Whether cruising across Lake Michigan on a starry night or a blue-sky summer day, a trip on the S.S. Badger is more than a shortcut across the lake.
The Badger provides travelers with an adventure — an authentic steamship experience that harkens back 70 years and mixes history with nostalgia. A National Historic Landmark, the S.S. Badger car ferry resumes sailing this year after repairs were made to the ramp system at the dock in Ludington, which was responsible for sidelining the crossings last year.
“It’s a piece of history, and if you’re thinking about trying it, you should definitely try it because it’s a very unique experience,” Lake Michigan Carferry General Manager Sara Spore says.
The S.S. Badger offers daily cross-lake trips between Ludington and Manitowoc, Wis. This season marks the 71st year for the last remaining coal-powered car ferry in the nation. Crossings will start on June 14 or sooner, depending on when the dock renovations are finished.
Passengers can relax outdoors, walk around and admire the history, or wave to people on shore as the Badger cruises in and out of port. Families are able to enjoy an onboard museum, games and scavenger hunts, free movies, and live entertainment during the four-hour trip.
“There’s a lot to do onboard with the arcade, the movie theater, and Badger Bingo,” Spore says. “It’s great to relax out on the bow. We have lounge chairs out there, two different areas to eat, and three bars on board, so there’s a little something for everyone.”
The Badger departs out of Ludington at 9 a.m. daily from June until early October. An 8:45 p.m. Thursday-Sunday crossing returns this season, and there will be a 1:30 a.m. Friday-Monday return trip out of Manitowoc through Labor Day. “A lot of people like those nighttime cruises across the lake,” Spore says.
The historic steamship car ferry has served more than 2.5 million passengers since she began daily service on March 21, 1953. The 410-foot-long ferry can transport 600 passengers and 180 vehicles, including campers, motorcycles, semis, and oversized loads.
“The Badger is an important economic catalyst to both Ludington and Manitowoc and the surrounding region,” explains Arthur Chavez, a historian and author of “S.S. Badger: The Lake Michigan Carferry.”
Many travelers use the ferry to save travel time on their vacation, or avoid driving through Chicago or across the Upper Peninsula. Others ride the ferry for the memories or to take a quick weekend trip to one of the Badger’s port cities.
The Badger offers discounted round-trip mini-cruises for those who want to ride the ferry without a car and return within 48 hours. Travelers also can enjoy the ship’s amenities on a themed shoreline cruise in either community, relaxing on the water and taking in the scenery or the sunset.
“I think it’s a good mix,” Spore says. “We have people who will go over to the Wisconsin Dells or spend a weekend in Manitowoc or vice versa. We also have a lot of people who use it as part of their trip. We can take campers and larger semis, and oversized semis.”
Plan it!
The S.S. Badger’s full season runs June 14 through Oct. 6. Wisconsin is in the Central Standard Time zone. The ferry departs at 9 a.m. (EST) from Ludington/arrives at noon (CST) in Manitowoc, and departs at 2 p.m. (CST) from Manitowoc/arrives at 7 p.m. (EST) in Ludington. Doubles/overnight crossings are available until Labor Day. For schedules, fares, and specialty cruises, visit ssbadger.com.
Ludington Shoreline Cruise Dates:
July 4: Patriotic cruise with live entertainment and fireworks over the water; $70/person.
July 24: Evening cruise with entertainment; $58/person.
Aug. 21: Bon Voyage to Summer, with entertainment; $58/person.
Boarding for each cruise starts at 8:30 p.m. EST. The S.S. Badger will cruise along the Ludington shoreline from 9-11 p.m.
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