S.S. Badger Carferry
In Manitowoc, you can experience Lake Michigan by taking a one-of-a-kind cruise across the waters aboard the S.S. Badger: Lake Michigan Carferry!
Sailing from mid-May to mid-October, the 410-foot S.S. Badger is one of the last coal-fired steam engine car ferries. In 2016, she became a National Historic Landmark. With daily sailings, there are so many opportunities to sail between Manitowoc and Ludington, Michigan. Each trip can hold up to 600 people and 150 cars! Three times a season, you can even sail up and down our coastline on a Shoreline Cruise. Once you step aboard, you, too, will be shouting, “Big Ship, More Fun!” Passengers on board can enjoy food and drinks, a movie theater, museum, "boatique," indoor and outdoor seating and Badger Bingo - a favorite activity of many aboard! Even if you don’t set foot on the ship, you’ll hear her horn announcing her arrival and departure every day during the sailing season.
The 2025 sailing season runs May 16 to October 12, with the S.S. Badger docking in Manitowoc daily at 12 p.m. and leaving at 2 p.m. Regular overnight crossings begin June 20 and end September 1. To sail along Wisconsin's beautiful coast and return to and from Manitowoc, take a 2-hour shoreline cruise on June 14, July 19, August 2, or August 16, 2025.
To learn more and book your trip on the S.S. Badger, visit their website.