paper and Mobile Tickets

Can be used by those 65 or older, 17 or younger or those with Medicare cards or DMV disabled parking placards.