The Toronto Island ferry leaves from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal at 9 Queens Quay West, at the foot of Bay Street behind the Westin Harbour Castle: about 1 km (5 minutes) from Union Station and about 28 km (25–45 minutes) from Toronto Pearson (YYZ). The islands are car-free for visitors, so your chauffeur drops you at the terminal and collects you on your return. Book direct.
Car service to the Toronto Island ferry: how it works
A car service to the Toronto Island ferry is really two short rides with a boat in the middle. Your TorontoBlackLimousine.com chauffeur drops you on Queens Quay West beside the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal, you take the city-run ferry across the harbour, and the car meets you at the same terminal when you come back. The City of Toronto places the terminal at 9 Queens Quay West, where Queens Quay meets Bay Street, behind the Westin Harbour Castle (toronto.ca ferry page). Visitors cannot take cars across, so a chauffeur is the neatest way to arrive with a picnic, bikes left at home, children and a cooler, and to get home without queueing for a ride-hail on a busy waterfront evening. Book one-way each way, or keep an hourly chauffeur in Toronto for a day that includes other stops.
Distance and drive time to the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal
Planning figures from our dispatch desk; the reservation engine uses your exact address and time.
| From | To Jack Layton Ferry Terminal | Distance | Typical drive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union Station / Financial District | 9 Queens Quay W | about 1 km | 5 min |
| Yorkville & Midtown | Queens Quay W | about 5.5 km | 15–25 min |
| St. Lawrence Market | Queens Quay W | about 1.5 km | 5–10 min |
| Billy Bishop Airport (YTZ), Eireann Quay | Queens Quay W | about 2 km | 7–12 min |
| Toronto Pearson (YYZ), T1 or T3 | Queens Quay W | about 28 km | 25–45 min |
| Etobicoke (Kipling & Bloor) | Queens Quay W | about 17 km | 20–35 min |
| Scarborough Town Centre | Queens Quay W | about 26 km | 30–45 min |
Queens Quay has a streetcar line down the middle and a busy cycling path, so drop-off traffic moves slowly on summer weekends; the upper end of each range is more realistic from June to September.
Where does the chauffeur drop off for the Toronto Island ferry?
We keep this general because curb space changes with construction and events. The chauffeur pulls in on Queens Quay West or the Bay Street approach, as close to the terminal entrance as the curb allows, and you walk the last few steps. Tell dispatch in the booking notes whether you have a stroller, a wagon or a wheelchair user in your party, so the chauffeur picks the easiest spot. The city's ferry page states that the terminal, the ferries, the terminal washrooms and waiting shelters are accessible to passengers using wheelchairs or mobility devices. On the way home, text the dispatcher when you board on the island side; the crossing is short, so the car is waiting when you step off.
How do I buy Toronto Island ferry tickets?
The ferry is operated by the City of Toronto, and tickets are sold online in advance or at the booths at the terminal. The city's page notes that tickets bought online can be used on any day until the end of the year they are bought. Buying online before you leave the hotel saves a queue at the terminal. We do not quote ferry fares or sailing times on this page; they change by season and are posted on the city's ferry page. Your chauffeur has nothing to do with the ferry ticket, but we can time your drop-off to a target sailing if you tell us which one you are aiming for.
When is the Toronto Island ferry busiest?
The city itself warns about the rush. Its ferry page says demand peaks between about 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. heading to the islands and between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. coming back, with waits that can exceed 30 to 60 minutes. For a chauffeur-driven trip that means two things. Arrive before 10 a.m. on a summer weekend if you can, and when booking the return pickup, leave extra slack, or better, book an hourly chauffeur who can wait while you queue. Weekdays in June and September are the easiest days of all: warm, quieter and simple for the car at both ends.
Which island dock should I choose?
Ferries from the Jack Layton terminal serve several docks on the islands; the city lists the routes and which docks are running on its ferry page. Families usually head for the Centre Island side, with its gardens, beaches and the children's amusement area. Ward's Island, at the east end, is residential and quieter, and the city notes it is roughly a 35-minute walk from there to Centre Island. Hanlan's Point on the west side has beaches and views back to the city and the island airport. Whichever dock you pick, the car picks you up at the same mainland terminal, so tell us which ferry you are catching back and we will watch for it.
Is Billy Bishop the same as the Toronto Island ferry?
No, and it confuses a lot of visitors. Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is on the western tip of the islands and has its own access: a pedestrian tunnel of about 260 m with moving walkways, or a very short airport ferry from the foot of Bathurst Street. Cars drop off and pick up airline passengers at the mainland pavilion on Eireann Quay (Billy Bishop pick-up and drop-off). The Jack Layton Ferry Terminal at Bay Street is for the parks, beaches and island communities, not for flights. If you are flying, see our Billy Bishop airport transfer page; if you are spending a day on the beach, you want Queens Quay and Bay.
Pearson to the Toronto Island ferry for a layover or first day
Arriving at Toronto Pearson (YYZ) in the morning with a hotel check-in hours away? Some travellers go straight to the water. A flight-tracked pickup heads down Highway 427 and the Gardiner Expressway to Bay Street, about 28 km in 25–45 minutes. Luggage cannot come on a relaxed island day, so book the car hourly from the airport and leave the bags locked in the trunk while you cross, or have the chauffeur drop them at your hotel's bell desk. Our Pearson airport limo page explains the pickup area on the arrivals-level curb and the included waiting: 30 minutes for Canadian domestic and US flights, 60 for other international arrivals.
How long should I allow for a Toronto Islands trip?
Half a day is the minimum that feels worthwhile once you include the ferry queues. A realistic plan is 30 to 45 minutes to cross (queue plus sailing), three hours on the islands, and 45 minutes to an hour to come back in the late-afternoon rush. A full summer day with a picnic, a swim and a bike ride stretches to six or seven hours. Because nobody can predict the return queue exactly, we suggest either two one-way bookings with a flexible return, or an hourly chauffeur who uses the island hours to run errands for you, collect a forgotten item from the hotel, or simply wait near Queens Quay.
Hourly itinerary: Harbourfront and the islands in five hours
A five-hour hourly booking works well for a family staying downtown:
- Hotel to the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal (about 1–3 km, 5–10 min). Board the ferry.
- Three hours on the islands: gardens, beach, bikes and a picnic. The chauffeur waits nearby.
- Terminal to Harbourfront Centre (about 1 km, 5 min) for an ice cream and the waterfront promenade, 30 minutes (Harbourfront Centre).
- Harbourfront to the CN Tower or Ripley's Aquarium (about 1.5 km, 5–10 min) for sunset, one hour.
- Back to the hotel (1–3 km, 5–10 min).
The CN Tower and Ripley's Aquarium pages list the drop-off points for the second half of the day.
Which vehicle suits an island day?
Most island trips are families and friends, so the six-seat SUV is the usual choice: room for a stroller, a cooler and beach bags. Couples or business visitors taking an hour off between meetings need only the business sedan. Corporate groups heading to an island picnic or team-building day do better in the Sprinter luxury van for twelve, which keeps the group together at the terminal instead of arriving in a string of taxis. For larger company picnics we can send several vehicles or a coach on one file. Let dispatch know about any bulky gear such as coolers, folding chairs or a portable barbecue, so the right car turns up.
Hotels near the ferry terminal
The terminal is walking distance from several waterfront hotels, which our waterfront hotels page covers with km and drive times. From Financial District hotels near Union Station it is about 1 km, 5 minutes; from the Entertainment District around King and John, about 2 km, 7–12 minutes; from Yorkville, about 5.5 km, 15–25 minutes. For guests with young children or heavy beach kit, even the short hop is worth a car, especially in July heat. If you are still putting the trip together, our travel desk books flights and hotels on the same file, and BookingWorldwide.net shows the options side by side.
Events on the waterfront that affect the ferry
Summer weekends are busy on their own, but some events add pressure. Canada Day brings big crowds to the harbour and fireworks along the waterfront, and our Canada Day and fireworks page explains closures and pickup timing. The Toronto Caribbean Carnival's grand parade runs along Lake Shore Boulevard in summer, which affects routes to Queens Quay; see the Caribbean Carnival page. The Toronto Waterfront Marathon in the autumn closes roads near the lake. On those days we build extra time into both legs and may drop you a block or two away from the terminal where traffic is manageable.
What does the car service include?
The fixed fare you see in the reservation engine covers the chauffeur, the vehicle, fuel, any 407 ETR tolls if used, airport fees on airport runs and gratuity, with HST shown separately. No surge, no meter. What changes it: the vehicle class, the distance and time, waiting, extra stops and the date. We do not publish figures on this site; the engine gives your exact fare instantly. Read how our fares work for the full list, and hourly versus point to point if you are unsure whether to keep the car. Cancellation is free more than 72 hours before pickup, then 10 %, 50 % and 100 % at 72, 48 and 24 hours or less.
Accessibility and families on an island day
The terminal and ferries are accessible, according to the city. We have a wheelchair-accessible vehicle for anyone who must stay seated in a wheelchair or scooter, available when booked in advance; chauffeurs fold and stow wheelchairs and walkers for passengers who can transfer to a seat. Child seats (infant, convertible, booster) are available at booking and are fitted before pickup. On hot days the chauffeur keeps the car cool and stocked with water for the ride back. If a child falls asleep on the return ferry, you only have to carry them a few steps from the terminal door to the car.
Booking the Toronto Island ferry by chauffeur
- Open the reservation engine and choose one-way or hourly.
- Enter your pickup address (or flight number) and the time you want to be at the terminal.
- Add the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal, 9 Queens Quay West, as the drop-off.
- Add a return pickup at the same terminal with your expected ferry, or keep the car hourly.
- Pick the vehicle, add child seats, see the fixed fare and confirm.
The chauffeur's details arrive before pickup, and one dispatch desk handles changes if the ferry queue runs long.
