Mackinac Island

About

Mackinac Island sits in the straits between Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas, and it's unlike anywhere else in America. Cars have been banned here since 1898. Instead, you'll find horse-drawn carriages clip-clopping down Main Street, bicycles leaning against Victorian storefronts, and a pace of life that feels like stepping back in time.

Getting there is part of the adventure. Ferry services run regularly from both Mackinaw City and St. Ignace, carrying visitors across the sparkling waters of Lake Huron. The ride takes about 15 to 20 minutes, and the views of the island's bluffs and the Mackinac Bridge are worth the trip alone.

Once you arrive, the island unfolds with something for everyone. Fort Mackinac stands high on the bluffs above town, a beautifully preserved 18th-century military outpost where costumed interpreters fire cannons and tell stories of the fur trade era. The views from the fort walls stretch for miles across the straits.

The shoreline path circling the island runs about eight miles and is one of the most scenic walks in the Midwest. It's flat, paved, and hugs the water nearly the entire way. You'll pass Arch Rock, a natural limestone formation towering 146 feet above the lake, and quiet stretches of rocky beach where the water is impossibly clear.

No visit is complete without trying Mackinac Island fudge. The island is famous for it, and shops along Main Street have been making it by hand for over a century. Watch it being pulled and folded on marble slabs before picking your favorite flavor.

Carriage tours offer a relaxing way to see the island's interior, passing through forests of birch and cedar, past the Grand Hotel with its iconic 660-foot porch, and along quiet lanes lined with cottage gardens. The island is small enough that you can explore most of it in a day, but spending a night or two lets you experience the magical quiet that settles in after the last ferry departs.

Accessibility

Mackinac Island's car-free environment creates a unique accessibility experience. Both Shepler's Ferry and Arnold Transit Company operate ADA-compliant ferries with full accommodations for electric wheelchairs and mobility devices for the crossing from the mainland.

Once on the island, the eight-mile shoreline path is paved and relatively flat, making it suitable for wheelchair users and those with mobility aids. However, some interior trails and wooded paths have uneven terrain and steep grades.

Fort Mackinac presents specific challenges. The main entrance from town requires climbing a steep hill and is not accessible for wheelchair users. However, horse-drawn taxi service can transport visitors to the north side of the fort, which provides an alternative entry point. A taxi with a wheelchair lift may be available by calling 906-847-3323. Contact Mackinac State Historic Parks at (231) 436-4100 for detailed accessibility information about the fort and other historic properties.

Mackinac Island Carriage Tours operates an ADA-accessible carriage that rotates through their tour schedule throughout the day. Check at the ticket booth for current availability and scheduling.

Manual wheelchairs and electric scooters are available for rent at several bike rental locations on the island, which is helpful for visitors who don't want to bring their own equipment on the ferry.

Main Street and the downtown area are generally flat with sidewalks, though some shops in older buildings may have steps at their entrances. The Grand Hotel and several other accommodations offer accessible rooms. Contact individual hotels and restaurants directly to confirm current accessibility features before booking your visit.

More accessible places in Michigan

• Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit)
• Michigan Science Center (Detroit)
• Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (Empire)
• The Henry Ford (Dearborn)
• Tahquamenon Falls State Park (Upper Peninsula)
• Flint Institute of Arts (Flint)