Current 7-day operating schedule, effective July 26, 2024
Departures 1–10 / 10
Departures 1–10 / 10
Crossing time
~20 min
Operator
Virginia DOT
Map – Jamestown-Scotland Ferry
| Fare type | Price |
|---|---|
| All passengers and vehicles (one way) | Free |
The Jamestown-Scotland Ferry is completely free for all passengers, vehicles, motorcycles and bicycles. It is funded and operated by VDOT as part of Virginia State Route 31, so there is no toll, ticket, or fare of any kind.
The Jamestown-Scotland Ferry is a free, state-run car ferry operated by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) across the James River, carrying State Route 31 between Jamestown in James City County and Scotland Wharf in Surry County. It is not the same thing as the Jamestown Settlement or Historic Jamestowne tourist attractions a few miles away; this is a working transportation link used daily by commuters, farm and delivery traffic, and visitors cutting across the river instead of driving the long way around through Richmond or Suffolk.
Four vessels share the route: Pocahontas and Powhatan, each rated for about 70 vehicles, and the older Surry and Williamsburg, each rated for about 50 vehicles. The crossing covers roughly three miles (about 4 km) and takes approximately 20 minutes. VDOT runs the ferry 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including holidays, with no reservations, no tickets, and no fare of any kind for passengers, vehicles, motorcycles or bicycles.
Departures are not evenly spaced. Boats leave roughly every 20-30 minutes overnight and in off-peak hours, and closer to every 25 minutes through the middle of the day, tightening further around the weekday commuter peaks of 6-8 a.m. and 4-6 p.m., when wait times of 15-30 minutes are common. Commercial vehicles face a 12'6" height limit and weight limits of 16 tons per vehicle and 28 tons for a semi-trailer combination.
Because the route crosses open, tidal water, VDOT sometimes posts temporary service interruptions for severe weather, high tides, low visibility, or unplanned vessel maintenance; call the ferry hotline or check VDOT's ferries page before a time-sensitive trip. Boarding queues are visible from VDOT's traffic camera pages at both landings, which is useful during peak travel weekends around Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown Settlement, and Smithfield.
- Arrive at the terminal several minutes before departure; vehicle lanes close earlier than the foot-passenger gate.
- Check the operator's service alerts before you set out — weather, tides and vessel maintenance change sailings.
- Confirm accepted payment methods: some crossings are card-only and some take cash only.
Frequently asked questions
It's free. VDOT charges no fare for passengers, vehicles, motorcycles, or bicycles on this crossing; it is operated as part of Virginia State Route 31.
The crossing covers about three miles (roughly 4 km) of the James River and takes approximately 20 minutes.
Yes. VDOT operates it 24 hours a day, every day of the year including holidays, though departures are less frequent overnight (roughly hourly between midnight and 5 a.m.).
No. There are no tickets, reservations, or fares. Vehicles and walk-on passengers simply queue at the dock and board first-come, first-served.
The Jamestown landing is at 2110 Jamestown Road, Williamsburg, VA 23185. The Scotland (Surry) landing is at 16289 Rolfe Highway, Surry, VA 23883.
No. This VDOT ferry is a free vehicle and passenger crossing of the James River on Route 31. Jamestown Settlement and Historic Jamestowne are separate paid historical attractions with their own replica ships, located nearby but not connected to this transportation service.
Four vessels currently serve the route: Pocahontas (1995) and Powhatan (2019), each carrying about 70 vehicles, plus the smaller Surry (1979) and Williamsburg (1983), each carrying about 50 vehicles.
Yes. VDOT periodically posts temporary service interruptions for high winds, heavy tides, low visibility, or unplanned mechanical work. Call 1-800-VA-FERRY (1-800-823-3779) to check current status before a time-sensitive trip.