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. 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.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, by agreement with the IDOT, provides free ferry service across the Ohio River, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday (beginning 11-2-24). The Cave-in-Rock ferry crosses the Ohio River between Illinois Route 1 and Kentucky Route 91, near Cave-in-Rock. Information on ferry closures can be accessed through the IDOT Closures page.
To view IDOT ferry locations, please access the map below.
Ferry Boats in Illinois
IDOT-Operated Ferries (Free Service)
These ferries are operated by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and offer free service:
Illinois River Ferry Boats – Free service, IDOT Operated:
US DOT FHWA Kampsville River Ferry History (Historical Reference)
Ferries Not Maintained by IDOT (Private/Other Operators)
These ferries are operated privately or by other state entities and may have fee-based services:
Illinois River Ferries (Not operated by IDOT)
- Golden Eagle Ferry
- Winfield Ferry
- Grafton Ferry
- Canton Ferry
- Ste. Genevieve-Modoc Ferry
- Dorena-Hickman Ferry
Mississippi River Ferry (Fee based service : Missouri DOT )
Mississippi River Passenger-Only Ferries (Fee-based, Quad Cities Metrolink Supported)
Ohio River Ferry Boats (Free Service, Kentucky & Illinois Supported)
Chicago River/Lake Michigan Shore Passenger-Only Ferries (Fee-based)