As the USA’s Best Summer Travel Destination four years running, Mackinac Island is special. Because of that distinctive character, visiting Mackinac Island is a little different than every other place you could take a vacation.

For starters, Mackinac Island is car-free. So, getting to Mackinac Island and getting around Mackinac Island involves some planning.

Here’s a look at three big things to know about traveling to historic Mackinac Island and navigating the unique logistics:

Family of four in open-air seating of a Mackinac Island ferry boat

The Ferry Boat Ride to Mackinac Island

Because you can’t drive a car to Mackinac Island, most visitors take a ferry boat from the mainland. Two ferry companies operate frequent departures throughout the visitor season from both Mackinaw City at the tip of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula and St. Ignace at the bottom of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. You can park at either location for a daily or overnight fee and, if desired, catch a free shuttle from the parking lot to the ferry dock.

The ferry boats are first-come-first-served, so you don’t need to reserve a seat. However, you can buy a ticket in advance online from Shepler’s Ferry or Arnold Transit Company and it’s good for any departure the entire season.

You may have to wait in line for a boat in peak summer, but departures happen as often as every 15 minutes so you shouldn’t have to wait long. Once you board the boat, you’ll find indoor and outdoor seating and an observation deck on top. Be prepared with a sweatshirt or jacket because the ride can be breezy and cool even on warm days.

The ferry ride takes about 15 to 20 minutes from either Mackinaw City or St. Ignace on the fastest boats. You can opt for a slower ride on a classic boat and save some money or choose a longer ride that travels beneath the mighty Mackinac Bridge for an additional sightseeing thrill.

Aside from taking a ferry boat to Mackinac Island, some visitors arrive on a private boat and dock it in the Mackinac Island marina. A short, 7-minute flight from St. Ignace to Mackinac Island Airport is another option. Just be sure that if you fly to Mackinac Island, you reserve a horse-drawn taxi in advance to take you from the airport to your place to stay.

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Dock porter bicycles rest against a blue railing in front of a Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry boat

Getting Your Luggage to Mackinac Island

Since Mackinac Island is car-free, you can’t put your bags in the trunk and drive them straight to your hotel. Instead, you can put your luggage on the ferry boat for free. The crew will tag your bags and place them in a separate area of the boat.

Whether you have a suitcase full of clothes, a set of golf clubs or a baby stroller, there’s no cost to transport your luggage on the ferry. You can even bring your dog! (Kids under age 5 ride on the ferry for free.)

Bicycles and bike trailers are the most common items that you have to pay to take on a Mackinac Island ferry boat. If you’re planning to bike around, bringing your own bicycle to Mackinac Island is an economical way to explore the island at your own pace.

When you arrive on Mackinac Island, the boat crew will unload your luggage. What happens next depends on where you’re staying. Some hotels will deliver your bags straight to your room. Otherwise, you can transport your luggage yourself on foot or via horse-drawn taxi or you can pay a Mackinac Island dock porter to haul them on a bicycle. Check with the place where you’re staying to find out whether they handle luggage delivery.

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Horse-drawn taxi on a road lined with parked bicycles on Mackinac Island

Horse-Drawn Taxis and Bicycles on Mackinac Island

The four main ways of getting around on Mackinac Island are on foot, by bike, with a mobility scooter or wheelchair, and in a taxi. Unlike taxis in most travel destinations, taxis on Mackinac Island are driven by real horsepower. Another difference is that you don’t order a taxi by hailing it from the curb. You call Mackinac Island Taxi dispatch and request a ride.

Even though Mackinac Island is relatively small, it sometimes can take awhile for a horse-drawn taxi to pick you up. (Another insider tip is that you can schedule a taxi for a specific time.) Just know that nothing moves fast on Mackinac Island, so slow down, take your time and relax. And be sure to have cash on hand. Although you can pay for a horse-drawn taxi by credit card when you call for a ride, it’s expected to give drivers a cash tip.

If you don’t bring your own bicycle to Mackinac Island, you can rent one from any of several shops in town or at certain resorts. You can find a variety of bicycles (including multi-speed, tandems, adult trikes, tag-a-longs, and burleys) available by the hour, half-day, full day, overnight or for multiple days. The longer you rent, the lower the per-hour price tends to be.

A number of bicycle shops also rent electric mobility scooters by the hour, half-day or full day. You can even have one delivered straight to your hotel or the ferry dock. The scooters can easily navigate the flat, paved stretches from downtown to Mission Point Resort where you’ll find sidewalk curb cuts for enhanced accessibility. Heavy-duty models can even handle some of the larger hills and make it all the way around Mackinac Island’s 8.2-mile perimeter road on a single charge. Just be sure to call the shop well in advance to reserve a mobility scooter because they occasionally sell out.

Whether you’re driving an electric scooter or riding a bike, these Mackinac Island road safety rules apply. Basically, keep to the right side of the road and off the sidewalk. And only park your bike or scooter in designated areas.

As for walking around Mackinac Island, there’s really just one rule: Keep to the sidewalk and out of the road. And here’s a recommendation: Be sure to pack comfortable shoes!

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