Balboa Island Ferry & Frozen Bananas
Newport Beach, CA
Ferry ~$1.50/person; treats extra
By Simir Shah
★★★★★4.8(2,528 Google reviews)
What parents say
AI summary of 5 Google reviews — not a first-hand visit. How we write these
Cash only, though reviewers say the crew makes change. The crossing takes only a few minutes and each boat carries three cars plus walk-on passengers, so lines move. It gets packed in summer and stays quiet the rest of the year. Kids tend to treat the short trip itself as the attraction.
Ride the tiny three-car ferry across the harbor, then stroll Marine Ave for frozen bananas and Balboa bars. A classic cheap thrill. The ferry has run continuously since 1919, when the first car crossed for a dime, under a franchise granted to the Beek family in 1922 that still operates it today.
Good for
- Ages 0–2
- Ages 10+
- Nap-schedule friendly
- Food on-site
Happening near here
- Movies on the Beach at Newport DunesNewport Beach · 1 mi · Fridays & Saturdays at duskFree
- OC Japan Fair (19th Annual)Costa Mesa · 4 mi
- Free Public Train Rides at Goathill JunctionCosta Mesa · 5 mi · 3rd full weekend of the month, 10am–3:30pmFree
- First Thursdays Art WalkLaguna Beach · 8 mi · First Thu 6–9pmFree
510 Palm St, Newport Beach, CA 92661, USA
Hours via Google — confirm before a special trip.
Map
Tides today
Next low tide
4:45 AM
2.8 ft
Next high tide
1:27 AM
3.2 ft
Predictions from NOAA · Newport Bay Entrance station
What visitors say
- I C★★★★★
One of the kind of experience to be able to take your car over to this island. Three fit at a time staff were pretty fast, and we got there in a couple of minutes. The nice thing is, you can use this.As the experience and when you exit the island you can actually drive from the other side.
2 months ago
- CenterLineCL★★★★★
Very unique. It was fun to take it across. The crew was super helpful and friendly!
2 months ago
Showing 2 of 5 Google reviews · Read them all on Google Maps
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