Currently, the ship shuttles between Ludington, Michigan, and Manitowoc, Wisconsin, a distance of 62 miles (100 km), connecting U.S. Highway 10 (US 10) between those two cities.

[7] Badger was constructed as a rail car ferry in 1952 by the Christy Corporation of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin,[6] along with her twin SS Spartan (named after the mascot of Michigan State University) with a reinforced hull for ice-breaking.

[7] Launched September 6, 1952, SS Badger entered service March 21, 1953, for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (from 1973 a subsidiary of the Chessie System).

On July 1, 1983, the Chessie System ended its car ferry service when it sold the steamers Badger, Spartan, and City of Midland 41 to Glen F. Bowden of Ludington.

[9] The railroad car ferry concept on Lake Michigan was facing serious economic troubles during the 1980s and by November 1988, Badger was the only vessel running.

[10] After sitting idle for a year, the three ferries were purchased by entrepreneur, philanthropist, and Ludington native Charles F. Conrad of Holland, Michigan, on July 9, 1991.

[5] On August 9, 2008, Badger suffered a stern bearing failure, causing the company to cancel the ferry's sailings for nearly a week.

Badger's fall season was extended two weeks into early November to carry additional wind turbine loads.

While Badger herself was unharmed, the extensive damage and lack of an alternate loading ramp forced an early end to the ferry's 2023 season.

Badger had earlier been the subject of EPA Clean Air action, but was granted an exemption under the law due to her historical significance as a coal-fired, steam-powered vessel.

Another option once considered was the use of compressed natural gas, which would allow the historical boiler system to be maintained and make SS Badger the first "green" ship on the Great Lakes.

[29] Lake Michigan Carferry signed a consent decree with the United States Department of Justice and the EPA in March 2013 to end ash discharge within two years, using a new ash-retention system.