Reader feedback: Lake Michigan Ferries, Wis.

Have your own suggestions for visiting Lake Michigan Ferries, Wis.? Share your tips with other readers.

Here's one reason not to take the ferry: It can cost more than a plane ticket!

Don't forget, for a pretty small fee, on the Badger you can book a "state room" and take a nice nap. It's a great way to kick off a vacation.

You didn't mention the Beaver Islander. One of my favorite ships on Lake Michigan. It's almost as much fun as Beaver Island itself.

I just wish there were more ways or more ferries to cross Lake Michigan other than doing the gaunlet around Hammond-Gary. Why don't they have one from say Rainbow Beach to Benton Harbor Michigan?

The reason to take the ferry is you have your car with you at the end of the trip. And no airport security hassles. I take the Badger across and have enjoyed the trip many times. My only tip would be that you make sure you have what you need from your car/truck before you leave since you can't access the vehicle once it is loaded.
Another bonus is my kids love to watch all the stuff go on and off the ferry.

A single trip on the auto-ferry Badger offers a convenient opportunity to combine auto trips on either side of the upper portion of Lake Michigan.

One could visit both upper Michigan (Traverse City, Charlevoix, etc.) AND visit Door County, Wisconsin without needing to drive around the lake twice. through Gary.

Jack wrote:

I just wish there were more ways or more ferries to cross Lake Michigan other than doing the gaunlet around Hammond-Gary. Why don't they have one from say Rainbow Beach to Benton Harbor Michigan?

Exactly. Why isn't there a ferry from Chicago? You should do a story on that, or at least report the history of ferries from Chicago.

HI..yes, I was going to ask the exact same question..why doesn't Chicago have ferry service to MI or WI? You would think that this would bring in extra tourists who do not want to drive.

Round trip for my family of six and my car on the Lake Express -$612.00 plus tax, fuel surcharge and port and security fees.
Wow! With a slowdown in the economy coming, good luck reaching capacity on most your passages Lake Express! Me, I'll take 80-94 when I want to go to Warren Dunes.

Since it was formerly a railroad car ferry, the S.S. Badger can carry anything that fits on the road. When our family rode it a few years ago, it swallowed two semi flatbeds with steel pipe sections at least 14 feet in diameter before they loaded all the cars, vans and RVs of all sizes. We watched them fuel the Badger at Manitowoc; they simply drove a couple of dump trucks full of coal onto it to refill the bunkers. At Ludington a sister ship, the S.S. Spartan, is docked there, leading to speculation whether it is being cannibalized for parts for the Badger, or if it could be restored to operation. Chicago to Mackinac City or St. Ignace would be an awesome trip! For a change of pace, the much smaller ferry (about 12 vehicles) from Bayfield, WI to Madeleine Island with our popup camper was fascinating for our kids, and since there was no electricity at the state-run campground it gave them a taste of life before ComEd. One can actually SEE the stars and the Milky Way.

Perfect for motorcycles.

Would love to take the ferry once just to try it, but I just can't justify the cost. By the time you drive up to Milwaukee, load, cross the lake, & unload, you don't save any time at all. Its relaxing, and something new, but not worth $600+ to take my family.

If going to MI on a motorcycle don't forget the helmet! MI has a helmet law.

On the Badger, there is no A/C in most of the ship so be prepared to compete for shade on warm days. Also bring a jacket, it gets breezy. You will need to change seats to stay in the shade several times, stay forward if you can due to smoke and cinders.

There is some nice shopping in downtown Manitowic and there are maritime sites to see in several towns along the coast, be sure to stop off in Kewaunee if time allows.

I'd have to agree w/Suechar. A few years back we were on our way home to Fort Wayne from Wyoming and we looked into the ferry to bypass the Chicago traffic.....WOW were we surprised......

The price was completely over the top.

Needless to say the Chicago skyline is very pretty at night..........

I vacation in Grand Haven every summer and I was conteplating taking the Milwaukee ferry to Muskegon - here is the pricing breakdown:

1 Adult 1 way -$70 +$12 fuel charge AND $2.50 surcharge (for what I don't know)- 1-way total $84.50

1 Auto 1 way -$146 +$12 fuel charge and $2.50 surcharge - 1-way total:$160.50

Grand total:$245 - Now double that for a round trip ($490).

I could fly to California and back for less! I decided to drive to G.H. as a tank of gas will get me there and back for $50.

If you are taking a high mileage trip (like myself), the cost is justified by being able to relax for part of the trip.
Traveling from the Toledo area to the NE Wisconson (Crandon/Mole Lake) area is about a 10 hour drive across the U.P. and even longer through Chi-town.
Taking the ferry means a 4.75 hour drive to the dock, then a relaxing boat ride and finally, about another 3 hour drive to Crandon.
MUCH better than 10 straight hours driving, then being worn out when you get there and not able to enjoy the first day at your destination.

I know this doesn't apply to everyone, but it IS something to think about if you're taking a similar trip.

My wife and I plan to drive from Regina, Saskatchewan to Montreal, Quebec in October - that's usually a 5 day trip if we want to see some of the country and not just drive like heck all day. We took this trip in 2007 and swung under Chicago, and look forward to reducing the distance by taking one of the Lake Michigan ferries. The opportunity to relax for a few hours also has great appeal. Any comments about how the trip is on mid October? We have enjoyed other ferries on the Great Lakes and on the East Coast, and look forward to this trip. Sure, it costs to travel by sea, but how else can you get this experience? We are not just trying to get from A to B, but want to see and enjoy something different from what we have at home. So this mix of car and ferry service is just fine for us.