Overview
St. Ignace is a city in the Upper Peninsula of the state of Michigan, at the north end of the Mackinac Bridge.
3 sights
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about St. Ignace
The Museum of Ojibwa Culture
On St. Ignace's waterfront, celebrates the 1671 establishment of contact between the Ojibwa (also called Chippewa or Anishinabe) people and the French-Canadians. The grounds of the Museum contains the site of the Mission…
Fort de Buade
A reconstructed French fort with more exhibits on Native Americans and early European settlement in the area.
Straits State Park
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 — 21 mi away. Directions
- CIU Chippewa County International Airport, Kincheloe — 29 mi away. Directions
- GRR Gerald R. Ford International Airport, Grand Rapids — 210 mi away (major hub). Directions
St. Ignace can be reached from the south over the 5-mile-long Mackinac Bridge. The north-south I-75 connects Sault Ste Marie, on the northern border of the United States, with Detroit. U.S. 2 connects St. Ignace with Duluth and points west.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning The Museum of Ojibwa Culture, Fort de Buade
- Afternoon Straits State Park
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By car
St. Ignace can be reached from the south over the 5-mile-long Mackinac Bridge. The north-south I-75 connects Sault Ste Marie, on the northern border of the United States, with Detroit. U.S. 2 connects St. Ignace with Duluth and points west.
By bus
Indian Trails offers daily bus service to and from Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Chicago, Milwaukee, Escanaba, Houghton-Hancock, and Duluth.
By other means
St. Ignace has a paved runway but no commercial air service. Ferryboat lines run from St. Ignace to Mackinac Island in the late spring, summer, and fall.
See
See The Museum of Ojibwa Culture
On St. Ignace's waterfront, celebrates the 1671 establishment of contact between the Ojibwa (also called Chippewa or Anishinabe) people and the French-Canadians. The grounds of the Museum contains the site of the Mission Chapel, reconstructions of the "long homes" built by local Native Americans, and a gravesite believed to be that of explorer Jacques Marquette. As of January 2006, the Museum was open from Memorial Day weekend until early October of each year. The admission fee was $2.00.
- Includes the Father Marquette National Memorial.
See Straits State Park
- Mackinac Bridge. The Mackinac (pronounced Mackinaw) is an impressive long-span Suspension Bridge connecting the upper and lower pensinsulas of Michigan. It once was the longest bridge in the entire Western Hemisphere. While there is no pedestrian access on the bridge, crossing it is still an impressive experience. Drivers should keep in mind that the two middle lanes of the bridge are an open steel grating, where the two outer lanes are regular pavement.
Do
Go to the Putt Putt Golf. Go parasailing - it's a great way to see the island from a bird's eye angle.
Eat
- St. Ignace is on the eastern end of Upper Peninsula pasty country. While the Cornish pasty is more closely identified with the hard-rock mining country of the central and western Upper Peninsula, the main dish can be found in and around St. Ignace, typically from small roadside diners on U.S. Highway 2 west of the town.
- Mackinac Island-style fudge can be purchased on the town's waterfront main street.
Sleep
- Breakers Resort and Beach Bar, 927 N. State St. Tel: (906) 643-7733.
- Cedar Hill Lodge, 680 US 2. Tel: +1 906-643-9900.
- Quality Inn Lakefront, 1021 N. State St. Tel: +1 906-643-7581. Balcony view of Mackinac Island. Located on the shores of Lake Huron. Secure Online Reservations.
- Quality Inn, 561 Boulevard Dr. Tel: +1 906-298-6614. Indoor pool/hot tub courtyard, complimentary breakfast.
- Voyager Inn, 750 US 2 W. Tel: +1 906-207-8111. Indoor pool, free breakfast and nightly popcorn.
Nearby
Mackinac Island
Rural area · 7 listings · 5 mi away
Mackinaw City
City / town · 14 listings · 6 mi away
Cheboygan
City / town · 3 listings · 19 mi away
Les Cheneaux Islands
City / town · 20 mi away
Harbor Springs
City / town · 4 listings · 33 mi away
Petoskey
City / town · 34 listings · 36 mi away
Bay Harbor
City / town · 28 listings · 38 mi away
Beaver Island
Rural area · 30 listings · 42 mi away
My experience
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