Everything You Need to Know for a Mackinac Island Day Trip
Are you thinking about heading to Mackinac Island but only have one day? Thankfully Mackinac Island is definitely doable in one day.
My recommendation is to stay on the island overnight if you can as doing this truly allows you to experience Mackinac Island to its fullest, but if that is not an option, it is also SO worth it to visit for a day.
Check out my post Mackinac Island with Kids to find out all the best activities to do on the island.
Keep reading below to find out everything you need to know to make the most of your Mackinac Island day trip.
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Common Mackinac Island Day Trip Questions Answered
Can you go to Mackinac Island for a day?
Yes, you can go to Mackinac Island for a day. You can take the ferry over in the morning and then in the late afternoon or evening take it back.
Make sure you check the ferry schedule carefully so you do not miss your ferry departure.
You can board the ferry to Mackinac Island at either St. Ignace or Mackinaw City. Both are great options so choose whichever is most convenient for you!
If you are just taking a day trip to Mackinac Island, I suggest getting on the earliest ferry possible. Usually in the summertime, the ferry to Mackinac Island departs as early as 7:30am.
This is a great opportunity to get a head start on your Mackinac Island day trip and arrive before some of the crowds!
Find out more here for taking the ferry to Mackinac Island.
Expert Tip
Always double check the ferry schedule to plan for your departure times both to and from Mackinac Island.
How do you spend the day on Mackinac Island?
The best way to spend the day on Mackinac Island is to rent bicycles.
You can rent bicycles at a number of places on Mackinac Island.
I would do this right away when you get on the island. This will make sure you get a bike and have time to ride the 8.2 miles around the island plus do some sightseeing along the way!
If biking isn’t your thing, another great way to see the island is on a carriage ride tour.
You can purchase tickets for the carriage ride tour in downtown Mackinac Island. The ticket booth is located across from the Starline ferry dock.
Once you purchase tickets for your carriage ride, you will be assigned on the next available carriage ride.
Note: Reservations are not accepted, and there are no set departure times for the carriage tours.
Carriage tours are a fantastic way to see the interior of Mackinac Island on your day trip!
Also, while on Mackinac, you can visit Fort Mackinac, wander around the downtown area, visit the Mackinac Island Grand Hotel, eat fudge, and simply relax and enjoy the views around the island.
How long does it take to see Mackinac Island?
I would give yourself as much time as you can to experience Mackinac Island. My suggestion is to get on the first ferry of the day and then stay for an early dinner and take the last or second to last ferry out.
How much time you need to see the island depends on what you want to do. If you are going to bike around the whole island plus want to spend time downtown and have dinner, you are going to need most of the day.
If you simply want to take in the ambiance of downtown and have lunch, then you may only need 3-4 hours.
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What is the best way to tour Mackinac Island?
I believe that the best way to tour the island is to rent bicycles. This way you are in control of what you see and do and how much time you spend at each place.
It is easy to park your bike somewhere in order to see something special on the island.
If biking is not an option for your family or group, I would suggest doing a carriage ride tour.
The carriage sightseeing tour is approximately an hour and 45 minutes and is a great way to see some of the main sights on Mackinac Island.
You can even take your own private carriage tour. You must call the day you want to take the tour in order to make a same day reservation.
Another alternative is to simply walk. The whole downtown is super walkable.
It is just a 12-15 minute walk to Mission Point Resort where you can play some miniature golf while enjoying stunning views of the Straits of Mackinac.
Alternatively, you could walk to the Grand Hotel which will take you about 10 minutes.
If you want to go to Fort Mackinac, it is just a 10 minute walk from the ferry docks.
Best Things About Mackinac Island
I absolutely adore Mackinac Island.
One of my favorite things about it is that there are no cars. It was fantastic not to see any vehicles at all or to hear their noise.
Fun Fact
Even Amazon packages are delivered by horses. You will not find an Amazon prime truck on Mackinac Island.
Another thing I love about Mackinac Island is the beauty and amazing views. It is so stunning to walk downtown or do the bike ride around the island and take in the views of the island.
A third thing I love about Mackinac Island is the laid back atmosphere. I think part of this relaxed feeling has to do with it being vehicle-less. It just really makes Mackinac Island feel very stress-free.
Additionally, I love that Mackinac Island is a fantastic place to be active, and it is so easy to do so when there are no vehicles. I love walking, hiking, and biking, and Mackinac Island allows me to do just that.
Mackinac Island is truly an amazing vacation destination for individuals, couples, friends, and family. People of all ages and all interests can find something to enjoy on Mackinac Island.
What to Bring for Your Mackinac Island Day Trip
If you are heading to Mackinac Island for the day, I would bring just the necessities.
You may need a few more things if you are spending the day on Mackinac Island with kids.
Below is a general list of things that may be helpful to have on your Mackinac Island day trip.
- Stroller – You will need to leave it somewhere if you are going to rent bicycles. You can fold it up and bring it on the carriage rides, and it is super easy to bring on the ferry too!
- Bicycle(s) – If it is too inconvenient to bring your own bike(s) to Mackinac Island, you definitely can rent them when you arrive. It is not cheap to rent bicycles but is worth it if you want to bike around the island.
- Backpack – I would use a backpack to carry the things you need. Some bikes have baskets in the front to put a purse in, but I wouldn’t count on having that for sure. Thus, having a backpack will make it easier to bike or even to walk around.
- Water bottles – We always like to stay hydrated so it is helpful to bring a water bottle especially if it is going to be hot. It also saves money instead of purchasing bottled water on the island.
- Comfortable pair of shoes for walking and biking
- Water shoes – If you want to go into the water at all you may want some water shoes because the shoreline on Mackinac Island is very rocky.
- Extra sweatshirt or jacket – This depends on the weather. Before you leave, check what the weather looks like when you are going to be there. If there is a chance of rain or if there is supposed to be a temperature shift, you may want to bring an extra sweatshirt or jacket
- Anything else the kids might need for the day!
How To Get There
As mentioned above, you cannot drive a vehicle to Mackinac Island so you will have to get there via a ferry.
There are two main locations where you can catch a ferry to Mackinac Island. One is Mackinaw City and the other is St. Ignace.
You would likely catch the ferry from Mackinaw City if you are driving from Michigan’s lower peninsula and probably do St. Ignace if you are coming from the upper peninsula.
That said, these two ferry docks are just 15 minutes from each other so you really could depart from either.
Check out my post for more details on taking Shepler’s Ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Island.
You can purchase tickets at the ferry docks or buy them online, and you can use them any day or time.
The ferries run very frequently in the summertime. Make sure you check the ferry schedule ahead of time and plan when you want to get on the ferry to Mackinac Island, and then have an idea when you need to board to depart the island.
Make sure to arrive about 15-20 minutes early for the ferry boat you want to get on.
Parking is right at the ferry dock and riding on the ferry to Mackinac Island is very enjoyable and easy.
What To Do
There are so many fantastic things to do on your Mackinac Island day trip.
Bike 8.2 Miles Around the Island
As mentioned above, if you are interested in biking around the island, I would suggest doing that first.
There are many places to rent bikes when you get to Mackinac Island. Most of the bicycle rental shops will charge you after you return the bikes. This is beneficial especially if you aren’t exactly sure how long you will be taking it out.
Biking the 8.2 miles around Mackinac Island will take about 2-3 hours with stops.
There are some stunning places to stop and enjoy the views. Make sure to check out Arch Rock.
Also, take some time to spend along the shoreline simply relaxing or skipping rocks.
See Arch Rock
Arch Rock is a stunning geological formation overlooking Lake Huron. If you can make it to Arch Rock, I definitely recommend climbing the 207 steps to view it up close.
It is also a gorgeous sight to see from the road below.
Another way to get to Arch Rock is by taking a horse drawn carriage ride.
Additionally, it is possible to walk to Arch Rock. It would take about 20-30 minutes one way from downtown Mackinac Island.
If you look up directions ahead of time you can walk there using Arch Rock Road. You will avoid climbing the two hundred plus stairs if you take Arch Rock Road to Arch Rock.
Visit Fort Mackinac
Fort Mackinac has amazing views and intriguing history. It is located just up the hill from downtown. Take Fort Street up about a quarter mile from downtown, and you will be there!
Check out the schedule at Fort Mackinac to time your visit to see the rifle firing or cannon firing demonstration.
Fort Mackinac also has a Kids’ Quarter which is an interactive and hands on area just for the kids!
I recommend taking some time to spend at Fort Mackinac.
Expert Tip
With your admission tickets to Fort Mackinac, you can also visit many of the museums and historical buildings on Market Street.
Mini Golf at Mission Point Resort
Mission Point Resort has a gorgeous miniature golf course overlooking the Straits of Mackinac.
If your family or group enjoys miniature golfing, this is definitely a great activity to partake in during your day trip to Mackinac Island.
Mission Point Resort is located on Lake Shore Drive just about a half of a mile from the edge of downtown.
On your walk or ride to Mission Point Resort, you will pass Lady Liberty on the Island and many historic churches.
Visit ALL the fudge shops
Did you know that Mackinac Island is known for its fudge? I actually did not know this until visiting the island.
One fun thing to do on Mackinac Island is sampling fudge at all the fudge shops. If fudge isn’t your thing, many of the fudge shops also have salt water taffy, caramel corn, and ice cream too!
Meander Through Downtown Mackinac Island
Historic downtown Mackinac Island has so many fantastic shops to find souvenirs, fudge shops to visit, and restaurants to try.
Spending time downtown Mackinac Island is truly an incredible experience. It is bustling with people, bikes, and horses.
Once you get off the ferry if you turn towards the right you will be heading in the direction of Fort Mackinac and eventually Mission Point Resort.
If you turn towards the left you will be heading towards Hotel Iroquois.
If you arrive via Shepler’s Ferry and trying to figure out a direction to go, I would suggest heading towards the right when you get to Main Street as there is definitely more to see that way.
Besides all of the shops and restaurants on Main Street, you can head up one of the side streets to Market Street. There are additional historical buildings and museums on Market Street.
Take a Carriage Ride
Another iconic activity to do on Mackinac Island is to take a horse drawn carriage ride.
Since there are no vehicles, horse drawn carriage rides are one of the main ways to get around Mackinac Island.
There are a number of different companies that provide carriage tours. It may be best to research this ahead of time so you know what company you would like to take your tour with.
One of the main companies is Mackinac Island Carriage Tours. With this company you can purchase a ticket for a carriage tour once you arrive on Mackinac Island.
Expert Tip
Carriage ride tour tickets cannot be purchased ahead of time, and they do not accept reservations for the public tour. If this is something that you really want to do, I would go purchase your tickets at the ticket booth as soon as you arrive on the island.
Mackinac Island Carriage Tours also has private tours. You will have to call the tour company to reserve a carriage on the same day you are wanting to take the tour.
If you use Jack’s Livery Stable, you can drive your own horse and buggy.
As you can see there are plenty of options so if you are interested in a carriage ride, do your research ahead of time.
If you do not want to spend a whole lot of time on a carriage ride tour, you can always just do a taxi ride.
You do have to call in order to dispatch a taxi, but Mackinac Island Carriage tours will give you a quick ride to and from a number of destinations. You can find this information on their website.
Visit the Grand Hotel
If you want to make sure to see the most infamous hotel on Mackinac Island- the Grand Hotel, it is just a ten minute walk from the ferry docks.
Must Know Information
If you are not staying at the Grand Hotel, you will need to pay a $10 admission fee to enter the hotel and walk around the grounds. Children ages 5-9 are $5 and under age 5 are free.
These activities should definitely keep you busy on your Mackinac Island day trip.
Where to Eat
Pink Pony
The Pink Pony is a great dining option on Main Street inside the Chippewa Hotel. If you can, I would suggest eating out on the deck with a view of the water.
The Pink Pony has a variety of food options on its menu. They also have a phenomenal kids menu. The food is delicious and drinks are fun too!
I think that the thing that makes this restaurant stand out is definitely its outdoor ambiance and water views.
Doghouse at Windmere Point
If you are looking for more of a picnic type option. The Doghouse at Windmere Point is a great spot.
They serve hot dogs, hamburgers, and a couple of other options plus ice cream.
The great benefit of the Doghouse is that it is quick, inexpensive, and views are amazing.
You can sit at a picnic table or enjoy a picnic in the grass while enjoying a hotdog plus phenomenal views of the harbor.
The Doghouse at Windmere Point is near Hotel Iroquois so from the ferry docks take a left down Market Street. When you get to the grassy area past Hotel Iroquois, you will see it!
Fort Mackinac Tea Room
The Fort Mackinac Tea Room is a fantastic dining option if you are spending some time at Fort Mackinac.
This tea room has stunning views overlooking historic downtown Mackinac Island and the harbor.
The tea room is specifically located in the Officers’ Stone Quarters at Fort Mackinac. This makes it such a unique and historic place to have lunch.
You do need to pay admission to Fort Mackinac in order to dine here.
Bistro on the Greens at Mission Point Resort
Bistro on the Greens overlooks the miniature golf course and the Straits of Mackinac. The views are outstanding.
It is located at Mission Point Resort so is about a 12-15 minute walk from the ferry docks.
Bistro on the Greens has solely outdoor dining so if the weather is not cooperating, this would not be an option for dining.
Mackinac Island has numerous additional restaurants as well! I just picked a few out to highlight that were unique and would serve a variety of wants and needs.
Mackinac Island Day Trip Itinerary
9:00 am– Arrive on Mackinac Island
9:15 am– Head to a Bike rental shop such as Mackinac Wheels
9:45-12:00 pm– Bike around Mackinac Island including stops at Arch Rock and other sights
12:00 pm–Lunch at Doghouse at Windmere Point before returning your bikes
12:45– Return bikes and head to Fort Mackinac
1:00-2:30 pm– Explore Fort Mackinac
2:30-4:00 pm– Spend time downtown Mackinac Island including going into some of the museums on Market Street
4:00 pm– Take a taxi to Mission Point Resort for some miniature golfing
5:00 pm– Eat at Bistro on the Greens or take a taxi or walk back to Pink Pony for dinner
6:30 or 7:00 pm– Depart Mackinac Island
Alternatively, if renting bikes is not an interest of or an option for your group or family, you could substitute the biking time with a carriage ride. If that is the case, I would head to Mackinac Island Carriage Tours right away to get your tickets.
This itinerary is just an example of how you could spend your day while on Mackinac Island.
I am so excited for you to visit Mackinac Island. It is truly a unique and unforgettable experience. When I went to Mackinac Island, I absolutely fell in love with it.
SAVE and PIN this post so you can refer to it on your Mackinac Island day trip. May you love your adventure! KW