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.
Lake Express · Milwaukee, WI ↔ Muskegon, MI
Milwaukee to Grand Rapids
The Lake Express doesn't sail on November 14, 2026. Its season is about May 1 – late October; the next sailing season starts around May 1, 2027. Until then, driving is the way to go.
It's close: the ferry and the drive take about the same time door to door, but the ferry saves you 3 h 35 min of driving.
Drive around
268 mi (431 km) by road
- Driving
- 4 h 15 min
- Waiting
- None
- Fuel
- $34.32
- Fares
- None
- Door to door
- 4 h 15 min
- Cost
- $34.32
- Drive Milwaukee to Grand Rapids: 4 h 15 min, 268 mi (431 km)
Take the Lake Express
Milwaukee to Muskegon, 41 mi (66 km) by road
- Driving
- 41 min
- Check-in and unloading
- 1 h
- Crossing
- 2 h 30 min
- Fuel
- $5.29
- Fares
- $428.00
- Door to door
- 4 h 10 min
- Cost
- $433.29
- Check in about 45 min before sailing
- Cross the lake: 2 h 30 min
- Drive off at Muskegon: about 15 min
- Drive to Grand Rapids: 41 min, 41 mi (66 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 only high-speed car ferry on the Great Lakes — about two and a half hours across Lake Michigan.
- Children often ride free in summer (June 1 – August 31); a fuel and port surcharge is added per ticket.
- Milwaukee is on Central Time and Muskegon on Eastern Time — sailing east, your clock jumps ahead an hour.
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.