No family owns Mackinaw City. The Hoffman family recently purchased the majority share of Shepler’s Ferry. Most of the hotels are locally owned.

While all of Mackinac Island, the landform, is located within the corporate limits of the City of Mackinac Island, today 82 percent of the island's landmass is owned by the State of Michigan and managed by the Mackinac Island State Park Commission (MISPC)

The founders of Mackinaw City opted for the phonetic "aw" spelling, probably as a way to distinguish their town from Mackinac Island for confused postal carriers. Today Mackinaw City retains the "aw" spelling while the bridge, straits and island steadfastly cling to the "ac" spelling.

St. Ignace has much less to offer. Mackinaw City is a beautiful well laid out historical village with lighted sidewalks and walkable downtown district with shops, attractions, restaurants, and entertainment. St. Ignace consists of a long run-down street. Mackinaw City generally gets three times as many visitors as St. Ignace each year.

Many people choose to stay in Mackinaw City vs. on Mackinac Island. It's a lot less expensive and regardless of where you stay, you still need to take the ferry over to Mackinac Island. Mackinaw City has more modern, less expensive rooms and more extensive night life.

Ferries to the island are conveniently located downtown with close proximity to shops, restaurants and hotels in Mackinaw City. The most convenient, affordable, and, in our humble opinion, overall best way to travel to Mackinac Island is through Mackinaw City. Also, you will avoid the expense and sometimes hours long traffic jams from crossing the Mackinac Bridge.

16-26 minutes. Direct departures are typically every 16 minutes from both Mackinaw City. Mackinaw City has more ferry departures than St. Ignace and sometimes include tours under the Mackinac Bridge. Also, by traveling from Mackinaw City, you will avoid the Bridge fare and also the hours long traffic jams on the Mackinac Bridge.

Known for its iconic views of Mackinac Bridge and its gorgeous stretch of sandy shoreline, Mackinaw City is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts.

Linking Michigan's two peninsulas, this mighty bridge has a total length of five miles.

Overall, visiting Mackinac Island in September or October is ideal for those looking to avoid peak-season crowds. The weather is still pleasant, and there are plenty of activities to do without fighting the crowds. Plus, plenty of accommodations are available at discounted rates during this time of year. Mackinaw City has more rooms, and they are less expensive than Mackinac Island.

Passenger-only ferry tickets typically range from $20 to $33 per person. TIP: Both ferry companies offer discounts for children, seniors, and military personnel as do some hotels in Mackinaw City. The cheapest Mackinac Island Ferry tickets are available at www.mackinaw-city.com.

If you want to see it all: You will need a full day to explore the perimeter and downtown area. If you want to bike the interior of the island, go kayaking, visit the museums, fort and anything else, you will need three days.

Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry offers a variety of day and overnight parking options in Mackinaw City, with boats leaving every 15 minutes or so in season. The ride to Mackinac Island takes about 16-26 minutes depending on the ferry line you choose.

If you like avoiding crowds, visit in April and May or September and October. If you want the best summer weather, August is a great time to visit.

A horse-drawn public carriage tour is one of the most popular ways to take in the gorgeous scenery of Mackinac Island. In less than two hours, you can get the lay of the land from downtown up into Mackinac Island State Park and back – all while making friends with some of the island's iconic horses.

Hike up to Fort Holmes, the highest point on the Island, walk through the hustle and bustle of downtown or seek out a solitary place to soak in the natural beauty. Each and every extraordinary attraction on Mackinac Island is within walking distance.

Mackinac Island is a popular summer destination, with peak season usually lasting from late May to early October.

Because it measures less than four square miles, Mackinac Island is very walkable. You can even walk all the way around Mackinac Island and Mackinaw City in just a couple hours if you want. Many Mackinac Island attractions are close to town and can be reached on foot from most places to stay.

If you decide to make your way around the coast of Mackinac Island, walking will take approximately 2.5-4 hours without stopping. You can also bring your own bicycle or rent one from one of the many bicycle shops located on Mackinac Island.

The tourist season on Mackinac Island may come to a close at the end of October when the regular schedule of ferry service from St. Ignace and Mackinaw City ends. But the island never closes. Not only do about 500 people live here year-round, but Mackinac Island also remains open to visitors through the winter.

Because if you miss that boat, then you'll be spending an unplanned night on Mackinac Island! Once that last boat leaves, there's no looking back. The ferries won't return until early the next morning. The time the last ferry leaves the dock on Mackinac Island varies over the course of the season.

For a relaxed visit that gives you time to really get to know Mackinac Island, you may want to consider spending an entire weekend, or even an entire week.

No. The Mackinac Bridge starts in Mackinaw City then ends in St. Ignace. The only way to get to the Island is by ferry boat or take a 5-minute flight from the St. Ignace.

Grand Hotel is a 15 to 20 minute walk from the boat docks. For your convenience, Grand Hotel operates horse-drawn carriages between the docks and the hotel. As with all taxi services on Mackinac Island, there is an $8.00 per person fee and seats are on a first-come, first-served basis.

Since Grand Hotel is a resort, we want you to feel at ease and dress comfortably. During the day, casual resort clothing is appropriate. Prior to 6:30 PM, please no midriff-baring tops, sweatpants, or cut-off shorts for ladies. For gentlemen, no sleeveless shirts, sweatpants, or cut-off shorts.

“Somewhere in Time”. Filmed at Grand Hotel and on Mackinac Island in 1979, and released in 1980, Somewhere in Time stars Jane Seymour, Christopher Reeve, and Christopher Plummer.

Gateway to the Upper Peninsula, it is one of the top-of-the-list places to see in Michigan. Experience Colonial Michilimackinac , the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse and Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park. Also serves three passenger boat lines to Mackinac Island.

Approximately 500-600 people reside on Mackinac Island on a year-round basis.

There are lots of great Mackinac Island shops and Mackinac Island restaurants open during tourist season. Of course, dining out every night might break the family budget, so Morse tends to buy food on Mackinac Island at Doud's Market, which is America's oldest grocery store, or use food delivery services.

The total cost of housing, food, childcare, transportation, health care, taxes, and other necessities for a single adult in Mackinac Island is $34,098 a year — greater than the annual cost of living for Michigan of $32,897 yet less than the national figure of $38,433.

Around 500-600 people live year-round on Mackinac Island. Most of the Islanders live in the center of the Island in a community called Harrisonville. The section below is dedicated to the services that make it possible to live on Mackinac Island year-round.

For a relaxed visit that gives you time to really get to know Mackinac Island, you may want to consider spending an entire weekend, or even an entire week.

Memorial Day is the beginning of peak tourism season on Mackinac Island. From the end of May through the beginning of September, there's a buzz and excitement as visitors from around the world flock to enjoy the distinctive traits of Mackinac Island.

If you want to see it all: You will need a full day to explore the perimeter and downtown area. If you want to bike the interior of the island, go kayaking, visit the museums, fort and anything else, you will need three days.

Carriage Tour only: Adults & Senior Guests $36.00 and Child (5-12 YRS) $15.00. No charge for children aged 4 years and under if held on a lap. Traveling Michigan Events, Inspiration and FUN!

A horse-drawn public carriage tour is one of the most popular ways to take in the gorgeous scenery of Mackinac Island. In less than two hours, you can get the lay of the land from downtown up into Mackinac Island State Park and back – all while making friends with some of the island's iconic horses.

Many employers offer shared dorm-style housing right on Mackinac Island for a relatively inexpensive price, while others are willing to pay for ferry passes if you live on the mainland. Be sure to ask what your prospective employer is able to provide.

82% of the Island is State Land and 18% Privately Owned.

Do any celebrities live on Mackinac Island? Yes, celebrities have houses on Mackinac Island. A few are actor Vince Vaughn, Director Ron Howard, and Michigan's own Bob Seger.

The hottest month of the year at Mackinac Island Airport is July, with an average high of 75°F and low of 58°F. The cold season lasts for 3.4 months, from December 2 to March 15, with an average daily high temperature below 35°F.

Leashed pets are welcome to explore most of Mackinac Island with you! Keep your eyes peeled for dog-friendly stickers in the windows of many shops and restaurants. And, if you don't see a sticker, please ask if your dog is allowed before entering.

In addition to cooler temperatures from Halloween through Easter, Mackinac Island also gets a lot of snow. While it is possible for a few flakes to fall in October or May, almost all of the 94 inches of average annual snowfall comes from November through April

Mackinac Island's average high/low temperature in June – 70/51. Mackinac Island's average high/low temperature in July – 76/57. Mackinac Island's average high/low temperature in August – 74/57.

Rent a bike-renting a bike is a great way to see the entire island and get some exercise as well! It's our favorite mode of Mackinac Island Transportation! So much quicker to navigate the island than walking as it allows you to explore the hidden areas of the island at your own pace.

No cars. Just world-famous Mackinac Island Fudge, historic Fort Mackinac , unique shopping, and diverse dining. Unforgettable sunsets, awe-inspiring sunrises and over 70 miles of hiking and biking trails befit it's ranking as the #1 Island in the Continental U.S. as named by Travel & Leisure Magazine.

How Long Does It Take to Drive Across the Mackinac Bridge? The speed limit crossing the bridge is a steady 45 miles per hour. It typically takes drivers 5 to 7 minutes to cross the bridge at this speed. However, those who have gephyrophobia (fear of bridges) may struggle to cross it.

Ignace and Mackinaw City. Baby strollers and wheelchairs are allowed on the bridge during the walk. Prohibited items include signs, banners, umbrellas, bicycles, roller skates, skateboards, wagons and similar types of devices. With the sole exception of working service dogs, no animals are allowed.

The fare to cross the bridge is $2.00 per axle or $4.00 for a car. The Mackinac Bridge currently accepts the following payment types at our toll booths: cash, credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. If you are a frequent crosser or would like the convenience of a prepaid account, check out the MacPass.

Biking the 8.2-mile shoreline loop around the island is, of course, the classic must-do biking experience on Mackinac Island.

And whenever you get tired, just call Mackinac Island Taxi at 906-847-3323 for a horse-drawn carriage ride to your next destination. Wheelchairs also are available for rent from many Mackinac Island bike vendors. Additional Information: See Mackinac Island attractions you can reach on foot.

Businesses on Mackinac Island have relied heavily on guest workers from Jamaica for years, and Michigan's worker shortage has made their presence essential to business operations. Demand for foreign workers has been rising amid the labor shortage, particularly in Michigan's agriculture and tourism industries.

On the island, motorized forms of transportation are not allowed, so popular methods of travel are either via walking, bicycling or horse and carriage. Rental facilities are available on the island so you can rent bicycles or even horses.

The Lieghio family owns more than 28 hotels in Mackinaw City. They were the pioneers of the lodging industry in Mackinaw City, building Mackinaw’s first modern motel in 1955.