Agencies
Services
Ferry Services
Ferry services are offered to Illinois residents and visitors in order to improve access across inland waterways within or bordering Illinois.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, by agreement with the IDOT, provides free ferry service across the Ohio River daily, including holidays, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. The Cave-in-Rock ferry crosses the Ohio River between Illinois Route 1 and Kentucky Route 91, near Cave-in-Rock.
Missouri Department of Transportation, by agreement with the IDOT, supports ferry boat operations across the Mississippi River between Modoc, IL and Ste. Genevieve, MO.
Information on closures throughout the state can be accessed through the Getting Around Illinois Traveler Info page.
To view the interactive map of IDOT ferry locations, please use the map below :
Ferry Boats in Illinois
Illinois River Ferry Boats – Free service, IDOT Operated
US DOT FHWA Kampsville River Ferry History (Historical Reference)
IDOT owns and operates two free ferries that travel across the Illinois River. These ferries are operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The Kampsville ferry carries Illinois Route 108 across the Illinois River to connect with Illinois Route 100 (Great River Road south), near Kampsville.
The Brussels ferry is located one mile west of Grafton and crosses the Illinois River linking Illinois Route 100 to Calhoun County, near Brussels.
Ferries Not Maintained by IDOT (Private/Other Operators)
These ferries are operated privately or by other local or state entities and may have fee-based services:
Mississippi River Ferry Boats (Fee based service)
- Ste. Genevieve - Modoc River Ferry (New Bourbon Regional Port Authority Owned, Operations Funding Supported by Missouri and Illinois)
- Grafton Ferry (City of Grafton Owned / Private Operated)
- Golden Eagle Ferry (Private Owned and Operated)
Ohio River Ferry Boats (Free Service, Kentucky & Illinois Supported)
Mississippi River (Fee-based Service, Quad Cities Metrolink Owned and Operated)
Chicago River/Lake Michigan Shore (Fee-based Service, Private Owned and Operated)