Travel Guide
Plan like a local.
Ferries, seasons and packing — everything you need before the fun starts.
Getting around
Rent a car, take the scenic route.
Fly into Detroit (DTW), Grand Rapids (GRR) or Traverse City (TVC), then pick up a rental — the best of Michigan is spread out, and the driving is half the fun.
The M-22 along the Leelanau Peninsula is the state's most scenic stretch of road; the Tunnel of Trees north of Harbor Springs runs a close second.
Local tip: in July, book your Mackinac ferry tickets the night before — the 9 a.m. boats sell out.
The crossing
Ferry to Mackinac Island.
Star Line and Shepler's both run from Mackinaw City and St. Ignace, leaving every 20 to 30 minutes in summer. The crossing takes 16 to 20 minutes.
Leave your car on the mainland — cars have been banned on the island since 1898. Bikes, luggage and strollers ride along, and everything on the island is walkable or horse-drawn.
From Detroit it is about 4.5 hours to Mackinaw City; from Traverse City, about 2.5.
Quietest crossings: the first and last boats of the day.When to visit
Pick your season.
Each one is a different state.
Spring · May to June
Cherry blossoms, empty beaches and cooler water — with the year's best prices outside Traverse City.
Summer · July to August
The warmest swimming and every festival going. Book ferries and lodging early.
Fall · September to October
Color peaks mid-October in the Upper Peninsula. Cider mills and harvest festivals everywhere.
Winter · December to March
Ski Boyne, snowshoe Sleeping Bear, and have Mackinac Island nearly to yourself.
Packing
What to pack.
- Layers — lake weather changes by the hour
- Water shoes for rocky Great Lakes beaches
- Sunscreen and a sun hat
- Bug spray for June and July evenings
- A refillable water bottle
- A small bag for ferry days — no car on the island