Standard year-round schedule, in effect since October 1, 2024 and confirmed current as of September 15, 2026
Departures 1–10 / 10
Departures 1–10 / 10
Crossing time
~10 min
Operator
EUPTA
Map – Drummond Island Ferry
| Fare type | Price |
|---|---|
| Walk-On Passenger (round trip) | $2.00 |
| Walk-On Passenger, Senior/Disabled (round trip) | $1.00 |
| Car / Pickup / UTV (round trip) | $20.00 |
| Car / Pickup / UTV, Senior/Disabled (round trip) | $10.00 |
| Motorcycle / Snowmobile / ATV (round trip) | $10.00 |
| Truck, Single Axle / Commercial Delivery (round trip) | $30.00 |
| Truck, Tandem Axle (round trip) | $35.00 |
| Motor Home (round trip) | $35.00 |
| Pickup with Camper (round trip) | $30.00 |
| Trailer up to 15 ft (round trip) | $20.00 |
| Trailer over 15 ft to 25 ft (round trip) | $25.00 |
| Trailer over 25 ft (round trip) | $35.00 |
| Regular Gas / Explosive / Concrete Truck (round trip) | $70.00 |
| Semi, Gas / Explosive (round trip) | $140.00 |
| Special Load, one-way (added to regular fare, by appointment) | $150.00 |
| House Move, one-way (by appointment only) | $500.00 |
| 20-Trip Commuter Punch Card, Car / Pickup / UTV | $105.00 |
| 20-Trip Commuter Punch Card, Senior Car / Pickup / UTV | $80.00 |
| 20-Trip Commuter Punch Card, Truck Single Axle / Trailer 15-25 ft | $320.00 |
| 20-Trip Commuter Punch Card, Truck Tandem Axle / Trailer 25 ft+ | $550.00 |
All fares are round trip and include everyone riding inside the vehicle, except Specials and Houses, which are one-way. Senior (65+) and disabled riders must show ID or documentation to get the reduced rate. Commuter punch cards are valid at all three EUPTA island ferries (Drummond, Sugar, and Neebish), expire six months after purchase, and are non-transferable. All fares in US dollars (USD).
The Drummond Island Ferry is the only way to bring a vehicle onto Drummond Island, Michigan's fourth-largest island and a year-round community of roughly 1,000 residents in eastern Chippewa County. The Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority (EUPTA), a public transit agency headquartered in Sault Ste. Marie, runs the crossing between the DeTour Village mainland dock and the island's south shore dock, a short hop across the DeTour Passage of the St. Marys River that takes about 10 minutes.
Unlike many Great Lakes ferries, this route runs seven days a week, all year, on a fixed near-hourly grid rather than a seasonal timetable: the first boat leaves Drummond Island around 5:10 a.m. and the last regular departure is just after midnight, with an extra late run added Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. There is no reservation system. Vehicles line up at the dock in the order they arrive, and EUPTA may add extra "wild" trips during summer, holiday, and event traffic to clear the line faster.
Fares are charged round trip and scale with vehicle length, from cars and pickups up to tandem-axle trucks, motor homes, and long trailers; walk-on passengers, motorcycles, snowmobiles, and ATVs pay separately. Seniors 65 and over and riders with disabilities get a reduced rate but must show ID or documentation. Frequent travelers can buy 20-trip commuter punch cards, valid at any of EUPTA's three island ferries and good for six months, at the dock, the EUPTA office, or online. Same-day tickets can also be bought and activated through the myEUPTA mobile app; credit and debit cards are preferred, though cash and checks are accepted.
Going into the second half of 2026, EUPTA has only one vessel assigned to Drummond Island: its regular second boat, the Drummond Islander III, was temporarily reassigned to cover the Sugar Island ferry while that route's usual vessel sits in scheduled five-year drydock maintenance. EUPTA says the Drummond schedule itself is running on time, but travelers should expect longer loading and boarding waits than usual, especially during peak summer and holiday periods, until the swap is reversed later in the fall.
- 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
About 10 minutes each way between the DeTour Village dock and the Drummond Island dock, according to EUPTA, the operator.
Round-trip fares start at $2 for a walk-on passenger and $20 for a car, pickup, or UTV. Trucks, motor homes, and trailers cost more depending on axle count and length, up to $35 round trip for the longest standard trailers.
Yes. It operates year-round, seven days a week, with the same schedule in every season. It does not have a reduced winter timetable like EUPTA's seasonal Neebish Island ferry.
No. There is no booking system. Vehicles line up at the dock in the order they arrive, and EUPTA may add extra trips during busy periods to clear the line.
The mainland dock is in DeTour Village, Chippewa County, Michigan. The island-side dock is on the south end of Drummond Island, directly across the DeTour Passage.
Yes, for the 2026 summer season. EUPTA temporarily moved its second Drummond Island boat, the Drummond Islander III, to cover the Sugar Island route while that ferry is in scheduled drydock maintenance, so Drummond Island is running with a single vessel and longer loading waits.
Yes. EUPTA prefers credit or debit cards but also accepts cash and checks at the dock, plus tickets purchased through the myEUPTA mobile app.
Yes. Riders 65 and older, and passengers with disabilities, pay a reduced round-trip rate, but must show ID or proof of disability status to the crew.