2026: no regular ferry
Manitou Island Transit says no trips to either island in 2026 while NPS relocates the docks. Do not drive to Leland expecting a departure.
North & South Manitou · Sleeping Bear Dunes
Plan your Manitou Island trip—with the access facts first
Choose North or South Manitou, understand the 2026 ferry suspension, and build a careful plan for a future visit.
Compare the islands & check accessService suspended in 2026USD fare referenceSource review · Oct 18, 2026
2027: expected is not confirmed
NPS anticipates reopening the docks and villages in 2027. A construction target is not a ferry timetable, fare or ticket.
Private access has its own limits
NPS describes offshore landings and authorized charter access, with no dock or protected anchoring. This tool does not recommend a private-boat substitute.
Your crossing, worked through
Which island belongs in your future trip?
Start by choosing the experience. In 2026 the regular ferry cannot take you to either island. A future trip needs confirmed dock access and an actual operator restart.
For a future visit combining island history and hiking. Historical travel duration only; no current ferry service.
Dated fare references, not ticket inventory.
No 2026 ferry trips or current fares are offered. Choosing a future date does not turn an expected reopening into a confirmed sailing.
Work backward from your chosen sailing
Copy times from the official operator. Blank means unknown. These inputs do not search or reserve departures.
See the two ends of your trip
Leland → North or South Manitou Island
Explore the shores and terminal areas. Dock directions remain available below the map.
Markers show approximate terminal or island areas. Dashed connections are schematic, not navigation tracks. CARTO when configured, with OpenStreetMap fallback. No visitor setup.
Leland / Fishtown
207 W River Street, Leland, MI
Open directions ↗South Manitou: island area
South Manitou Island, Michigan
Open directions ↗Your plan at a glance
Start with the date and route
Select a route, then add real sailing times to see the time you have ashore.
Make the travel day visible
From leaving home to stepping ashore
Port clocks and elapsed travel time appear together. Check-in margins and unloading are planning allowances; departures come from you.
Enter an outward sailing time to build this timeline.
Know what the number includes
Ferry restart and fares remain unconfirmed
The figures below use the age bands and standard vehicle category shown. Missing prices stay unpriced.
Add your own parking and local-transport budget
Enter amounts you have verified. Blank costs remain unpriced rather than being assumed free.
The part a ticket does not tell you
South Manitou’s history or North Manitou’s backcountry?
Start by choosing the experience. In 2026 the regular ferry cannot take you to either island. A future trip needs confirmed dock access and an actual operator restart.
South Manitou: history and a bounded island visit
The lighthouse and village help explain why people came to this island. Their 2026 closure matters to the experience, even if a visitor has a permitted way ashore. Use the South Manitou NPS page to check precisely what reopens.
North Manitou: room for a backcountry stay
Choose it for the kind of trip you prepare for rather than a quick photo stop. Transport, a backcountry permit and a water plan are separate pieces of preparation.
Build a future plan without buying certainty
Save your preferred island and trip style now. Confirm the NPS reopening notice, then the ferry operator’s new schedule, then any permit or campsite arrangements before making a nonrefundable commitment.
Before you set off
Use this as a preparation list. Checking a box does not verify a booking or a sailing.
Go to the source
Reviewed October 18, 2026. Operator pages can change after review. This tool does not retrieve ticket inventory, and a shore forecast cannot confirm a ferry will sail.
Questions worth asking before booking
Is the entire island closed in 2026?
NPS describes limited access and specific closures, including docks, villages and potable water; South Manitou has additional facility closures. The regular ferry does not operate. Consult the current NPS notice for exact boundaries.
Can I book the 2027 ferry now?
This planner has no verified 2027 ferry timetable or fares. NPS’s expected dock reopening is not an operator restart confirmation.
Is Manitoulin the same place?
No. Ontario’s Manitoulin Island is served by Chi-Cheemaun. Michigan’s North and South Manitou Islands are part of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.