Mackinac Island

Mackinac Island is a car-free island in Lake Huron between Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas, surrounded by limestone formations and dense forests. The island spans roughly 7 square kilometers and contains both wild natural areas and a settled center with historic buildings.

Indigenous peoples lived on this island for centuries before French explorers documented it in the 1600s. It later became an important trading post and developed into a vacation destination for wealthy families in the 1800s.

Victorian buildings and historic houses shape the streetscape, telling stories of different eras and reflecting life in earlier times. Residents and visitors move through narrow streets on foot, where horse-drawn carriages and bicycles form the everyday traffic.

Visitors reach the island by ferry from Mackinaw City or St. Ignace, with transportation limited to horses, bicycles, and walking. Since cars are absent, comfortable shoes are essential as you'll spend most of your time on foot.

An 1895 ordinance bans motor vehicles across the entire island, making it one of the few places in North America with this unusual rule. This ban has preserved the island's character and creates a distinct experience unlike anywhere else.

Location: Mackinac County

Inception: 1671

Elevation above the sea: 181 m

Website: http://cityofmi.org

GPS coordinates: 45.84917,-84.61889

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:37