There is a jet-powered auto ferry that transits the lake from Muskegon to Milwaukee. It looks something like the U.S. Army Fast Transport HSV-1X. Crosses the lake in about 1 hour fifteen minutes with your car loaded on board.
Anyone ever taken that from Michigan to Milwaukee form Ironman Wisconsin?
The Ferry:
The Army HSV-1X:
Wow…that sure isn’t the “Badger”! That looks pretty darn cool. How much driving time do you think it’ll save you?
Can you explain this? Where is Muskegon?
I ask because I was initially thinking of trying to do a Midwest trip which includes the Detroit area and IMMoo. Will this benefit me and how do I get info?
Lauren
Yep. The Lake Express. Expensive but worth it.
Tom,
My family and I took the Lake Express across to Milwaukee to visit my sisters a couple of years ago. It was the first year that the Lake Express was doing 3 round trips a day. Our experience was not the greatest. I found out that day that I get serious motion sickness. It was supposed to be a 2 1/2 hour trip and it ended up being 5 hr 45 min. What had happened was a serious breeze kicked up and there were 8-10 ft. choppers out in the big water. They had to go north, past Leland and then come back south in order to take the wave head on. It was rough. Even the workers were puking. Luckily they closed the galley or it would have been worse.
In all fairness, I think our experience was the exception. There are enough people that actually use it for commuting that it must be reliable. It certainly can make the trip fun, and barring anything like what I had, would save an annoying drive around Chicago. It is about 1 hr. 45 min. (if I recall) to Madison from Milwaukee.
Hope that helps,
Bernie
Lauren,
You can get info on the internet about the Badger or the Lake Express. They are car ferries that cross Lake Michigan between Muskegon (Western MI) and Milwaukee (Eastern WI). The big benefit is that you don’t have to drive south through Chicago to get around Lake Michigan. Honestly from my location it is a wash time wise because 94 cuts an angle directly to Chicago. But it is a nice diversion to not have to drive.
In your case, it depends what you want to do and where you want go. If you do anything along the west coast of MI (Like Holland, Grand Haven, Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes) then taking the ferry across could make it quite an adventure!
Bernie
Maybe an hour at least- possibly as much as 2.5 hours.
Lauren,
You can get info on the internet about the Badger or the Lake Express. They are car ferries that cross Lake Michigan between Muskegon (Western MI) and Milwaukee (Eastern WI). The big benefit is that you don’t have to drive south through Chicago to get around Lake Michigan. Honestly from my location it is a wash time wise because 94 cuts an angle directly to Chicago. But it is a nice diversion to not have to drive.
In your case, it depends what you want to do and where you want go. If you do anything along the west coast of MI (Like Holland, Grand Haven, Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes) then taking the ferry across could make it quite an adventure!
Bernie
Actually, the Badger goes from Luddington, MI to Manitowoc, WI.
Check out www.ssbadger.com for more info.
Indeed, you are correct. I didn’t specify. I believe the Badger is considerably slower too.
Bernie
The Badger is much more reliable, esp. if time is of the essence. That is because the Badger is much more likely to run at the stated times, since it can handle much bigger waves than the Lake Express. I gave up on the Lake Express after driving out there only to have it repeatedly delayed or cancelled b/c it is not big/stable enough for any waves over a certain height (about 1/4 the height of what the Badger can handle). Yeah, it looks cool, but that’s about it, IMO.
I agree I would go with the Badger I live in Milw and have taken the lake ferry 3 times now and it’s always late and rather bumpy. The Badger is great and have not had any issues with it.
Good luck and only 5 weeks till IMMOO!!! See you there!!
Sonja