Good news! One of the busiest airports in the world is adding direct flights to northern Michigan.
Starting on May 8, one United Express flight each day will travel from O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to Pellston Regional Airport (PLN), just 15 miles south of the Mackinac Island ferry docks in Mackinaw City. Then, starting May 15, United will add daily service from O’Hare to Chippewa County International Airport (CIU) near Sault Ste. Marie, about 40 minutes north of the ferry docks in St. Ignace.
The new flights offer a great chance for a quick spring trip to car-free Mackinac Island. You can depart O’Hare for either Pellston or Chippewa County shortly after noon and make it to Mackinac Island in time for dinner and the sunset!
From late May through early September, United will operate an additional daily flight to Pellston so that it’s even easier to get to the USA’s Best Summer Travel Destination. From May 22 to June 25, there will be two flights per day every day except for Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Then, from June 26 to Sept. 8, there will be two daily flights every day of the week.
Daily flights to both Pellston and Chippewa County will continue through late September so you also can experience first-hand why Mackinac Island was named the USA’s No. 2 Best Place to Visit for Fall.
Commercial air service to northern Michigan previously has been available only from Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) or from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP).
Other Ways Of Getting To Mackinac Island
Getting From The Airport To Mackinac Island
A few weeks before the direct flights from Chicago begin, Mackinac Island ferry boats will be back in full service. With the return of the iconic Arnold line, Mackinac Island once again will have two ferry boat companies operating. Both Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry and Arnold Transit Co. are scheduled to provide daily boat service to Mackinac Island via St. Ignace and Mackinaw City in time for the April 25 kickoff of Mackinac Island’s Sneak Peek Week.
After landing at either northern Michigan airport in Pellston or Sault Ste. Marie, you can catch an airport shuttle to the ferry for a 15-minute boat ride to Mackinac Island on one of these ferries. Otherwise, you could charter a flight direct to Mackinac Island Airport, where you could call ahead to have a horse-drawn taxi waiting for you.
How to get from the airport to the Mackinac Island ferry docks
Spring 2025 on Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island’s Sneak Peek Week from April 25-May 1 will give visitors a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like when the restaurants, attractions and places to stay reopen for the season. Then, the official 2025 Opening Day is Friday, May 2, when a morning cannon blast at Fort Mackinac marks the start of spring.
See All The Spring 2025 Opening Dates On Mackinac Island
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