Madeline Island Ferry

The Madeline Island Ferry. 9/22/2022 dwm

The Madeline Island Ferry is essentially the only way on or off the island for 350 year-round residents and 2,500 who spend their summers there.  

 

There is an airport and I'm sure a few residents own their own boat to get to the mainland.  When it's cold enough and the lake freezes, plows carve an ice road connecting Bayfield and LaPorte.

The ferry makes up to 25 crossings a day during the busy season.  The first trip leaves Bayfield at 7 AM and the latest the final boat leaves the island is 11:30 PM from late June to Labor Day.

Many trips are packed.

 For cars it's $27.00 round-trip plus an additional $16 for each passenger 12 and older to go back-and-forth.  Kids 6 - 11 are $7 round-trip.  If you bike on the ferry, adults pay $16 and $7.50 for the bike both ways.  

 

 Walking adults are $16 round-trip.  We talked to one island resident who parked their car in Bayfield to get to work down the road.

 

 I wondered if there is a discount available for people living on the island or a frequent-flyer kind of plan.  Apparently not much of a discount. 

The wheelhouse.

Enjoy the ride.  It makes the 2.6 mile crossing in 20 minutes.  We crossed on a beautiful day, so I walked around the car deck and checked out the elevated seating available for pedestrians (in front of wheelhouse, photo right).  

 

Vehicles are packed tight to make use of every inch.  The ferries handle tractor-trailers and charter buses with care, centering them on board.  Delivery trucks, work trucks, any vehicle you can think of, lines up for the ferry.

The landing is in the town of La Pointe.

 Even in September, there were a healthy number of people waiting to cross.  We were on a full boat crossing at 9 in the morning (the third trip over) and returned at 2:30 with space available.  If you go, try to get to the dock at least 20 minutes before scheduled departure.

 Years ago, when our kids were little, we were in Bayfield and thought we'd take the ferry - with no idea what it cost - when I learned how much it was 20 years ago we got out of line.  

 

 This trip we were prepared and enjoyed our time on the island.  You can read about that on Thursday.

 

Ferry coming into Madeline Island.

Preparing to visit the island.

On board, heading back to Bayfield

Looking back at LaPorte as we return to the mainland of Wisconsin.

All photos by David Mossner, September 22, 2022