Isle Royale ferry from Grand Portage

This guide is for anyone planning Isle Royale from the Minnesota side: day-trippers, backpackers getting dropped at a trailhead, and paddlers bringing a canoe. It covers the two boats, the 2026 schedule and fares, park fees and permits, and the booking and cancellation rules that matter most.

Schedules and fares come from the operator's site, isleroyaleboats.com, and park rules from the National Park Service. Every schedule and fare below is for the 2026 season. The operator had not posted 2027 schedules as of November 11, 2026; its booking page says, "Reservations for 2027 are not available yet. Please check here in late November for updates." 2027 dates and fares may differ.

The two boats compared

The NPS lists the same two crossing times. All ferry times in this guide are Central time, as the operator prints them (CDT). Isle Royale itself is on Eastern time: the NPS FAQ says the park "is on eastern time, since it is part of Keweenaw County, Michigan." The NPS directions page gives the same ferry trips in both zones (the Voyageur II leaves at "8:30 am eastern time/ 7:30 am central time"), and its Voyageur II and Sea Hunter III pages recommend staying on Central time during your trip. Park hours posted on the island, such as fee collection hours, are Eastern.

You cannot take a car. The NPS says, "Transportation options are for people only. Your vehicle remains on the mainland."

2026 season schedule

Sea Hunter III (day trips and Windigo campers)

Departs Grand Portage at 8:30 a.m., arrives Windigo 10:00 a.m., leaves Windigo 2:00 p.m., back in Grand Portage at 3:30 p.m. (all Central). That gives day-trippers about four hours on the island.

• June 10 to July 11: Wednesday through Saturday
• July 15 to August 16: Wednesday through Sunday
• August 19 to September 5: Wednesday through Saturday

The operator's camping page lists slightly different summer breaks (June 10 to July 12, and July 22 to August 16) than its schedules and day-trip pages. Confirm the exact day when you book.

Voyageur II (around the island)

Outbound (north side): leaves Grand Portage 7:30 a.m., Windigo 9:30 to 10:00 a.m., McCargoe Cove about 1:00 p.m., Belle Isle about 1:30 p.m., Rock Harbor 3:00 p.m. It overnights at Rock Harbor.

Inbound (south side, next day): leaves Rock Harbor 8:00 a.m., stopping at Daisy Farm, Chippewa Harbor and Malone Bay, then Windigo 12:30 to 1:00 p.m., arriving Grand Portage 3:00 p.m.

• May 9 to May 24: outbound Wednesday and Saturday, inbound Thursday and Sunday
• May 25 to September 13: outbound Monday, Wednesday, Saturday; inbound Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday
• September 16 to 24: outbound Wednesday, inbound Thursday

The operator says the Voyageur II "may not stop at any docks other than Windigo (Washington Harbor) and Rock Harbor unless there are reservations," and the last pickup option at McCargoe Cove or Belle Isle in 2026 was September 12.

Fall day trips: on September 19, 20, 26 and 27, 2026, the Voyageur II ran day trips to Windigo, leaving Grand Portage at 8 a.m. and Windigo at 1 p.m. The operator says no day trips ran from September 6 to 18.

2026 season fares

The booking company adds a 6% non-refundable fee to each reservation. Parking at the ferry terminal is charged by the village of Grand Portage, not the ferry line, and is paid on your return; the operator says it was $5 a day in 2026. Each passenger may bring up to 40 pounds of gear.

Park entrance fees and permits

Isle Royale charges its own fee, separate from the ferry. Per the NPS fees page:

• $7 per person per day, counting the day you arrive and the day you leave. Children 15 and under are exempt.
• Isle Royale Season Pass: $60, covering the pass holder and up to three adults traveling with them for the April 16 to October 31 season.
• Federal lands passes (annual, senior, military, access and others) are accepted and must be shown on the island.
• Cashless: the park takes cards only for entrance fees. Paying online ahead of time avoids a wait; on-island fee hours at Windigo and Rock Harbor are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern, which is 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Central.

Overnight permits: parties of one to six people get a free small-party permit from a ranger at Windigo or Rock Harbor when the ferry arrives; you do not apply ahead. Groups of seven or more need a group camping permit and advance reservations.

No pets: the operator says pets are not allowed on Isle Royale or on its boats, including boats within park waters, except ADA service animals cleared by the Park Service in advance.

Season and timing

The NPS says the park is open April 16 to October 31 and closed to all visitors from November 1 to April 15, and that ferries and seaplanes run "from the middle of May until September." The operator says most Sea Hunter III and Voyageur II trips "sell out at least three to four months in advance" and that it keeps no wait list. On November 11, 2026, its booking page said, "Reservations for 2027 are not available yet. Please check here in late November for updates."

Pack for the lake, not the parking lot. The operator says Lake Superior is "typically 30 to 40 degrees cooler than the air temperature on the mainland," that the boats run rain or shine, and that not every passenger gets an indoor seat. See our Lake Superior water temperature guide.

Weather cancellations

If the operator cancels for weather, you get a full refund, but only if you are at the dock and check in, since weather calls are made at departure time. For day trips, the operator says it cancels before leaving the mainland rather than risk stranding passengers overnight.

Before you book

• Cancellation: cancel at least two full weeks before the outbound date for an 85% refund. Inside two weeks, or a no-show, there is no refund. Groups over six need six weeks' notice. Date changes within the same season cost $10 and are not allowed inside two weeks.
• Book the return at the same time. The operator requires your return reservation when you book outbound.
• Arrival time: the day-trip page says be at the dock 20 minutes before departure; the camping page says at least 45 minutes. Plan on the earlier time.
• Fuel for stoves: on the Sea Hunter III all fuel must come out of packs and ride in a deck container.
• Where to sleep the night before: the operator lists Grand Portage Lodge and Casino, Hollow Rock Resort, and Grand Portage Marina and Campground. No camping or overnight car camping is allowed at Hat Point Marina.
• Terminal name: the operator calls its dock the Hat Point ferry terminal; the NPS lists the Grand Portage Marina, 402 Upper Rd. Use the address in your confirmation.

With a few hours before an afternoon return, the Grand Portage National Monument and the High Falls at Grand Portage State Park are both nearby. For somewhere to stay farther down the shore, see camping near Grand Marais.

Related guides: All North Shore guides · Minnesota road trips · Grand Portage National Monument · Duluth to Grand Marais, stop by stop

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Sources

• Grand Portage Isle Royale Transportation Lines, home and booking page: https://www.isleroyaleboats.com/
• Grand Portage Isle Royale Transportation Lines, 2026 Schedules: https://www.isleroyaleboats.com/schedules.html
• Grand Portage Isle Royale Transportation Lines, Rates: https://www.isleroyaleboats.com/rates.html
• Grand Portage Isle Royale Transportation Lines, Day Trips: https://www.isleroyaleboats.com/day-trips.html
• Grand Portage Isle Royale Transportation Lines, Camping and Hiking Trips: https://www.isleroyaleboats.com/camping-trips.html
• Grand Portage Isle Royale Transportation Lines, FAQ: https://www.isleroyaleboats.com/faq.html
• Grand Portage Isle Royale Transportation Lines, About: https://www.isleroyaleboats.com/about.html
• National Park Service, Isle Royale, Directions and Transportation: https://www.nps.gov/isro/planyourvisit/directions.htm
• National Park Service, Isle Royale, Fees and Passes: https://www.nps.gov/isro/planyourvisit/fees.htm
• National Park Service, Isle Royale, Permits (small-party permits): https://www.nps.gov/isro/planyourvisit/permits.htm
• National Park Service, Isle Royale, Windigo: https://www.nps.gov/isro/planyourvisit/windigo.htm
• National Park Service, Isle Royale, Frequently Asked Questions (time zone): https://www.nps.gov/isro/faqs.htm
• National Park Service, Isle Royale, Voyageur II: https://www.nps.gov/isro/planyourvisit/voyageur-ii.htm
• National Park Service, Isle Royale, Sea Hunter III: https://www.nps.gov/isro/planyourvisit/sea-hunter-iii.htm
• National Park Service, NPS Data API, Isle Royale operating hours (parkCode isro): https://developer.nps.gov/api/v1/parks?parkCode=isro