Washington Island Ferry: Schedule, Last Boat Back and Fares
The Washington Island ferry from Northport Pier, Door County, on your day: every boat both ways, the Friday night trips, the last boat back, your hours on the island and the round trip for you and your car — from the ferry line’s own 2026 timetable and rates.
Ferry on Thursday, October 15: 11 boats from Northport, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; the last one back 5 p.m.Tickets are first come, first served: be in line 15 minutes before your boat; the crossing takes about 30 minutes. Up to 8 h 30 min on the island (the first boat over to the last one back).
Round trip: $32 (2 adults × $16).
Who is going
The boats on Thursday, October 15 (Sept 8 – Oct 18)
Before you go, in the ferry line’s words
Times and fares: the Washington Island Ferry Line’s own 2026 timetable and its rates as of April 1, 2026 (read 2026-10-15).
The Washington Island ferry leaves Northport Pier, at the end of Highway 42 in Door County, every hour from mid-April to mid-October, every half hour in summer, two to six times a day otherwise; the crossing takes about 30 minutes. A round trip is $16 an adult and $30 for a car. Passengers need no reservation.
How to use it
Pick the day you go. The planner lists every boat that day both ways — from Northport and from the island — with the Friday night trips (and, in summer, the Saturday and Sunday ones) and the winter boats that sail only on Thursdays and Fridays. It marks the last boat back, flags the boats over that have no boat back after them, and counts your hours on the island. Say who is going and whether you take a car, a motorcycle, bikes or a motorhome to see the round trip. A day in 2027 after March 11 shows 2026’s times for those dates, labelled as 2026’s, until the ferry line posts its 2027 timetable.
The 2026 timetable
The Washington Island Ferry Line prints one timetable for the year, March 13, 2026 to March 11, 2027. The boats from Northport on a Monday, a Friday and a Sunday of each season (the second week of it), and the last boat back from the island:
| Dates | Monday | Friday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 13 – April 17 (if no ice) | 6 · 8 a.m.–5 p.m. · back by 4 p.m. | 6 · 8 a.m.–5 p.m. · back by 4 p.m. | 6 · 8 a.m.–5 p.m. · back by 4 p.m. |
| April 18 – June 18 | 11 · 8 a.m.–6 p.m. · back by 5 p.m. | 13 · 8 a.m.–9:15 p.m. · back by 8:30 p.m. | 11 · 8 a.m.–6 p.m. · back by 5 p.m. |
| June 19 – Sept 7 | 22 · 7:30 a.m.–6:45 p.m. · back by 6 p.m. | 25 · 7:30 a.m.–9:15 p.m. · back by 8:30 p.m. | 23 · 7:30 a.m.–7:45 p.m. · back by 7 p.m. |
| Sept 8 – Oct 18 | 11 · 8 a.m.–6 p.m. · back by 5 p.m. | 13 · 8 a.m.–9:15 p.m. · back by 8:30 p.m. | 11 · 8 a.m.–6 p.m. · back by 5 p.m. |
| Oct 19 – Dec 6 | 6 · 8 a.m.–5 p.m. · back by 4 p.m. | 7 · 8 a.m.–7:45 p.m. · back by 7 p.m. | 6 · 8 a.m.–5 p.m. · back by 4 p.m. |
| Dec 7 – Jan 10 | 4 · 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. · back by 3:30 p.m. | 4 · 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. · back by 3:30 p.m. | 4 · 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. · back by 3:30 p.m. |
| Jan 11 – March 11 | 2 · 9:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. · back by 1 p.m. | 3 · 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m. · back by 3:15 p.m. | 2 · 9:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. · back by 1 p.m. |
Each cell: the boats from Northport that day · the first and the last · the last boat back from the island. In summer the boats leave Northport at 7:30, 8:15, 9:00 and 9:45 a.m., then at a quarter past and a quarter to the hour until 6:45 p.m. The Friday night trips run from April 3 to November 6 (two each way most Fridays, three in summer, one in early April and late fall); from June 6 to September 6 a Saturday or Sunday adds a 7:45 p.m. boat over and a 7 p.m. boat back. On December 25 there is one boat each way: 10 a.m. from the island, 11 a.m. from Northport. The ferry line warns: “Schedule is subject to change due to weather and traffic.”
Fares
The ferry line’s rates as of April 1, 2026 are round trip. A vehicle’s fare covers the vehicle only — “Auto (occupants not included)”.
| Ticket | Round trip |
|---|---|
| Adult | $16 |
| Child 6 thru 11 | $8 |
| Child 5 and under, pets | Free |
| Auto | $30 |
| Motorcycle | $18 |
| Bicycle | $6 |
Motorhomes, trailers and trucks pay an oversized fare ONE WAY, by length: $19 for 15′ up to 20′, $34 for 21′ up to 25′, $44 for 26′ up to 30′, $53 for 31′ up to 35′, $68 for 36′ up to 45′, $79 for 46′ up to 55′, $95 for 56′ up to 60′. “Includes motorhomes, trailers, semis, and box/flatbed trucks. Measured by maximum length overall.” Anything longer: “For oversized items not listed, please email us”.
Rock Island State Park
Rock Island is a second ferry ride: “it’s approximately 8 miles (20 min.) across Washington Island, from the Washington Island Ferry dock to Jackson Harbor, where the Rock Island Ferry is located.” “Rock Island does not permit vehicles or bicycles”. A combination ticket for both ferries is $31 an adult and $14 a child 6 thru 11 — “Purchase at Northport Pier Ticket Booth prior to boarding the Washington Island Ferry.” It does not include a car’s fare.
Worked examples
A Friday in October. Ferry on Friday, October 16: 13 boats from Northport, 8 a.m. to 9:15 p.m.; the last one back 8:30 p.m. — the two Friday night trips give a full evening on the island.
A family of four with a car, a Saturday in October. Two adults, two children aged 6–11 and the car: Round trip: $78 (2 adults × $16 + 2 children 6–11 × $8 + 1 car × $30).
A Wednesday in January. Two boats each way, and the last one back leaves the island at 1 p.m.; on a Thursday or a Friday it is 3:15 p.m. Bringing a car from December 21, 2026 to March 11, 2027 needs a reservation: call 800.223.2094.
Christmas Day. The only boat back leaves the island at 10 a.m., an hour before the only boat over — no day trip that day.
Common mistakes
- Taking the last boat over on a day trip. In fall the 6 p.m. boat from Northport arrives after the 5 p.m. boat back has left — the planner flags it.
- Arriving at departure time. “Please be in line 15 minutes prior to departure” — and “Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis”, so on a summer Saturday a car can wait for the next boat.
- Reading the old fare. The ferry line’s FAQ still says “$15.00 per adult, $8.00 per child ages 6 through 11 and children ages 5 and under are free.” Its rates as of April 1, 2026 are $16 an adult.
- Driving up in winter without a reservation. From December 21, 2026 to March 11, 2027 vehicles need one.
- Counting a camper as a car. Motorhomes and trailers pay by length, one way.
Plan the trip
Read the must-see attractions in Door County (Washington Island among them), the most beautiful towns in Wisconsin, the best weekend getaways in the USA and the best summer road trips. Other island ferries: Madeline Island in Lake Superior and Mackinac Island; for a swim, Lake Michigan’s water temperature.
FAQ
How long is the ferry ride to Washington Island?
About 30 minutes from Northport Pier: “the ferry will embark on a 30-minute ride past Plum, Pilot and Detroit Islands” — through the strait called Death’s Door.
How much does the Washington Island ferry cost?
$16 round trip an adult, $8 a child 6 thru 11, free for children 5 and under and pets; a car is $30 round trip plus its passengers, a motorcycle $18, a bicycle $6.
What is the Washington Island ferry schedule?
It changes with the season: in fall 2026 a boat leaves Northport every hour from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the last one back leaves the island at 5 p.m. (8:30 p.m. on Fridays until October 16); in summer every half hour, back by 6 p.m. on a weekday. Pick your day above.
Do you need a reservation for the Washington Island ferry?
Not as a passenger: “Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis”. Cars need one from December 21, 2026 to March 11, 2027.
Can you take your car to Washington Island?
Yes. “Each Washington Island Ferry can carry 149 passengers and 18-22 standard-sized vehicles.” Without a car, “bicycle, UTV and moped rentals are available adjacent to the Washington Island Ferry dock”.
Does the Washington Island ferry run in winter?
Yes — the line runs ice-breaking ferries and makes “two round trips per day in winter”: in January and February, 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. from Northport, plus 4 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays.
Where do you catch the Washington Island ferry?
At Northport Pier, 215 WI-42, Ellison Bay — “Then, follow Hwy 42 to its end at Northport Pier.” Walking on? “If you are not taking your car to the island, please park at Northport Pier”.