Hours published by the City of Grafton and read on 6 October 2026, in effect since April 10, 2026: Monday to Thursday 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Central time). No individual departure times are published. · 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
Calhoun Ferry Company
Map – Grafton Ferry
| Fare type | Price |
|---|---|
| Passenger car or small truck, one way | $10.00 |
| Passenger car or small truck, round trip | $19.00 |
| Foot passenger, one way | $5.00 |
| Bicycle, one way | $6.00 |
| Motorcycle, one way | $7.00 |
| Motorcycle, round trip | $13.00 |
| Dual-wheel vehicle over 1 ton, one way | $11.00 |
| Tandem, one way | $12.00 |
| Semi, one way | $15.00 |
| Trailer, per axle, one way | $2.00 |
| Daily commuter pass, 10 one-way trips | $70.00 |
Fares are listed on the page the operator's website address forwards to (Great Rivers & Routes), which says cash, check and credit cards are accepted. The page gives no effective date. St. Louis Public Radio reported on April 10, 2026 that the one-way car and small-truck fare rose from $9 to $10, which matches the $10 listed. Passenger car and small truck rates are listed for one way and round trip; all other lines are one way. All fares in US dollars (USD).
The Grafton Ferry carries cars, bikes and walkers between the river town of Grafton, Illinois, and St. Charles County, Missouri, across the point where the Illinois River meets the Mississippi. Its landing on the Illinois side sits beside the Grafton Lighthouse and the public boat ramp off Market Street; on the Missouri side it is at Grafton Ferry Road, just off Highway 94. The shortcut matters to commuters and day-trippers from St. Charles because the Great Rivers & Routes page puts the saving at roughly 30 minutes against the road route.
The most important fact is that the old season is gone. MoDOT's ferry list still tags this route '(Seasonal)', and a Calhoun Ferry Company page still says it runs seasonally. Both are out of date. Until 2026 the boat ran Fridays to Sundays from mid-April to mid-November. The City of Grafton then bought it, with a $1.458 million IDOT grant according to the Illinois Business Journal, and on April 10, 2026 the boat began operating seven days a week, all year. IDOT's own list now describes it as city owned and privately operated. Calhoun Ferry Company still runs the vessel for the city. So there is no 2026 closing date to look up.
The city's FAQ publishes the hours: Monday to Thursday 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. There is no departure table, and the phone number the city and MoDOT give is (800) 258-6645. As the mayor told St. Louis Public Radio, heavy ice or strong winds can stop the boat on some days.
A car or small truck pays $10 one way or $19 round trip, a person on foot $5, a bicycle $6 and a motorcycle $7. Cards, cash and checks are accepted according to the Grafton Ferry listing that the operator's web address redirects to. A ten-trip daily commuter pass is $70.
Do not confuse it with two neighbors. The Brussels Ferry is IDOT's free boat on the Illinois River, and it never leaves Illinois. The Golden Eagle Ferry is another Calhoun Ferry Company crossing, on the Mississippi farther downstream, with a Friday and Saturday finish at 2 a.m. rather than 10 p.m.
- 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
Yes. Since April 10, 2026 it runs seven days a week all year under city ownership. The old Friday-to-Sunday season from mid-April to mid-November ended. MoDOT's list still says (Seasonal), which is out of date.
Monday to Thursday 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., according to the City of Grafton's FAQ.
$10 one way or $19 round trip for a passenger car or small truck, $5 for a foot passenger, $6 for a bicycle and $7 for a motorcycle. A ten-trip daily commuter pass costs $70.
No. The Brussels Ferry is a free IDOT crossing of the Illinois River that stays in Illinois and runs around the clock. The Grafton Ferry is fee-based and crosses to St. Charles County, Missouri.
No. Golden Eagle is another Calhoun Ferry Company crossing, on the Mississippi between Golden Eagle, Illinois, and Kampville, Missouri, with its own hours. Grafton's ferry connects Grafton and the Grafton Ferry Road landing off Highway 94.
In Grafton it is beside the Grafton Lighthouse and public boat ramp off Market Street. In Missouri it is at Grafton Ferry Road, just off Highway 94 in St. Charles County.
The Grafton Ferry listing that the operator's web address redirects to says cash, check and credit cards are accepted.
Call (800) 258-6645, the number on the City of Grafton's FAQ and MoDOT's ferry list. The mayor has said that heavy ice or strong wind can stop service on some days.