Normal schedule when the ferry is in service, per IDOT's ferry-services page and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet bulletins: daily 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., including holidays, with the last boat leaving the Illinois side around 9:40 p.m. and the last boat leaving the Kentucky side around 9:50 p.m. The ferry has been suspended since July 1, 2026; see the alert on this page before planning a trip. · 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
Crossing time
~15 min
Operator
Cave In Rock Ferry Company (Lonnie Lewis)
Map – Cave-in-Rock Ferry
| Fare type | Price |
|---|---|
| Vehicle and driver, one way | Free |
| Foot passenger, one way | Free |
Free for every passenger and vehicle when the ferry is running. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, by agreement with IDOT, funds the service through the Ohio River Ferry Authority specifically so that there is no toll, fare or ticket of any kind.
The Cave-in-Rock Ferry normally carries Illinois Route 1 across the Ohio River to Kentucky Route 91, linking the village of Cave-in-Rock in Hardin County, Illinois, with a landing in Crittenden County, Kentucky, about 10.6 miles north of Marion. When it is running, it is free for every vehicle and passenger, funded jointly by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and the Illinois Department of Transportation through the Ohio River Ferry Authority. Unlike the Brussels and Kampsville ferries IDOT owns and runs itself on the Illinois River, Cave-in-Rock is operated under contract by a private company, Lonnie Lewis's Cave In Rock Ferry Company, which has run the boat since 1994 -- a structure that ties the service to a recurring two-year funding agreement between the two states.
That contract is exactly what has taken the ferry off the water. The previous agreement expired at 11:59 p.m. on June 30, 2026, and the operator and the two states failed to reach a new deal before it did: Lewis sought a roughly 47 percent funding increase to cover rising fuel costs, to about $2.8 million a year, while Kentucky and Illinois offered 10 percent more than the prior contract, about $2.06 million. Neither side had moved as of mid-September 2026, more than two and a half months into the shutdown, and a Kentucky legislator has said a legislative fix, if one proves necessary, might not restore service before the following summer. The closure has forced the roughly 300 people who cross daily into an 85-mile detour and has been felt by businesses on both sides of the river.
When the ferry is operating normally, it runs 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, including holidays, with the last boat leaving the Illinois side around 9:40 p.m. and the last boat leaving Kentucky around 9:50 p.m.; boats shuttle back and forth continuously rather than on a fixed timetable, and the crossing itself takes about 15 minutes. The route has also been pulled from service for Ohio River ice and high water in past winters, always without a published closure calendar -- one more reason to check current status before a trip, especially now.
- 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
No. It has been suspended since July 1, 2026 after the operator and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet/Illinois DOT failed to agree on a new funding contract. As of mid-September 2026, the closure was still unresolved with no announced reopening date.
Yes, when it is running. It is funded jointly by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and Illinois DOT through the Ohio River Ferry Authority specifically so there is no charge for vehicles or passengers.
A funding contract dispute. The operator asked for about a 47% increase (to roughly $2.8 million a year) citing fuel costs; Kentucky and Illinois offered a 10% increase (about $2.06 million a year). Neither side had accepted the other's offer as of mid-September 2026.
6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, including holidays, with the last boat leaving Illinois around 9:40 p.m. and the last boat leaving Kentucky around 9:50 p.m. Boats run continuously rather than on a fixed timetable.
About 15 minutes when the ferry is running, according to news coverage of the route; the two landings sit roughly 0.68 km apart across the Ohio River.
The Illinois landing is on Illinois Route 1 in Cave-in-Rock, Hardin County. The Kentucky landing is on Kentucky Route 91 in Crittenden County, about 10.6 miles north of Marion.
Cave In Rock Ferry Company, owned by Lonnie Lewis, has run the boat under contract since 1994. Funding comes jointly from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and Illinois DOT via the Ohio River Ferry Authority.
Yes, separately from the current funding dispute. KYTC and IDOT have pulled the ferry from service for Ohio River ice and high water in past winters, without a fixed closure calendar.