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World’s Worst Commute: Float Across the St. John’s on the Fort Gates Ferry

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Fort Gates Ferry
The Fort Gates Ferry at the St. John’s River.

Note: The Fort Gates Ferry is not currently in service.

WELAKA, Florida — Sometimes it’s worth taking the long way home just to enjoy an interesting shortcut. True, in that rare instance when you need to make the drive from Salt Springs to Welaka, the Fort Gates Ferry will save you about forty miles and a pointless journey up through Palatka and back. But that’s merely practical. What’s fun and impractical is driving miles out of the way to float your car across the top of Lake George at the St. John’s River.

Fort Gates Ferry
The Fort Gates Ferry opened in the 1830s and transported Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. At last visit it looks like it hasn’t been upgraded much since. In 2009 it won a contest for being the “World’s Worst Commute.” The Ocala National Forest says the ferry is a 1910 Sharpie Sailboat driving a barge from the 1930s. The ferry remains one of only four ferries operating in Florida, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Welaka United Methodist Church
Welaka United Methodist Church is one of the charming historic buildings in the small town on the east end of the Fort Gates Ferry.

 

Fort Gates Fish Camp
The Gateway Ferry is operated by Fort Gates Fish Camp.
Fort Gates Ferry
Enjoy a cold beverage before your adventure across the St. Johns River.

Fort Gates Ferry
The ferry is operated on an as-needed basis, so expect to wait a while for service. The historic ferry crossing makes an interesting detour through a part of Florida that doesn’t see a lot of traffic.

Fort Gates Ferry Info:

  • Operates 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily except Tuesdays. But expect to wait a while for service, even during normal operating hours. We waited nearly an hour, honking regularly, until the proprietor even acknowledged our presence.
  • The ferry can hold two cars and the cost is $10 per car, each way. The trip is about a mile and takes 10 minutes.
  • For info, contact the Gateway Fish Camp, 229 Fort Gates Ferry Road, Crescent City, FL 32112. Phone: (386) 467-2411.

Unless otherwise attributed, photos are copyrighted by Michael Warren. All rights reserved.

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  2. Colin Dampier says

    The ferry is seldom used anymore. If you want a fun little cabin to stay in and avoid the high hotel prices of the area then you should still swing by and have a look. They don’t call it Fort Gates Ferry Fish Camp for nothing. We go there because it’s a short commute to St Augustine and the river is beautiful. We even fish occasionally. The cabins are small with a fully stocked kitchen and cost about 50$ a night. You’ll enjoy it.

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  3. Dean Ab-Hugh says

    it used to cost $1 for the car and driver, and 25 cents for each passenger. Cabins were rented for about $18 per week for a double, and $12 per week for a single.
    The water was Sulphur water, and people came from all over to drink it for it’s purported health benefits.
    How do I know? My family owned Gateway Fishing Camp (named Gateway by my mother,) from 1947 to 1952.

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