Dorena-Hickman Ferry Reopens As Mississippi Levels Improve

The Dorena-Hickman Ferry is open.  The ferry halted operation on July 2 when low water on the Mississippi River kept the ferry from accessing the Missouri Landing.

At that time, the Cairo Gauge showed 17.56 ft., as river levels continued to drop due to lack of rainfall.  The river went down to14.69 on June 7, before rebounding to 19.68 this morning.  The extra two feet of water allowed the ferry to access the Missouri landing and resume service.

The Dorena-Hickman Ferry is open and operating on the normal summer schedule.

As a reminder, the Dorena-Hickman Ferry is temporarily operating on a limited 5-day-a-week schedule.   The ferry is operating Thursday through Monday on the summer schedule, but will be closed on Tuesday and Wednesday until the ferry can hire an additional pilot with a passenger-endorsed license.

Motorists may check on the ferry’s operating status by calling (731) 693-0210 or by going to https://www.facebook.com/DorenaHickmanFerry/.

To get traffic advisories and alerts about the ferry’s operating status via email go to https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/KYTC/signup/13651 and click on the Dorena-Hickman Ferry Corridor Group.  You may also sign up for counties in Kentucky you regularly drive through or on any of the other specialty corridors you travel.  Be sure to check your SPAM filtering to assure Gov Delivery is on your approved list.

The Dorena-Hickman Ferry connects KY 1354 at Hickman, Kentucky, with Missouri Route A and Route 77 near Dorena, Missouri.

In addition to providing a critical transportation link between Kentucky and Missouri for daily commuters and farmers, the ferry serves as a tourist attraction for the region and provides a convenient route between Southeast Missouri and the popular fishing and recreation areas around nearby Reelfoot Lake in Northwest Tennessee.

The Dorena-Hickman Ferry Operates from the Hickman Landing with regular river crossings during daylight hours. Round trip passage for passenger vehicles is $14 with additional tolls for trucks, motor homes, and vehicles pulling trailers. There are discounts for vehicles making return crossings.

Missouri and Kentucky have the geographic distinction of being the only border states that are not directly connected by a road or bridge. The only direct route between the two states is the Dorena-Hickman Ferry.

The Dorena-Hickman Ferry operates at Mississippi River navigation mile point 922.0.