Is the SS Badger Ferry Worth It? 2026 Schedule, Prices, Tickets, and What the Crossing Is Like

Quick answer: The SS Badger ferry sails once a day each way across Lake Michigan between Ludington, Michigan, and Manitowoc, Wisconsin. The crossing takes four hours and runs from May 15 to October 11, 2026. An adult one-way ticket costs $78 in spring and fall or $89 in summer, and a standard car adds $102 each way. If you want to skip the drive around Chicago, or you want a slow, old-fashioned day on the water, the Badger earns its price. If you only need speed, the Lake Express from Muskegon to Milwaukee gets you across in two and a half hours.

The Badger has carried passengers since 1953 and remains the last coal-fired passenger steamship operating in the United States. Most guides stop at the history. This one covers the part you need to plan around: the time-zone math, which fare saves you money, and the trade-offs past passengers mention after the trip.

SS Badger Ferry key info at a glance

What is the SS Badger Ferry schedule for 2026?

The ship makes one round trip a day for the full season, plus a night round trip in summer. Lake Michigan Carferry splits the year into three pricing seasons: spring (May 15 to June 18), summer (June 19 to September 7) and fall (September 8 to October 11).

Daily schedule, full season

Overnight schedule, June 19 to September 7

Watch the time zone

The schedule looks like a three-hour trip westbound and a five-hour trip eastbound. Both crossings take four hours. Ludington runs on Eastern Time and Manitowoc on Central, so you gain an hour heading west and lose one heading east. If you book a hotel, a dinner reservation, or a rental car pickup on the far side, work out the local time before you commit.

The schedule shifts on shoreline cruise days. On June 13, July 18, August 1, and August 15, the Manitowoc departure moves to 5 PM Central, and the operator drops some night crossings around cruise dates. Check the calendar for your exact date before you plan the rest of the trip.

How much does the SS Badger Ferry cost?

The Badger charges passenger and vehicle fares as separate items, so your total depends on who travels and what you bring aboard.

2026 passenger fares

2026 vehicle fares (one way)

Note: Vehicle fares do not include passenger fares. 

Vehicle prices stay the same in every season. Motorcyclists should bring two tie-downs per bike.

What a real trip costs

A couple driving an SUV across in summer and back a week later pays $356 for two adult round trips plus $204 for the car, or $560 total. The same trip in fall drops to $516.

A family of four with kids aged 8 and 12, crossing one way in summer with a car, pays $178 for the adults, $88 for the kids, and $102 for the car: $368. Add $61 if you want a stateroom so the younger one can nap.

Do seniors get a discount on the SS Badger Ferry?

Yes. Riders 65 and older save $8 a leg in every season compared with the adult fare. Active military pay the same rate.

Seniors often miss a better deal. The Great Lake The getaway package costs $112 per adult for a round trip without a vehicle and is returned within three days. A senior round trip in fall costs $140, so a 70-year-old walking on for a weekend in Manitowoc saves $28 with the Getaway. Two kids ride free with each paying adult on that package, and each extra child aged 5 to 15 costs $64. You must book it by phone, and the operator won’t combine it with other discounts.

How do you book SS Badger Ferry tickets?

You can book online through the SS Badger booking calendar or by phone at 1-800-841-4243. The operator recommends reservations and says it can’t guarantee a spot without one. Summer weekends and vehicle space fill first.

Keep the cancellation rules in mind before you pay:

• You can change a reserved ticket up to departure at no cost, within the same season.
• Cancelling costs $10 per child fare, $20 per adult fare, and $30 per adult fare with a vehicle, and you must call to cancel.
• The online booking fee is non-refundable.

Travelers who have ridden the Badger suggest arriving about 45 minutes before departure, a bit earlier with bikes.

What is the SS Badger Ferry route?

The Badger crosses the middle of Lake Michigan on a 60-mile line between Ludington on the Michigan shore and Manitowoc on the Wisconsin shore. The crossing counts as an official segment of U.S. Highway 10, which is why you’ll see the ferry marked on some road maps as part of the highway.

Ferry or drive around the lake?

Driving from Ludington to Manitowoc around the south end of the lake covers about 400 miles through the Chicago area, which takes seven hours or more depending on traffic (editor’s estimate; verify with a mapping tool). The ferry takes four hours and lets you get out of the car.

For a solo traveler with a car, the ferry costs about $180 to $191 one way. Driving costs fuel, tolls, and a long day. For families, the per-person fares add up fast, and driving can come out cheaper if you don’t mind Chicago traffic.

SS Badger Ferry vs Lake Express

Pick the Badger if you’re heading to northern Michigan, Green Bay, or Door County, or you’re towing something large. Pick the Lake Express if you’re going to or from the Milwaukee area and want the shortest crossing.

What is the SS Badger Ferry like inside?

The Badger is 410 feet long and about seven stories tall, with two passenger decks above two vehicle decks. Expect a working 1950s ferry with lounges, open decks, and a lot of room to walk around, rather than a cruise ship.

Things to do on board

• Free movie lounge and two TV lounges, which help on a four-hour trip with kids.
• Badger Bingo, run by the onboard entertainer. Past passengers mention it more than any other activity.
• A small museum on the ship’s car ferry history, which doubles as a quiet room.
• A children’s playroom, video arcade, and gift shop.
• Outdoor decks with lounge chairs, the best seats on a calm day.
• Two dining areas, including the Badger Galley, serving breakfast, lunch, and snacks.

Wi-Fi costs $8 per device at the Cruise Director’s Office. You can bring water and non-alcoholic drinks aboard, but the ship doesn’t allow coolers or outside alcohol in passenger areas.

Engine room history for rail and ship fans

Two Skinner Unaflow four-cylinder steam engines power the ship, producing 7,000 horsepower combined. The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway ordered the Badger to carry railroad cars across the lake. In 2016 the ship became a National Historic Landmark.

SS Badger Ferry rooms: Are staterooms worth $61?

The ship has a limited number of private staterooms. Each has a window, two twin beds, a sink, and a toilet. One travel writer described a room with one fixed bed and a fold-down Murphy bed that converts to a desk, with a two-prong outlet only, so pack an adapter if you need a three-prong plug.

On a daytime crossing, most adults skip the room. It makes sense for families with a toddler who needs a nap, for anyone on a summer overnight crossing, or for travelers prone to seasickness who want to lie down. Ask when you book, since the ship has few of them.

Pets on board

Regular pets must stay in your vehicle or in a ship-provided kennel on the car deck for the crossing. Service animals can go in passenger areas.

What do SS Badger Ferry reviews say?

Across review sites, passengers praise the friendly crew, the bingo, the museum, and the amount of seating inside and out. Several reviewers call it a bucket-list trip and plan to ride again.

The recurring complaints are consistent:

• Food. One reviewer gave four stars and blamed the menu, saying pizza slices and corn dogs don’t cover a four-hour trip. Others found the combo plates good value. Eat before you board or pack snacks, since coolers aren’t allowed.
• Rough water. Passengers on choppy crossings report the crew helped seasick riders. Fall storms make September and October crossings rougher. If you get seasick, pick a summer crossing and bring medication.
• Delays and breakdowns. A 1953 ship has a mechanical risk. In July 2023, a failure in the dock ramp’s counterweight system cut the season short. If your trip depends on one specific sailing, build a backup plan.

Is the SS Badger Ferry worth it?

For most travelers, yes, as long as you treat the four hours as part of the trip. Ride it if you’re crossing between northern Michigan and eastern Wisconsin, bringing an RV or motorcycle, or traveling with kids who will enjoy the movies and bingo. Skip it if you’re on a tight schedule, heading for Milwaukee, or prone to seasickness during fall storm season.

With the 2026 season ending October 11, fall fares apply now, and the Great Lake Getaway offers the cheapest round trip for walk-on passengers.

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