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Location
Parking
No cars allowed on island; ferry required for access
Visitor tip
Book a horse-drawn carriage tour with a knowledgeable driver as your primary activity—reviewers consistently praise this as the best way to learn island history while visiting key landmarks like Arch Rock and Fort Holmes without physical exertion.
Visitor tip
Rent a bike as an active alternative to carriage tours—biking is frequently mentioned in reviews as an excellent way to explore the car-free island at your own pace while enjoying the scenic Lake Huron shoreline and towering trees.
About Mackinac Island State Park
Scenic island park with bluffs & beach. Composing 80% of this car-free island, this park features limestone bluffs, rocky beach & forests.
Quick Facts
- Type
- Nature Center
- Highlights
- Horse-drawn carriage tours, Arch Rock, Fort Holmes, Lake Huron shoreline, 8+ mile loop trail
- Access
- Ferry required (~$70 for 2 people); car-free island
- Experience
- Interactive carriage tours with historical commentary and bike rentals
What visitors say
Very quaint place, I recommend a carriage tour to learn the history, it was really cool. The historic homes are stunning and the hotel (even though we didn’t see inside) is amazing. Ferry to get there and back is about $70 for 2 people
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 — Magical Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride Around Mackinac Island & Stunning State Park We had an amazing experience exploring Mackinac Island on a horse-drawn carriage ride that took us all around the island. This classic,…
An amazing and beautiful park that winds through the island. Spacious views of the beautiful shoreline and captivating natural wonders like arch rock will treat you along the 8+ mile loop around the island.
From 8,188 Google reviews
Did You Know?
- Mackinac Island State Park comprises over 80% of the entire island, making it one of the largest state park landholdings on a populated island in Michigan
- The island is completely car-free, requiring all visitors to use alternative transportation such as horse-drawn carriages, bicycles, or hiking trails
- The park features an 8+ mile loop trail that circumnavigates the island with panoramic Lake Huron vistas and iconic limestone formations like Arch Rock
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