Ferry or drive
Take the ferry, or drive around the lake?
The big Great Lakes car ferries can save hundreds of miles, but they cost more and run on a schedule. Enter where you're starting and going, and we'll compare total time, time behind the wheel, fuel and fares door to door.
MS Chi-Cheemaun · Tobermory ↔ South Baymouth (Manitoulin Island), ON
Owen Sound to Espanola
The MS Chi-Cheemaun doesn't sail on November 14, 2026. Its season is May 1 – October 18, 2026; the next sailing season starts around May 1, 2027. Until then, driving is the way to go.
Driving is about 41 min faster door to door, but the ferry swaps 2 h 20 min of driving for a relaxing crossing.
Drive around
275 mi (442 km) by road
- Driving
- 5 h 15 min
- Waiting
- None
- Fuel
- $35.16
- Fares
- None
- Door to door
- 5 h 15 min
- Cost
- $35.16
- Drive Owen Sound to Espanola: 5 h 15 min, 275 mi (442 km)
Take the MS Chi-Cheemaun
Tobermory to South Baymouth, 136 mi (219 km) by road
- Driving
- 3 h
- Check-in and unloading
- 1 h 15 min
- Crossing
- 1 h 45 min
- Fuel
- $17.41
- Fares
- C$85.20 (about $61.34)
- Door to door
- 6 h
- Cost
- $78.75
- Drive to Tobermory: 1 h 28 min, 66 mi (107 km)
- Check in about 1 h before sailing
- Cross the lake: 1 h 45 min
- Drive off at South Baymouth: about 15 min
- Drive to Espanola: 1 h 30 min, 70 mi (112 km)
Fares for 2 adults with a vehicle, one way. Times don't include waiting for a sailing, meal stops or border crossings; check the schedule before you commit. Fuel is estimated at $3.20 a gallon and 25 mpg.
- The summer link between the Bruce Peninsula and Manitoulin Island; reservations are strongly recommended in July and August.
- The vehicle fare shown is the peak-season rate (about C$38.75 in the shoulder season). Seniors pay about C$15.60.
- Fares are in Canadian dollars and converted at about US$0.72 per C$1 for the comparison.
The car ferries
Great Lakes car ferries at a glance.
Typical one-way fares in the operator's currency. Prices change by season and date; always check before booking.
| Ferry | Route | Season | Crossing | Adult | Vehicle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S.S. Badger | Ludington, MI ↔ Manitowoc, WI | May 15 – October 11, 2026 | 4 h | $89.00 | $102.00 |
| Lake Express | Milwaukee, WI ↔ Muskegon, MI | about May 1 – late October | 2 h 30 min | $124.50 | $134.00 |
| MS Chi-Cheemaun | Tobermory ↔ South Baymouth (Manitoulin Island), ON | May 1 – October 18, 2026 | 1 h 45 min | C$18.05 | C$49.10 |
Good to know
Ferry or drive questions.
- Is the S.S. Badger or the Lake Express faster than driving around Lake Michigan?
- It depends on where you start and finish. From Milwaukee to Traverse City, driving takes about 6 h 25 min; the S.S. Badger route takes about 8 h 15 min door to door, with only 3 h of that behind the wheel. From Milwaukee to Grand Rapids, driving takes about 4 h 15 min; the Lake Express route takes about 4 h 10 min door to door, with only 41 min of that behind the wheel. The ferries win on time when you live near the docks; from farther away they mostly trade hours of driving for a relaxing crossing. Enter your own trip to see.
- How much does it cost to take a car on the Lake Michigan ferries?
- The S.S. Badger charges about $102.00 for a standard vehicle plus $89.00 per adult one way; the Lake Express is about $134.00 per vehicle plus $124.50 per adult before fees. The calculator adds your fuel for the drive to and from the docks so you can compare the full cost.
- When do the Great Lakes car ferries run?
- All three big car ferries are seasonal. The S.S. Badger sails mid-May to mid-October, the Lake Express from early May to late October and the Chi-Cheemaun between Tobermory and Manitoulin Island from early May to mid-October. Out of season, driving is the only option.
- Do I need a reservation?
- Yes, especially for a vehicle in July and August and on holiday weekends. Walk-up space is not guaranteed on any of the three ferries. Book directly with the operator.
Fares and seasons are from the operators' published 2026 rates and may change. Drive times and distances: OSRM routing over OpenStreetMap data (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), calibrated to typical travel times.
More planning tools: trip builder, circle tour planner, northern lights forecast, water temperatures and the ship watcher.