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Outdoors Mackinac Island State Park

Fort Holmes

An outdoor spot in Mackinac Island State Park, free to visit and worth about 30 minutes. Best time to go: Afternoon.

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Fort Holmes in Mackinac Island State Park
Photo: Notorious4life · CC0

Why go

Island's highest point with views over the Straits and the Mackinac Bridge.

It is one of 10 curated places we feature in Mackinac Island, alongside 3 activities, 2 sights and 1 place for a drink. 6 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with Fort Mackinac and Arch Rock. At about 30 minutes, it slots neatly between bigger plans.

Type
Outdoors · Sight
Neighborhood
Mackinac Island State Park
Price
Free
Time needed
30 min
Best time
Afternoon

Nearby

The 6 closest curated picks in Mackinac Island, measured as straight-line distance.

  1. 1
    Fort Mackinac

    18th-century fort above the harbor with cannon firings and costumed interpreters.

    Sight · 0.4 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    Arch Rock

    Limestone arch 146 ft above the water, reached by stairs or a bluff road.

    Outdoors · 0.5 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    The Pink Pony

    Waterfront restaurant and bar at the Chippewa Hotel, famous for whitefish.

    Food · 0.6 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    Original Murdick's Fudge

    Island fudge maker since 1887; watch it worked on marble slabs.

    Shopping · 0.6 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    Mackinac Island Carriage Tours

    Narrated horse-drawn carriage tour of the island's sights.

    Activity · 0.6 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    Horn's Gaslight Bar

    Saloon on Main Street since 1933 with live music and Southwestern food.

    Drinks · 0.6 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

Fort Holmes features on 2 of our curated routes, each with a day-by-day plan you can copy to your crew.

More to do in Mackinac Island

Fort Holmes is our only outdoors pick in Mackinac Island; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Mackinac Island guide.

When to go

Average daily highs in Mackinac Island run from 25°F in January to 72°F in August; October is usually the wettest month. For Fort Holmes itself, we suggest: Afternoon.

Modelled monthly averages for Mackinac Island from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Mackinac Island weather by month.

Getting there

Map links open a live search for Fort Holmes, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Address
2234 Fort Holmes Rd, Mackinac Island, MI 49757, USA
Coordinates
45.85812, -84.61621
Destination
Mackinac Island, Michigan

Fort Holmes: quick answers

How much time do you need at Fort Holmes?

Plan on about 30 minutes at Fort Holmes. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Fort Holmes?

Our pick: Afternoon. Insider tip: Bike or walk up through the state park interior.

Is Fort Holmes free?

Yes, we list Fort Holmes as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.

Where is Fort Holmes?

Fort Holmes is at 2234 Fort Holmes Rd, Mackinac Island, MI 49757, USA, in Mackinac Island State Park. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.

Which TripsCircle routes include Fort Holmes?

Fort Holmes appears on Great Lakes Hidden Gems and Michigan Lake Shore, curated routes you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add Fort Holmes to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Mackinac Island.

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Also in Mackinac Island

Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.