Fort Sumter and Charleston Harbor: Ferry, Tickets and Times

Fort Sumter can be reached only by the concession ferry, so the plan is to book a boat. The National Park Service charges no entrance fee, and the ferry operator's daytime ticket is $43 for an adult.

• EntranceNo feeNPS, Fort Sumter
• Adult ferry$43operator, daytime
• Trip2 1/4 hroperator's total time
• Departs2 docksCharleston, Mount Pleasant

Facts below come from official pages read on November 3, 2026. The National Park Service page shows no update date for the ferry details, so check the operator before you go.

Getting There

Fort Sumter sits in the middle of Charleston Harbor, so the boat is part of the visit.

• NPS says Fort Sumter can be reached only by the concession-operated tour boat. source
• NPS charges no entrance fee for Fort Sumter, but a ticket for the authorized ferry is required. source
• NPS names Fort Sumter Tours as the only NPS-authorized ferry provider; the NPS fees page lists no ferry prices. source
• NPS says annual passes and fee-free days do not cover ferry fees. source
• NPS says ferry tickets may be purchased in advance. source
• NPS lists two ferry departure points: the Fort Sumter Visitor Center in downtown Charleston, and Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum, 40 Patriots Point Rd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464. source
• NPS says private vessels may not dock at Fort Sumter, and that you cannot reach Fort Sumter from Fort Moultrie. source
• The Fort Sumter Visitor Center GPS address is 340 Concord Street, Charleston, SC 29401. source
• NPS lists the Fort Sumter Visitor Center (Liberty Square) as open daily 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. source
• Parking for the Fort Sumter Visitor Center is in a City of Charleston garage at 24 Calhoun Street (fees apply, seven-foot height limit); CARTA transit is also available, per NPS. source
• NPS says Patriots Point has onsite parking and encourages RVs and other large vehicles to depart from there. source
• At Liberty Square the operator says the Aquarium parking garage is next to the Fort Sumter Visitor Center and fills up quickly most days; at Patriots Point there is adjacent parking; both are pay-to-park. source

Tickets, Times and Rules

Prices and departures are the ferry operator’s own, from its website.

• Fort Sumter Tours lists daytime tickets at $43 adult, $39 senior or active military, $26 child ages 4-11, and free for children 3 and under. source
• Fort Sumter Tours says the boat ride is about 30 minutes each way, with about one hour ashore at the fort. source
• Fort Sumter Tours' homepage says total tour time is 2 1/4 hours with about 1 hour on the fort. source
• Fort Sumter Tours asks guests to arrive 30 minutes before departure and says boats leave promptly. source
• From Liberty Square (340 Concord St, Charleston), Fort Sumter Tours lists departures Jan 2-Feb 26 at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.; Feb 27-Nov 30 at 9:30 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 2:45 p.m.; Dec 1-24 at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.; Dec 26-31 at 9:30 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. source
• From Patriots Point (40 Patriots Pt. Rd, Mt. Pleasant), Fort Sumter Tours lists departures Jan 2-Feb 26 at 12:30 p.m.; Feb 27-Nov 30 at 10:45 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; Dec 1-24 at 12:30 p.m.; Dec 26-31 at 10:45 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. source
• Fort Sumter Tours says no tours run on Thanksgiving, December 25 or January 1. source
• Fort Sumter Tours says tickets can be booked online or bought in person at either departure point. source
• Fort Sumter Tours says daytime tickets are fully refundable if canceled at least 2 hours before departure, and not refundable after that. source
• Fort Sumter Tours says pets are not permitted at Fort Sumter or on its vessels. source
• Fort Sumter Tours phone numbers are 843-722-2628 (local) and 1-800-789-3678 (toll free). source

Fort Moultrie and The Park

Fort Moultrie is a separate stop on Sullivan’s Island that you drive to.

• NPS says Fort Moultrie grounds, parking and restrooms are open daily 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, and visitors should check in at the Visitor Center first. source
• Fort Moultrie is at 1214 Middle St, Sullivan's Island, SC 29482; the park phone is (843) 883-3123. source
• NPS charges a $10 site fee per adult for Fort Moultrie; anyone 16 or older counts as an adult. source
• NPS lists the park Annual Entrance Pass at $35, covering the holder and 3 other adults for one year from purchase. source
• NPS says all park sites are closed on New Year's Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. source
• NPS gives no separate Fort Sumter island hours; it says the boat schedule can change or be canceled and points to Fort Sumter Tours (843-722-2628). source
• NPS describes Fort Sumter as the place in Charleston Harbor where Confederate forces fired the first shots of the Civil War on April 12, 1861. source

For the story of the first shots, see our Fort Sumter legend page and the place page.

What We Could Not Confirm

Sources

1. Fort Sumter Tours – home
2. Fort Sumter Tours – FAQs and Policies
3. Fort Sumter Tours – Quick Answers
4. Fort Sumter Tours – Fort Sumter Tour
5. NPS Fort Sumter – History and Culture
6. NPS Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie – Conditions
7. NPS Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie – Directions
8. NPS Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie – Fees
9. NPS Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie – Hours
10. NPS Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie – Plan Your Visit

Official pages read on November 3, 2026. How we check: editorial standards; spot a mistake? Tell us.