Washington Island Ferry Line

Welcome to our Ferry Line web page. I hope with a few, short paragraphs I can lead you toward a ride aboard one of our ferries to Washington Island. We cross Death's Door Passage, a route we've perfected through over 67 years of service, summer and winter. Safe, pleasant, and timely ferry crossings are our business!

Let me tell you what you can expect on Washington Island, to help you in your decision. You may skip reading and go to our website at www.wisferry.com at any time! Our website tells you more than this page will about our service and Washington Island.

Washington Island is a small speck on a Wisconsin state map, at roughly six-by-six miles. It's a place that hasn't seen the range of commercial development often found in other tourism locations. This can be both good and bad!

If you're an avid shopper, you'll find shops, but not in the quantity or frequency or style in which you might be accustomed. If you're looking for ready-made entertainment, or shows, music, night life, waterslides or go-kart tracks, Washington Island also lags behind other vacation spots. But, we do have community events, music of all sorts, and wholesome entertainment. It's just not every night, and it's not the night club variety. We have lots of nice places to stay. They're just not the franchise roadside lodging.

Here's what we do have: lots of surrounding water and good harbors; friendly island folks; modest prices; good fishing; a safe, respecting social climate for young and old; stores for food, drink, books, or gifts; great bicycling and kayaking opportunities; a wonderful island state park on Rock Island separated by another short ferry ride; camping; churches (and wedding opportunities, too!); birding and photography and hiking; numerous town and county parks; a variety of museums; and a year around island population (680) that consists of recent converts as well as families that have been here for decades.

See our website rather than taking my word for it. Then, take one of our ferries from Northport Pier at the end of State Hwy 42, from the tip of the Door Peninsula. The ride to Washington Island is approximately 4.5 miles, or 30 minutes, and our ferries take you past several islands on the way to Washington Island. We recommend a vehicle, but bicycling or tours (in season) are great, too.

Our ferry service is just the beginning of a great daytime visit, or a great vacation.

Let us show you an enjoyable time on a ferry ride to a wonderful island.

Sincerely,

Dick Purinton, President

Washington Island Ferry Line, Inc.

P.S. For our ferry schedule and further island information, go to www.wisferry.com