Most write-ups treat the Mobile Bay Ferry as a shortcut — a way to skip the drive around the bay between Dauphin Island and Fort Morgan. That undersells it. Forty minutes across open water with the Gulf on one side, working rigs on the horizon, and pelicans tracking the boat is a genuinely good hour of a trip. It is an activity that happens to also be transportation.
Which matters, because as a pure shortcut it only wins in specific circumstances. Here is when it makes sense, what it costs, and how early you actually need to be in line.
The Route
The ferry runs between the east end of Dauphin Island and Mobile Point at Fort Morgan, crossing the mouth of Mobile Bay. The crossing takes about 40 minutes. It carries vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, and foot passengers.
- Dauphin Island landing: 112 Bienville Blvd
- Fort Morgan landing: 110 AL-180, Gulf Shores
Driving the same distance means going back up Dauphin Island Parkway, around through Mobile, down through Foley, and out the Fort Morgan peninsula — roughly two hours depending on Mobile traffic.
When the Ferry Actually Beats Driving
Being honest about this saves people a wasted afternoon.
Take the ferry if you are already at Fort Morgan or already on Dauphin Island and you need to get to the other side. In that situation it is clearly the most efficient route, and it is not close.
Drive for basically everything else. If you are starting in Mobile, Gulf Shores proper, or anywhere that is not already out on one of those two points, the loop by road usually makes more sense — you would spend as long getting to a landing and waiting as you would just driving.
The exception to all of this is when the crossing itself is the point. If you want to ride a car ferry across Mobile Bay because that sounds like a good afternoon — and it is — then the efficiency math stops mattering. Build it into a Dauphin Island weekend and enjoy it on its own terms.
Fares
| Type | One way |
|---|---|
| Standard vehicle (under 22 ft) | $15.00 |
| Oversized vehicle / RV (22 ft+) | $20.00 |
| Motorcycle | $7.00 |
| Per person (driver, passenger, or walk-on) | $6.00 |
| Bicycles | No charge |
| Children 3 and under | Free |
| Pets | Free |
So a car with two adults runs $27 one way. Note the per-person charge applies to the driver too, which catches people out when they budget for “the car fare.”
Schedule
The ferry runs year-round, seven days a week, weather permitting, and closes only on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.
- Summer (Memorial Day weekend–Labor Day): departures roughly every 45 minutes, about 8:00 a.m. to 7:15 p.m.
- Rest of the year: roughly hourly, about 8:00 a.m. to 7:15 p.m.
Both vessels usually run in summer; off-season it may be one. Schedules shift with weather and maintenance, and third-party sites are frequently out of date on this — check MobileBayFerry.com or call the day you travel rather than trusting a schedule you found elsewhere.
How Early to Be in Line
This is the part that decides whether the ferry is a pleasure or a frustration, and the official schedule tells you nothing about it.
Plan on being in line at least 30 minutes before the sailing you want. That is the baseline, not the safety margin.
On summer weekends and through holiday periods, budget more. The boat holds what it holds, and when the line is long enough you are not catching the next ferry — you are catching the one after that. If your day depends on making a particular crossing, get there genuinely early rather than cutting it close.
The flip side: there is nothing to do at either landing, so early means sitting in your car. Bring drinks, and go to the bathroom before you queue.
What the Crossing Is Like
Better than you expect. You can get out of your vehicle and go up on deck, and you should — the views are the whole reason this is worth doing. Open water in both directions, the Gulf opening up to the south, working rigs standing out on the horizon, and usually pelicans and gulls shadowing the boat. On a clear day it is genuinely beautiful.
On the crossings I have made recently the water was calm and the ride was smooth. I would not promise that in every condition — it is open water at the mouth of a bay, and weather moves — but it is not a rough ride by nature, and the boats are large and stable. If someone in your group is nervous about boats, this is a gentle introduction.
Forty minutes is also exactly the right length. Long enough to feel like an outing, short enough that nobody gets bored.
What Is on Either Side
Dauphin Island is the quiet end — Fort Gaines at the east tip right by the landing, the Audubon Bird Sanctuary, the Estuarium, and some of the best shelling on the coast. Our Dauphin Island guide and things to do cover it properly.
Fort Morgan puts you at the historic fort itself and the west end of the Gulf Shores peninsula — quiet beaches, the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, and a long drive east into Gulf Shores and Orange Beach proper.
Pairing both forts in one day — Gaines and Morgan, the two that guarded the mouth of the bay — is the version of this trip that history-minded travelers enjoy most.
Common Questions
Is the ferry running today? Check MobileBayFerry.com or call before you drive out. Weather and maintenance both stop it, and the landings are a long way from anywhere.
Can I buy tickets in advance? No. In person at the landing only.
What does it cost for a car? $15 for the vehicle plus $6 per person, so $27 for a car with two adults, one way.
Can I walk or bike on? Yes. Foot passengers pay $6 and bicycles ride free.
How long is the crossing? About 40 minutes.
Can I bring my dog? Yes, pets are free.
The Bottom Line
If you are already out at Fort Morgan or Dauphin Island and need to reach the other side, take the ferry — nothing else comes close. If you are starting anywhere else, driving around usually wins on time. But if the crossing sounds fun to you, that is a good enough reason on its own: it is a genuinely great ride, the views are the best part, and 40 minutes on the water beats two hours on I-10 even when the clock disagrees.
Be in line 30 minutes early, more on a summer weekend. Bring cash or a card for the landing, keep your receipt if you are coming back the same day, and get out on deck.
Where to Stay on Either Side
Dauphin Island for quiet, Gulf Shores for everything else — our comparison of the two covers which suits which trip.