Visiting Mackinac Island - What You Need to Know
- Happy Nomads
- Sep 25, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Dec 9, 2024
Hey there! Have you been dreaming of visiting a completely CAR-LESS island atop crystal clear freshwater with perfect weather, stunning flowers, horse carriage rides, and all the fudge you can eat?? Then this blog is for you!
Austin’s family has a reunion every July in the Upper Peninsula (the U.P.) of Michigan and I have been fortunate to attend three years in a row now! I absolutely love the upper peninsula and I don’t know if I ever would have gone if not for Austin’s family reunion. Northern Michigan is crazy beautiful with picturesque beaches, crystal clear water, and unique destinations.
2024 family reunion | Finnish flag flying in the wind
We have visited Mackinac Island three years in a row and I have been in love with this place since my first visit in 2022. The whole experience is magical–I often compare it to Disney World, haha. So, after three years of visiting a place that probably seems daunting to plan, I’m here to share the simple steps it takes to enjoy the magical wonderland that is Mackinac Island!
First: Where to Stay
For my first year at Austin’s family reunion, we rented an Air BnB with his immediate family members near St. Ignace. This is a great option if you’re looking to explore some of the surrounding areas and don’t plan on staying on the island the entire trip–which I highly recommend depending on how much time you have. We always spend Saturday to the following Sunday in the U.P. for the reunion and typically make a day-trip to the island. This year we visited twice!
A map of the lower & upper peninsulas of Michigan outlining the locations mentioned in this blog.
St. Ignace is a great option for hotels and Air BnBs since it is much more affordable than the island. If you’re planning a week-long trip here, I would recommend this option so that you can go to the island, walk around downtown St. Ignace & catch their weekly fireworks show, enjoy the freshwater beaches, and visit some other cool spots (like the Mystery Spot, Deer Ranch, or Castle Rock, for example). And don’t forget to try a Pasty!
Flowers in St. Ignace | A beef pastie | Lehto's pasty shop
If you’re planning a shorter trip, there are plenty of options for hotels and BnBs on the island itself. We haven’t done this ourselves but I would like to someday! You’ll simply bring your luggage on the ferry with you and the crew will help you load it on/off. If you want the real, grand experience of Mackinac Island look into staying at the Grand Hotel. It is a whole destination in itself!
For the last two years, Austin and I have stayed at RV parks near the family reunion. Last year, we stayed at the KOA and really enjoyed it. This is a great campground for families! They have a ferry shuttle, a playground, and events to keep the kiddos entertained. Another thing to note is that they offer cabin and yurt rentals, so if you don’t have an RV but you’re interested in camping, this is a great option too! This year we stayed at Lakeshore RV and really enjoyed it. We loved being able to walk down to the water.
Side Note: How to Get to the U.P.
In 2022, we flew into Detroit from Austin, TX and then got a rental car to drive to the U.P. The drive is ~4 hours. Austin’s parents have previously flown into Traverse City as well. Consider what might work for you! The closest airport is likely Cheboygan, MI which would be more expensive but involve less driving.
For 2023 & 2024, we drove the RV of course! We drove the RV all the way from Texas to Michigan TWICE (ha, yes we’re crazy)! Both times we have come into the U.P. from the Wisconsin side and avoided crossing the Mackinac Bridge with the RV. Maybe one day we’ll consider crossing from the lower peninsular–which would probably be fine–but it makes me nervous since it’s one of the LONGEST suspension bridges in the U.S. and gusty winds aren’t our friend!
Getting to Mackinac Island:
To get to Mackinac Island, you will have to take a ferry ride. There are a couple of options–Shepler’s or Starline–and definitely check with your hotel to see if they offer discounted tickets for one or the others because they usually do. Here’s the fun part: your ferry ticket will NOT be for a specific day or time. So check the ferry company’s website for their schedule and try to make it on the ones that go under the bridge. This is a little bit of a scenic detour but will be so worth it!
View from the top deck of the ferry | View of Mackinac Bridge from the ferry
I would recommend getting there at least 30 minutes early to scan your ticket and get in line. If it’s a Saturday or Sunday, you’ll probably want to get there even earlier and aim for the earlier ride that goes under the bridge in case the boat fills up and you have to take the second one. We also highly recommend sitting on the top deck so you can really see it all and take everything in.
Tickets for the ferry are approximately $35 for adults and $23 for kiddos. Kids under the age of 5 ride free (check the ferry company you choose to confirm).
Things to do on Mackinac Island:
Now, for the fun part–What to do when you get there! As you probably know, Mackinac Island has been car-free since 1898 when motorized vehicles scared the horses drawing the carriages. Now, there are only emergency vehicles and golf carts allowed on the island. To get around the island, your only options are a horse-drawn carriage, riding horseback, bicycling, or walking. They have horse carriage tours but also taxis (if you need to hail one at any point, haha).
Bike ride around the island | View of the main street | Grand Hotel horse carriage
When you first get there, we recommend biking around the island. The outside loop is ~8 miles long and offers many great stopping + view points along the way. We typically start in the town and go around the island counter-clockwise. You’ll see Fort Mackinac on the left–which I’ve heard great things about but we’ve yet to do. Then continue onwards towards the Great Lawn where you can sit and watch the boats coming in (particularly great if it’s the sailboat race). You can park your bike and hike up Arch Rock for a great view before continuing on with your ride. There are lots of pull-offs where you can rest and enjoy the beautiful lake views. Make sure to look out for the Mackinac Bridge and Round Island Lighthouse as you bike around–two of our favorite landmarks!
View of Arch Rock | Round Island Lighthouse
The last two years, we have brought our own bikes over to the island for ~$20/each on the ferry. But you can also rent bikes, tandem bikes, and kiddo/pet attachments once you arrive on the island. The prices vary but a standard bike is ~$20/hour.
You can also walk around the island without renting a bike and still have fun! Or you can take a horse carriage tour. Either way, we recommend going to the Grand Hotel and walking on the porch, grabbing a drink, or finding the secret garden. It’s $5/person to go up on the porch but I would say it’s worth it on your first visit. This place is definitely grand! For the secret garden, when you’ve reached the tennis courts, you’re getting close!
Gracen in the secret garden | Views of the Grand Hotel porch
This year, we visited the Great Turtle Brewery and Might Mac Hamburgers. Both were great! I think Mighty Mac is likely the most affordable option on the island but there are lots of restaurants to choose from. You also have to try the fudge–it’s tradition! So check out Ryba’s or Murdick’s for a sample.
Murdick's fudge shop with a horse carriage out front | Fudge being made
We hope you enjoy visiting the island! Check out our YouTube video to explore the island with us and let us know if you have any questions in the comments.
Happy travels <3
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