St. Pete residents, get ready! The Cross Bay Ferry officially returns on October 4, bringing back the popular water route connecting our vibrant city with Tampa. This year, the ferry has some exciting updates, including expanded service for Tampa Bay Lightning home games throughout the 2024-2025 season. You can see a full schedule and reserve your tickets online.

Starting this weekend and through spring 2025, the ferry will run Wednesday through Sunday, with service kicking off from St. Pete at 4:45 p.m. on weekdays. Fans heading to Lightning home games can take advantage of the ferry on key dates, including October 15, October 28, November 25, December 17, and several dates through early 2025. For big game nights, like December 22, February 23, and April 13, the ferry will extend its hours to make sure fans can get back to St. Pete easily after the game.

A scenic, and traffic-free ride to downtown Tampa

Don’t worry about getting to the Port of St. Pete either—the Downtown Looper Trolley will transport passengers directly to and from the ferry terminal, ensuring seamless connections between downtown hotspots and the ferry dock. This means you can enjoy all St. Pete has to offer before hopping on the ferry for a scenic ride across the bay.

Fares are affordable, with round trips priced at $24 for adults. Seniors (65+), military members, and students with valid college IDs can ride for $22, while youth (ages 5-18) pay $20. The ferry is also wheelchair accessible, with a discounted fare of $10, and children under 4 ride for just $2.

The ferry departs from the Port of St. Pete, located at 250 8th Ave SE, and docks at the Tampa Convention Center located at 333 S Franklin Street. Once onboard, passengers can relax with indoor and outdoor seating, and grab a drink from the ferry’s bar, which serves beer and wine. The ferry also offers snacks for sale and is dog-friendly, so feel free to bring your pup along for the ride.

Late night weekend rides back to Port St. Pete

On Wednesday and Thursday evenings, the last ferry leaves Tampa at 10:45pm. Weekend service runs from 10am on Fridays and Saturdays, with the final ferry back to St. Pete at 11pm. Sunday service wraps up a bit earlier, with the last ferry leaving Tampa at 6:15pm

Looking ahead, a permanent year-round ferry service could launch as early as next fall, giving us even more opportunities to enjoy this easy and scenic route between St. Pete and Tampa. For now, let’s make the most of the season and the special game-day services.