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How to Get Statue of Liberty Pedestal Tickets

Updated: November 6, 2023

You might be confused by exactly what the differences between pedestal tickets and general admission tickets are.

Or, how does a pedestal ticket differ from crown access tickets?

Do all tickets grant you access to the inside of the Statue of Liberty?

As local walking tour guides who are on Liberty Island every day, we see hundreds of disappointed tourists who just found out that they have the wrong tickets.

And in this post, we explain what a pedestal access ticket grants you and why it might be worth it for you.

But first, let's go over the three different ticket options available for the Statue of Liberty:

  • Ground Access (General Admission)
  • Pedestal Access
  • Crown Access

All three currently cost the same, but the latter two are much more limited in availability.

Ground Access tickets are general admission and don't technically sell out.

Statue of Liberty Ticket Options

Ground Access tickets give you access to both Liberty and Ellis Islands but not to the statue's pedestal or crown.

Ground Access tickets are general admission and don't technically sell out.

To obtain pedestal tickets (or crown tickets), advanced planning is critical.

So, read on for more helpful content that will keep you from ending up one of those aggravated ticket holders.


Pedestal Tickets

Each ticket to the pedestal includes ferry service to/from the landmark and access to both the Ellis Island Immigration Museum and the Statue of Liberty Museum.

Additionally, audio guides are available on both islands.

The tickets costs are as follows:

  • $24.80 – Adult | $18.30 – Senior 62+ | $12.30 – Child 4-12 | Free – Child under 4.
  • Availability: Ferry departs daily from 8:30 am – 5 pm
  • Duration: 3-5 hours, depending on whether you visit Ellis Island or not.

Purchase pedestal tickets here on Statue Cruise's website.

You can also purchase from a licensed third-party seller such as Get Your Guide, for a small extra charge.

This second option could be handy if the first option is sold out.

NOTE: Some tour companies provide a pedestal ticket for free with their guided Statue of Liberty tours.

Statue of Liberty Pedestal Access

Although crown tickets can be sold out for anywhere from 1-2 weeks at a time (sometimes up to 4-6 weeks during summer), the good news is that pedestal tickets are a little easier to get.

Even so, you should plan on purchasing your tickets at least a few days ahead of schedule to make sure you can visit the Statue of Liberty pedestal when you want.

Early morning tickets (when we recommend you should go) can be sold out weeks in advance.

If you’re looking for tickets on short notice, make sure to check our last-minute tickets section.

Pedestal tickets are what are called priority reserve tickets, which means that you will have a designated time of arrival.

In other words, this isn’t necessarily an activity you can enjoy on a whim; it will be important to plan out your trip beforehand.

There are flex tickets (open-ended tickets) available for general admission ground access.

But again, these tickets don't give you access to the statue's pedestal, museum, or crown.

Click here for information on flex tickets.

Flex tickets are what you get for free with tourist passes.

In order to gain access to the pedestal, you may need to purchase these tickets separately or you will need to show up first thing in the morning to request pedestal access.

It's on a first-come-first-served basis.


LAST-MINUTE OR SOLD-OUT TICKETS

If you are reading this, then you are probably planning on visiting during the high tourist season and are learning that pedestal tickets are indeed limited.

There may still be hope.

The screenshot below is from October 5th, and as you can see, pedestal tickets are basically sold out more than 2 weeks in advance.

If you want early morning tickets (which we highly recommend), plan on purchasing them even sooner than that.

These early tickets can be even more difficult to obtain, so it will be important to plan on getting them well ahead of time.

This is why we recommend that you try to get tickets from a licensed third-party seller such as Get Your Guide or Viator

You will pay $5-$6 more per ticket, but you will also get some on-site concierge guidance, something you won't get with the official purchase.

Pedestal tickets are also included as a part of the many guided tours available to you from private sightseeing companies.

It may be possible to get same-day tickets for the Statue of Liberty pedestal, but you will need to show up on-site and hope that they have a few available.

To be perfectly clear, it is not easy to get same-day tickets for either the pedestal or crown tickets.

From time to time, the Statue of Liberty's pedestal tickets will be canceled refunded, and returned to the online calendar.

Make sure to keep an eye on the Statue Cruise pedestal tickets calendar. You can also call them directly at 1-877-523-9849. 

All priority reserve pedestal tickets must be purchased at least 24 hours ahead of time from their website.

Especially in the summer, expect tickets to be sold out 1-2 weeks in advance.

During the slow season, we recommend purchasing your tickets at least 2-3 days in advance for the best possible results.


SECURITY AND PROHIBITED ITEMS

Visitors with a Statue of Liberty pedestal ticket will face 2 levels of security and lists of prohibited items.

Security Line for Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

Security Check at the Ferries

If you have any of the following items with you, they may be confiscated during the security check before getting on the ferry.

Do not expect any confiscated items to be returned to you.

  • Any and all types of weapons
  • Scissors and other sharp instruments
  • Large packages, luggage, and bags
  • Face masks or costumes designed to conceal your identity

There are no locker facilities at either departure point for Statue Cruises.

Check our post about where to store bags in New York City if you need to find a locker or somewhere else to keep your belongings. There are a few locations around Battery Park for just $6/item.


Additional Security Check at the Entrance to the Pedestal

Before entering, guests must pass through airport-style security.

The following items will not be allowed inside the Statue of Liberty.

  • Backpacks
  • Strollers
  • Large Umbrellas
  • Food or Drink
Statue of Liberty Lockers

If you need to bring any of these items to the island, there are lockers on Liberty Island where you can store these items at a rate of $2 for 2 hours and $1 more for each additional hour.  

This service is only available for visitors with either pedestal or crown tickets.

These lockers only take single $1 bills, so you will need to have cash on hand to use them.

There is a cashier on-site and an ATM on the island if you need money for the lockers.

Strollers have their own storage site on the island. Upon storing a stroller, you will be given a ticket to retrieve it later on.


STATUE OF LIBERTY NATIONAL MONUMENT MUSEUM

In 2019, the new Statue of Liberty museum opened on Liberty Island.  

Admission is included in the price of your ferry ticket, regardless of which kind of ticket you purchased.

This spectacular museum is nearly 26,000 square feet (2,415 square meters) and is an architectural gem.

You should definitely plan to spend some time in this fascinating museum.


What You Will See

When you enter, you pass through a space dedicated to donors who contributed $2 million or more to this museum which cost over $100 million to construct.

After that, you enter the first gallery called Immersive Theater.

It is a seatless theater where you can wander through the space while a 10-minute film plays on a loop. 

The film is about the construction of the statue and its status as a symbol of hope and freedom.

The next gallery is the Engagement Gallery which brings to life the 19th-century workshop in Paris, of the statue’s sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi. 

There are recreations of his models for the statue as well as a scale-size replica of the statue’s copper foot.

There is also the "Raising Liberty and Opening Ceremony" exhibit that explores the history of fundraising for the statue and its pedestal, as well as the celebration of Liberty’s arrival in the U.S. from France.

The last space is the Inspiration Gallery which has digital kiosks where visitors can take photo self-portraits with backdrops of images that symbolize liberty to them. 

These photos are added to a growing collage of inspirational images to an ever-growing digital experience called "Becoming Liberty".

The last space you pass through holds one of the most moving artifacts -- the original 3,600-pound copper flame that sat atop the torch, was replaced in 1984.

The Statue of Liberty Museum is highly recommended. Plan time into your visit to Liberty Island as you will not want to miss this special museum.


PEDESTAL VS. CROWN VIEWS

Although crown tickets will give you a higher vantage point, you can take in the Manhattan skyline and New York Harbor much more easily from the base of the statue.

Another factor to consider is that the viewing platform on the pedestal is actually much larger and a bit more comfortable than you’ll experience from the crown.

There isn’t much room at the top of Lady Liberty, and your view will be limited to what you can see from small windows.

Visitors who choose to get pedestal tickets will have access to an open-air viewing platform with space to move around.

This is a definite advantage over visiting the crown!


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About The Author

Stephen Pickhardt

Stephen is the CEO of Free Tours by Foot and has overseen the transformation of a local walking tour company into a global tour community and traveler’s advice platform. He has personally led thousands of group tours in the US and Europe, and is an expert in trip planning and sightseeing, with a focus on budget travelers. Stephen has been published and featured in dozens of publications including The Wall Street Journal, BBC, Yahoo, Washington.org, and more.
Updated: November 6th, 2023
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