Mackinac Island sits in the Straits of Mackinac, in Lake Huron, between Michigan's two peninsulas. Most of it is protected parkland, there are no cars, and nearly all of its attractions are seasonal.
This guide covers the main things to do on Mackinac Island, how to get there, the rules that shape a visit, and what to expect if you go in the off-season. It is early November, so most seasonal attractions are now closed. Opening dates for 2027 are noted below where official sources list them.
Getting there: ferries and the 2026 dispute
Visitors reach the island by passenger ferry from Mackinaw City or St. Ignace, or by small plane. The two passenger ferry lines are Arnold Transit Company and Shepler's. Both are owned by the Hoffmann Family of Companies, according to Spectrum News reporting in June 2026.
Who runs the ferry in winter
Arnold Transit Company advertises year-round service and lists its winter ferry season as beginning November 1, 2026 and running into April. Check its winter schedule before you travel, because departures are fewer than in summer and conditions in the Straits change quickly.
During the coldest months the ferries cannot always run. Mackinac State Historic Parks describes the year-round Mackinac Island Airport as the island's only link to the mainland at that time of year.
A change to watch for 2027
Ferry service has been in the news. In June 2026, the City of Mackinac Island and the Hoffmann companies entered mediation over ferry service after the 2026 season, following a new state law that gives island officials more say over ferry costs. Spectrum News reported that service was guaranteed for the full 2026 season, that service after 2026 was unsettled, and that the question was expected to go to island voters this fall. If you are planning a 2027 trip, confirm ferry arrangements closer to your dates.
The no-cars rule
There are no cars on Mackinac Island. Mackinac Island Tourism says the island has been car-free for more than 100 years. People get around on foot, by bicycle, or by horse.
- Bicycles: The ride around the island is about 8.2 miles, and the tourism bureau counts more than 1,500 rental bikes on the island.
- Horses: Horse-drawn taxis, narrated carriage tours and horseback rides in the state park are all part of island travel.
- Riding rules: Ride on the right side of the street. Take extra care around horses, which cannot stop quickly. No training wheels are allowed on Main Street, Market Street, or Cadotte Avenue between Market Street and the Grand Hotel. Park bikes off the sidewalk and do not chain them to fixed objects.
Mackinac Island State Park
According to Mackinac State Historic Parks, more than 80 percent of Mackinac Island is state park land. The park was established in 1895. For the 20 years before that it was Mackinac National Park, the second national park in the United States.
The park has 70.5 miles of signed roads and trails. Some are shared by horses, bikes and walkers, and some are for hiking only. The park itself is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year, but many sites inside it keep seasonal hours.
Arch Rock
Arch Rock is a natural rock formation and one of the park's best-known landmarks, along with Sugarloaf Rock, British Landing and Fort Holmes. The Milliken Nature Center at Arch Rock has closed for 2026. Mackinac State Historic Parks lists it as reopening May 7, 2027.
Fort Mackinac
Fort Mackinac is operated by Mackinac State Historic Parks, which describes it as home to the oldest building in Michigan. All 14 of its buildings are restored and open during the season. Exhibits cover the War of 1812, including the British capture of the fort, and the fort's later role as headquarters of Mackinac National Park.
The fort is closed for the rest of 2026. Mackinac State Historic Parks lists its 2027 opening as April 30, with longer summer hours from early June to early September and a closing date of October 23. Your fort ticket also covers the Historic Downtown Mackinac sites.
The Grand Hotel
The Grand Hotel, which opened in 1887, is seasonal. Mackinac Island Tourism says it closes for the winter on the last Monday in October, with a "Close the Grand" tradition of ringing a bell and bringing the rocking chairs in from the porch. In 2026 that fell on October 26, so the hotel is now closed. Check with the hotel for 2027 dates.
Anishnaabek history at Mackinac
The island's Native history is far older than the fort. The director of Mackinac State Historic Parks has said that story "begins centuries before European exploration" and continues today. In 2016, working in partnership with the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, the Mackinac Island State Park Commission installed six interpretive panels along the shore road, M-185, at resting stations with benches and bike parking. According to the Michigan DNR, the panel text was drafted by the director of the Tribe's Archives and Records.
The panels cover the island's importance to the Anishnaabek, whom the Michigan DNR names as the Odawa, Ojibway and Potawatomi. They also cover the Anishnaabek as a people of the water, conflicts over the Straits, the Treaty of 1836, and the Odawa and Ojibway in the 21st century.
In town, the Biddle House shares what Mackinac State Historic Parks calls "the continuing story of the Anishnaabek." It is housed in the 1830s home of Agatha Biddle, an Anishnaabek businesswoman, and is part of Historic Downtown Mackinac. It reopens with the 2027 season.
For a wider view, see our guide to the First Peoples of the Great Lakes.
Mackinac Island in winter
Winter on Mackinac Island is quiet. Fort Mackinac, the downtown history sites, the nature centres and the Grand Hotel are all closed. Arnold Transit says only a small number of restaurants, shops and places to stay remain open through the winter, so book a room and plan meals before you go.
What does stay open is the landscape. The state park and its trails are open year-round, and with no traffic and few visitors, a winter walk through the woods or along the shore is very different from a July visit. Dress for wind off the lake and keep flexible plans. In the coldest weeks, flying may be the only way on or off the island.
If you want winter scenery on the Great Lakes with more services open, compare Kingston in winter. Our when to visit the Great Lakes guide covers the seasons around the region.
Pairing Mackinac with nearby trips
Mackinac Island fits well into a northern Michigan trip. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is on Lake Michigan to the southwest; read Sleeping Bear Dunes: before you go. Across Lake Huron in Ontario, Manitoulin Island offers a different island trip, with Gore Bay as one base.
