Galveston public transportation, for a dollar a ride
Galveston has $1 trolleys along the whole beachfront, $1 buses across the island, and a completely free ferry with a dolphin escort. Nobody explains it well — so we did.
On Island Transit right now
Monday — Routes 1–6 run today; the trolleys are off today. The free ferry runs 24/7.
City buses
Saturday service — Saturdays only.
Trolleys (seasonal) — not running today.
Ferry
$1.00 flat · bring exact change · ask the driver for a free transfer when you board · the ferry is free. Published schedule — buses can run late.
How the island moves
Every way around, honestly rated
The trolleys
Best for: Operating-day beach + downtown sightseeing
Operating days change with the season, generally between 10am and 8pm. The Seawall route covers the beachfront; the Downtown Loop and rail trolley connect the historic district. Check the current schedule before building your day around one.
Compare all three trolleys →Island Transit buses
Best for: Budget travel across the island
Routes 1–6 run weekdays; two combined routes cover Saturday. Service is roughly hourly and daytime. Use the Transit app or the current Island Transit schedule before relying on a departure.
Find a bus or trolley ride →The free ferry
Best for: The dolphin ride + Bolivar beaches
TxDOT runs it 24/7 and it costs nothing. Walk-ons skip the car line. Also the best free wildlife cruise in Texas.
Golf carts
Best for: Groups doing the East End + Seawall loop
Street-legal on most of the island and undeniably fun, but rentals run real money per day. Great for a group splitting it; silly for two people going to dinner.
Bikes
Best for: The Seawall — 10 flat miles of dedicated path
The seawall path is one of the best urban beach rides in the country: flat, wide, ocean the whole way. Summer heat says go before 10am.
Rideshare & your car
Best for: Nights, the West End, and tight schedules
Uber/Lyft cover the island cheaply and fast. Your own car is only a burden downtown on cruise weekends — everywhere else parking is easy, and the Seawall meters are ~$2/hr.
Route by route
The routes, with what's actually near each stop
Every route page lists our vetted restaurants and the attractions within a short walk of each stop.
Seawall Trolley (Moody Gardens ↔ Stewart Beach)
The whole visitor coastline for a dollar — the best sightseeing deal on the island.
Stops & what's nearby →Downtown Loop Trolley
The Strand-to-Seawall link when the rubber-tire trolley is running.
Stops & what's nearby →Rail Trolley (Strand ↔ Seawall)
The historic streetcar ride from downtown to the Gulf — take it for the ride itself.
Stops & what's nearby →Route 1 (53rd ↔ Downtown via Ball)
The Broadway-and-Ball workhorse into downtown.
Stops & what's nearby →Route 2 (Downtown ↔ UTMB / Ferry Road)
The east-end bus for UTMB and the Ferry Road corridor.
Stops & what's nearby →Route 3 (Downtown ↔ 61st via Target)
The Midtown-to-Target line for practical errands, not sightseeing.
Stops & what's nearby →Route 4 (Downtown ↔ 8th via Avenue M)
The east-end neighborhood line south of Broadway.
Stops & what's nearby →Route 5 (Downtown ↔ 81st via Avenue S)
The farthest-west regular bus, useful for the residential Seawall end.
Stops & what's nearby →Route 6 (Downtown ↔ 61st / Walmart)
The Avenue O line from downtown to the 61st-and-Seawall shopping corridor.
Stops & what's nearby →Saturday Island Circular (1-3-4-2)
Saturday’s east-to-west loop combines the weekday core into one long circuit.
Stops & what's nearby →Saturday Island Connector (6-5)
Saturday’s north-to-south connection stitches downtown to the west Seawall corridor.
Stops & what's nearby →Galveston–Bolivar Ferry (TxDOT)
A free 18-minute boat ride with common dolphin sightings and working-channel views.
Stops & what's nearby →Fares
The whole fare table
- Adults
- $1.00
- Kids
- 50¢ (ages 6–11) · under 6 free
- Reduced (senior/disabled/student)
- 50¢ (seniors, disabled, students with ID)
- Transfers
- Free when issued by the driver
- Monthly pass
- $37.50 (reduced $17.50)
- The ferry
- Free. Actually free.
Bring exact fare, and ask for a transfer when you board. Full price list, passes, and the mainland Splash connector: the fare guide →
Confirm current schedules with Island Transit (409-797-3900) or the Transit app before relying on a departure.
New to the system? How to ride, in four steps · off a ship? from the cruise port · from the mainland? the GCTD Splash · driving in from Houston? the day-trip plan.
The car-free case
Cruise passengers: you don't need the rental car
The terminal sits at the edge of the island's best walking neighborhood, the trolleys cover the beachfront, and the dollar bus reaches the free ferry. We built the whole day for you.
Straight answers
Getting-around FAQ
Can I do Galveston without a car?
Yes — if you stay downtown or near the seawall. Trolley operating days vary by season, weekday buses and Saturday combination routes cover the core, rideshare fills the gaps, and the Strand is a walking district anyway. See our car-free cruise layover plan for the walking version.
How much does the bus cost?
One dollar for adults, 50 cents for kids 6–11, free under 6, and transfers are free — including to the Seawall trolley. A family of four boards for about $3 a trip; even a full island day of riding stays in lunch-money territory.
Is the Bolivar ferry really free?
Completely. It is part of the Texas highway system, runs 24/7, and takes cars and walk-on passengers at no charge. Dolphins escort most crossings.
When do the trolleys run?
Generally 10am–8pm on operating days. The published pattern changes by season — peak service can run Wednesday–Sunday, spring Thursday–Sunday, and off-peak Friday–Sunday — so check the current Island Transit schedule before you go.
How do I get from the cruise terminal to the beach without a car?
Rideshare is ~10 minutes to the seawall. On weekends you can also catch the Downtown Loop near the terminal and connect toward the rail trolley/Seawall route. On a tight ship-day clock, the walkable downtown loop beats the beach — see the car-free cruise plan.