Relax aboard a historic steamship car ferry. Over 2.5 million passengers served, connecting Manitowoc WI to Ludington MI. Explore the SS Badger today.

S.S. Badger Gift Cards can be purchased in any dollar amount and can be used on Badger Reservations. Call 800-841-4243 for details or purchase online here.

S.S. Badger's Fares for 2025 Passenger fares are separate from vehicle fares. Children under the age of 16 sailing aboard the S.S. Badger must be accompanied by an adult.

The S.S. Badger offers the largest cross-lake passenger service on the Great Lakes and an authentic steamship experience. The relaxing four-hour, 60-mile cruise takes passengers, autos, RVs, tour buses, motorcycles, bicycles, and commercial trucks across Lake Michigan between Ludington, Michigan and Manitowoc, Wisconsin.

Celebrating over 65 years of maritime tradition, SS Badger proudly stands as America's last coal-fired steamship ferry. Explore our rich history!

Here’s a few of the frequently asked questions we’ve received for SS Badger Ferry. If you have additional queries/suggestions please reach out to us through phone or email. We’d love to hear from you!

Hop aboard and enjoy a relaxing 4 hour cruise across Lake Michigan aboard the S.S. Badger and choose between the numerous amenities we have available!

Its first car ferry, the Pere Marquette, which began service in 1897, did not initially have a number. When the Pere Marquette Railway was formed in 1900, it began the process of renaming the fleet, which also included ferries that served the Detroit River.

In December of 2020, Lake Michigan Car Ferry, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Interlake Maritime Services, purchased the historic S.S. Badger. Along with the Badger, Interlake acquired her sister ship, the Spartan, and the assets of Pere Marquette Shipping Company that runs the Tug-Barge Undaunted-Pere Marquette 41.

The result were the Spartan (1952) and the Badger (1953), the last two steam-operated carferries built to operate on the Great Lakes. Today, the Badger is the last of the ferries that began in 1875. Sources: Mason County Historical Society, “The Great Lakes Car Ferries” by George W. Hilton.