M-185, State highway on Mackinac Island, Michigan, United States.
M-185 is an 8-mile circular road around Mackinac Island in Michigan that links parks, historic sites, and natural features while offering views of Lake Huron. The route serves as the main way to reach attractions across the island.
The road was built in the early 1900s and officially became a state highway in 1933, with the asphalt surface completed in 1960. This timeline shows how the route grew into a formal transportation system while the island maintained its car-free approach.
The road reflects how islanders have chosen to live without cars, keeping horse-drawn carriages, bicycles, and walking as the main ways to get around. This choice shapes daily life here and creates a pace that feels different from mainland towns.
You reach this road by taking a passenger ferry to the island, with the starting point marked at the visitor center on Main Street. Plan for slower travel since only bicycles, horse-drawn carriages, and walkers are allowed here.
This is the only motorless state highway in the entire United States and uses wooden mile markers instead of standard metal signs. These unusual features make it a one-of-a-kind road system found nowhere else in the country.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
