Choose the route
Pick a departure season; spring/fall and summer 2026 adult fare tiers differ.
Lake Michigan · Route planner
Plan the four-hour S.S. Badger crossing
Navigate the Lake Michigan car ferry's seasonal calendar, fare tiers, boarding logistics and an easily overlooked Eastern/Central time change.
Ludington, MI ↔ Manitowoc, WI2026 published-source reference
Build your ferry plan
Enter your group and travel date. View only fare categories backed by published operator rates. Confirm booking and current cancellations with the operator.
Pricing shown is illustrative, dated operator information—not live availability or a purchase.
Before you leave for the dock
Check the details
Decide whether your automobile travels with you. Obtain vehicle, oversized and child quotes from the operator.
Verify the return
Account for the hour change and terminal loading time when scheduling onward driving.
Route-specific decisions
The 2026 Badger season ended October 11. The operator now also publishes future schedules, which must not be mistaken for 2026 sailings.
Departure 9:00 a.m. Eastern from Ludington reaches Manitowoc around noon Central after four hours aboard.
Passenger tickets are separate from vehicle tickets; the calculator only quotes standard adult passenger fares when all entered traveler and vehicle categories are covered.
What is live and what is not?
These tools calculate against operator-published 2026 reference data and your inputs. The date selection does not retrieve ticket inventory or prove a ferry will sail. All current departures, booking availability and cancellations must be checked through the official operator links above. The planner deliberately withholds a total when rates are incomplete.