Operating hours as posted by the ferry authority and the City of Lexington (checked September 28, 2026): Monday-Friday 6 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; closed Christmas Day. The boat crosses on demand within those hours, so there are no fixed departure times. Closes for high water, weather or repairs; check the ferry's Facebook page or call 859-469-3871. · 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
Valley View Ferry Authority
Map – Valley View Ferry
| Fare type | Price |
|---|---|
| Car or light vehicle up to 24 feet, with passengers, one way | Free |
No fare. The City of Lexington and the ferry authority both describe it as a free service funded by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and the fiscal courts of Madison and Jessamine counties plus Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government. There is no ticket, booking or toll booth. Vehicles longer than 24 feet are not allowed, and the operator also bans semi-trucks and says there is no turnaround at either landing, so an oversize vehicle cannot simply turn back.
The Valley View Ferry carries KY 169 across the Kentucky River where Fayette, Jessamine and Madison counties meet, roughly 10 to 13 miles south of Lexington, Nicholasville or Richmond. It is a small cable-guided barge pushed by a paddle-wheel towboat, and it is old: the Virginia General Assembly granted the franchise on February 11, 1785, seven years before Kentucky was a state, and the operator calls it the state's oldest continuous business. The ferry stayed in private hands for 206 years, with seven families running it, until Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government and the two neighboring counties bought it in 1991 for $60,000.
Today a ferry authority made up of residents and officials from the three governments manages it, and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet helps pay. Riding costs nothing. The boat runs Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., closing only on Christmas Day, and it crosses whenever vehicles are waiting rather than to a timetable. The operator reported 14,204 passengers in July 2025, a figure that reflects how many commuters between Madison County and the Lexington area still use it.
The rules are strict because the boat is small. Vehicles over 24 feet are not allowed, semi-trucks are banned, and there is no turnaround at either ramp, so a driver who arrives with something oversize must back up the approach road. The captain can refuse a vehicle at his discretion.
The river decides the rest. High water, ice, storms and maintenance all close the crossing, and it has done so repeatedly in 2026: ice in January and February, a repair week at the end of May, and flooding in late June that also closed part of Tates Creek Road in Madison County. When it is down, the recommended detours are I-75 between Lexington and Richmond, or US 27 to Lancaster and KY 52 for Nicholasville to Richmond. Call 859-469-3871 or look at the ferry's Facebook page before you go.
- 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. The ferry authority and the City of Lexington both say it is a free service, funded by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, the fiscal courts of Madison and Jessamine counties and Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government. There is no ticket and no toll.
Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. It is closed on Christmas Day. The boat crosses on demand inside those hours rather than on a fixed timetable.
No closure notice for late September 2026 turned up, so it should be on its posted hours. The operator says it can close for high water, bad weather or maintenance, and posts day-of-service updates on its Facebook page. Calling 859-469-3871 is the quickest check.
Passenger cars, pickups and similar light vehicles up to 24 feet long. Vehicles over 24 feet are not allowed, semi-trucks are banned, and the captain may turn away anything else. There is no turnaround at either landing.
The operator gives no river-level number. It says closures happen with high water or inclement weather. The captain has explained that a fast river strains the guide cables, brings debris and forces a higher landing on the ramps. In 2026 it also closed for ice and for flooding at the end of June.
It is on KY 169 (Tates Creek Road) at the Kentucky River. From Tates Creek Road and New Circle Road in Lexington it is about 11 miles; from Main Street and Richmond Avenue in Nicholasville about 10 miles; from West Main Street in Richmond about 13 miles.
Between Lexington and Richmond, use I-75. Between Nicholasville and Richmond, the operator suggests US 27 south to Lancaster in Garrard County and then KY 52 east to Richmond.
Its charter dates from February 11, 1785, signed by Governor Patrick Henry, and it was privately run for 206 years until the Lexington government and the two neighboring counties bought it in 1991 for $60,000.