The Ferry and Shuttle Bus are ONLY available to those with a festival pass sold directly by Electric Zoo. If you purchased from Groupon or Living Social, it does not include transportation, and you will NOT be able to ride the Ferry or Shuttle Bus - please explore other means of getting to and from the festival grounds listed on this page below the Shuttle Bus.
The Ferry
Ferries travel to and from Randall's Island Park for all three days of the festival throughout the day. Departures will take place from East 35th Street Ferry Landing located at the intersection of East 35th Street at the FDR Drive (click for directions), with ferries running approximately every 15 minutes. The first ferry departs at 10am. Travel time to the festival via ferry is approximately 25 minutes.
The Ferry is ONLY available to those who purchased a pass that was sold with Ferry transportation included. Ferry passes are NOT available to purchase separately.
The East 35th Street Ferry Landing is located at the intersection of East 35th Street and the FDR Drive near the Midtown heliport on the East River. To reach this location by subway, take the 4, 5, or 6 train to East 33rd St and then go up two blocks to East 35th. Turn right and follow down to the water.
Local cross-town service via 34th Street
M34 - between Javits Convention Center and Eastside Ferry
Terminal
M16 - between Waterside Plaza and Port Authority Bus
Terminal
Shuttle Bus
Shuttle Buses will travel to and from Randall's Island Park for all three days of the festival continuously throughout the day. They will leave from and return to East 126th St at 3rd Avenue in Manhattan. The first bus leaves at 10am, and the trip takes less than 10 minutes.
If you purchased a festival pass that includes transportation, please be sure to get on these special Shuttle Buses and NOT the city buses operated by the MTA. Look for large yellow signs that say SHUTTLE BUS.
If you purchased a festival pass that doesn't include transportation (for example through a specially discounted daily deal site like Groupon or Living Social), you won't be able to take the Electric Zoo Shuttle Buses. In that case, please explore your other options for getting to the festival below.
MTA Buses
The MTA is New York City's Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which operates the subways and city buses. If you purchased your Electric Zoo festival pass directly from Electric Zoo, it includes round-trip ferry or Shuttle Bus transportation - see above for details. However, if you purchased your festival pass from a special daily discount site, such as Groupon or Living Social, it does not include transportation from Manhattan to the festival grounds. In that case, use the MTA's Trip Planner+ to plan your trip and refer to the "Service Status" box for real time updates. You can also call 511 for automated travel information 24/7; agents are available from 6 AM to 9 PM daily. If you are hearing impaired, use your preferred relay service provider or the free711 relay.
Walking/Biking
You can walk across the footbridge from E. 103rd St. in Manhattan onto Randall's Island Park. It takes about 20-25 minutes to walk from the Manhattan side of the footbridge to the festival entrance.
Pedestrians can also walk across the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge from Manhattan (about 15 minutes), Queens (about 30 minutes), or the Bronx (about 15 minutes).
BICYCLISTS PLEASE NOTE: Bikes are NOT allowed on the ferry or buses. Bike parking is South of the RFK Bridge Pedestrian Walkway, near the Ferry Landing on Randall's Island. Follow signs from the main festival entrance.
Driving
Parking on Randall's Island will be very limited - if you plan on driving, you should purchase a parking pass in advance. These are available for purchase as an add-on when you place a festival pass in your shopping cart.You will only need 1 parking pass per vehicle - you do not need a parking pass for each person in your vehicle.
There is NO OVERNIGHT PARKING and NO TAILGATING allowed on Randall's Island.
You may purchase a parking pass in advance via the following links. Please note that you'll need to print out your confirmation email and show it to the parking attendant upon arrival.
From Manhattan
Get on the RFK Bridge at East 125th Street or Exit 18 from FDR Drive (left exit from northbound or right hand exit from southbound Harlem River Drive). Once on the RFK Bridge, E-Z Pass users should stay left for the exit to Randall's Island Park, immediately after the toll plaza. Those paying cash at the toll should stay to the right and take the entrance ramp to Randall's Island Park located about a half-mile past the toll plaza on the right hand side.
From Long Island
Get on the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge from the Grand Central Parkway. Stay right for the exit to Randall's Island, immediately after the toll plaza.
From the Bronx
Take the Major Deegan or Bruckner Expressway to the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge. Once on the RFK Bridge continue toward Queens. After the Queens toll plaza, bear right for the Randall's Island exit (about 200 yards).
From Brooklyn
Take the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway East to the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge. Stay right for the exit to Randall's Island Park, immediately after the toll plaza.
From Queens
Get on the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge from the Grand Central Parkway. Stay right for the exit to Randall's Island Park, immediately after the toll plaza.
From New Jersey
From I-80 or the New Jersey Turnpike, get on the George Washington Bridge. Follow signs for "Through Traffic" (on the upper level, stay to the left, on the lower level, stay to the right) to get onto the Cross Bronx Expressway, then take the Harlem River Drive/Amsterdam Avenue exit. Keep left onto the Harlem River Drive, then stay straight to take FDR Drive South to the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge. On the Bridge, E-Z Pass users should stay left for the exit to Randall's Island Park, immediately after the toll plaza. Those paying cash at the toll should stay to the right and take the entrance ramp to Randall's Island Park located about a half-mile past the toll plaza on the right hand side.
From Westchester
Take I-87 (New York State Thruway) southbound. I-87 will turn into the Major Deegan Expressway. Follow signs to the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, pass through the tollbooth, and stay to the right. Take the exit for Randall's Island.
Traveling to New York City from out of town?
By air
Airports closest to the festival are:
- Newark International (airport code: EWR)
- John F. Kennedy (aiport code: JFK)
- LaGuardia (airport code: LGA)
By train
New Jersey Transit, Amtrak, Long Island Railroad (LIRR) and Metro North have trains in and out of New York City on a daily basis.
New York train terminals are:- Pennsylvania Station (often referred to as PENN station) is located in the heart of midtown Manhattan - LIRR, Amtrak and New Jersey Transit
- Grand Central Station - Metro North
- Harlem 125th street (closest to the festival) - Metro North
By bus
The BOLT bus travels from Baltimore, Boston, Cherry Hill, Philadelphia and Washington DC to several New York City locations on a daily basis. Check out www.boltbus.com for more details
A number of bus companies travel daily to Port Authority Bus Terminal located in midtown manhattan. You may easily access many subways from there. For information on all carriers, call the Port Authority Terminal at 212-564-8484 or visit www.ny.com/transportation/port_authority.html
* This information is intended for information and planning purposes only and is not to be taken as endorsements or warranties of any kind. All information presented here is subject to change.
