South Beach-Miami public ferry crosses Biscayne Bay to avoid traffic

MIAMI – Miami Beach is testing a new ferry service connecting the Venetian Marina in Downtown Miami and Sunset Harbor in South Beach.

Admission to the ferry crossing Biscayne Bay is free for Miami Beach residents until the end of July when it will be available at a discount.

Mahsa Iranipour, a South Beach resident, doesn’t own a car. She said the scenic views while riding the ferry make the short trip feel like a tour.

“With inflation everything is so expensive, so having this as an option would definitely be really beneficial,” Iranipour said while riding the ferry on Monday.

Capt. David Guthrie mans the helm of the Poseidon ferry. He hopes the cities will partner and find the funds to set up a more complete ferry system.

“Other major cities — San Francisco, New York — they all have major ferry systems on their waterways, and I think Miami needs it,” Guthrie said.

Miami Beach officials hope the service will help reduce traffic on the MacArthur Causeway from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., every day. In August, one-way fare tickets are $5 for Miami Beach residents.

The one-way fare is $12 for the public and $6 for seniors. There is also a weekly commuter pass for $30 and a monthly commuter pass for $120.

Miami-Dade County Golden Passport holders and children 12 years old and younger sail for free. For more information about the service, visit this page.