Manitou Island Transit

Transportation · Traverse City, MI

Captain Chuck Burkel started Manitou Island Transit in 1993 with a simple mission: get people safely to North and South Manitou Islands. His family-run ferry service has become the lifeline connecting these remote Lake Michigan gems to the mainland. The restored 1950s vessels carry hikers, campers, and day-trippers across the sometimes choppy waters between Leland and the islands. Chuck's crew knows these waters like the back of their hands, sharing stories about shipwrecks, lighthouse keepers, and the islands' fascinating past during the scenic 90-minute crossing.