Madeline Island ferry schedule and guide
Madeline Island Ferry Line runs the Bayfield–Madeline Island ferry, a car and passenger ferry across Lake Superior between Bayfield and La Pointe on Madeline Island, Wisconsin. The Madeline Island ferry crosses about 2.5 miles in 20 to 25 minutes. The ferries run from spring until ice closes the channel, when a windsled and then an ice road take over.
Schedule up to date as of October 26, 2026
Contents
Madeline Island ferry schedule Fall 2026
The Fall 2026 schedule runs from September 8, 2026 to November 1, 2026.
Departures from Bayfield, Sundays
| Departs | To |
|---|---|
| 7:00 AM | Madeline Island |
| 8:00 AM | Madeline Island |
| 9:00 AM | Madeline Island |
| 10:00 AM | Madeline Island |
| 11:00 AM | Madeline Island |
| 12:00 PM | Madeline Island |
| 1:00 PM | Madeline Island |
| 2:00 PM | Madeline Island |
| 3:00 PM | Madeline Island |
| 4:00 PM | Madeline Island |
| 5:00 PM | Madeline Island |
| 6:00 PM | Madeline Island |
Departures from Bayfield, Mondays through Wednesdays
| Departs | To |
|---|---|
| 7:00 AM | Madeline Island |
| 8:00 AM | Madeline Island |
| 9:00 AM | Madeline Island |
| 10:00 AM | Madeline Island |
| 11:00 AM | Madeline Island |
| 12:00 PM | Madeline Island |
| 1:00 PM | Madeline Island |
| 2:00 PM | Madeline Island |
| 3:00 PM | Madeline Island |
| 4:00 PM | Madeline Island |
| 5:00 PM | Madeline Island |
| 6:00 PM | Madeline Island |
| 7:00 PM | Madeline Island |
Departures from Bayfield, Thursdays and Saturdays
| Departs | To |
|---|---|
| 7:00 AM | Madeline Island |
| 8:00 AM | Madeline Island |
| 9:00 AM | Madeline Island |
| 10:00 AM | Madeline Island |
| 11:00 AM | Madeline Island |
| 12:00 PM | Madeline Island |
| 1:00 PM | Madeline Island |
| 2:00 PM | Madeline Island |
| 3:00 PM | Madeline Island |
| 4:00 PM | Madeline Island |
| 5:00 PM | Madeline Island |
| 6:00 PM | Madeline Island |
| 7:00 PM | Madeline Island |
| 8:00 PM | Madeline Island |
| 9:00 PM | Madeline Island |
Departures from Bayfield, Fridays
| Departs | To |
|---|---|
| 7:00 AM | Madeline Island |
| 8:00 AM | Madeline Island |
| 9:00 AM | Madeline Island |
| 10:00 AM | Madeline Island |
| 11:00 AM | Madeline Island |
| 12:00 PM | Madeline Island |
| 1:00 PM | Madeline Island |
| 2:00 PM | Madeline Island |
| 3:00 PM | Madeline Island |
| 4:00 PM | Madeline Island |
| 5:00 PM | Madeline Island |
| 6:00 PM | Madeline Island |
| 7:00 PM | Madeline Island |
| 8:00 PM | Madeline Island |
| 9:00 PM | Madeline Island |
| 10:00 PM | Madeline Island |
Departures from Madeline Island, Sundays
| Departs | To |
|---|---|
| 7:30 AM | Bayfield |
| 8:30 AM | Bayfield |
| 9:30 AM | Bayfield |
| 10:30 AM | Bayfield |
| 11:30 AM | Bayfield |
| 12:30 PM | Bayfield |
| 1:30 PM | Bayfield |
| 2:30 PM | Bayfield |
| 3:30 PM | Bayfield |
| 4:30 PM | Bayfield |
| 5:30 PM | Bayfield |
Departures from Madeline Island, Mondays through Wednesdays
| Departs | To |
|---|---|
| 7:30 AM | Bayfield |
| 8:30 AM | Bayfield |
| 9:30 AM | Bayfield |
| 10:30 AM | Bayfield |
| 11:30 AM | Bayfield |
| 12:30 PM | Bayfield |
| 1:30 PM | Bayfield |
| 2:30 PM | Bayfield |
| 3:30 PM | Bayfield |
| 4:30 PM | Bayfield |
| 5:30 PM | Bayfield |
| 6:30 PM | Bayfield |
Departures from Madeline Island, Thursdays and Saturdays
| Departs | To |
|---|---|
| 7:30 AM | Bayfield |
| 8:30 AM | Bayfield |
| 9:30 AM | Bayfield |
| 10:30 AM | Bayfield |
| 11:30 AM | Bayfield |
| 12:30 PM | Bayfield |
| 1:30 PM | Bayfield |
| 2:30 PM | Bayfield |
| 3:30 PM | Bayfield |
| 4:30 PM | Bayfield |
| 5:30 PM | Bayfield |
| 6:30 PM | Bayfield |
| 7:30 PM | Bayfield |
| 8:30 PM | Bayfield |
Departures from Madeline Island, Fridays
| Departs | To |
|---|---|
| 7:30 AM | Bayfield |
| 8:30 AM | Bayfield |
| 9:30 AM | Bayfield |
| 10:30 AM | Bayfield |
| 11:30 AM | Bayfield |
| 12:30 PM | Bayfield |
| 1:30 PM | Bayfield |
| 2:30 PM | Bayfield |
| 3:30 PM | Bayfield |
| 4:30 PM | Bayfield |
| 5:30 PM | Bayfield |
| 6:30 PM | Bayfield |
| 7:30 PM | Bayfield |
| 8:30 PM | Bayfield |
| 9:30 PM | Bayfield |
The last schedule of the year runs until heavy ice and has no posted end date. In most winters, the ice gets too thick for the ferries in mid-January. Madeline Island Ferry Line runs a reduced schedule more often than it stops for weather, and it posts changes on its advisories page and by text message.
Madeline Island winter crossings by windsled and ice road
Once the ferries stop for the winter, a passenger-only windsled crosses on a limited schedule. When the ice is safe, the ice road opens to cars and light trucks as a seasonal extension of County Highway H, and a van makes scheduled runs between Bayfield and La Pointe. The windsled runs again in spring, when the road is no longer safe but the ice is still too thick for the ferries.
The windsleds and vans are not part of Madeline Island Ferry Line. The Town of La Pointe owns them, and Windsled Inc. runs them on a schedule that can change without notice. The windsled and ice road hotline gives the latest conditions in a recorded message.
Madeline Island ferry fares
| Fare type | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|
| Passengers | ||
| Passenger 12 and over | $11.00 | $22.00 |
| Passenger 6 to 11 | $5.50 | $11.00 |
| Child under 5 | Free | Free |
| Vehicles | ||
| Car under 19 feet | $20.50 | $41.00 |
| Car 19 to under 22 feet | $28.00 | $56.00 |
| Cargo trailer and hitch under 17 feet | $20.50 | $41.00 |
| Cargo trailer and hitch 17 to 22 feet | $28.00 | $56.00 |
| Bicycle | $5.00 | $10.00 |
| Motorcycle | $11.00 | $22.00 |
- Vehicle fares do not include the driver or passengers. Madeline Island Ferry Line prices a vehicle by its overall length, counting hitches, racks, trailers and any load past the bumpers. Fares include a fuel surcharge from August 5, 2026. Trailer loads over 17 feet pay at least $14.50 more.
Madeline Island Ferry Line takes cash, checks, Visa and Mastercard. Motor homes, camping trailers, longer vehicles and boats on trailers pay by length on the operator's rates page.
Discount cards for passengers, and for passengers with a car, are sold only at the ferry line office on Madeline Island, for cash or check. Senior cards are for riders 65 and older.
Madeline Island ferry details
| Operator | Madeline Island Ferry Line |
|---|---|
| Crossing time | 20 to 25 minutes |
| Distance | About 2.5 miles |
| Vessels | MV Bayfield, MV La Pointe, MV Madeline, MV Island Queen and MV Nichevo II, each carrying up to 149 passengers. Island Queen and Nichevo II run in ice late in the season. |
| Vehicles | Cars, trucks, motor homes, trailers and most anything that can travel the road. A crew member directs each driver to a spot. |
| Reservations | None for passengers, cars, trailers or motor homes, which load first come, first served. Semis, dump trucks, buses and pre-arranged tour groups need one. |
| Payment | Cash, check, Visa or Mastercard |
| Pets | Dogs ride free on a leash, in a cage or in a vehicle, and are never left unattended. |
| On board | Passenger cabins and outdoor seating. Drivers may leave their vehicles during the crossing after telling the crew while loading. Smoking is not allowed, in vehicles or on deck. |
Bayfield ferry terminal parking and directions
The Madeline Island ferry leaves from the Bayfield ferry terminal, 20 Washington Avenue, Bayfield, WI 54814, at the northeast end of Bayfield. Drivers turn east onto Washington Avenue from State Highway 13. Bayfield is about 25 miles from Ashland, 90 miles from Duluth and 220 miles from Minneapolis and St. Paul.
The ferry landing has limited parking. Bayfield has parking throughout the city, some street parking has a 2-hour limit, and several lots allow overnight parking for up to 2 weeks. Madeline Island Ferry Line recommends being on the dock 20 minutes before departure.
Madeline Island ferry dock in La Pointe
The Madeline Island ferry lands in the village of La Pointe. Shops, restaurants, lodging, grocery stores, a library and a small public beach are within walking distance of the ferry dock. A bike and moped rental shop is within 2 blocks.
Madeline Island is 14 miles long and 3 miles wide, and it has no public transportation. The parks are 7 miles from the ferry landing, so Madeline Island Ferry Line advises bringing a car.
When the Madeline Island ferry is busiest
On weekdays, the first morning boat from Bayfield and the late-afternoon boat from Madeline Island are the busiest. Thursday and Friday evening boats from Bayfield are busy in summer. On Sundays, boats from Madeline Island are busiest from morning until midafternoon. Madeline Island Ferry Line runs extra boats for the rush.
Madeline Island ferry FAQs
How long is the ferry to Madeline Island?
The Bayfield–Madeline Island ferry crosses about 2.5 miles of Lake Superior in 20 to 25 minutes.
Does the Madeline Island ferry run in winter?
The Madeline Island ferry runs into the winter until heavy ice stops it, in mid-January in most winters. A passenger windsled and then an ice road for cars carry riders until the ferries return.
Does the Madeline Island ferry take reservations?
The Madeline Island ferry takes no reservations for passengers, cars, trailers or motor homes, which load first come, first served. Only semis, buses and similar large vehicles need a reservation.
Where does the Madeline Island ferry leave from?
The Madeline Island ferry leaves from the Bayfield ferry terminal at 20 Washington Avenue, Bayfield, WI 54814, east of State Highway 13.
Can dogs ride the Madeline Island ferry?
Dogs ride the Madeline Island ferry free, on a leash, in a cage or in a vehicle.
More Wisconsin ferries
- Washington Island ferry, the car ferry from Northport Pier in Door County
- Lake Express ferry, the high-speed car ferry across Lake Michigan between Milwaukee and Muskegon
- Wisconsin ferries, every Wisconsin route on FerryRiders.com