How to Have One Perfect Day on Mackinac Island

One Perfect Day on Mackinac Island

Mackinac Island is the perfect U.S. summer vacation destination. With pleasant temperatures and lots to see and do on this small island, your day (or even days) will be filled. Take a horse-and-carriage ride, bike the island’s perimeter, visit the world’s longest porch at the Grand Hotel, and of course, try some sweet Mackinac Island Fudge. In this guide we share how to have one perfect day on Mackinac Island.

Where is Mackinac Island?

Mackinac Island is a small island off the coast of Michigan. It sits in Lake Huron, just east of the Straights of Mackinac, where the Great Lakes of Michigan and Huron converge.

There are two cities that service Mackinac Island: St. Ignace, which is in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and Mackinaw City, which is in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Depending on where you are coming from, you will likely depart from one of these two cities to head to Mackinac Island.

How to Get There

There are a few ways to reach Mackinac Island. The most common way is by passenger ferry.

Ferries leave from either Mackinaw City in the lower peninsula or St. Ignace in the Upper Peninsula. There are two ferry companies that service the island: Shepler’s Ferry and Arnold Transit Company. Click on each to be taken to their respective websites for more information. We have always had great service with Shepler’s Ferry from Mackinaw City.

From Mackinaw City (on the lower Peninsula) the ride takes approximately 16 minutes. At certain times of the day the ferries can take 26 minutes as there are crossings that go under the Mackinac Bridge! The schedule will alert you to these crossings, known as the Mighty Mac Crossings. Usually they are in the morning and add just ten minutes on to the ferry ride. In my opinion, these ferry trips are worth it. You get up close views and get to go under the bridge. I got some great photos from our recent Mighty Mac Crossing.

Another way to reach Mackinac Island is to fly there, although this will be the most expensive option. With Fresh Air Aviation, passengers will be transported with a quick flight from St. Ignace in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to Mackinac Island.

What Makes Mackinac Island So Special?

In this day and age when cars rule the roads and technology is in our pockets 24/7, one can appreciate taking a step back to immerse in a bygone era. Mackinac Island is car-free, so one has to get around by bike, horse and carriage, or foot! The charm of the beautifully restored Victorian mansions, historical sites such as Fort Mackinac and the Blacksmith Shop, and the grandest hotel of all make this is a perfect place to simply savor your surroundings.

When to Go

Northern Michigan has a four season climate with a short spring, beautiful summer, lovely fall, and severe winter.

SPRING: Spring time temperatures on Mackinac Island are cool, ranging from 30s to 40s in April to finally reaching the 70s by late May and early June. Snow during springtime is not unheard of this far north! Knowing this, it can also be a great time to visit Mackinac Island. As the island wakes up after a sleepy winter season, you can be one of the first visitors to the island. Spring also holds a few festivals such as the popular Lilac Festival in June and several others during the spring months. Check out the Mackinac Island Website for information on these events.

SUMMER: This is the high season on Mackinac Island and for good reason. The temperatures are most consistently great for exploring and you can even take a dip in Lake Huron on the island’s east side! The island is in full bloom, too, with gorgeous flowers everywhere you look. This is my favorite time to visit even though summer also brings the biggest crowds.

FALL: Fall up north is magical, as the vibrant fall colors rival any place on the East Coast. During the months of September and October, Mackinac Island has some of its best weather and lowest crowds. This is a great time to score some shoulder season deals before the island gets ready to hibernate for the upcoming winter months.

WINTER: It will be cold and likely snowy, but that brings a special kind of magic. Get out on the trails and enjoy snowshoeing and winter hikes while the island is at its quietest. Many places may be shuttered for the season, but the trade off is very low crowds and a peaceful atmosphere. The annual Mackinac Island Christmas Bazaar usually takes place the first weekend of December.

One Perfect Day on Mackinac Island

This guide is written as a summer visit. Hours and times change from season to season as do activities so be sure to check the Mackinac Island Website for up-to-date-information.

MORNING

The earlier you get to Mackinac Island the better! You will not only start the day with lower crowds but have more time to fit everything in.

If you take the ferry from Mackinac City, try to aim for one of the “Mighty Mac Crossings”, which includes a ride under the Mackinac Bridge.

You can get some great photos of this 5 mile long suspension bridge that connects the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan. The ride only adds 10 minutes on so it is totally worth it!

Biking the Island

When you arrive on the island, your first stop is to secure bikes. We have always had great service from Mackinac Island Bike Shop. As soon as you exit the ferry dock and enter Main Street, turn right and the bike shop is just a few feet away.

Biking the island is a great way to start the day. The 8 mile long path encircles the perimeter of the island, taking you through Main Street, to Arch Rock, along beautiful Lake Huron, past woodsy forests, and finally back along Lake Michigan, where you can view the Mackinac Bridge.

There are several pull outs along the way, the most popular being to visit Arch Rock, which we share about below.

Arch Rock

Arch Rock is a limestone arch created from years of erosion. When viewing the Arch, you can see the beautiful colors of Lake Huron through the arch’s opening.

To get here, park your bike below (with all the other bikes!) and walk up the 320 stairs to get here. It’s a relatively easy climb in the shaded woods and definitely worth it!

The views down below are fantastic!

After visiting Arch Rock and biking the island you will arrive back at Main Street. You then can return the bikes and have some lunch.

LUNCH TIME

There are several great places to eat at on Mackinac Island.

One option is to grab picnic supplies from Doud’s Market on Main Street, just across from Mackinac Island Bike Shop. This would be great to do right after returning your bikes. Taking your picnic to the lawn of Marquette Park is a great place for a picnic!

We recently dined at the Carriage House at Hotel Iroquois for lunch and had a great experience. If you can sit outside on the patio, even better! The views out to the water are beautiful.

Another favorite of ours is the Gate House, which is on Cadotte Avenue. The Gate House also has an outdoor area for dining, which is great for people watching and hearing the clomp of horse hooves going by, taking guests to and from the Grand Hotel.

AFTERNOON

Regardless of where you ate lunch, it is time to head towards the Grand Hotel. But before you get there there are a few stops to make.

Little Stone Church

Residents and visitors can attend services on Sundays at the Little Stone Church with weddings taking place here from May to October.

The Little Stone Church is located nearly across from the entrance to the Secret Garden, which makes for a nice, quick stop to check it out before continuing on.

The Secret Garden

You have arrived at the Grand Hotel! Before proceeding up to the grandiose white building, check out the Secret Garden. On the grounds of the Grand Hotel is a small yet delightful garden absolutely filled to the brim with flowers! Here is how to reach it: From the sidewalk on the same side of Cadotte Avenue as the Grand Hotel, take the path that veers off to the left. When walking on it, look for a white signpost with a garden trowel on it – that is your sign you have reached the Secret Garden. You will walk through a small thicket of trees and then will see the amazing Secret Garden off to the left!

The Grand Hotel Porch

To visit the Grand Hotel as a non-guest, you have to pay $12 per adult/$6 child, but it is worth it in our opinion to see this iconic place up close.

To start, enjoy an afternoon cocktail on the longest porch in the world! White rockers line the porch filled with beautiful red geraniums and overlooking Lake Michigan.

After time outside, head inside to follow a self-guided tour of areas shared about on the brochure you get with your entrance ticket. The opulent interior is worth a look around for sure as is exploring the grounds.

The Jockey Club

The Jockey Club is another great spot to have a drink, appetizer, or coffee and dessert in the afternoon.

Located across the street from the Grand Hotel, the Jockey Club is actually an extension of the Grand Hotel as it is one of its restaurants and sits on a beautiful golf course.

The Benjamin Blacksmith Shop

From here, head back down Cadotte Avenue and turn left onto Market Street. It is located on the left hand side and is just under 10 minutes away by foot.

The Benajmin Blacksmith shop is open until 6:00 p.m. and the Fort until 7:00 so it makes sense logistically as well as for timing purposes to visit this one first.

Fort Mackinac

When visiting Fort Mackinac, you are also visiting the oldest building in Michigan!

Fort Mackinac takes visitors back to Revolutionary War times when British Soldiers moved Fort Michilimackinac (now known as Mackinaw City) to Mackinac Island. It changed hands a few more times: to Americans in 1796, and back to the British in 1812, and finally back to Americans where it remained an active fort until the 1890s.

When visiting the fort keep in mind the majority of the visit will be outdoors. The fort is accessible with an entrance for wheelchairs located in the back.

During your visit, expect to engage with costumed interpreters and also witness rifle and canon demonstrations. There are 14 buildings restored as they would have been back when the fort was active. For the most up-to-date visitor’s information click here.

For more in-depth information on all of the best sites to see on Mackinac Island, see our linked guide below:

Read our guide on 12 Great Things to do on Mackinac Island: Great Things to do on Mackinac Island

Interested in a horse and carriage ride while on Mackinac Island? Sometimes the lines for a tour can be long, even though a narrated, historic tour is wonderful. We have an alternative: call for a taxi! During our visit, wait times were upwards of 45 minutes for a tour, however a taxi picked us up within 10 minutes. While we didn’t get narration, we did get to sit back and take in the lovely scene while be transported between various areas. This will be an especially great option for the end of the day when your feet might be tired! Here is the information for a horse and carriage taxi: Mackinac Island Taxi.

Charming Mackinac Island is a great place to explore in one full day. The history, the beauty, and its setting in between two of the Great Lakes makes for a memorable place!