The Chi-Cheemaun Is Back: Your Complete 2026 Guide to the Tobermory Ferry

Published by Blue Bay Motel | Your home base on Little Tub Harbour, Tobermory, Ontario.

There’s a moment every spring in Tobermory that signals the season has truly begun. It’s not the first warm weekend or the reopening of the harbour shops. It’s the low hum of a massive ferry engine echoing off the limestone cliffs of Little Tub Harbour, the MS Chi-Cheemaun, easing back into dock after a long winter away.

If you’ve never planned a trip around this iconic vessel, 2026 is the year to start.

What Is the Chi-Cheemaun?

The name comes from the Ojibwe language and means “Big Canoe”, and once you see her pulling into harbour, you understand why. The Chi-Cheemaun has sailed the waters between Tobermory and Manitoulin Island since 1974, becoming both a symbol of Georgian Bay and a testament to the area’s rich Indigenous culture. Ontario Ferries

Since beginning operations, the vessel has carried an estimated 10 million passengers and three million vehicles, completing 24,000 voyages between Tobermory and Manitoulin Island. In other words: this isn’t just a ferry. It’s a living piece of Ontario history. Windsor News Today 

The 2026 Sailing Season: Dates and What You Need to Know

The Chi-Cheemaun will offer daily sailings between Tobermory and Manitoulin Island from May 1 to October 18, 2026. Ontario Ferries That’s nearly six months of one of the most scenic crossings in the country.

The crossing takes approximately one hour and 45 minutes during peak season and two hours during off-peak periods. Ontario Ferries You board in Tobermory, you sail across the open waters of Georgian Bay, and you arrive at South Baymouth on the southern shore of Manitoulin Island, the largest freshwater island in the world.

The Chi-Cheemaun features a spacious vehicle deck that can accommodate everything from large motorhomes and commercial vehicles to bicycles. Walk-on passengers are also warmly welcomed. Ontario Ferries

Tips for First-Timers (Don’t Skip These)

Book in advance. This isn’t a suggestion, it’s the difference between getting on and watching the boat leave without you. Reservations are required for all passengers, whether walking on or in a vehicle, at least four hours prior to the desired departure time. Ontario Ferries In peak summer months, popular sailings fill up weeks ahead. Book at ontarioferries.com or call 1-800-265-3163.

Arrive at least an hour early. Reservation holders must check in at the ticket booth a minimum of one hour prior to sail time or the reservation is void. Ontario Ferries That’s not a soft deadline — miss it and your spot goes to standby passengers.

Know the parking situation. Daily parking fees are now in effect at the Tobermory and South Baymouth ferry terminal parking lots throughout the sailing season. Parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis, and passes must be purchased from the terminal office upon arrival. Ontario Ferries

Check the vehicle recall notice. Due to a potential fire risk and safety recall, certain plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are currently not permitted on the ferry until recall repairs are completed, including the 2017–2021 Chrysler Pacifica PHEV, 2022–2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee PHEV, and 2020–2025 Jeep Wrangler PHEV. Ontario Ferries If you drive one of these, confirm the status at ontarioferries.com before booking.

Enjoy the crossing. The Chi-Cheemaun isn’t just a way to get from A to B, it’s part of the experience. The ferry typically offers cafeteria-style dining and a gift shop on board (the “Boatique”), though specific services and availability may vary by sailing date and season. Check ontarioferries.com closer to your travel date for the most current onboard offerings.

Why Tobermory Makes the Perfect Base for a Chi-Cheemaun Trip

Here’s what a lot of visitors don’t fully think through until they’re standing on the dock at South Baymouth, tired from a long day on Manitoulin, trying to figure out where they’re staying tonight: the ferry drops you back in Tobermory.

Whether you’re doing a round trip on the Chi-Cheemaun as a day adventure, or using it as a gateway to explore Manitoulin Island before looping back, you need a great place to land.

That’s exactly what Blue Bay Motel is.

We sit right on Little Tub Harbour, the same harbour the Chi-Cheemaun calls home. When the ferry docks after your crossing, you’re a short walk from your room, your bed, and a well-earned rest. No driving around searching for accommodation. No wondering if you’ll find parking. No stress.

Our rooms are comfortable, thoughtfully maintained, and positioned to give you exactly what you need at the end of a big day on the water. We also offer a fully equipped waterfront cottage if you’re travelling with family or want a bit more space to spread out. Free parking is included for all guests, a detail that matters more than people expect once you’ve seen what summer parking in Tobermory actually looks like.

We open for the 2026 season this Friday, April 24^th, just days before the Chi-Cheemaun kicks off her first crossings of the year. The season is already filling up. If you’re planning to ride the ferry this summer, now is the time to lock in your nights in Tobermory.

Don’t Just Take Our Word For It

Blue Bay Motel holds a 5/5 reviews rating and is ranked #1 on TripAdvisor for accommodation in Tobermory. Season after season, guests come back because of our location, our service, and the simple fact that waking up on Little Tub Harbour, with the Chi-Cheemaun just down the dock, is the kind of experience that doesn’t need much explaining.

Schedules, fares, and reservation details for the Chi-Cheemaun are subject to change. Always confirm the latest information directly with the Owen Sound Transportation Company at ontarioferries.com before your trip.

Ready to make it a trip? Blue Bay Motel is located at 32 Bay Street, Little Tub Harbour, Tobermory, Ontario, steps from the Chi-Cheemaun terminal and everything this town has to offer. Rooms and the cottage book fast in season. Reserve your stay now →