6 Wisconsin ferries offer a variety of experiences, from fun and free to far and fast

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There are six ferry companies in Wisconsin, and they offer a wide range of experiences for people who love large boats.
Want a free ride across the Wisconsin River? Check. A fast Lake Michigan crossing to avoid Chicago traffic, and get some work done while you're doing it? Check. Or would you rather cross the Great Lake on a slow, relaxing and historic ship? Check that, too.
There are ferries to islands at two of the state's most popular tourist destinations, in Door County and the Apostle Islands.
And there is one ferry that crosses the mighty Mississippi River at a place where people have floated between Wisconsin and Iowa for 189 years.
The historic S.S. Badger crosses Lake Michigan from Manitowoc
The S.S. Badger, the last coal-powered steamship in the United States, is for travelers who believe the journey is the point. Its first voyage was in March 1953, and it has the capacity to carry 620 passengers and 180 automobiles, plus RVs, buses, motorcycles and semi-trucks and trailers. It has a top speed of 24 mph, but its average cruising speed is 16 mph.
The Badger's most common route is between Manitowoc and Ludington, Michigan — a 61-mile trip that takes about four hours. It also offers special shoreline and round-trip mini cruises.
The Badger's daily schedule for its full season, which runs May 16 through Oct. 12, includes a 9 a.m. ET departure from Ludington. It then departs Manitowoc at 2 p.m. Night crossings are made from June 20 though Sept. 1, with the ship departing Ludington at 8:45 p.m. ET and departing Manitowoc at 1:30 a.m.
There are passenger fares and vehicle fares. One-way tickets for passengers range from $42 to $86, depending on age. (Military members also receive a discount.) The fare for a typical vehicle — cars, vans, SUVs and pickups — is $99, with added fees for vehicle extensions such as bike or cargo carriers. Rates for RVs, campers and trailers are based on length.
To book a passage and for more details about the ship's schedule and fees, visit ssbadger.com.
Lake Express Ferry offers a quick Lake Michigan crossing from Milwaukee
With a motto of "The Great Lake Short Cut," the Lake Express Ferry offers a quick Lake Michigan crossing that allows motorists to avoid the traffic snarls common in the Chicago area. While the S.S. Badger is all about the experience, Lake Express is about convenience.
The ferry runs between Milwaukee and Muskegon, Michigan — about a 2.5-hour crossing. Under the current schedule, good through Aug. 17, the ferry leaves Milwaukee at 6 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. daily. It also makes night crossings, leaving Milwaukee at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
Daily return trips depart Muskegon at 10:15 a.m. ET and 4:45 p.m. ET. Night trips to Milwaukee leave Muskegon at 11 p.m. ET on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
The Lake Express has seating in one of two cabins, classic and premier. People who want to experience the sensation of the elements can sit on outside decks, "though you may want to limit your time outdoors due to windy conditions," according to the Lake Express website. The ferry also has a galley that offers food and drinks for sale.
One-way fares for seating in the classic cabin are $114.50 for adults and $106 for people age 65 and older, military members and students. Children ride free on all summer schedule trips. There are additional fuel, port and surcharges, which also are added on to the "free" children's tickets.
The Premier Cabin offers extras such as free nonalcoholic drinks, internet access and work-friendly seating arrangements. One-way fares are $136 for adults and $122 for people ages 65 and older, plus fees.
Ferrying an automobile one way costs $124, plus fees.
For more details about the fares, the ferry schedule and experience, visit lake-express.com.
Madeline Island Ferry Line connects Bayfield with La Pointe
The Madeline Island Ferry Line links passengers between Bayfield and La Pointe on Madeline Island, the largest of the Apostle Islands.
It's a 25-minute ride that offers views of Lake Superior and the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. It's a vital link for businesses and residents of Madeline Island, and connects people to tourist attractions such as Big Bay State Park, the Madeline Island Heritage Center and the Madeline Island Museum.
The Madeline Island ferry runs regularly in the summer. It departs from Bayfield at 7 a.m, 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., then every half hour until 6 p.m. In the evenings, the ferry makes the trip to the island at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. It also will leave Bayfield at 9 and 10 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. On Friday night it makes an extra run to the island at 11 p.m.
Return trips from Madeline Island to Bayfield run about a half hour later than the outward-bound journeys.
Round-trip rates are $21 for people 12 and older, $10 for children ages 6 though 11, and free for children age 5 and younger. The round trip for a car less than 19 feet long costs $38, and fees increase as autos get larger or with trailers.
For more details on the Madeline Island Ferry Line, visit madferry.com.
The Washington Island Ferry Line has Washington Island and Rock Island runs
The Washington Island Ferry Line, located at the tip of Door County, is similar to the Madeline Island Ferry line in that it provides ferry service to both tourists and locals. But instead of one island, the Washington Island ferry service links people from the mainland to two offshore destinations: Washington and Rock islands.
Ferries depart the Northport Pier at the end of Highway 42 in Door County daily at 7:30 a.m., 8:15 a.m., 9 a.m. and 9:45 a.m., then leave at 15 minutes and 45 minutes after each hour throughout the day until 6:45 p.m. Service from Washington Island back to the mainland runs at 6:45 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 8:15 a.m. and 9 a.m., then departing on the hour and half past each hour until 6 p.m.
This is a service for people and their vehicles, and round-trip rates are $15 for adults, $8 for children ages 6 through 11, and free for children 5 and younger. Round-trip fees for autos are $30. A motorcycle will cost $18 and a bicycle $6.
The service from Jackson Harbor on Washington Island to Rock Island runs daily on the hour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (with an added 5 p.m. run on Fridays.) Return trips are done 15 minutes later. It's a passenger-only service; no vehicles or bicycles are allowed on Rock Island. Paddlecraft such as kayaks and canoes are allowed, and it costs $20 to transport them on the ferry.
Combination tickets, which include round-trip crossings to both Washington and Rock islands, are $30 for adults, $14 for children ages 6 through 11 and free for children 5 and younger. Rock Island only tickets are $15 for adults, $20 for an adult with camping gear, and $6 for children ages 6 through 11.
Find more details about the service by visiting wisferry.com.
The Cassville Ferry crosses the Mississippi River to Iowa
A ferry has been transporting people and vehicles across the Mississippi River from Cassville, Wisconsin, to Millville, Iowa, since 1836, and today's Cassville Ferry continues the tradition, according to its website. This historic crossing connects two tourism byways: the Wisconsin Great River Road and the Iowa Great River Road.
The ferry service is distinctive, too, because cars and people are loaded onto a 78-foot-by-32-foot barge that is powered across the Mississippi by a 45-foot-long tugboat. During the summer, the ferry operates from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. There is no set crossing schedule; it runs on demand. People who want to cross the river push a call button located at the landings at Cassville and Millville.
It costs a walk-on passenger $5 to ride the ferry (children are free). A motorcycle costs $10, and a standard-sized vehicle is $20.
For more details, visit explorecassville.com/ferry-daily-operations.
A free ferry crosses the Wisconsin River at Merrimac
The Merrimac Ferry is on Highway 113 and makes regular crossings of the Wisconsin River between Merrimac and Okee. Owned and operated by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, it's the state's only free ferry. Ferries have been shuttling people, goods and vehicles across the river at this spot since 1844, according to the state DOT.
The ferry pulls itself across the river using three cables that are stretched across the water. The boat can haul 15 average-sized vehicles — five cars parked in three lanes on the boat. It takes about seven minutes per crossing.
For more details about the Merrimac Ferry, visit wisconsindot.gov/Pages/travel/water/merrimac.
Keith Uhlig has been writing about Wisconsin, its people and all it has to offer since 2000. Raised in Colby, he loves wandering around the state. He can be reached at [e-mail], and is on Facebook, X and Threads.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Wisconsin ferry lines offer a variety of lake, river crossings
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