Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry Company and Arnold Transit Company both operate ferry boats to Mackinac Island during the primary tourist season from late April through October.
They each have docks on the mainland in both Mackinaw City, at the northern tip of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, and St. Ignace, at the southern tip of the Upper Peninsula. If you’re planning to take a ferry, this helpful page with options for Getting to Mackinac Island is a good place to start.
Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry and Arnold Transit Company
Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry and Arnold Transit Company each offer a variety of day and overnight parking options in both Mackinaw City and St. Ignace, with boats leaving every 30 minutes or so in the heart of the season.
The ride to Mackinac Island takes about 15 minutes. Or you can choose to board one of the ferries that goes under the Mackinac Bridge on the way to Mackinac Island, and that ride takes about 25 minutes. Although tickets for Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry and Arnold Transit Company can be purchased in advance online, reservations are not required. Ferry pricing is the same when departing from either mainland location.
Keep reading for answers to all of your ferry related questions.
Other Mackinac Island ferry tips
Both Shepler’s Ferry and Arnold Transit Company allow visitors to bring a bike on board the Mackinac Island ferry for a fee. Pets are welcome on ferry boats to Mackinac Island, too.
Some places to stay have Mackinac Island dockporters take your bags straight from the ferry dock to your room so you don’t have to worry about handling your bags once you arrive. Be sure to check in advance with the place you’re staying to see how to take care of your bags upon arrival.
All ferry docks on Mackinac Island are located right in town in close proximity to many restaurants and places to stay, as well as attractions including Mackinac Island Carriage Tours, Great Turtle Kayak Tours, Fort Mackinac, many fudge shops and bike rental vendors.
Shepler’s Ferry and Arnold Transit Company offer packages that combine ferry tickets with admission to various Mackinac Island attractions and things to do. If you plan to visit Fort Mackinac or enjoy a narrated horse-drawn carriage tour of Mackinac Island, for example, you may be able to get special pricing by purchasing a package through one of the ferry companies.
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Mackinac Island Ferry FAQ
Q: How do I get Mackinac Island ferry tickets?
A: You can buy ferry tickets when you get to the dock or buy Mackinac Island ferry tickets online (usually at a reduced rate) and then bypass ticket lines at the dock.
TIP: When buying ferry tickets, take a look at the special deals that package a ferry ride with Mackinac Island attractions such as horse-drawn carriage tours or Fort Mackinac admission.
Q: Do I need reservations for the ferry?
A: Tickets are good for any day and time, so you can choose the ferry that works for you. Both companies run several boats a day to Mackinac Island in season, with rides departing as often as every 15 minutes in the peak summer season. If there’s a particular boat you want to catch, be sure to arrive at least 15 minutes early to make sure you can get on it.
Q: Which ferry company should I ride with?
A: Both Arnold Transit Company and Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry offer safe, fast, and reliable ferry service to and from Mackinac Island. They have similar schedules and ticket prices so either one will be a great choice!
Q: Where do the ferries leave from? Where do they arrive on Mackinac Island?
A: Both ferry companies provide service from the Mackinaw City in the Lower Peninsula (south of the Mackinac Bridge) and St. Ignace in the Upper Peninsula (north of the Mackinac Bridge). They both arrive right in the heart of downtown Mackinac Island at their respective docks. Downtown Mackinac Island is about 3 blocks and where the action begins!
Q: Where do I park my vehicle?
A: Day-trippers can park their vehicles in designated ferry parking lots in Mackinaw City or St. Ignace. For overnight guests, Mackinac Island ferry companies offer a range of parking options. There is a fee for parking and more information can be found at the respective websites for Arnold Transit Company and Shepler's Ferry Company to see up to date rates.
Q: How much is a ferry ticket?
A: There are a variety of ferry ticket options including roundtrip tickets, child pricing, and more. Visit the respective websites for Arnold Transit Company and Shepler's Ferry Company to see up to date rates.
Q: What is the earliest ferry to the island? What is the latest ferry off the island?
A: Ferry schedules vary throughout the season but in general, the ferries run every 1/2 hour - sometimes every 15 minutes during peak season or on the hour during the slower season. The first ferry to the island is generally at 7:30 am and the last ferry off is 8:00 pm in the slower season and as late as 10:00 pm during peak season. *Be sure to double check the ferry schedule, port city, and times when you travel to and from Mackinac Island.
Q: What do I do with my luggage when I arrive on Mackinac Island?
A: If you’re staying overnight on Mackinac Island, the ferry company will take your luggage and transport it to Mackinac Island free of charge. You can claim your bags when you arrive, although some places to stay on Mackinac Island have dockporters deliver your luggage right to your room.
Q: Can I bring dogs on the ferry to Mackinac Island? How about strollers or bicycles?
A: Yes! You can bring dogs to Mackinac Island on ferry boats free of charge. Dogs must be leashed or crated for the ride.
Strollers are welcome on ferry boats free of charge and are stored on the boat during the ride as children sit in their own seat or on a parent’s lap. Bicycles.
Since bicycling is one of the primary ways of getting around on Mackinac Island, it can be handy to have a bike available whenever you need it. There also are several vendors on Mackinac Island that rent a variety of bikes by the hour or by the day. Here's how much it costs to rent bikes on Mackinac Island.
Flying to Mackinac Island
In addition to ferry boat service, visitors can also get to Mackinac Island by airplane. The flight from St. Ignace to Mackinac Island Airport lasts just 7 minutes!
If you’re flying into northern Michigan, you can order a charter flight to Mackinac Island from Pellston Regional Airport (PLN) in the Lower Peninsula, Chippewa County International Airport (CIU) in the Upper Peninsula or Traverse City (TVC).
Otherwise, you can board shuttles at each of those airports for transportation to the ferry docks in Mackinaw City or St. Ignace.
If you do arrive by plane, be sure to arrange horse-drawn taxi transportation from the Mackinac Island airport to wherever you're staying.
At times during the winter when the Straits of Mackinac are frozen, the only way to get to Mackinac Island is by plane. For much of the winter, however, you also can travel to Mackinac Island by ferry. Arnold Transit Company runs a limited schedule of passenger boats back and forth to the mainland during the winter on Mackinac Island.
RELATED: Yes, you can fly to Mackinac Island
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