Lake Express – Milwaukee Terminal

The boat was very nice and we enjoyed the ride. We were very disappointed though that they chose to show a PG-​13 movie. I didn’t really enjoy having to constantly redirect my 3 and 5 year-​old kiddos when they were trying to watch the violence on the half a dozen TV screens. When I spoke with a crew member they just confirmed it was PG-​13 movie and said they usually show PG movies… and then they didn’t even turn it off. It sort of ruined what would have been a lovely experience.

You want to get to Michigan or MKE quick? Bypass all the BS around Chicago? Or do you have friends coming from Michigan to visit? Well despite the price the ferry is truly the way to go. Most of our friends came on Thursday and left on Sunday mid-​afternoon. What better than cruising across the lake while nursing your hangover and not having to worry about the drive? The Lake Express is what it is and does what it does in comfort. This is the easiest way to get from here to there hands down. That’s priceless.

Transparency disclaimer: The only thing keeping me from giving five big stars to the Lake Express is the cost associated w/​round trip travel (with a car). It’s almost $ 400.
Aside from that, though, Lake Express = pretty damn near perfect.
Two and a half hours of smooth sailing across our glorious inland sea pond, and all the sudden you’re on Eastern Time and in our neighborly mitten. Easy peasy, boom.
Load-​in w/​the car is an absolute cinch, and the vessel itself is clean and comfortable. The waitstaff are attentive and the whole experience was incredibly anti-​climactic in this really fantastic way.
If you’re brave, venture up to the top deck for some pristine and expansive views of Lake Michigan. It’s so calm comparative to an actual ocean, but it still *feels* like an ocean… miles upon miles of open water with no land in sight. It almost felt like something out of a dream; a calm and water-​y desert where the horizon meets the water all around. The gradient blues and purples and yellows made it so surreal and dreamy. If you sail during nice weather, def take some time to sit outside and take it all in.
That said, when you’re clipping away at full speed, you need some serious moxy to get up there. It’s windy, so be warned!
Would travel again, especially if I had a car situation figured out on the other side. Of course, in this case, work paid for the trip, but $ 400 for car + person round trip = a little steep, IMO. That said, it was a seriously awesome experience and I would definitely recommend/​do it again!

Excellent experience. Extremely smooth check in process. Premier lounge a must. Quiet comfortable and great service. Saved an incredible amount of time and driving stress.
After reading several negative reviews dealing w rough waters, keep in mind lake express cannot control the weather!
We would definitely do this again!
Thx lake express!

We have used this ferry on three different trips across Lake Michigan. If you are heading north of Muskegon you should consider taking this ferry. This year I shot across the lake with my son to do some camping in Muskegon. The trip is really quick from my house in Highland Park. Drive one hour to Milwaukee, ferry across in 2.5 hours, drive another 15 minutes, and you’re at Hoffmaster State Park! Others have mentioned possible rough water, absolutely, I loved it. The first two crossings were totally calm and somewhat boring. This third trip was a bit rough, 6 to 8 foot waves. The boat rocked like a boat should. If you are prone to seasickness, they will offer free medication to combat the sickness prior to departure.
The outdoor spaces are amazing on board. It is very windy on the top deck, but the rear deck is out of the wind, just a bit noisier from the giant water jet engines.
This ferry is a great little adventure and I highly recommend it. Driving around the bottom of Lake Michigan can become tiresome, if you do it several times a year, as I do. I always enjoy skipping the crush through Chicago and jumping aboard the ferry. I can’t comment on the food service as we always skip it. The soft drinks and water hit the spot for us.
Employees and crew of this company are really friendly.

We took a roundtrip ride from Milwaukee over 4^th of July weekend and we had a wonderful experience. I read some reviews beforehand about people getting left, cancellations due to weather, etc. The weather thing is unavoidable but luckily we had a beautiful weekend. The ferry did leave about 10 minutes early so be prepared for that.
**Mainly, I just wanted to give a huge thank you to the staff on the Muskegon side for helping us out! We were running a few mintues late and were worried we wouldn’t make it. We called and said we were on our way and when we arrived they were ready for us and quickly got us on in time. We might have been turned away if it wasn’t for their efficient and helpful actions! We really appreciate it! Thanks for a fun trip, Lake Express!

Gluten free food options on the ferry!
Others have reviewed the ferry, how the cars get loaded, etc. I want to review the food offerings, specifically the gluten-​free options.
Our trip on the ferry was going to cover lunch time, so as usual, I brought some gluten-​free snacks in case there was nothing I could eat on the ferry itself. I was in for two surprises.
The first surprise was when they announced no carry-​on food could be eaten on the ferry. Unhappily, I perused the on board menu, finding mostly fast/​junk food. But there were several items I could eat: an apple, a banana, a vegetable combo of grape tomatoes/​celery sticks/​broccoli/​baby carrots, and a fresh fruit dish with cheddar cheese cubes.
I got my second surprise when I went up to the counter. The server was very helpful. She gave me a binder to look at, with sheets explaining the ingredients in everything. This is great not only for gluten-​free eaters, but also for anyone else with food sensitivities or allergies. My investigations showed me more food options. They have individual packets of «Newman’s Dressings» that are gluten-​free, that can be added to the veggie combo or the caesar salad.
I ended up ordering a banana, and eating it clandestinely with the peanut butter I had carried on board, but it is good to know there are options for those who do not bring their own stash onto the ferry.

I’ve ridden the ferry 5 or 6 times this summer. All but the last one was from Milwaukee to Muskegon. Every time it left on time or a few minutes early which is great. I have only had rough seas one time and even then it wasn’t so bad that I got sick.
My first complaint is that the «Premier» cabin isn’t all that great. Yes there are two private unisex restrooms and you get a free beverage. Other than that I wasn’t impressed. The seats are old and worn. there are only a few normal height tables to use and if you’re the last one to board (more on that in a minute) you will not get one of those tables.
My 2^nd complaint is the Muskegon crew… they load the ferry the opposite of Milwaukee… smallest first then largest. The large vehicles are in the 2 center lanes and the small ones are one the outside lanes. They load all the small cars waiting in line and made the 5 pick up sized vehicles wait. Ok fine no big deal but then we have to wait for 5 more small cars that arrive at the last minute. It would make more sense to load the 5 bigger vehicles then the small ones waiting in line. The last minute arrivals could then be parked behind the bigger ones. The staff also asked the first few big vehicles to wait in their trucks in case they needed to be moved up some. Then they never came to tell us we could get out of our trucks. We figured it out as we watched them close the doors. All in all not very efficient on the Muskegon side. Milwaukee loads much faster and way mode logically.

I finally got my ride on the Lake Express! I have been waiting for years. I could never quite justify the cost (It was near $ 300 for two of us plus our car), but I do love to be on a boat!
We took the early boat on a Monday. Which meant we had to be there by 5:15 (You arrive 45 minutes before the leaving time so all the cars can get loaded). We were warned when we got on that there were waves and it would be a rocky ride. They offered to refund the money, which I think is amazing. We didn’t take it, because I wanted my boat ride darn it.
The inside left a little something to be desired, I really wish they would make it a little more fancy. It felt out dated, I don’t know what I expected, but it was more bus on the water than luxury boat cruise. Clearly, I prefer the later.
The hostess came around immediately passing out vomit bags, she looked as though she would vomit at any moment. We were told there would be no food or beverage service other than water because people will get sick. We didn’t get sick and I had no coffee. It was 5 a.m. They played Godzilla on the TV and passed out headphones which was great because is drowned out the sounds of everyone vomiting. Seriously, half the cabin was throwing up I kid you not.
My three stars is not because of the rocky ride or the
. It’s for the fact that the staff did not seem prepared for it. Nothing is worse than seeing employees on the back deck puking their guts out. We felt fine, yet I couldn’t get any coffee or snacks probably because the person who makes the coffee was not fine. Find your sea legs people!

2.5 hours across the lake takes the stress out of the drive to Michigan if you are going anywhere in the middle. I have used this service to get me into Canada via the Sarnia crossing and I can make it deep into Ontario, Canada crossing on the 12:30 PM boat. I have taken my truck or rented a vehicle on the opposite side. You can get a bite to eat and there are drinks of course. I have always left on time and arrived on time as well.

Very nice got their early, people very nice very helpfull. nice lobby to hang out in until ferry docks, you can order on line or by phone they will give you a confirmation number. Some food in lobby very pricey for what you get .A little tip eat before you get their save your self a but load of money. Easy on and off with car, very smooth ride .Ride out side very windy and cold, start outside then head in and when ready to dock head outside again.

The only thing keeping me from rating this a 5 star is the cost of the trip. I usually take the train to Michigan, but for $ 80 – 100 more you can take the ferry and get there in a few hours instead of an all day investment. The price is unreasonable if you are traveling with more than yourself.
This is only worth it if you are by yourself. If you are traveling with a partner you should consider flying or taking the train. If you are traveling with 2+ people rent a car. There is no need to pay a thousand bucks or more when driving isn’t too much longer or too much more $.
Except for the price, I enjoyed every aspect of the trip. The seats were comfortable, the service friendly and the views unmatched. You can walk all around the ship. It was such a cool experience. I will definitely be using Lake Express again.

After reading some of the previous reviews, I was a bit concerned about making reservations, but went ahead anyway. So, so glad I did. The entire crew was very professional, knowledgable and friendly. The Lake Express is a solid, fast ship with ample comfortable seating and plenty of room to move about. The crossing was quick (a little over 2 hours) and relatively smooth considering the 2 – 4 foot waves. A fair variety of food, drink and snacks are available. Most people supplied their own entertainment but a movie is played on various TV’s around the spacious cabin. And there’s plenty of area outside area to sit or walk about and enjoy the fresh air and view. All in all, an enjoyable, relaxing alternative to the 5 – 6 hour drive from Milwaukee to Muskegon. Thank you Lake Express !!!

Don’t do it! Really! DON’T! We went to Grand Haven for what was supposed to be a relaxing, worry-​free weekend. Just a few hours before our Sunday departure, we received a recorded message that the ferry back to Milwaukee had been cancelled. So, there I was with two young kids, no car, and a job to go to the next morning. I had no other choice than to rent a car, buy 2 car seats, and hit the road for a very long trek home (so much for relaxing and worry-​free). The Lake Express policy is «travel at your own risk.» If you do feel like taking that risk, make sure you answer your cell phone when a 1 – 866 number calls. That is the recording telling you your ferry has been cancelled…

Took the 2.5 hour trip from Milwaukee to Michigan, well worth the dollars for the time saved. The car was safe and sound and I actually saved money from buying gas and caffeinated drinks had I decided to drive.
Very professional staff at every level, from parking lot attendant to the Captain who made the cruise as smooth as silk.
I loved this ferry ride!

Horrible. Cancelled with one hour notice on Labor Day Weekend as 14 of us were loading up to head to the dock on a tight schedule for a family wedding. We received a pre recorded message claiming «mechanical difficulties» and when we were able to reach a customer service person she also said there were «choppy waters». Not sure if I buy either of those excuses and was not able to get any additional information. We were offered no incentive (discount on future rides? free ticket for next time? comped plane ticket to get us to our destination in time? nope.) to ever use Lake Express Again.
When we called Enterprise to cancel the rent a car on the other side in Michigan, they said there were many people doing the same thing who had plans on Lake Express and were now in for a 6+ hour drive with their own cars instead.
Don’t rely on this company if you have anywhere to be and if you do chose to use them make sure you are at home an hour leading up to the trip to answer the recorded call you may receive letting you know you’re out of luck.

Brava, Jody! I nearly needed a Depends just to read your review! We went through it this weekend. Five foot waves and I spent much time outside or in the head. My husband hurled (I was no-​where in sight to help him) and the result was three bagged seats. I finally came back and sat in mine and tried to sleep.
Then he started driving trying to find a place to eat. I sat in the passenger seat in Muskegon staring straight ahead, unwilling/​unable to move or even turn my head. He stopped at a «family» restaurant where the hostess didn’t even notice him, went to the men’s room to change clothes and brush his teeth.
I got out of our car and vomited in the parking lot. Then we left. No food, tip, anything, it was almost like we were never there. I said «almost.»
Sunday morning came around and we got up early to meander back leaving an extra hour for random country roads and getting there at least an hour before to stage my car for transport. I said, «Honey? Does it take 12 – 14 hours to get from the northern tip of Michigan to Milwaukee?» He asked «why,»
“I’m thinking we should drive”. He checked it out and it came out 7 hours 15 min. It took 8 ½ with a stop for lunch, another for gas, another for a pretzel and water at the Oasis and ½ hour to get through horrible traffic in Chicago.
At 4:30 EST Lake Express called and asked where we were. We said we’re getting into Chicago right now. We got up early and decided to drive and were told there were no refunds inside a 72-​hour window. They gave us a $ 270 in-​house credit we never plan to use so I asked if we could give it to charity. They’re working on it and a donee should be calling any time now.
If the charity works out, I’d like to give the gift in memory of a Navy Captain who served for 37 years and died in January. He married us ten years ago and we flew to his burial at Annapolis earlier this year. And have a note sent to his widow. I think it’ll be the best $ 270 we ever spent.
I live my life by the Lake Express. Looking out at Lake Michigan from the 15^th floor, it tells me to stop writing and eat lunch or prepare dinner. I watch it go in an out as much as I see the regattas or air show. We just weren’t sailors this weekend.
We got in at five and watched from home as the Lake Express came in at 6:15. Traveling is always stressful and it’s always great to come home.

We were so excited to be going on this high speed ferry. We took it on Saturday, July 7, and I can only say that I felt I was in a never ending disaster flick. Other passengers who have taken this boat often said that it should never have been allowed to sail. Dramamine was mentioned in a canned announcement over the loudspeakers at the dock, but since nobody in my family has ever been remotely affected by motion sickness, we figured we were fine, even is it was a bit choppy.
Choppy? Try five to seven foot waves crashing the boat around for the two hours it was outside of breakwater. There were whitecaps as far as the eye could see, and the widespread puking commenced almost immediately. Somebody announced there was a limited supply of motion sickness stuff on the boat available (for sale, of course) but it wasn’t Dramamine, just some ginger chews.
A fellow passenger told me it was best to step outside for fresh air if I was feeling sick. First comes, the sweating, the denial, and then the blowing. I managed to rush outside and hurl next to the lifeboat. I then stayed out there the entire trip, unable (and afraid) to move. The lovely woman who had been seated next to me joined me, and offered a barf bag, which I promptly used. There was no place to throw it away and no staff came to help, so I eventually stuffed it under the lifeboat. Other passengers came to join me in the hurl party. I honestly haven’t seen this much vomit flying from great heights since I attended an unfortunate wapatula party my senior year in college.
During this time, the only staff members I saw where busy changing out garbage bags at the back of the boat. I managed to stay stable for a while, but when somebody mentioned that their wife couldn’t keep a mint down, I lost it again, luckily a passenger had given me a bag.
Without any place to put the barf bags, I resorted to crawling around the deck, one clutched in each hand. Nothing says swag like an upchuck bag. Finally, in desperation, I found a pair of earplugs on a long cord that had been thrown from the lifeboat in the tumult. I tied my bags to one of the rails to get it out of my face.
When we finally hit break water at the end of the trip, I went inside to assess the damage. Several seats had black bags over them, and it was apparent this had been a miserable voyage for many. Showers and a change of clothes were in the immediate future for these folks.
While I realize there was probably a weather pattern that caused this, it seemed unconscionable to let people go on this ride without individual staff members telling people to take something before they got on the boat. Cancelling would have been better. A few seasoned travelers on this boat told me (again) this was by far the worst and roughest ride they had *ever* been on and they couldn’t believe it was allowed to sail.
So if you go, I strongly suggested you bring a bag for your garbage and possibly put on a Depend diaper in the event you pee yourself from vomiting so hard you have stomach acid burns in your esophagus for the next 24 hours. NEVER AGAIN.

As a native of West Michigan, I love having the Lake Express as an option to visit my hometown without needing to drive through Chicago. Having taken a hiatus of a few years from the ferry, I opted to test it out again this summer. Even after seven-​ish years of service, the boat is in fabulous shape — the staff is vigilant about keeping it clean and well-​maintained before, during, and after voyages. The seats are pretty darn comfy, too, affording quality people– and water-​watching opportunities (okay, or napping). The trip takes about 2.5 hours and guests are asked to arrive 45 minutes in advance of sailing. Parking is available on the Milwaukee side for $ 5/​day, which is a pretty good deal compared to Amtrak or the airport. On the Muskegon side, I think parking is still $ 4. Car rentals are also available at either port. Food is served on board, ranging from hot grill items (burgers, hot dogs) to snacky items like chips and cookies. In the last few years, they’ve transitioned to Coke products and they do offer Milwaukee Brewing Company beers as well. Overall, a nice selection to satisfy some mid-​lake cravings.
The only downside that I’ve experienced with Lake Express is the rising cost. I feel spoiled that I used to get such good student deals a few years ago — the cost for an adult traveling round-​trip, alone, without a car on-​board is up to $ 168, once you factor in the $ 20 fuel surcharge and $ 12 port security fee. Yikes. Pretty sure I used to travel for around $ 85. From what I can recall, it seems like prices started to increase when gas prices spiked in summer 2008 and just never settled back down. Perhaps they’ve noticed it though, as I feel like they’re offering more specials this summer than in the past (I got my ticket for $ 130 this time).
Things to note:
–Just because it’s a big boat doesn’t mean it’s immune to waves. If you’re apt to seasickness, try to get a seat near the restroom or get some fresh air.
–There is limited seating outdoors; keep in mind it’s always chillier on the water than on land, so you may want a jacket. It’s pretty chilly in the cabin as well.
–When weather cancellations occur, there’s usually a shuttle that offers to drive passengers to the opposite terminal. From my experience, they’re generally pretty accommodating about refunding or offering credits if you choose not to use their transportation in such circumstances.
–The Airport Connection shuttle service also does pick-​ups/​drop-​offs at the port and may be cheaper than a taxi.
Overall, it’s a great experience. Super simple, fast, and a fun alternative to standard transportation!

Thought we’d take the Ferry over rather than make the miserable drive around the south curve of Lake Michigan. Easy boarding and friendly people. They show a movie on-​board (pay for headphones) and have a little café counter with sandwiches and drinks. The boat is a jet-​propelled high-​speed catamaran. If the weather is nice you can walk out on the deck. If it’s cold outside, it can be a little chilly indoors. Bring a jacket.
BE AWARE: I really liked it but there were some pretty rough waters coming over. 5 – 7 foot waves tossed the little catamaran about in the water and a number of people got sick. The cleanup crew was quite busy calmly walking around with disinfectant and towels.