Choose the Right Island Dock for a Simpler Day
Compare Centre Island, Ward’s Island and Hanlan’s Point, with ferry fares, walking distances and seasonal service limits for a Toronto Islands visit.
For a first Toronto Islands visit, choose Centre Island for a compact park outing, Ward’s Island for a beach-and-boardwalk walk, or Hanlan’s Point for a beach-led day. You do not need to cover all three. When their ferry routes are operating, arriving at one dock and returning from another can work—but the walk between docks needs to be part of your plan.
The published fall ferry schedule runs through October 13, 2026. From October 14 to mid-April 2027, the City lists service to Ward’s Island only, so a winter route must return there. Check the current ferry schedule before leaving; departures are subject to weather and mechanical changes.
Choose your outing and the ferry service available; the tool recommends an arrival and return dock.
Pick Your Island Dock
Centre Island—if its ferry is running
Arrive and return at Centre. Walk south to the lake and pier, then add one garden or attraction.
Centre Beach is ~10 minutes from the dock. If service is Ward’s-only, you must start and finish at Ward’s instead.
| Dock | To Its Beach |
|---|---|
| Centre | ~10 min |
| Ward’s | ~5 min |
| Hanlan’s | ~15 min |
Cross-island walks and seasonal limits
City dock-to-dock estimates: Ward’s–Centre ~35 minutes over 2.9 km; Centre–Hanlan’s ~50 minutes; Ward’s–Hanlan’s ~70 minutes. Stops and beach detours add time.
The published schedule lists Ward’s-only service from October 14, 2026, to mid-April 2027. Check the current schedule for changes. A City ferry ticket permits a different return dock, but does not reserve a departure.
Lifeguards are seasonal. Part of Hanlan’s is clothing-optional; some beach access points were temporarily closed for high water as of October 4, 2026.
Source: City of Toronto ferry schedule, getting-around guide, attraction guide and passenger rules cited in the article. ~ marks City walking estimates, excluding stops.
Match Your Dock to the Main Outing
| Dock | Best Fit | Manageable Route |
|---|---|---|
| Centre Island | Gardens, pier and seasonal family attractions | Walk south to the lake, add one stop, return to Centre |
| Ward’s Island | Beach and boardwalk | Explore locally, or continue to Centre when its ferry runs |
| Hanlan’s Point | A beach-first day | Walk to the beach and return from Hanlan’s |
The City estimates Centre Island Beach is about 10 minutes south of its ferry dock, Ward’s Island Beach about five minutes from its dock, and Hanlan’s Point Beach about 15 minutes from its dock. These estimates do not include stops. A portion of Hanlan’s is clothing-optional. The City’s island attraction guide covers the beaches, gardens and boardwalk.
For swimming, treat beach choice separately from sightseeing. Lifeguard supervision is seasonal, and the City does not recommend swimming without a lifeguard. As of October 4, 2026, the City also warns that some Hanlan’s beach access points are temporarily closed because of high water. Follow posted access routes and stay off the dunes.
Centre Island Gives You a Compact Out-and-Back Walk
When Centre ferry service is operating, this is the simplest first visit:
- Start at Centre Island dock. Follow the garden-lined walk south toward Manitou Bridge.
- Continue along Avenue of the Islands to the lake and pier. Make this the main walk rather than immediately branching across the park.
- Add one stop: William Meany Maze, Franklin Children’s Garden, or Centreville during its operating season.
- Return to Centre dock, leaving time to queue for the ferry.
The City lists the gardens, walking routes and pier as year-round features. Franklin Children’s Garden is wheelchair accessible. Year-round attractions do not mean year-round ferry service to Centre: during Ward’s-only service, you must walk from and return to Ward’s.
Centreville is a separate, privately operated amusement park, open May through September. Entry is free, but rides require separate tickets or a pass, not your ferry ticket. Check the Centreville operating calendar before planning around rides; its entry and ride-ticket information explains the separate admission arrangements.
Ward’s to Centre Works as a Longer One-Way Route
Arrive at Ward’s, walk south toward the beach, then take the lakeside boardwalk toward Centre Island. The boardwalk is 1.5 kilometres long, with main access points near Ward’s Beach and just east of Centre Island Beach. Finish with the pier or gardens before returning from Centre dock, provided that ferry route is operating.
The islands are connected by paths and bridges. The City estimates 35 minutes over 2.9 kilometres between Ward’s and Centre docks. That is a dock-to-dock estimate, not the duration of the beach-and-boardwalk outing: pauses, detours and lunch will take longer.
| Between Docks | City Walking Estimate |
|---|---|
| Ward’s–Centre | About 35 minutes; 2.9 km |
| Centre–Hanlan’s | About 50 minutes |
| Ward’s–Hanlan’s | About 70 minutes |
The City’s getting-around guide provides these distances and walking estimates. Do not treat a different return dock as a quick last-minute switch.
For an unhurried visit, reserve roughly half a day rather than fitting the islands between timed downtown admissions. If only Ward’s ferry is running, choose a local beach-and-boardwalk walk or allow for retracing your route. Do not walk to Centre expecting a ferry back.
Ferry Tickets Cover the Return, Not a Reserved Departure
City ferries depart from Jack Layton Ferry Terminal, 9 Queens Quay W., at Bay Street. The entrance is set back about 100 metres south of Queens Quay, behind the Westin Harbour Castle. There is no parking at the terminal.
Round-trip fares listed on October 4, 2026, are:
| Passenger | Round-Trip Fare |
|---|---|
| Adults, 20–64 | $9.57 |
| Older adults, 65+, and youth, 15–19 | $6.15 |
| Children, 2–14 | $4.51 |
| Under two | Free |
Buy through the City’s ferry ticket page, which also sets out terminal, boarding and passenger rules. A City ferry ticket allows arrival at one island dock and return from another. Online tickets remain valid until the end of their purchase year, but boarding is first come, first served: buying ahead does not reserve a departure.
The City identifies peak travel periods as 10 a.m.–3 p.m. outbound and 5–9 p.m. returning, especially on weekends and holidays. Waits may exceed 30–60 minutes. Centre is the busiest route; arriving at Ward’s is an alternative, not a guarantee of immediate boarding. Avoid a tight dinner or performance booking after your planned return.
Winter Visits Need a Ward’s Return and Fewer Amenities
Bring water, a snack or picnic, comfortable walking shoes and an extra layer. Outdoor water-filling stations are unavailable in winter, so do not rely on refilling along the route.
Year-round public washrooms are listed near Ward’s Beach, on Centre Island and at Hanlan’s ferry dock. Ward’s waiting shed is heated in winter, with limited capacity. During Ward’s-only ferry service, that is also where you must finish your walk.
In colder months, make the walk itself the purpose. As of October 4, 2026, the City lists its Boat House rentals and guided golf-cart tours as closed for the season.
Mobility Devices, Strollers and Personal Bikes Can Board
The terminal and ferries are accessible to wheelchair and mobility-device users. That does not establish that every island path or bridge suits your needs; choose a shorter route around the facilities you want to reach.
Personal bicycles and strollers are welcome aboard. Bike Share bicycles cannot travel on the ferry and must be docked before boarding. A bike-based island plan therefore needs your own bicycle, not a Bike Share bike collected downtown.
If you also want a mainland shoreline walk, use the waterfront and islands day plan to decide which part gets most of your time.