One of the few things in life that's still free! The Merrimac Ferry is a fun, free ride across the Wisconsin River between Lodi and Merrimac. It not only saves you from a 20-mile detour, but it's also part of the adventure--especially if you're headed to places like Devil's Lake. With ice cream available on both sides of the river, clean restrooms at the landing, and the simple joy of watching the ferry cross the water, it's an experience that brings out the kid in all of us. Whether you're traveling with family or just exploring Wisconsin, this is a stop that's well worth making. We never pass up the chance to ride! read more

Merrimac Ferry - Public Transportation Near Me

This is a destination, and it's free! And there are ice cream stands on both sides.... So you're good either direction you travel! Heading to Wisconsin Dells? Do yourself a favor and that a little trip off the highway and check out the Ferry. Not something you get to do too often, and the roads around the area are curve and beautiful. Closes in the winter months. read more

Merrimac Ferry - History of the Ferry - Public Transportation Near Me

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Loved this ferry as a kid and it's just as I remember, if not faster. They have it structured really well and have a quick loading/unloading process. The ride took maybe 5 minutes in all. Only downside is the ice cream stands are only open on the weekends. Could have used a scoop for our ride. Definitely will be back! read more

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If you only take it for the experience, it is worth it. You'll be crossing in a few minutes; and there are options of what to do around it as well. Taking it in "your bubble" (your car) and crossing Lake Wisconsin in it sounds like the perfect attraction during COVID times. It's free and runs 24/7, but beware of the times it stops for a break; it's posted on its billboard and it's also in the website. Having ice cream after/before taking the ferry is a tradition here; and they have pretty good options! I would also recommend having lunch or dinner at Fish Tales Restaurant. It's pretty close to the ferry and it's fantastic. Dinner + ferry + ice cream = the perfect trifecta. read more

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The Ferry is always a fun thing to do with anyone, any age and especially children if traveling or visiting in the area. It is very safe and best of all it is free. Yes no cost at all. It is literally a wonderful experience the kids and family will always remember. A perfect chance for.Mom an Dad to take that perfect family photo for the wall. We always like to take our family and friends across the water to enjoy the views. We also always try to stop at the Ferry Landing Concessions stand for Ice Cream on the Merrimac side. If your looking for a wonderful dinner or lunch reccomendation look up a restaurant right down the road called Remi's Thirsty Moose. It's our absolute favorite! There reviews will speak for themselves. You can thank me later... read more

What a lovely experience. Easy on and off. Basically, a nice little free boat ride. Would do it again.

Quick easy ride. Kids enjoyed getting out and enjoying the view. We all enjoyed the ice cream after crossing! Unique experience

We discovered the Merrimac Ferry by accident while in route to Devil's Lake a couple years ago. My son was just 4 when we crossed the first time and he naturally loved it. I couldn't help but enjoy the simplicity of it. The Ferry is now a part of our Devil's Lake trip..and something we look forward to. The best part yet..it's free! Cheers to the folks that operate this ferry and allow all of us to use it for free. read more

Merrimac Ferry - Ev on the Merrimac Ferry, heading to Devil's Lake - Public Transportation Near Me

Seven minute ride, so gentle that even those of us on the ride with a tendency for motion sickness had no tummy trouble. Hardly any line when we went, which was what we saw on the webcam. Can't beat the price too. We went in the early spring during COVID, and only the refreshment stand on the south side was open. Apparently when the ferry is not very busy, the middle "lane" does not open, so you should pick the port or starboard side or someone will honk at you impatiently. Note that Waze will sometimes route you to the wrong side of the river. Was driving from the south up to the Dells, and they routed me to the north landing and not the south, which we didn't realize until we already crossed the Wisconsin River on the interstate to the east. The next crossing by road is to the west of the ferry in Prairie du Sac. In any event, worth the detour, especially if you are going to or from Devil's Lake. read more

Favorite thing to do after hanging out at Devils Lake all day. It's just so fun because you can drive your car onto it and then park it and turn it off and walk around and look at the beautiful view from the side of the ferry. read more

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7/3 I came across this in a guide book - Baraboo, I think. It ended up fitting in perfectly from our drive from Madison up to Baraboo. It was a gorgeous day - perfect for a ride across the lake. It's a free ride and it only takes about seven minutes to get across to the other side. The ferry holds about fifteen cars per trip. There is an ice cream shop selling treats for people who are waiting to board. Our son loved it. He thought it was "SO COOL" to drive the car onto a boat and then get a ride across the water. :) We had fun, too. Definitely, if you have the chance, take the time to do this! read more

Merrimac Ferry - First in line! - Public Transportation Near Me

"I Believe In Ferries!" So went the campaign back in the 1960s to preserve ferry service across Lake Wisconsin. There has been a ferry here since 1844, before Wisconsin became a state. It was a toll ferry and hand drawn, until an engine was added about 1900. In 1924, a motorized ferry called the "Colsac" went into service. ("Colsac" is a portmanteau of "Columbia" and "Sauk," the two counties connected by the ferry.) In 1933, the ferry service was assumed by the Highway Department (forerunner of the DOT) and toll was dropped. During WWII, commuting workers to a munitions plant in Baraboo were often delayed by back ups at the ferry. The federal government wanted a bridge built and offered to pay half the cost. The governor said they could pay for the whole thing if they wanted it so badly, which guaranteed the ferry would stay here. By the 1960s, a ferry built for Model T's was terribly out of date with lots of maintenance headaches. Because I-94 bridged the Wisconsin River 12 miles upriver, the state wanted to end ferry service here, but the locals began the campaign to save the ferry. The state relented and commissioned building the Colsac II to carry 12 cars. The Colsac III replaced the Colsac II in 2003 and carries 15 cars. There were once 500 ferries on the trunk system in Wisconsin. Three ferries carry automobiles into Wisconsin, but the Colsac III is the last ferry operating within the state trunk system. I believe in ferries - do you? read more

Merrimac Ferry - These signs alert motorists when the ferry is not running so a detour can be planned. - Public Transportation Near Me

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A classic side trip when visiting this part of Wisconsin. The boat runs regularly during the non-snowy parts of the year. There are ice cream stands on both sides of the river as well as parks with restrooms. Where else can you find a free boat ride? Gotta do it. read more

This was a serendipitous discovery I made on a gorgeous fall outing to the Madison, Wisconsin, area. Of course I realize that everyone else knows about it -- it's on the National Register of Historic Places, after all. But I was on my way south from Devil's Lake and orienteering with a combo of Google Maps and an actual printed highway map, when I noticed this little icon on the map that said "ferry." Surely not, I thought, when there are interstates and highways all through the area. So I followed the route, made a turn in Merrimac, came over a little hill, and there was a triple wide line of cars stopped, waiting for the ferry. Oh my gosh. I had to do it. The ferry is free, and it holds about 15 vehicles at a time - two-axles only. Closer to the dock there is a yellow mark across the pavement -- if you're parked in front of that line, you get on the next trip. Otherwise, you wait and creep forward in line one ferry load at a time. Each load takes about 15 minutes. The thing to do is to turn off your car or motorcycle, get out, and either stand on the grass at the side and people watch, or go to the dock to watch the ferry cross and and return, or (highly recommended) visit the Ferry Landing Concessions stand next to the dock and get a scoop of ice cream to indulge while you wait. Ferry loading and unloading is efficient and the crossing is fun, especially on a lovely day. read more

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Love taking the Merrimac Ferry! It has been a family tradition on road trips to Wisconsin. It is a great way to see the farms and side roads and avoid traffic on the Interstate. Plus the ice cream stand on the north side is top notch! read more

This ferry is fantastic! It runs back and forth between Merrimac and Lodi over the Wisconsin River. We grabbed a cone at the ice cream stand and walked on the ferry for a free ride. It was a beautiful day out and the river and landscape was gorgeous. The train bridge in the near distance is pretty cool to look at too. The ferry holds 15 cars per trip and also allows pedestrian and cyclists too. The trip across is about 7-8 minutes, so drivers will get out of their cars and stand along the side and take photos and enjoy the scenery. The ferry runs along cables in the water to get back and forth. This is the only free ferry in Wisconsin that I know about. In the summertime, the lines to use the ferry do get quite long. You can park about a block away and just walk on. Dogs (leashed) can walk on too. read more

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Awesome experience. Worth the 30 min detour. Kid friendly. Get your camera ready . Free ferry. Nice drive. read more

Merrimac Ferry - Public Transportation Near Me

This is the best ferry going across Lake Wisconsin. I don't know how far I would have gone without it

The free ferry is a fun way to cross the Wisconsin River. Trips run about every fifteen minutes (it takes 7 minutes each way) and the ferry can hold 15 cars at a time. The ferry runs all day, every day, from April to November as long as there isn't ice on the river. + It's a ferry. How often do you get to ride those? + Free free free and a little piece of Wisconsin heritage & uniqueness. - On busy days you'll wait for awhile; late afternoon on Labor Day we waited for a little over an hour before we got to cross. + There are ice cream stands operating on both sides of the bank; the Merrimac side serves Schoep's ice cream and nachos. On the Lodi side is the Merrimac Scoop - we drove past on our way out and I didn't get a chance to peep their menu but they had some nice, shady outdoor seating. - While we were waiting motorcyclists kept weaving through the cars to cut in line; on our turn a band of motorcyclists (8-10) was waiting in the oncoming traffic lane and then stormed the ferry. The ferry operator announced they couldn't cut the line, but did nothing once the drove onboard. Jerk move since literally everyone else had been waiting for over an hour; I wish the operator would have kicked them off. (I'm still salty.) + You can exit your car while the ferry is in motion - hop out and enjoy the beautiful water views! The ferry isn't the most efficient way to get where you're going, but aesthetically it beats the interstate by a mile. read more

Merrimac Ferry - Waiting in line on Labor Day on the Merrimack side. - Public Transportation Near Me

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The ferry is absolutely my favorite thing about Wisconsin. Back and forth, from one side of the river/lake/whatever is it at that point, all day, all night... I love it! The roughly five-minute crossing is so relaxing and bizarre - I don't know of anything comparable anywhere else. The scenery is lovely. And it's part of the state highway system, so it's free! The ferry takes about 15 cars per run, plus pedestrians and bicyclists. It's part of WIS 113 and runs across the Wisconsin River/Lake Wisconsin between Okee and Merrimac. It's also on the National Register of Historic Places, having been in service since about 1844. There are snack stands on both ends to enjoy while you wait for the ferry to arrive and unload the last group of passengers. The ferry does not run during the winter, which is generally from late November until early April. There are signs on the area highways that let you know when the ferry isn't operating so you aren't disappointed when you get there. read more

This is a great practical tourist attraction on your way to Devils Lake - who needs the tacky rides of the Dells when you can take this old school ferry across the Wisconsin River. It had been decades since I went this route. We pulled up and waited less than 2 mins to board and before we knew it we were on our way to Merrimac. They run a tight operation. It was a Tuesday morning so not much traffic. Not sure how the crowds are on summer weekends. Worth a detour! read more

Free, fun, and way cooler than taking the interstate. This seasonal, cable-pulled ferry is a lovely way to cross the Wisconsin River. I don't think I'd crossed with the ferry since I was a pre-teen. But on a recent visit home to WI to see the fam, we visited Devil's Lake, and decided that the trip home should take a bit of a different route and include the ferry. Definitely a fun choice! Plus, it's on the National Register of Historic Places :) It might add a bit of time to a trip, but it's time well spent. Get out of your car. Enjoy the view! Relax! read more

Awesome in a simple way. Very unique. Very cool. Especially if you have little kids. This Ferry holds about 16 to 19 cars. Crosses the Wisconsin River between Lodi and Merrimac, WI. This is worth the extra 20 minutes if you are headed to the Dells. Great back way into Devils Lake. The coolest part......IT'S FREE... read more

Merrimac Ferry - My Dad is so wierd!! - Public Transportation Near Me

A novelty--it's not much more--but it's a cool novelty. It's pretty impractical, really, because it closes for the winter (such as...right now) and there are bridges you can detour to easily enough, but I've had good times coming out to the Merrimac Ferry while driving around in circles with local friends. If you go in the daytime you'll get a pretty good view of the river and the surrounding area (including that jackass's lawn, you'll know the one, he likes to put a bunch of political signs in his yard near where the boat lets you off on one side). Oh, and it's free. Way cool! read more

Really neat free ferry across a narrow strip of Lake Wisconsin. My husband used to come here all the time as a kid, when his family would vacation in Lodi. We crossed as part of a trip to visit Parfrey's Glen. The ice cream stands on either side are a welcome distraction! Very friendly staff (separate review). The crossing only takes a few minutes (less than 5) and the ferry runs continuously back and forth, so don't be discouraged if there is a line. You'll probably only have to wait 10-20 minutes at the most. If you have to use the rest room, do it on the Merrimac side instead of the Lodi side. Both sides have toilets, but the ones in Merrimac are flush toilets with a sink. The Lodi side has pit toilets with no sink. They're pretty clean, but still if you have a choice, why not opt to wash your hands? Also, the one I used in Lodi didn't lock so someone walked in on me. Whoops! Both sides there are two stalls in the ladies' room, so you may have to wait. Make sure you don't drive across the first yellow line until you are CERTAIN you will fit on the ferry. It fits about five cars per lane. If you see four or five cars ahead of you, hang back until you're sure you'll fit or else you'll start a domino effect of people thinking they're going to fit on the next ferry, since they parked within the "Full Load" marks, not realizing that you're ahead of the line up front and therefore they will get left. Some people are trying to get home to let their dogs out, you know! read more

Nice way to get across Lake Wisconsin (as opposed to running all the way down to Sauk). Ferry crossing is fast enough to be a practical means of transportation, but slow enough to get out of your car and take in the crossing. Kids love it! Can get a little backed up in the summer on weekends, but other than that usually can get on with no problems. Definitely worth considering as an option if you are in the area. read more

If you're going to Devil's Lake or any of the attractions in Baraboo or Wisconsin Dells, this is a MUST! Loads of fun!

I have gone far out of my way on more than one occasion, just to cross the river on this free ferry ride. I remember crossing the river as a child, on several occasions, and we kids thought it quite a treat! I am told that this is the only boat ride across a river, in the United States, that does not charge drivers a fee. A quick search on the Internet did not provide a clear answer. This is an especially good way to get from Madison to Devil's Lake Park. read more

I've been taking Ferry rides since a teenager. This is my favorite activity to do since they have ice cream on both sides. Fun to take families and younger kids. The scenery is beautiful and watching the boats go by is relaxing. Almost feels like you're away from home even though you're only 15 minutes away from home. read more

A must for any travelling to the Dells area. Fun for everyone. A real treat for the kids.

Love the Ferry. Great scenery. Only ice cream on the Merrimac side. Please don't throw rocks into lake, or cig butts!! Keep Wisconsin Clean! Loud motorcycles can really be a bother, especially in large groups. read more

very nice.. have to wait for long time bt saves almost 20-25 miles..so its worth waiting 15 mins.. nice scenic roads.. keep camera handy..

Such a neat "Must Do" for the area. Sometimes it can make your trip short and sometimes longer, but if you haven't done it, do it! I would avoid saturday and sundays. read more