A horse-drawn public carriage tour is one of the most popular ways to take in the gorgeous scenery of Mackinac Island. In less than two hours, you can get the lay of the land from downtown up into state park and back – all while making friends with some of Mackinac Island’s iconic horses.
Mackinac Island Carriage Tours provides the public tour rides, starting and ending right on Main Street with several stops along the way. To give you a glimpse of what it’s like, here are seven sights to see on a horse-drawn public carriage tour of Mackinac Island:
7 Sights to See on a Horse-Drawn Public Carriage Tour of Mackinac Island
Horse-drawn carriage tours start in downtown Mackinac Island
The ticket office for Mackinac Island Carriage Tours is right downtown on Main Street, near the ferry docks. No reservations are needed. Just buy your ticket and off you go!
Downtown Mackinac Island: Something for every visitor
Passing Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island carriage tour
After winding through historic downtown Mackinac Island, the carriage tour heads up Cadotte Avenue past Grand Hotel. While the tour does not stop at the stately resort, you can choose to end your tour here later and enjoy some time strolling the longest front porch in the world.
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Mackinac Island carriage tour stop in Surrey Hill
The first stop on a horse-drawn carriage tour is Mackinac Island’s Surrey Hill. This is where you’ll transfer from a two-horse carriage used in town to a 3-horse hitch for the main part of the tour. But before boarding the next carriage, feel free to explore the history of horse-drawn transportation on Mackinac Island at the Surrey Hill Carriage Museum. Or venture into Mackinac Island’s Wings of Mackinac butterfly house for an up-close and personal look at insects from around the world. Those are just two of the attractions you can enjoy in Surrey Hill during a break in your tour. (Carriage tours do not stop in Surrey Hill in the fall.)
- Things to See and Do at Mackinac Island’s Surrey Hill
- Q&A with Wings of Mackinac Butterfly Conservatory
Passing Mackinac Island cemeteries on horse-drawn carriage tour
From Surrey Hill, the horse-drawn carriage tour takes you through Mackinac Island State Park past sights including Skull Cave and Post Cemetery where Fort Mackinac soldiers, their families and “The Chaplain’s Lady” are buried.
A look at the historic cemeteries of Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island carriage tour stop at Arch Rock
The next stop on a horse-drawn carriage tour is the picturesque Arch Rock, one of many famous rock formations on Mackinac Island. The tour will make a brief stop here for viewing, and restrooms are available. (Starting Sept. 11, 2023, Mackinac Island Carriage Tours will detour around construction of a new nature center near Arch Rock and will not make this stop. The nature center is scheduled to open in May 2024, when carriage tours will resume making stops at Arch Rock.)
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Stopping at Fort Mackinac on a horse-drawn carriage tour of Mackinac Island
After snapping photos of Arch Rock, you’ll re-board your horse-drawn carriage and proceed to Mackinac Island’s historic Fort Mackinac. For an additional fee, you can explore the historic fort that dates to 1780 and includes 14 original buildings, including the oldest one in Michigan. Historical interpreters at Fort Mackinac lead demonstrations and share what life was like as a soldier on Mackinac Island.
(Tip: A ticket to Fort Mackinac includes admission to other Mackinac State Historic Parks attractions on Mackinac Island including the Richard & Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum, Biddle House Mackinac Island Native American Museum, Benjamin Blacksmith Shop, American Fur Company Store and Dr. Beaumont Museum and more. You may be able to get a deal on a combo package including a Mackinac Island ferry ticket and Fort Mackinac admission.)
- Q&A with a Fort Mackinac interpretive soldier
- Things to do at Mackinac Island’s historic Fort Mackinac
Passing the governor’s mansion on a Mackinac Island carriage tour
On the way from Fort Mackinac back to Surrey Hill, you’ll pass by the Michigan Governor’s Summer Residence. Then, once back at Surrey Hill, you’ll switch carriages again for the return to town. If you prefer, you can end your tour at Grand Hotel.
When you can tour Michigan governor’s summer residence on Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island Carriage Tours offers horse-drawn rides from early May through late October, and no reservations are taken. In addition to public tours, private carriage tours are available by the hour for up to eight guests with only same-day reservations available.
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