Single-boat pattern rebuilt from DOTD's published boarding windows and departure minutes (checked September 28, 2026). DOTD publishes no departure list, and the second boat's extra weekday trips are not included, so these times are shown as a guide rather than a timetable. · Representative sailings only — check the operator for today's full schedule
Departures 1–10 / 10
Departures 1–10 / 10
Operator
Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD)
Map – Plaquemine Ferry
| Fare type | Price |
|---|---|
| Walk-on passenger, Sunshine to Plaquemine (westbound) | $0.50 |
| Car, Sunshine to Plaquemine (westbound) | $1.00 |
| Car or walk-on passenger, Plaquemine to Sunshine (eastbound) | Free |
DOTD's ferry-status page states one toll rule for its managed ferries: westbound crossings cost $1 per car and 50 cents per walk-on passenger, eastbound crossings are free. Because Plaquemine sits on the west bank and Sunshine on the east bank, that puts the charge on the Sunshine-to-Plaquemine run only; the City of Plaquemine's transportation page agrees, saying there is no toll when boarding at the west bank landing. The status page does not name Plaquemine in that sentence, so treat the amounts as MEDIUM confidence. Payment is on board, with no reservation or online ticket, and DOTD does not say whether cards are accepted. All fares in US dollars (USD).
The Plaquemine ferry carries LA 75 across the Mississippi River between the west bank town of Plaquemine, at the foot of Belleview Drive, and the small east bank community of Sunshine. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development operates it directly. The reason it matters is the alternative: DOTD lists the detour as 29 miles, over the I-10 Mississippi River bridge at Baton Rouge, so the boat is the short way for anyone commuting between the two banks of Iberville Parish, and DOTD's table gives its capacity as 35 cars with a 51-foot maximum vehicle length.
This is a timetable crossing, not a shuttle that leaves when full. According to a December 2025 DOTD notice, a single boat departs Plaquemine at :00 and :30 and Sunshine at :15 and :45. The published hours are first and final boarding times, which for weekdays are 4:30 a.m. and 7:45 p.m. and for weekends 9:30 a.m. and 6:45 p.m. That is why the last sailing of the day is always from Sunshine. On weekdays a second boat is scheduled from 5:15 to 9:00 a.m. and from 3:15 to 7:00 p.m., which brings departures to every 15 minutes at the commuter peaks.
The second boat is where plans go wrong. DOTD has announced outages for it in April and June 2026 and again for Monday, September 28, when only one boat was running because of mechanical problems. On days like that, expect the interval to double and the queue to build in the morning and afternoon.
Tolls follow DOTD's statewide ferry rule: $1 per car and 50 cents per pedestrian westbound, nothing eastbound, so only the Sunshine-to-Plaquemine trip is charged. You pay on board and there is nothing to book. Weather can stop the boats, and DOTD's ferry hotline at 888-613-3779 and 511la.org carry the same-day word on whether they are running.
- 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
Only in one direction. DOTD's ferry-status page says westbound crossings cost $1 per car and 50 cents per walk-on passenger and eastbound crossings are free. Plaquemine is on the west bank, so the charge falls on the Sunshine-to-Plaquemine trip. You pay on board; there is no online ticket.
Monday-Friday, DOTD's first boarding is at 4:30 a.m. and the final boarding is at 7:45 p.m. Saturday and Sunday run from 9:30 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. The City of Plaquemine rounds these to 8 p.m. and 7 p.m. on its own page.
With one boat, every 30 minutes: Plaquemine at :00 and :30, Sunshine at :15 and :45. When the second boat runs on weekdays (5:15-9:00 a.m. and 3:15-7:00 p.m.), DOTD says boats depart every 15 minutes.
The main boat is running on its normal hours. DOTD announced on September 27, 2026 that the second boat is out on Monday, September 28 for mechanical problems and would resume after repairs, with no date given. Check 511la.org or call 888-613-3779 for the current state.
DOTD's status table lists the crossing at 35 cars with a maximum vehicle length of 51 feet. Anything longer, such as a big rig with a trailer, needs to use the I-10 bridge, which DOTD puts at 29 miles away.
The Plaquemine landing is at the end of LA 75 (Belleview Drive) on the west bank of the Mississippi. The Sunshine landing is directly across the river on the east bank, also on LA 75, roughly 1.3 kilometers (0.8 mile) away by straight line.
Not always. DOTD closes the crossing for weather, and it has ended 24-hour winter-weather service and then returned to the normal 4:30 a.m. start. For Christmas Day and New Year's Day 2025 it ran one boat on normal hours; watch for a similar 2026 notice.
No reservation exists. Drivers line up at the landing and board the next boat that has room. DOTD does not say whether the westbound toll can be paid by card, so carry a dollar bill and some coins for a car with passengers.