Monday & Wednesday pattern, confirmed identical in both the summer 2026 (June 1-Sept. 30) and fall 2026 (Oct. 1-Nov. 30) timetables -- in effect today. Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday run different patterns; see variants below.
Departures 1–10 / 10
Departures 1–10 / 10
Crossing time
~30 min
Operator
Prudence & Bay Islands Transport
Map – Prudence Island Ferry
| Fare type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult passenger (age 12+), one way | $5.40 |
| Child (ages 5-11), one way | $1.90 |
| Infant (up to age 4), one way | Free |
| Vehicle under 1 ton, up to 18 ft, and driver, one way | $31.00 |
| Vehicle under 1 ton, 19 ft, and driver, one way | $34.65 |
| Vehicle under 1 ton, 20 ft, and driver, one way | $38.30 |
| Motorcycle, includes driver, one way | $7.50 |
| Bicycle, one way | $1.10 |
| 4-wheel cart or carriage, one way | $1.20 |
| Ride-on mower, no driver included, one way | $5.80 |
| Large appliance delivery, one way | $5.80 |
| Commercial/oversize vehicle, 1+ ton, includes driver, one way | $43.00 |
| Commercial/oversize vehicle, 2 to 3 tons, includes driver, one way | $68.00 |
| Commercial/oversize vehicle, 4 to 5 tons, includes driver, one way | $75.00 |
| Commercial/oversize vehicle, 5 to 10 tons, includes driver, one way | $124.00 |
| Commercial/oversize vehicle, 10 to 20 tons, includes driver, one way | $155.00 |
| Commercial/oversize vehicle, 20 to 30 tons, includes driver, one way | $248.00 |
| Utility trailer, up to 10 ft, one way | $31.00 |
| Utility trailer, 10 to 20 ft, one way | $37.00 |
| Utility trailer, over 20 ft, one way | $50.00 |
| Boat and boat trailer, up to 10 ft, one way | $37.00 |
| Boat and boat trailer, 10 to 20 ft, one way | $50.00 |
| Boat and boat trailer, over 20 ft, one way | $75.00 |
Fares below are one-way; a round trip is exactly double the one-way price (there is no round-trip discount). Standard vehicle rates already include the driver. The prices shown do NOT include the currently active Emergency Fuel Surcharge (see season note): add $0.65 per passenger and $3.70 per standard vehicle, one-way, through Sept. 30, 2026. There is no separate resident discount fare -- pricing is the same for island residents, seasonal renters, and day visitors. Reservations for a standard-size vehicle (under 1 ton, up to 20 ft) can be made online, by phone, or in person; oversize vehicles, trailers, and commercial loads must be booked by phone or email at least two weeks ahead and are tide-dependent. All fares in US dollars (USD).
The Prudence Island ferry connects Bristol, on the Rhode Island mainland, to Prudence Island in the middle of Narragansett Bay -- a 30-minute run with no bridge alternative, since the island has none. It is run by Prudence & Bay Islands Transport (doing business as A&R Marine Corp.), a privately owned company that took over the route in 2014 from the earlier Prudence Island Ferry operator. It is not a state-run service, but as Rhode Island's only common-carrier link to a year-round island community, its fares and any rate changes are filed with and regulated by the state Public Utilities Commission -- A&R Marine currently has an open rate case before the PUC (Docket #26-10-FR) that could raise fares once decided.
Unlike some small island ferries, this one carries vehicles as a matter of course: standard cars, vans and SUVs up to 20 feet and 1 ton board with a reservation made online, by phone, or in person, while oversize vehicles, construction equipment, and trailers need to be booked directly with the office at least two weeks out, since space is limited and tide-dependent. Bicycles, motorcycles, golf carts, and even large-appliance deliveries all have their own listed one-way rates, and a round trip is simply double the one-way fare -- there's no discount for booking both legs together.
The schedule is genuinely different almost every day of the week, not just on weekends: Monday and Wednesday share one five-trip pattern, Tuesday and Thursday shift the late-morning sailing to early afternoon, and Friday adds two extra evening boats for a six-trip day. Saturdays and Sundays run their own five-trip pattern in summer, which changes again once the fall timetable takes over Oct. 1. Labor Day and Columbus Day both run the Sunday schedule regardless of the day they fall on, and July 4th and Thanksgiving get their own one-off timetables.
Fares are also subject to a monthly Emergency Fuel Surcharge set by state regulators, currently $0.65 per passenger and $3.70 per vehicle each way for September 2026 -- a figure that resets monthly, so it's worth checking the operator's Rates page directly before a trip rather than assuming last month's surcharge still applies.
- 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
An adult passenger pays $5.40 one-way; a standard vehicle up to 18 feet with driver is $31.00 one-way. A round trip is exactly double the one-way price. A monthly Emergency Fuel Surcharge also applies on top -- currently $0.65 per passenger and $3.70 per vehicle, one-way, for September 2026.
About 30 minutes, pier to pier, covering roughly 3.5 miles across Narragansett Bay between Bristol and Prudence Island.
Yes. Standard vehicles up to 1 ton and 20 feet ride with a reservation made online, by phone, or in person for $31 to $38.30 one-way depending on length. Larger vehicles, trailers, and commercial loads must be booked directly with the ferry office at least two weeks ahead.
Yes, and it also changes mid-week: Monday and Wednesday share one pattern, Tuesday and Thursday shift the late-morning sailing to 1:30 pm, Friday adds two extra evening boats, and Saturday and Sunday each run their own pattern -- five round trips in summer 2026, dropping to four on fall Saturdays.
No separate resident fare is published -- the listed rates apply the same to full-time residents, seasonal renters, and day visitors. Frequent riders can use a rechargeable Captain's Card to pay for reservations without re-entering payment details each time.
A reservation isn't strictly required for passenger tickets, but it is recommended for standard vehicles, since deck space is limited -- especially on busy summer weekends. Oversize vehicles and trailers must always be booked ahead by phone or email.
No stop at Hog Island is listed on the operator's published schedules or route information as of this research date; the route runs directly between the Bristol Ferry Terminal and the Prudence Island Ferry Terminal.
Prudence & Bay Islands Transport, doing business as A&R Marine Corp., a privately owned company that has run the route since 2014. It isn't a state transit agency, but its fares are regulated by the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission, which is currently reviewing a rate increase request (Docket #26-10-FR).