Hours posted by Wicomico County for the Upper Ferry and the Whitehaven Ferry: 7:00 am to 6:00 pm from September 16 to October 31, then 7:00 am to 5:30 pm from November 1 to the end of February. The county posts hours, not departure times, and says there are no crossings after the posted closing time. Dates for the winter window and for the holiday closures below were read from the county's yearly pattern, and the county page does not carry a year. · Departures shown by frequency — exact times from the operator. · Representative sailings only — check the operator for today's full schedule
Departures 1–10 / 10
Departures 1–10 / 10
Operator
Wicomico County Department of Public Works
Map – Upper Ferry (Wicomico River)
| Fare type | Price |
|---|---|
| Passenger, one way | Free |
| Vehicle, one way (within the posted 6-passenger and 20,000 lb limits) | Free |
Wicomico County states that it has operated its ferry service free of charge since its inception. The county page lists no fare for passengers, vehicles or trailers. The county caps each of its ferries at 6 passengers and 20,000 lbs.
The Upper Ferry is a short river crossing run by the Wicomico County Department of Public Works, linking North Upper Ferry Road with South Upper Ferry Road southwest of Salisbury. The county operates it together with the Whitehaven Ferry, and between the two it counts roughly 200,000 trips a year. Crossing is free. The county says it has run its ferry service without charge since the beginning.
There are no tickets and no printed sailing times. What the county posts is a set of opening hours, and the boat crosses within them. Hours run 7:00 am to 6:00 pm from September 16 to October 31, move to 7:00 am to 5:30 pm from November 1 through the end of February, return to 7:00 am to 6:00 pm from March 1 to May 15, and stretch to 7:00 pm from May 16 to September 15. The county adds that nothing crosses after the posted closing time, so arriving at the landing near closing is a gamble.
The ferry is closed on twelve holidays that the county names: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Day, Presidents' Day, Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Native American Heritage Day and Christmas. A hotline answers seven days a week at 410-543-2765 for daily status.
Size matters here. Both county ferries are capped at 6 passengers and 20,000 lbs. In August 2026 the county also reminded drivers about trailers. They are still allowed within the limits, but the boarding ramps change angle with the tide, operators can refuse a trailer that looks unsafe, and the approaches have little room to turn around. If you tow, ring the hotline before you set out.
One history point is worth knowing. A county release from August 26, 2025 reported the Upper Ferry out of service since June 27, 2025 for mechanical repairs and a scheduled overhaul. This page rests on the county's current schedule page and its Alert Center, which showed no suspension when they were read on October 16, 2026, and a county notice reproduced by WGMD dated the ferry's return to service February 26, 2026.
- 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
Yes. Wicomico County says it has provided its ferry service free of charge since its inception, and its page lists no fare for passengers or vehicles.
The county posts 7:00 am to 6:00 pm from September 16 to October 31, 7:00 am to 5:30 pm from November 1 to February 28, 7:00 am to 6:00 pm from March 1 to May 15, and 7:00 am to 7:00 pm from May 16 to September 15. There are no crossings after the posted closing time.
No. The county publishes opening and closing hours only, not departure times, so this page lists no sailing times.
The county schedule page and its Alert Center showed no suspension when checked on October 16, 2026. For the status on the day you travel, call the ferry hotline at 410-543-2765, which the county says is staffed seven days a week.
The county closes it on New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Day, Presidents' Day, Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Native American Heritage Day and Christmas Day.
The county gives one limit for both of its ferries: 6 passengers and a weight limit of 20,000 lbs. It publishes no separate length or axle limit on its schedule page.
Yes, within the weight, passenger, length and space limits, according to a county release of August 31, 2026. Tide can change the ramp angle, ferry operators may restrict certain vehicles or trailers until conditions improve, and there is little room to turn around near the approaches, so call the hotline first.
The county lists the Upper Ferry at 5420 North Upperferry Rd., Salisbury, MD 21801. The crossing joins North Upper Ferry Road and South Upper Ferry Road on the Wicomico River, southwest of Salisbury.