Confirmed live on IDOT's Ferry Services page on September 18, 2026: the Brussels Ferry runs continuously, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, free of charge. · Departures shown by frequency — exact times from the operator. · Representative sailings only — check the operator for today's full schedule
Departures 1–10 / 10
Departures 1–10 / 10
Operator
Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT)
Map – Brussels Ferry
| Fare type | Price |
|---|---|
| Vehicle and driver, one way | Free |
| Foot passenger, one way | Free |
| Bicycle, one way | Free |
IDOT operates the Brussels Ferry as a free public highway crossing -- there is no fare for vehicles, drivers, passengers, bicycles or pedestrians, and no fee booth or payment machine at either landing.
The Brussels Ferry is a free, state-run crossing that carries Illinois Route 100 over the Illinois River, connecting the Grafton area in Jersey County to Calhoun County near the village of Brussels. Both landings sit inside Illinois -- this is not a crossing into Missouri, a mix-up worth ruling out given how many other boats in the same stretch of river do cross the state line a few miles away on the Mississippi, such as the Golden Eagle Ferry and the Ste. Genevieve-Modoc route.
The Illinois Department of Transportation owns and runs the boat itself, alongside its sister crossing further upriver at Kampsville, and treats it as a highway link rather than a tourist attraction: there is no fare for cars, trucks, passengers, bicycles or pedestrians, and no ticket booth of any kind. IDOT's own ferry-services page states the boat runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so there is no seasonal opening or closing date and nothing to plan around under normal river conditions.
Running continuously does not mean it never stops. Because the crossing floats on the open river rather than sitting on a fixed span, IDOT takes it out of service without a published calendar whenever Illinois River ice, high water or fast current make crossing unsafe, and again for its required annual safety inspection. These interruptions have happened in past winters and during high-water spring periods, and normal service resumes once conditions allow; IDOT does not publish a recurring date for either kind of closure in advance. As of this writing, IDOT's own ferry-services page lists no active closure notice for Brussels, but a trip planned during ice season or after heavy rain is worth double-checking against that page first.
There is no timetable of individual sailings, no reservation system and no waiting room: drivers, cyclists and pedestrians simply arrive at either landing and board the next crossing. The river channel here is narrow, well under half a kilometer between the two docks, so the ride itself takes only a few minutes once a boat is loaded.
- Arrive at the terminal several minutes before departure; vehicle lanes close earlier than the foot-passenger gate.
- Check the operator's service alerts before you set out — weather, tides and vessel maintenance change sailings.
- Confirm accepted payment methods: some crossings are card-only and some take cash only.
Frequently asked questions
Nothing. IDOT operates it as a free public highway crossing -- there is no charge for cars, trucks, passengers, bicycles or pedestrians of any kind.
IDOT's ferry-services page states the boat runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with no fixed departure times. You drive up to either landing and board the next crossing.
No. Both landings are in Illinois: the Illinois Route 100 side is in Jersey County near Grafton, and the far side is in Calhoun County near Brussels. Boats that do reach Missouri, such as the Golden Eagle Ferry and the Ste. Genevieve-Modoc route, are separate, privately supported crossings a few miles away on the Mississippi River.
Yes. IDOT takes it out of service without a published calendar when Illinois River ice, high water or fast current make crossing unsafe, and again for its required annual inspection. There is no fixed closure season, so check IDOT's ferry-services page before a weather-sensitive trip.
No. There are no reservations, tickets or fares of any kind -- vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians board the next available crossing on arrival.
IDOT does not publish an exact crossing time. The channel between the two landings is narrow, roughly a third of a kilometer, so the ride itself lasts only a few minutes once the boat is loaded.
One landing is on Illinois Route 100 about a mile north of Grafton, in Jersey County. The other is on the Calhoun County side near the village of Brussels, reached by the Illinois River Road.
No, though both are free and IDOT-run. The Kampsville Ferry crosses the Illinois River further upstream on Illinois Route 108 near Kampsville; the Brussels Ferry crosses on Illinois Route 100 near Grafton. They are separate crossings with separate landings.