The Statue of Liberty with kids

Is the Statue of Liberty good for kids?

Yes, with the day planned around the ferry. The crossing, the open grounds of Liberty Island and the Statue of Liberty Museum suit children; the pedestal and crown suit older ones who can manage stairs.

The ferry is the attraction for most children: the statue is 305 feet 1 inch from the ground to the tip of the torch, and it is best seen from the water on the way in. On the island, the Statue of Liberty Museum that opened in May 2019 is included with the ticket: a 26,000-square-foot pavilion with three galleries, including an Immersive Theater and the Inspiration Gallery where the original 1886 torch is displayed, described by the Foundation as universally accessible, with a rooftop that may close in bad weather. A few facts children ask about: she was penny-brown when unveiled on October 28, 1886 and took about thirty years to turn green; she faces southeast, not France; the broken chains are at her feet and cannot be seen from the ground; and the torch has been closed since July 30, 1916, with the current gold-leaf torch dating from 1986. For the pass-by alternative, see the cruise vs ferry guide.

Do children need a ticket for the Statue of Liberty?

The official Statue City Cruises ferry listing states that children aged 0 to 3 travel free; the National Park Service charges no entrance fee, so the ferry ticket is the whole cost for older children.

The listing also states that under-17s must be accompanied by an adult aged 25 or over, and that unaccompanied minors are not allowed. The one place the free-under-four rule does not apply is the crown: the National Park Service states that every member of a party must have a Crown ticket and wristband, including children under the age of four. The Park Service warns of aggressive, unauthorized sellers around The Battery who misrepresent what they sell, which matters more when you are herding children through a crowd.

Can kids go up to the crown?

Yes, if they are at least 42 inches (1.1 m) tall; there is no minimum age, but children cannot be carried, and one adult is required for every four children.

The crown is 162 steps above the top of the pedestal and 377 steps above the ground, up a spiral staircase with no elevator; the National Park Service states that each step is nine inches high and eight inches deep. The rules, from the Park Service and the ferry operator: a minimum height of 42 inches, no carrying, all minors accompanied by an adult, one adult per four children, and a Crown ticket and wristband for every member of the party including under-fours. The only items allowed up are water in a plastic bottle, a phone, a camera and medicine; restrooms are in the lobby, so go before the climb. Crown tickets are by advance reservation only, with a maximum of four per order, one visit per person in any six-month period and about 500 visitors a day, and the operator says they sell out 90 days ahead and often months ahead. The operator also limits crown tickets to four per household or card holder, so a party of more than four needs separate bookers. The full climb is in the crown tickets guide.

Strollers, bags and security: what happens at the dock?

Everyone boarding the ferry passes through airport-like screening at The Battery or Liberty State Park. Strollers are fine on the ferry and the grounds but not inside the monument, where backpacks are also banned.

The time on your ferry ticket is the time to join the security queue, so arrive with margin. The National Park Service prohibits weapons, drones, items larger than three feet by three feet, suitcases and other large parcels, identity-concealing masks, markers and audio amplification devices on the ferry and the islands; the official ferry listing adds glass and large bags, and notes that prohibited items are confiscated by the U.S. Park Police. Inside the pedestal and crown, backpack-style bags of any kind, strollers, tripods and large non-folding umbrellas are not permitted, and the operator adds food and drinks to that list. Lockers at the monument entrance can be rented for 2 hours with a coin deposit (quarters only) and measure roughly 12 by 12 by 18 inches, so a day bag fits and a stroller does not; there are no lockers at the Battery Park screening tents.

Booking the official ferry ticket in advance means the one queue at Castle Clinton is the security line, with reserve now, pay later and free cancellation up to 24 hours before listed.

Statue City Cruises: Official Statue of Liberty Tickets · About 5 hours · Self-guided

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How long is the day, and what do kids see from the ferry?

The official ferry listing says to allow 4 to 6 hours for both islands. From the deck children see the statue from the water, the Lower Manhattan skyline and the Ellis Island Main Building with its copper domes.

Neither the listing nor the National Park Service states the crossing time, so plan by the whole visit: 4 to 6 hours, with a departure before 1 pm if Ellis Island is on the list, since the ferry operator says entry after 2 pm does not leave enough time for both islands. The ferry runs rain or shine in most weather, with service alerts posted for severe conditions. On Liberty Island, pedestal queues can be an hour or more at peak times, including summer, weekends and holidays, which is worth knowing with small children; the Pedestal Reserve ticket climbs 215 stairs, about 10 stories, and there is an elevator for those who cannot use the stairs, assisting two visitors at a time.

Which guided tours take children, and on what terms?

Each listing sets its own rule. The official ferry requires under-17s to be with an adult aged 25 or over; Babylon needs a minimum of 2 participants; City Wonders bans strollers; ExperienceFirst and Babylon are not wheelchair accessible.

Guides are not allowed inside the pedestal, crown or museum interiors (the ExperienceFirst listing says so plainly, and the Babylon listing describes its guide as not inside the statue), so a guided tour buys commentary on the ferry and the grounds. The table uses each listing's own wording on children and families; where a listing says nothing about children, it says so rather than assuming.

Eating and restrooms: what should families know?

Food and drinks are not permitted inside the monument, and the restrooms for the crown climb are in the lobby. The official sources do not describe where to eat on the islands, so carry snacks for the grounds.

The National Park Service and the ferry operator say what is not allowed rather than what is sold: bags, backpacks, food, drinks and strollers are not permitted inside the monument, and the only items that go up to the crown are water in a plastic bottle, a phone, a camera and medicine. Restrooms for the crown climb are in the lobby at the base, so a toilet stop before the 377 steps is part of the plan. On the Circle Line express cruise, by contrast, the listing states restrooms on board and food and drinks for purchase, in climate-controlled cabins with a large outdoor deck; the Circle Line sunset cruise lists a full bar but does not allow food on board. Treat the islands as a bring-your-own-snacks outing and check the operator's site before you go.

Should we take a pass-by cruise instead?

For toddlers or a short attention span, possibly. The Circle Line express cruise is 50 minutes from Pier 16 and pauses several times near the statue for photos, but it does not land; the ferry is the way onto the island.

The choice is between landing and circling. The official Statue City Cruises ferry lands on Liberty Island and Ellis Island, and the operator's own line is that others circle the statue while it takes you there. The Circle Line express listing states a 50-minute cruise with live English commentary, free Wi-Fi, restrooms and climate-controlled cabins, pausing several times around the statue and sailing by Ellis Island without landing; the sunset cruise is 1.5 hours with a bar and music and does not include a visit to either island. A family with young children who want the view and a boat, not the stairs, can do the 50-minute cruise and keep the afternoon; a family with a child tall enough for the crown should book the ferry and reserve the crown months ahead. The full comparison is in the cruise vs ferry guide.

For the shortest boat trip with children, the Circle Line express cruise lists 50 minutes from Pier 16, restrooms on board and seats first come, first served.

Statue of Liberty Express Skip-the-Box-Office Cruise · 50 minutes · Live commentary

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