Mackinac Island and the Upper Peninsula’s Lake Michigan shore
Forts at the Straits of Mackinac, a car-free island reached by ferry, then west on US-2 to the Big Spring and the Fayette ghost town.
- Distance
- 312 km (194 mi)
- Driving
- 3 h 28 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 9
- States
- MI
- Updated
- May 4, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 312 km (194 mi) with 9 stops, from Mackinaw City to Munising. About 3 h 28 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Michigan
Route description
Start in Mackinaw City at the south end of the Mackinac Bridge. Colonial Michilimackinac, a reconstructed 18th-century fort, lies right under the bridge. From Mackinaw City, passenger ferries cross to Mackinac Island in about 20 minutes; cars are not allowed on the island, so leave yours in the paid ferry lots. Ferries also run from St. Ignace on the other side of the Straits.
On Mackinac Island, Fort Mackinac overlooks the harbor, and horse-drawn carriages and bicycles are the only way to get around. The 13 km road around the island, M-185, is a flat and popular bike ride. Arch Rock is on the east side, and most of the island is a state park with trails through the forest. Day trips are easy, but island hotels are expensive in summer.
Return by ferry to Mackinaw City, drive across the 8 km Mackinac Bridge (toll) to St. Ignace, or take a ferry directly to St. Ignace and use the bridge on your way back. High-profile vehicles may be escorted across in strong wind. From St. Ignace follow US-2 west along the northern shore of Lake Michigan, with sandy beaches and dunes, to Manistique, about 1 hour 30 minutes.
Kitch-iti-kipi is north of Manistique off M-149 in Palms Book State Park. Continue west on US-2 and south on M-183 to Fayette Historic State Park on the Garden Peninsula, a former iron town now a ghost town, with a campground and a small harbor. From there return to US-2 and take M-94 north from Manistique to Munising, about 2 hours in all, for Pictured Rocks.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Mackinaw City
MI - 21 km
Colonial Michilimackinac
HistoryMackinaw City, MIA reconstructed 1770s French and British fur trading fort and village under the Mackinac Bridge, with costumed interpreters and an active archaeological dig. Open from May to October.
- 314 km
Mackinac Island
MI - 40 km
Fort Mackinac
HistoryMackinac Island, MIA limestone fort on the bluff above the harbor, first built by the British in 1780, with rifle and cannon firings in summer. Reach the island by passenger ferry; cars are banned there.
- 51 km
Arch Rock
NatureMackinac Island, MIA limestone natural arch 44 m above Lake Huron on the east side of Mackinac Island. Reach it by bike or on foot from town; a lower viewpoint on the shore road looks up at it.
- 611 km
St. Ignace
MI - 7142 km
Kitch-iti-kipi
NatureManistique, MIMichigan’s largest freshwater spring, a clear green pool 12 m deep, crossed on a hand-pulled raft with a window in the middle. In Palms Book State Park; a recreation passport is needed.
- 850 km
Fayette Historic State Park
HistoryGarden, MIA ghost town of an 1870s iron-smelting company on Snail Shell Harbor, with a furnace complex, hotel and houses below white limestone cliffs. Free walking tour; open all year, buildings in summer.
- 992 km
Munising
MI
FAQs
How long is Mackinac Island and the Upper Peninsula’s Lake Michigan shore?
3-day road trip of about 312 km (194 mi) with 9 stops, from Mackinaw City to Munising. About 3 h 28 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Mackinac Island and the Upper Peninsula’s Lake Michigan shore?
We suggest 3 days: about 3 h 28 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Mackinac Island and the Upper Peninsula’s Lake Michigan shore start and end?
It starts in Mackinaw City and ends in Munising.
Which states does Mackinac Island and the Upper Peninsula’s Lake Michigan shore pass through?
Michigan.
