The Dorena-Hickman Ferry is open. The ferry halted operation on the morning of July 20 when low water on the Mississippi River kept the ferry from accessing the Missouri Landing.
The Cairo Gauge showed 16.82 ft. at 7 a.m., Wednesday. That was about a half a foot below the forecast of 17.8 ft. This morning, the river level rebounded to 17.61 at 6 a.m., a rise of just under a foot. This has allowed the ferry to resume operation.
A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredge is expected to arrive in Hickman Harbor starting Friday. The ferry will have to remain closed while the dredge is working near the Kentucky Landing. The ferry will continue to operate until the dredge blocks the mouth of the harbor- possible sometime during the day Friday. The dredge normally works in the harbor for a couple of days.
The Dorena-Hickman Ferry is also excluding pedestrians from the ferry until further notice due to the extreme temperatures. There is no place for pedestrians to sit or get out of the heat during the crossing.
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/
To get traffic advisories and alerts about the ferry’s operating status via email go to https://public.govdelivery.
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.