OT: Anyone here ever use the Mobile, AL Ferry?

[WayboDawg]

Going to Ft. Morgan this Saturday for a week with the family, and I figured I would give this a shot instead of fighting traffic through Robertsdale and Foley like I usually do. I see a one way ticket will be $20, so is this a good value, and does it really save time and frustration? I like the idea better of relaxing on a 45 min ship-ride rather than sitting in stop and go traffic for 2.5 hours.

 

[jumpdawg]

It's OK. Have used it once. I definitely don't work my schedule around using it.

 

[WayboDawg]

Yeah after looking at their Facebook page, and seeing their wait times, I'm beginning to wonder if I'll be able to use it. The only way to not have a 3 hour wait time is to get there for one of their early departures, but we can't check into the house until 3pm that Saturday. If I got on their earliest departure at 8:45 am, I'd have nothing to do in Ft. Morgan for several hours but wait for check-in. I guess I could go tour the Fort or something.... I just know that it took almost 5 hours last year to get from Waynesboro to Ft. Morgan due to the traffic, and I'd hope to avoid that this go around.

 

[hullabaloodog]

Yes and it depends.

If you're staying in Fort Morgan and can time it out right then it's worth it. Just be sure to arrive about 30 minutes ahead of time.

 

[WrapItDog]

Took me over an 1 1/2 hours to get from Hwy 59 to the Bay Bridge Exit after crossing Mobile Bay last Sat around noon. Gulf Shores was packed last week. I stay out Fort Morgan Rd. and seldom go into town except to Rouses or Wal-Mart. Surf & rip tides was in full effect last weekend. Al.com said 36 people has to be rescued from rip currents.

 

[Rog.sixpack]

There's also an express way that takes you directly from I-10 passed Robertsdale. You can choose to get back on Hwy 59 there on continue via the OB expressway and then just cut over before the toll bridge to the Fort Morgan Rd.

 

[1msudawg]

We did it last year. Used it going to ft morgan and leaving. We got lucky going down and only had about a 30 minute wait. Waited about an hour and a half coming back. Wanted the 9:30 (I think) wound up not leaving till well after 10. Got in line at 8:30.

Still I think it was faster due to some bad accident on 10 west that day.

 

[Lawdawg.sixpack]

^^ it's all about the wait times. If your wait isn't more than 30 min to an hour, you're in good shape, especially if you're staying in Ft Morgan. It's nice to get out of the car while ferrying also.

 

[WrapItDog]

Anybody tried staying on 59 past I-10 to I-65 west cross river get on 43 N. to 53 west and get back on 45 @ State Line? I'm thinking look at the Waze App to see if Mobile Bay Bridge is backed up prior to reaching I-10 and make a decision on the route home based on what the Waze App is telling me. I usually only have a problem coming home west bound since the Bay Bridge avoids the tunnel back up traffic east bound on I-10.

 

[MarkDallas]

If you take the get as a time saver you will be frustrated. If you treat it as something interesting to do on your vacation it can be fun.

 

[WayboDawg]

Anybody tried staying on 59 past I-10 to I-65 west cross river get on 43 N. to 53 west and get back on 45 @ State Line? I'm thinking look at the Waze App to see if Mobile Bay Bridge is backed up prior to reaching I-10 and make a decision on the route home based on what the Waze App is telling me. I usually only have a problem coming home west bound since the Bay Bridge avoids the tunnel back up traffic east bound on I-10.

My Dad likes to go this way sometimes coming back from Gulf Shores to Waynesboro. Last time we went this way there was crazy road construction going on on some super tall and long bridge on Hwy 43 which led to only one lane being open for about a one hour drive. Made me really nervous thinking about what I would do if I got flat tire, or my car started over heating because there was nowhere to pull over on the bridge. As long as there is no road construction you are probably fine, but you are in for one long and boring drive.

 

[Junction John]

This ^ sums it up nicely.

It's definitely more fun and relaxing. The kids will enjoy it, and it's a helluva lot better to stand outside your car enjoying a breeze and looking out over the water than being trapped inside the car for those 2 hours of driving time.

But don't do it just because you will (theoretically) save time, because you may not.

 

[Xenomorph]

We use it every summer. I'll never drive through Foley/Robertsdale again. Just learn the ferry schedule and get there about 20 minutes before it leaves to ensure you don't get bumped to the next one. Although in the summer months when they're running 2 I've never NOT made it on the one we intended.

 

[WayboDawg]

We use it every summer. I'll never drive through Foley/Robertsdale again. Just learn the ferry schedule and get there about 20 minutes before it leaves to ensure you don't get bumped to the next one. Although in the summer months when they're running 2 I've never NOT made it on the one we intended.

Is 20 minutes early sufficient though for this time of year? I planned on getting there an hour early, because after browsing the Ferry's Facebook page I began to notice that on Saturday's they usually had lots of long waits (2-3 hours in some cases), especially around lunch. Looked like they got so busy last Saturday that they were telling people that if they weren't in line by 2:30, that they weren't going to get on at all even though they run until after 6 pm. I just dont want to drive all the way down to Dauphin Island and then have to turn around and drive all the way back the other way because they were too busy.

 

[Xenomorph]

Wait times have never been a problem for us... However, I will say... We always get to Dauphin Island late in the afternoon (when most folks are coming BACK from the beach) and leave Ft. Morgan early in the morning (when most folks are coming over to the beach).

 

[WrapItDog]

I began to notice that on Saturday's they usually had lots of long waits (2-3 hours in some cases), especially around lunch. Looked like they got so busy last Saturday that they were telling people that if they weren't in line by 2:30, that they weren't going to get on at all even though they run until after 6 pm.

Most condos rent a Sat-Sat schedule if possible. So you got everybody checking out before noon to go home and the next renters coming in. Last Saturdays traffic was killer.

 

[scotchie42]

The new Foley Beach Expressway is now open from I-10 all the way to AL180 (canal rd). No Hwy 59 traffic any more

 

[MaroonNation]

Toll road does not go towards Fort Morgan though. If we are going to Fort Morgan instead of going through Cottondale and Loxley we go through Fairhope.

 

[GloryDawg]

Going to Ft. Morgan this Saturday for a week with the family, and I figured I would give this a shot instead of fighting traffic through Robertsdale and Foley like I usually do. I see a one way ticket will be $20, so is this a good value, and does it really save time and frustration? I like the idea better of relaxing on a 45 min ship-ride rather than sitting in stop and go traffic for 2.5 hours.

You see both forts from the water side. Ft. Morgan and Ft. Gaines. I have done it a bunch and it is worth the trip.

 

[SwampDawg]

Years ago I saw a very fancy trailer rip its fiberglass fender off trying to get off the ferry on the West pier. It was extremely low tide, and the ferry was low and the pier was high. The difference made a hump at the top of the ramp. RIIIPPPPP!

 

[mstateglfr]

We tried to do it last year during the 2nd week of June- we didn't even try going into Ft Morgan as it was a 90min wait when we called while we were coming near Mobile. That was around 12noon and there was no reason to think it was going to get better as the day went on.
Leaving, we tried it since our house was a mile from the ferry- and it was a 90min wait. That was at something like 930am.

Sucks because it coulda been fun to do, but that was too much time to wait as we had 10 hours of driving to do that day.

 

[Dawgbite]

The new Foley Beach Expressway is now open from I-10 all the way to AL180 (canal rd). No Hwy 59 traffic any more

Actually you skip Exit 44, Hwy 59, exit and go to Exit 49 which is the new Baldwin Beach express which runs into the Foley Beach Express. You only pay the toll when you cross the bridge at The Wharf, $3.50. You can cross back over to Hwy 59 at Hwy 98 or any of numerous county roads, you can turn just before the toll booths and come out at LULU's even. At present, there are only 5-6 stoplights along this route and the traffic is usually light compared to 59. It save me about 30 minutes compared to 59 but I am going to OB out near Bear Point. Don't know how much time it would save going to Fort Morgan but at least you will be moving.

 

[MagnificentBastard]

Actually you skip Exit 44, Hwy 59, exit and go to Exit 49 which is the new Baldwin Beach express which runs into the Foley Beach Express. You only pay the toll when you cross the bridge at The Wharf, $3.50. You can cross back over to Hwy 59 at Hwy 98 or any of numerous county roads, you can turn just before the toll booths and come out at LULU's even. At present, there are only 5-6 stoplights along this route and the traffic is usually light compared to 59. It save me about 30 minutes compared to 59 but I am going to OB out near Bear Point. Don't know how much time it would save going to Fort Morgan but at least you will be moving.

I did that last week. Its the way to go. We were staying in Gulf Shores so we ended up a little east of where we wanted to be, but the clear relaxing drive both ways was well worth it and the overall trip was shorter time wise. Also, skip the tunnel and go over the bay bridge. Never had to slow down until I got on I-10 going there. Coming back I got off 10 right before traffic was stopped to a crawl. I just zoomed by. It had to have saved me an hour coming home.