Yes, you can fly to Mackinac Island! In fact, in the depths of winter when ice clogs the Straits of Mackinac, flying sometimes is the only way to get to Mackinac Island.
Mackinac Island Airport has a 3,500-foot, paved runway capable of handling propeller planes and small jets throughout the year. For the most part, the airport on Mackinac Island welcomes short flights from St. Ignace, at the southern tip of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Flight time to Mackinac Island from St. Ignace is only about 7 minutes!
You can also catch a charter flight to Mackinac Island from airports throughout Michigan, the Midwest and around the country.
Tips for Flying to Mackinac Island
What is the nearest major airport to Mackinac Island?
No major airlines fly direct into Mackinac Island Airport. But you can catch a flight to nearby Chippewa County International Airport (CIU), which is about 35 miles north of St. Ignace near Sault Ste. Marie. You can also fly a major airline into Pellston Regional Airport (PLN), which is about 15 miles south of Mackinaw City at the tip of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.
From those two airports you can take a short shuttle ride to the ferry docks in Mackinaw City or St. Ignace and board a boat to Mackinac Island from there.
Getting from the Airport to the Mackinac Island Ferry Dock
Connecting flights to northern Michigan
Connecting flights to Chippewa County International Airport and Pellston Regional Airport typically originate out of airports in Detroit or Minneapolis.
It’s also popular to fly into a major airport in Detroit, Minneapolis or Chicago and then rent a car for a road trip adventure through Michigan that culminates in a ferry boat ride to historic Mackinac Island:
- From Minneapolis, it’s about a 9-hour drive through Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to Mackinac Island. 5 ways of getting to Mackinac Island from Minneapolis
- From Chicago, it’s a 6- to 7-hour drive to Mackinac Island – either along the east coast of Lake Michigan through Michigan’s Lower Peninsula or along the west coast of the lake through Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. 6 ways of getting to Mackinac Island from Chicago
- From Detroit, it’s about a 4-hour drive to Mackinac Island.
For shorter road trips, you could fly a major airline into Michigan airports in Grand Rapids (GRR), Flint (FNT), Traverse City (TVC), Lansing (LAN), Kalamazoo (AZO), Saginaw (MBS) or Marquette (SAW).
Getting Around on Mackinac Island
If you do fly into Mackinac Island Airport, then you’ll take a horse-drawn taxi to your place to stay. Because cars are not allowed, the primary ways of getting around Mackinac Island are by horse, bicycle or on foot. Here’s everything to know about horse-drawn taxis on Mackinac Island.
Even if you don’t fly to Mackinac Island, you can still fly around Mackinac Island after you get here on a scenic aerial tour of the Mackinac Island region.
One interesting aspect of a Mackinac Island vacation is that you can travel by car, plane, boat, horse and bike during your trip. Come experience Mackinac Island for yourself and make an adventure out of it!
RELATED MACKINAC ISLAND BLOGS:
- Explore Mackinac Island By Air
- Where to catch the ferry to Mackinac Island
- Tips for getting to Mackinac Island
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