New York in December with only a carry-on
"Suitcases, carry-on luggage and other large parcels will not be permitted on the ferry systems or at Liberty and Ellis Islands," says the National Park Service. Our pick is to leave the carry-on at your hotel or with a luggage-storage service before the ferry and take only a small bag. The trade-off is planning the island day around check-in or check-out, because NPS says there are no lockers where you board.
The Statue of Liberty ferry: no carry-on luggage on board
The National Park Service page Security Standards & Prohibited Items (Last updated: August 6, 2025) puts luggage under "LARGE packages" in its list of prohibited items: "Suitcases, carry-on luggage and other large parcels will not be permitted on the ferry systems or at Liberty and Ellis Islands. Bags must fit through x-ray machine opening to enter the park (opening size: 24.2” width x 17.9” height)."
The check happens on the mainland. NPS writes: "A primary security screening, similar to airport security procedures, is required for those boarding any ferry to Liberty Island or Ellis Island, and must be completed at the point of departure before boarding." The next sentence settles the storage question: "There are no locker storage areas at the screening facility departure locations in either New York or New Jersey."
By our reading, a carry-on has to be left somewhere else before you reach the dock, since NPS says the departure screening has no lockers. A small bag that clears the 24.2 by 17.9 inch opening goes with you. The daypack guide covers when a small bag is worth carrying next to the main one.
Pedestal and crown tickets: a tighter limit, and lockers
A pedestal or crown ticket adds a second screening at the monument itself. In its list of items prohibited for monument access, the same NPS page includes: "All backpacks (including oversized bags). Permissible baggage items are limited to 8” x 17” x 19” per item."
The lockers are here, at the statue, and not at the ferry. The NPS Visit the Pedestal page (Last updated: March 26, 2026) says: "Lockers are located near the secondary screening building and require a 25¢ deposit (quarters only). Locker Size is approximately 12"x 12"x 18" and there are change machines available to exchange $1 and $5 bills."
By our sums that locker is about 30 × 30 × 46 cm. By our reading, it's sized for a daypack you can't take inside, not for luggage, which the ferry screening already turned away.
December in Central Park by NOAA's normals
| Month | Normal max | Normal min | Normal average | Precipitation | Snowfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | 54.0 °F (12.2 °C) | 42.0 °F (5.6 °C) | 48.0 °F (8.9 °C) | 3.58 in | 0.5 in |
| December | 44.3 °F (6.8 °C) | 33.8 °F (1.0 °C) | 39.1 °F (3.9 °C) | 4.38 in | 4.9 in |
December's normal low sits just above freezing, at 33.8 °F, and the month's normal snowfall is 4.9 inches. November too: arriving a few weeks earlier means a normal high of 54.0 °F and half an inch of snow. These are averages over 30 years and don't forecast a trip.
For which layers to wear on the plane and which to pack, see the cold-weather carry-on guide.
Sources, each read on 24 October 2026: NPS Security Standards & Prohibited Items (Last updated: August 6, 2025) · NPS Visit the Pedestal (Last updated: March 26, 2026) · NOAA NCEI monthly normals 1991–2020, USW00094728.