Mackinac Island sits off the shores of mainland Michigan and is completely surrounded by Lake Huron. While it’s perhaps most famous for its fudge, Mackinac Island is also famous for being car free. No motorized vehicles are allowed on the island. The fudge, uniqueness of being car-free, and the novelty of the island itself helps to make Mackinac Island a great (and popular) day trip.
In this post, I’ll cover everything you need to know about taking a day trip, including all of the best things to do on Mackinac Island.
The Best Things to Do on Mackinac Island
There are of course other things to do on Mackinac Island than just what I have listed, but this list is what I recommend for most visitors to the island.
Sample Some Fudge
Mackinac Island is famous for its fudge and you will find several shops on the island. While it is easy to think that all shops are the same, you’ll find a bit of variety in each of the shops. Each shop has its own history, its own recipe, its own flavors, and its own thing that makes it unique. If you’re having trouble deciding on which fudge to get, every store will offer samples. During my visit, my friend and I picked out fudge from two different shops and were very happy with our purchases.
If you change your mind, or decide you need more fudge, don’t panic. All of the stores also have a branch on the mainland selling their famous fudge.
Finally, when you are standing in line, waiting to board you ferry back to the mainland, look at all of the other tourists around you and notice how every single person seems to be carrying a bag with their delicious purchases. There’s a reason I listed fudge as the top thing thing to do on Mackinac Island.
Bike the Island
Did you know that there is one highway in the United States where cars are banned? It’s Highway 185 and it wraps around the circumference of Mackinac Island. Since motorized vehicles are banned, this highway is primarily used by bicycles.
While you can bring your own over on the ferry (as long as it’s not an electric bike — eBikes are considered motor vehicles and are therefore banned), you can rent a bike on the island as well. There are many places that will rent bikes and all are roughly the same price and reasonably affordable.
I took an early ferry to Mackinac Island and arrived on the island shortly after 9:00 am. The very first thing I did was rented a bike. I had planned to bike the main highway and knowing that Mackinac Island is a popular day trip, I wanted to do the biking before the roads got too busy with other bikers.
My plan definitely worked and while there were other bikers in the morning, it was significantly fewer than how many were on the road by early afternoon. Not to mention, there was no line when I rented my bike in the morning but when I returned it, every bike rental place had a line of visitors waiting to get a bike.
The entire journey around Highway 185 is about eight miles and it mostly flat. You’ll have gorgeous views of Lake Huron on one side, with the beautiful houses and forests on the other. If you’re looking for a great, easy bike ride, this is it.
You can also take your bike through the interior of the island, but be warned, outside the main highway, there are many more hills. At least one of these hills are so steep that there are signs telling you to get off your bike and walk it down the hill.
Take a Horse and Carriage Ride
Let’s say that you don’t want to bike around the island, but you still want to see some more of Mackinac Island beyond the main town. What do you do?
Lining the main road are numerous horses and carriages waiting to take visitors of a tour of the island. Several companies offer this, so it’s a good idea to do a little research before you visit Mackinac Island (though if you’re reading this post, you’re already on a great start for trip research). Find a tour that works for you as there are several options available and they all vary slightly in their offerings.
Tour Fort Mackinac
Fort Mackinac is a military fort that was founded during the American Revolution. If you’re a history buff, plan to make this a stop. Not only is this a historic fort where troops and their families once lived, but it’s also home to the oldest building in Michigan.
Your visit will include a tour of the buildings (by costumed interpreters) as well as numerous demonstrations. There are canon firings, rifle firings, drill activities, and more. The schedule changes daily so make sure to check it before your visit: https://www.mackinacparks.com/events/todays-events-at-fort-mackinac-june/
Shop the Small Stores
Mackinac Island is a tourist destination and the people who live on the island know it. Yes, Mackinac Island is not just a tourist destination, over 500 people live on Mackinac Island.
Besides fudge, you’ll find the typical tourist shops, but you’ll also find several cute art galleries selling work by local artists. Poke around and explore the main town. There’s some really delightful stores to visit. And of course, some delicious restaurants as well.
How to Get to Mackinac Island
Now that we’ve talked about what to do on Mackinac Island, we should talk about how to get to the island. There are two ferry lines connecting mainland Michigan to Mackinac Island and you’ll need to use one of these lines to reach the island.
It does not matter which part of Michigan you are in. Ferries depart frequently from both St. Ignace, located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and for Mackinaw City, located in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. Arnold Transport Company and Shepler’s Ferries service both cities. Prices between the ferry lines are similar as well as the duration of the trip. Fundamentally, I don’t think it makes a difference which ferry line you choose.
When I visited Mackinac Island, I used Shepler’s Ferry because it was within walking distance from my hotel. Remember, you can’t bring your vehicle to Mackinac Island, so you’ll need to leave it parked somewhere on the mainland during your day trip. Both ferry lines will be able to give you information about parking, but its definitely easiest if you can just leave your car at your hotel and walk to the ferry terminal.
Despite the ferry schedule running regularly, it’s important to time your visit correctly. During peak season, both ferry lines offer special itineraries that take you out and under the Mackinac Bridge on your way to Mackinac Island. For Shepler’s Ferry, look for their “Mighty Mack” service. There is no additional charge for this trip and it only adds an additional 12 minutes to your journey. If you have the opportunity, take this service because you will get some of the coolest views of the Mackinac Bridge from your ferry.
Note that while you are not allowed to bring your vehicle to Mackinac Island, you can bring a bike. There is an additional charge to bring your bike on the ferry, but so long as it’s not an electric bike (eBikes are classified as electric vehicles and are therefore banned on the island), you can bring it with you for transportation around the island.
Is a Day Trip to Mackinac Island Enough Time?
For most visitors, I believe that a day trip is sufficient. There are hotels on Mackinac Island and you could make it an overnight stop. You’ll definitely experience Mackinac Island in a different way if you stay on the island after all of the ferries (and day trippers) have left for the night.
I visited Mackinac Island as a day trip. I left Mackinaw City and arrived on the island shortly after 9:00 am. By 3:00 pm, I was ready to head back as I felt like I had done everything I could on Mackinac Island.
Where to Stay on Your Trip
There are several boutique hotels on Mackinac Island, so if you want to stay on the actual island, you can. Like I said earlier, you’ll experience Mackinac Island in a different way. Early in the morning and late in the evening, before all of the crowds of tourists descend on the town, Mackinac Island can feel calm and peaceful and a world away from the chaos it becomes in the early afternoons of summer.
For those who want to just make it a day trip, you can stay in either St. Ignace or Mackinaw City. Both cities are similar and are set up to be tourist entry points for Mackinac Island. You’ll find very similar amenities and hotels in both cities. There’s a $4 toll to cross the Mackinac Bridge, so pick whichever city makes more sense in your itinerary and save the $4 toll if you can.
Personally, I stayed in Mackinaw City, but I easily could have stayed in St. Ignace and gotten an almost identical experience.
When to Visit Mackinac Island
Summer is peak season, but that is still the best time to go. This is when the sights, stores, and tourist services are open, available, and frequent. You’ll also have the best weather, which is definitely something you want if you’re visiting and island in the Great Lakes.
I visited at the end of August, specifically choosing our weekend because it was the weekend of the Mackinac Island Fudge Festival. It sounded like a good idea, but it was a bit disappointing. It would have been incredibly easy to go through your entire trip and not realize that a festival was happening. There were very minimal events, so I don’t think it’s worth it to choose that weekend just for the festival. The highlight was one shop doing “Flights of Fudge”, so instead of a flight of beer, you got a small plate of eight different fudge flavors to try.
That all said, I visited Mackinac Island in 2021, and things were still recovering from Covid. Nowadays, their annual Fudge Festival may be more exciting.
Is Visit Mackinac Island Worth It?
I think it is worth visiting Mackinac Island, so long as you go into it with the expectation that you will be visiting a tourist town. Mackinac Island has some beautiful sights and its Main Street can be cute. But it’s also busy and super touristy. I think it is worth a visit, but you can’t be expecting this delightful hidden gem or you’ll be very disappointed.
Final Thoughts
Mackinac Island can make for a fun day trip during a larger Michigan adventure. Explore the cute town, bike the island, and sample fudge so much delicious fudge.
Continue Your Adventure
Wisconsin: I have to give a plug for my home state of Wisconsin. And if you like sand dunes and views of Lake Michigan, you’re sure to enjoy Kohler Andrae State Park.
More in the Midwest: If you head to Illinois, you can visit the best of Chicago. Slightly east of Chicago is Indiana Dunes National Park. Is Iowa, don’t miss the caves at Maquoketa Caves State Park.