Mackinac Island Travel Guide

I’ve been asked quite a few questions about our recent trip to Mackinac Island in Michigan! I thought it would be helpful to share what we did there. If you’re looking for a weekend getaway local to the Midwest, here’s what you can expect from Mackinac!

Mackinac was a definite change of pace for Matt and I. It was much slower, very nature focused, and small. I loved the change! It’s an island with a lot of history which you can get a taste of almost everywhere you go. It’s great for the family too because it’s so safe and everyone is incredibly trusting. It’s just good, wholesome fun. I felt like this was the first time Matt and I had a chance to breathe since April!

Getting to Mackinac Island. 

Mackinac Island is only accessible by ferry. No cars are allowed on the island! What you do is, drive to Mackinac City and park your car at the ferry dock (there are varying rates depending on how long you plan to stay). Tourism is quite high for the island as people often come up for the weekend or even do a day trip. That means they’re very well prepared to house your car.

Most people drive from wherever they are to Mackinac City. We happened to fly from Chicago with a layover in Detroit. If you’re looking to fly, Pellston is the closest airport. The ferry is still 20-30 minutes away from the airport so have a plan!

Where to stay on Mackinac Island.

We stayed at Mission Point Resort which is on one end of the island. It’s a very quaint resort with a huge lawn filled with Adirondack chairs. They have a brand new spa, executive putt putt, tennis, bike rentals, and a wine bar on the property among several other amenities. There is a ton of history on this property and you can feel that by spending a couple hours in the big arm chairs in the lobby next to a crackling fire.

The other main hotel on the island is the Grand Hotel. That seems to be the more popular choice but it comes with quite a bit of tourism. We didn’t actually go inside because they charged a $10 fee just to get onto the property which is insane! It was beautiful and the price point was a little higher than Mission Point.

There are also several Airbnbs on the island with cute exteriors and quaint (a great word for Mackinac Island in general) decor. I would pick whatever is within your budget as they’re all relatively close to each other and within walking distance!

What to do on Mackinac Island. 

Walk around downtown.

This takes about 10 minutes but take your time! It’s really cute and there are a ton of souvenir shops. There are also about 10 fudge stores downtown. If you know how big downtown is (it’s really small), just know there is a lot of fudge. We went into Joann’s and got to watch the fudge being made! We also went into one of those shops that custom make sweatshirts for something fun. Matt got a Fortnite tank and I got something with Michigan on it.

Bike the island.

Mackinac is a very active town. If you have the time, bike around the island. Bike rentals are everywhere including at Mission Point where we stayed! You shouldn’t have a hard time finding them! You can probably do this in a few hours depending on how fast or slow you want to take it. If you want to make your experience longer, take a picnic with you! Make sure to stop by Arch Rock on the way!

Have a glass of wine at Reserve Wine Bar.

Reserve is the wine bar at Mission Point. If you followed along on Instagram, you know we ended up going there twice! They have a bunch of local wines and also make custom charcuterie boards. It is a small spot so it’s really cozy. We both loved the atmosphere! It’s a little hard to find but just ask the front desk for help. Mission Point welcomes visitors – you don’t have to pay a fee to enter like you do with the Grand Hotel! You can also walk into Reserve Wine Bar directly from the sidewalk!

Go to the Mission Point Spa.

Mission Point is in the process of renovating some of their rooms but their spa is brand new. It’s picture perfect! They also do blowouts and mani/pedis if you need a day of self care. Matt and I both tried the lilac treatment – lilacs are one of the signature flowers of the island so it felt right! It was amazing too!

Have a drink at the Pink Pony.

This is one of those local watering holes. If you’re in town and want to go out, this is the spot. I’ve heard it can get kind of crazy!

Executive Putt Putt.

Mission Point also has executive putt putt available for $20. You don’t need to be a pro but there is a real club and real grass! Think of it as an elevated mini golf. Matt definitely beat me because I have zero patience but it was nice to do something new. We had lunch at Bistro on the Greens after!

Have you been to Mackinac Island? Have you ever been to Michigan?