Detroit design, dune country & island calm
This is leg 2 of 2, the final leg.
Travel leg · Great Lakes Hidden Gems
Traverse City to Mackinac Island
Traverse City and Mackinac Island sit about 144 km (89 mi) apart in a straight line, with Mackinac Island to the north-east. It is leg 2 of 2 on our Great Lakes Hidden Gems itinerary, a 7-day trip. This one most likely involves a water crossing, so check ferry schedules early.
- Straight-line distance
- 144 km · 89 mi
- Est. road distance
- Water crossing likely
- Est. drive time
- Not estimated
- Direction
- Heading north-east
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
This leg most likely crosses water, so we don’t estimate road distance or drive time. Check ferry or flight schedules for the actual crossing.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By ferry
Mackinac Island most likely needs a water crossing from here, so start with ferry schedules. Sailings can vary by season.
A car is the practical choice for the long Michigan legs from Detroit up to Traverse City and the straits. Mackinac Island itself is reached by ferry, and once there you get around by bike, on foot or by horse-drawn carriage.
Open Traverse City → Mackinac Island directions in Google Maps ↗
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Mackinac Island
Stay one night to see the island after the day-trippers leave; bike the loop, visit the fort, and eat fudge.
Fort Mackinac
18th-century fort above the harbor with cannon firings and costumed interpreters.
Lake Shore Boulevard (M-185)
Car-free 8.2-mile loop around the island, the only state highway with no cars.
Arch Rock
Limestone arch 146 ft above the water, reached by stairs or a bluff road.
Original Murdick's Fudge
Island fudge maker since 1887; watch it worked on marble slabs.
The Pink Pony
Waterfront restaurant and bar at the Chippewa Hotel, famous for whitefish.
Horn's Gaslight Bar
Saloon on Main Street since 1933 with live music and Southwestern food.
Before you leave Traverse City
Spend 2–3 days: Old Mission wineries, a full day at Sleeping Bear Dunes, and evenings downtown.
On this curated route
Where Traverse City → Mackinac Island sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Mackinac Island to Traverse City is the same 144 km in a straight line, heading south-west. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
The biggest gap comes in January, when Mackinac Island averages highs 2°C cooler than Traverse City.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traverse City high | -2° | -2° | 2° | 8° | 13° | 19° | 23° | 23° | 20° | 13° | 7° | 1° |
| Mackinac Island high | -4° | -4° | 1° | 7° | 12° | 18° | 22° | 22° | 19° | 11° | 5° | 0° |
| Traverse City rain | 51 | 42 | 51 | 83 | 88 | 81 | 67 | 76 | 87 | 111 | 70 | 65 |
| Mackinac Island rain | 48 | 40 | 47 | 76 | 76 | 85 | 75 | 83 | 92 | 113 | 75 | 65 |
Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Mackinac Island month guides.
Traverse City to Mackinac Island: questions travelers ask
How far is Traverse City from Mackinac Island?
Traverse City is about 144 km (89 mi) from Mackinac Island in a straight line, with Mackinac Island to the north-east. The trip most likely involves a water crossing, so the distance you actually travel depends on the ferry or flight route.
How long does it take to drive from Traverse City to Mackinac Island?
We don't estimate a drive time for this one: it most likely crosses water, so check ferry schedules before you plan the day.
Which itineraries include the trip from Traverse City to Mackinac Island?
Our Great Lakes Hidden Gems itinerary includes this leg. Great Lakes Hidden Gems runs about 7 days across 3 stops, best in May – Sep.
Onward from Mackinac Island
Getting to Traverse City
- Detroit to Traverse City 341 km
Guides for both ends
- Traverse City travel guide
- Traverse City weather best time to visit
- Mackinac Island travel guide
- Mackinac Island weather best time to visit
Mackinac Island by month
- Mackinac Island in January
- Mackinac Island in February
- Mackinac Island in March
- Mackinac Island in April
- Mackinac Island in May
- Mackinac Island in June
- Mackinac Island in July
- Mackinac Island in August
- Mackinac Island in September
- Mackinac Island in October
- Mackinac Island in November
- Mackinac Island in December
Plan Traverse City → Mackinac Island with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.