Overview
The Mackinac Area is the northernmost part of Northern Michigan, just south of the Straits of Mackinac and the Mackinac Bridge to St. Ignace in the Upper Peninsula.
1 things to do
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Mackinac Area
Mackinac Bridge Walk
This event takes place every year on Labor Day (the first Monday in September). Two of the four lanes on the five-mile-long Mackinac Bridge are closed to vehicles, and people are allowed to cross on foot (which is normal…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 81°F; winter lows dip to about 16°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Oct and Sep. (climate data from nearby Traverse City)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- PLN Pellston Regional Airport of Emmet County Airport, Pellston — 5 mi away. Directions
- CIU Chippewa County International Airport, Kincheloe — 46 mi away. Directions
- GRR Gerald R. Ford International Airport, Grand Rapids — 192 mi away (major hub). Directions
Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 3-day trip
- Day 1: Petoskey — Petoskey stones, Little Traverse Historical Museum, St. Francis Solanus Mission.
- Day 2: Beaver Island — Mormon Print Shop, Beaver Island Marine Museum, Protar's Home.
- Day 3: Bay Harbor — Village at Bay Harbor, Bay Harbor Lake Marina, Bay Harbor Equestrian Club.
Built from the best-covered destinations in this region; open each for its own day plan.
Places in Mackinac Area
Understand
The region has a bit of a problem with consistency in spelling and pronunciation. The Straits, Bridge, and Island are all spelled "Mackinac" but pronounced "Mackinaw"; with the final "c" left silent. The Village of Mackinaw City and the Coast Guard cutter named after it are pronounced the same way, but are also spelled that way. (The "Mich" is pronounced "Mish", just like in the name of the state; at least that's consistent.)
The regional names are consistent, considering the local Indians (various tribes) had their way of pronouncing and area, and the French and English had their way of spelling what they heard from the Indian pronunciations. Michigan remains very historic in this sense. It has kept the spellings and pronunciations as were originally given by Indian, French and English.
Cities
- Bay Harbor
- Charlevoix — Known for its Venetian Festival, Applefest, beaches, shopping, and sailing.
- Cheboygan
- Harbor Springs
- Mackinaw City — A small, charming town, with daily ferry trips to Mackinac Island.
- Petoskey
Other destinations
- Beaver Island is a fairly small island with several hotels, restaurants, and opportunities for a vacation.
- Mackinac Island is between Lakes Michigan and Huron.
Get around
Don’t worry about vehicles. You’ll be accompanied by horses and bicycles instead! Highway M-185, also known as Lake Shore Boulevard, is the only highway in the nation where vehicles are prohibited, except for emergencies.
On foot
If you decide to make your way around the coast of Mackinac Island, walking will take approximately 2.5-4 hours without stopping.
By bike
You can also bring your own bicycle or rent one from one of the many local bicycle shops. It will take you approximately 1 hour to bike without stopping.
Do
Do Mackinac Bridge Walk
This event takes place every year on Labor Day (the first Monday in September). Two of the four lanes on the five-mile-long Mackinac Bridge are closed to vehicles, and people are allowed to cross on foot (which is normally not permitted). Participation in this event typically numbers between 50,000 and 65,000. Pedestrians cross from north to south only. There is no fee for the walk itself; a small fee is charged for south-to-north transportation across the bridge on school buses. Not recommended for those uncomfortable with heights.
Nearby
Mackinac Island
Rural area · 7 listings · 18 mi away
St. Ignace
City / town · 3 listings · 19 mi away
Les Cheneaux Islands
City / town · 31 mi away
Charlevoix
City / town · 12 listings · 34 mi away
Gaylord
City / town · 10 listings · 39 mi away
Atlanta
City / town · 5 listings · 49 mi away
Drummond Island
City / town · 13 listings · 56 mi away
Kalkaska
City / town · 1 listings · 64 mi away
My experience
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