This interactive map shows every passenger ferry route and terminal in Illinois. Across 19 unique routes serving 20 terminals, Illinois ferries carry around 2,612,053 passengers and 768,056 vehicles each year, ranking the state #7 nationally by ferry passenger volume.

The role of ferries in Illinois

Illinois ferries are concentrated on the upper Mississippi and along the Ohio River, with several free Illinois DOT crossings between Illinois and Missouri, Iowa, and Kentucky. They are functional roadway-connection ferries, not tourist services.

Every ferry route in Illinois

The table below lists every passenger ferry route serving Illinois in the latest National Census of Ferry Operators, sorted by annual ridership. Passenger counts combine both directions.

Notable Illinois ferry routes

• Busiest route: Grafton Ferry Dock – Brussels Ferry Dock (Illinois Department of Transportation) carries about 1,035,421 passengers a year.
• Longest route: John Deere Commons Landing – Riverbend Commons Landing is 3.0 miles (Rock Island County Metropolitan Mass Transit District).
• Season mix: 5 routes operate year-round, 14 are seasonal.
• Intermodal terminals: 13 of 20 terminals connect to local bus, rail, or bike share.

Ferry terminals in Illinois

The list below covers every ferry terminal recorded in Illinois, including the operator, ownership, and what intermodal connections (bus, rail, bike share, parking) are available at the terminal.

Biggest ferry operators in Illinois

• Illinois Department of Transportation: 2,059,053 annual passengers
• Cave in Rock Ferry: 252,912 annual passengers
• Calhoun Ferry Company: 213,028 annual passengers

How Illinois compares nationally

Illinois ranks #7 of the 41 US states with ferry service. Just ahead is Louisiana with 3,222,125 annual passengers, and just behind is Hawaii with 2,464,820.

For the full national picture and rankings across all 41 US ferry states, see the complete US ferries map.

Neighbouring ferry maps

Missouri ferries, Kentucky ferries, Iowa ferries, Wisconsin ferries.

Frequently asked questions

How many ferry routes are there in Illinois?

The BTS National Census of Ferry Operators records 19 unique passenger ferry routes serving 20 terminals in Illinois. Including both directional segments, that is 38 numbered route entries in the database (most routes are recorded once for each direction).

Which is the busiest ferry in Illinois?

The Grafton Ferry Dock – Brussels Ferry Dock carries about 1,035,421 passengers each year, making it the busiest ferry route in Illinois according to the latest census.

Are Illinois ferries free?

Some Illinois ferries are operated as part of the state highway system and run free for passengers and vehicles, while privately operated routes charge a fare. Click any route on the map above and refer to the operator’s website for current fares and schedules.

Where does the data on this map come from?

Routes and terminals are pulled live from the National Transportation Atlas Database published by the US Bureau of Transportation Statistics, which compiles every domestic ferry operator’s response to the National Census of Ferry Operators. The map updates automatically whenever BTS refreshes the layer.