The historic Lake Michigan auto and passenger ferry SS Badger, the last coal-fired steamship operating on the Great Lakes, opened its season Friday, May 15, leaving in the morning for Manitowoc, Wisconsin.
The ship departed from Ludington at 9 a.m. Friday and arrived in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, at noon. The ferry departed at Manitowoc at 2 p.m. and was set to arrive back in Ludington at 7 p.m. local time, the ferry company said on its website.
The Badger, a passenger and vehicle ferry, was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 2016.
“The S.S. Badger (is) an outstanding example of American ingenuity in transportation technology,” the National Park Service said. “One of two of the largest ferries ever to sail Lake Michigan, and the last remaining Great Lakes rail/car ferry in operation, the S.S. Badger was … designed specifically to handle the conditions of year-round passage on Lake Michigan.
The Badger hosted a celebratory event to welcome the ship back to its western port on Friday with food vendors and more. Festivities started at the Car Ferry dock, 900 S. Lakeview Drive in Manitowoc, at 11:30 a.m.
On Saturday, May 16, the opening weekend events continue with two screenings of a new documentary at the Ludington Area Center for the Arts. Tickets are available for 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. showtimes. After the 10 a.m. screening, guests are welcome to join a Q&A panel discussion with the film’s director and Badger historians at the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum. The film will have a Wisconsin Premiere at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 17, at the UW-Green Bay Manitowoc Campus Theater.
On May 16, after the Badger returns to Ludington, the ship will open for $10 to the public with music and more.
The ship’s scheduled route leaves Ludington at 9 a.m. daily and reached Manitowoc at noon CT. It leaves for Michigan at 2 p.m. CT daily and you can watch the ferry return to Michigan each day in Ludington at about 7 p.m.
Here’s everything to know about the Badger and upcoming shipping season:
The first ship set sail from Ludington Friday. See video
How large is the SS Badger?
The 410-foot-long, 72-year-old ship offers the largest cross-lake passenger service on the Great Lakes and an authentic steamship experience, its website says.
The ship was built in 1953 by Christy Corp.
How many people does the SS Badger carry?
The ship can carry 600 passengers and 180 vehicles. It has a crew of 50 to 60 per voyage.
The ferry is the last coal-fired ship on the lakes, and may be the last example of its design in the world, according to MiPlace.
How long does it take to cross Lake Michigan?
The ferry takes four hours to cross the lake, a 60-mile cruise, that takes passengers, autos, RVs, tour buses, motorcycles, bicycles, and commercial trucks across Lake Michigan between Ludington and Manitowoc.
The Badger is an official part of U.S. 10, which runs from Bay City to Fargo, North Dakota.
When is Badger season?
The Badger operates between May and October as an auto and passenger ferry that also is capable of transporting commercial vehicles.
The SS Badger’s 2026 sailing season will also include regular overnight crossings from June 19 to Sept. 7.
Overnight sailings departing Ludington will leave at 8:45 p.m. (ET), arriving in Manitowoc at 11:45 p.m. Overnight sailings departing Manitowoc will leave at 1:30 a.m. (CT), arriving in Ludington at 6:30 a.m. (ET).
How to get tickets for the SS Badger this season
To reserve tickets for any crossing this season, visit ssbadger.com, or call 800-841-4243 Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (ET).
Tickets for those 16 and older are $89 in the summer for one-way travel and $178 for round trips. Vehicles begin at $102 and $114 with additional fees for trailers and larger vehicles.
Spring tickets are $78 and $156 for individuals.
Are reservations necessary to travel?
Reservations are “strongly encouraged.”
Are pets allowed to travel?
For no additional charge, animals may be kept in a well-ventilated portable kennel on the car deck or transported in the owner’s vehicle. Due to security restrictions, no pets of any kind are allowed in any passenger area.
Service dogs trained to work or perform tasks for a passenger with a disability may accompany that individual.
Do any other ferries cross Lake Michigan?
The Lake Michigan Lake Express provides daily round-trip service between Muskegon and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The trip takes 2.5 hours.
Round-trip rates start at $207 per adult. Vehicles are $253 or more.
Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: SS Badger season opens. When to see steamer leave, return daily
Reporting by Jalen Williams, USA TODAY NETWORK / Detroit Free Press
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