Home / How to get to Mackinac Island from Tampa
- Published on March 29, 2023
Every winter, large numbers of Michigan residents flock to Florida, fleeing the cold and snow for the warmth of the Sunshine State. And each spring, summer and fall a growing number of Floridians repay the visit, escaping the oppressive heat of their home state by traveling to Michigan and enjoying the more comfortable climate on Mackinac Island.
Why Mackinac Island? The car-free destination’s perfect summer weather is just one of many reasons it has been named the No. 1 Best Island in the Continental U.S. There’s also horse-drawn carriage tours, world-famous fudge, historic forts and spectacular natural landmarks with breathtaking views in what was America’s second national park.
Why not join the warm-weather migration from Florida to Mackinac Island this year and experience the Crown Jewel of the Great Lakes yourself?
First, find a place to stay on Mackinac Island. Then, figure out how to make your way to Mackinac Island, which is only accessible by boat or plane.
Getting from the Tampa Bay area to Mackinac Island by plane
The nearest commercial airports to Mackinac Island are Pellston Regional Airport (PLN), about 15 miles south of the Mackinac Island ferry docks in Mackinaw City, and Chippewa County International Airport (CIU) in Sault Ste. Marie, about 30 miles north of the Mackinac Island ferry docks in St. Ignace. Flights from Tampa International Airport (TPA) typically connect to those two airports through either Detroit Metro Airport (DTW) or Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP).
Once you land at either of the two northern Michigan airports, you can catch a shuttle to the Mackinac Island ferry docks in St. Ignace or Mackinaw City. From there, you can hop on a ferry for the 15-minute boat ride to Mackinac Island.
Mackinac Island Ferry Tips
You also can take a charter flight directly to Mackinac Island from Pellston, Sault Ste. Marie, St. Ignace or Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) in Traverse City, which is serviced directly from St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE). Just be sure to call ahead and have a horse-drawn taxi meet you at the Mackinac Island Airport when you land!
Another option for getting to Mackinac Island by air is to fly directly from Tampa or St. Pete-Clearwater into Detroit (DTW), Grand Rapids (GRR) or Flint (FNT) and then rent a car for the drive to the Mackinac Island ferry docks. It’s about 3-hour drive to the ferry docks from Flint, three-and-a-half hours from Grand Rapids and four hours from Detroit.
Tips for flying to Mackinac Island
Getting from the Tampa Bay area to Mackinac Island by car
While you can’t drive over the water to Mackinac Island, you can get almost all of the way there by car. (The mighty Mackinac Bridge connects Michigan’s Upper and Lower peninsulas and doesn’t actually go to Mackinac Island.) It’s a little over 1,400 miles from Tampa to the Mackinac Island ferry docks in Mackinaw City. That drive takes about 20 hours on the fastest route, which follows I-75 north pretty much the whole way, passing through Atlanta, Knoxville, Lexington and Cincinnati.
Here’s what to do with your car when visiting Mackinac Island
Other ways of getting from the Tampa Bay area to Mackinac Island
Because historic, car-free Mackinac Island is such a special place, getting here is part of the fun. While flying or driving from Tampa/St. Pete are often the most direct and cost-effective ways, there are other more adventurous options, too.
- You could take a car ferry along the way. Fly into Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE), rent a car and drive onto the Lake Express ferry, which crosses Lake Michigan between Milwaukee and Muskegon. Or drive a little north to Manitowoc, Wisc. and cross Lake Michigan on the S. Badger ferry to Ludington, Mich. Either way, you can enjoy a scenic drive up the Lake Michigan coast to the Mackinac Island ferry docks once you’re back on land.
- Ride a bus or train along the way. If you really want to lean in to car-free travel on your trip to car-free Mackinac Island, you can take a bus to the Mackinac Island ferry docks from any number of Michigan airports. Or, fly into Chicago and board an Amtrak train to Michigan destinations including Grand Rapids, Lansing and Flint where you can catch a bus to the Mackinac Island ferry docks.
- Join a group tour or cruise to Mackinac Island. Another option for experiencing Mackinac Island is to visit as part of a group tour that also explores other parts of the Great Lakes State. The Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau can help you find a group tour that’s just right for you. Mackinac Island is also a popular port of call for Great Lakes cruise ships that depart from several cities throughout the Great Lakes.
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