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Bikes, horses and an old fort on Mackinac Island

Mackinac Island, MI

If you were considering Pigeon Forge, this is a different kind of trip.

Fort Mackinac's white blockhouse and stone walls on a green hill, with flags, a cannon and a Mackinac Island State Park sign below.
Photo: P. Hughes, CC BY 4.0

How many days

Adults
2
Kids
2
Plan this trip
Who it suits
Families with little kids, families with teens and couples
How long
3, 4 or 5 days
Getting there
Drive. A drive from Indianapolis, Chicago, Columbus, Detroit (about 8 hours or less by car).
Seasons
Spring, Summer, Fall

Why it works

  • Mackinac Island's streets have been car-free for over 100 years, so people get around by bike, horse and carriage.
  • Passenger ferries run from Mackinaw City and St. Ignace, and day visitors park in ferry lots on the mainland.
  • At Fort Mackinac, costumed interpreters lead tours and cannon and rifle firing demonstrations, and the fort includes the oldest building in Michigan.
  • Most of the island is state park land, with Arch Rock and 70.5 miles of signed roads and trails.

Watch out for

  • Fort Mackinac is seasonal: it is closed for the rest of the 2026 season and opens for the 2027 season on April 30.
  • Ferries run about every half hour from late April through the end of October and about once an hour in the slower season.

Sources

  • Mackinac Island's streets have been car-free for over 100 years, so people get around by bike, horse and carriage. source (checked 2026-11-13)
  • Passenger ferries run from Mackinaw City and St. Ignace, and day visitors park in ferry lots on the mainland. source (checked 2026-11-13)
  • At Fort Mackinac, costumed interpreters lead tours and cannon and rifle firing demonstrations, and the fort includes the oldest building in Michigan. source (checked 2026-11-13)
  • Most of the island is state park land, with Arch Rock and 70.5 miles of signed roads and trails. source (checked 2026-11-13)
  • Fort Mackinac is seasonal: it is closed for the rest of the 2026 season and opens for the 2027 season on April 30. source (checked 2026-11-13)
  • Ferries run about every half hour from late April through the end of October and about once an hour in the slower season. source (checked 2026-11-13)
  • seasons: Fort Mackinac is closed for the 2026 season and opens for the 2027 season on April 30 source (checked 2026-11-13)

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