Cars are illegal on this Michigan island — but horses and fudge shops run it just fine

It’s been this way since 1898

Mackinac Island sits in Lake Huron between Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas, and you can’t drive a car on it.

The island banned motor vehicles in 1898 after they spooked the horses, and nothing has changed since. You get around by horse-drawn carriage, bicycle, or your own two feet.

The whole place covers just 3.8 square miles, and more than 500 horses work here every summer. The clip-clop of hooves on pavement is the closest thing to traffic you’ll hear.

Centuries of sacred ground on a tiny island

The Anishinaabe peoples, including the Odawa, Ojibwe, and Potawatomi, considered this island sacred for centuries.

They called it Michilimackinac, meaning “Great Turtle,” because of its shape. French explorers arrived in the 1600s and turned it into a hub for the fur trade.

The British built Fort Mackinac on the bluffs in 1780, and by 1875, the island became the country’s second national park after Yellowstone.

Michigan took it over as a state park in 1895.

Bike the only car-free highway in America

M-185 runs 8.2 miles around the island’s shoreline, and no motor vehicle has ever legally driven on it. You can rent a bike on the island or bring your own on the ferry for a small fee.

It’s the only state highway in the country with that rule. The route stays mostly flat, so you don’t need to be a serious cyclist to enjoy it.

Along the way, you’ll roll past rock formations, sandy beaches, and long views of the Mackinac Bridge.

Fire a cannon at Fort Mackinac yourself

The British built Fort Mackinac in 1780 during the American Revolution, and it saw real action in the War of 1812 when British forces captured it from American troops who didn’t see the attack coming.

Today, you can walk through 14 original restored buildings. Costumed interpreters lead tours and fire cannons and rifles for demonstrations.

If you’re 13 or older, you can sign up to fire the cannon yourself, which is about as close to time travel as you’ll get on this trip.

The Grand Hotel’s porch stretches 660 feet

The Grand Hotel opened in 1887 and holds the record for the longest porch in the world at 660 feet.

Five U.S. presidents have walked through the doors, along with Thomas Edison and Mark Twain. Out in the gardens, more than 2,500 geraniums bloom every season.

Every one of its 388-plus guest rooms has a different design, so no two stays look the same. The hotel is a National Historic Landmark now.

Watch fudge makers work 10 tons of sugar a week

The Murdick family opened the island’s first candy shop in 1887, the same year the Grand Hotel opened its doors. Rome Murdick started making fudge on marble slabs right in front of customers, turning candy into a show.

That tradition stuck. Today, 13 fudge shops line the streets, and together they bring in about 10 tons of sugar per week.

You can walk into any one of them, watch the whole process, and sample flavors. Locals have called tourists “fudgies” since the 1960s.

Climb 207 steps to Arch Rock’s limestone span

On the island’s east side, a natural limestone arch rises about 145 feet above the water.

The arch itself spans roughly 50 feet, carved by waves thousands of years ago when lake levels ran much higher. You can see it from below, but 207 steps take you up to eye level with the formation.

People have been photographing this spot since the 1800s, and when you’re standing beside it with Lake Huron stretched out below, you’ll understand why the cameras keep coming back.

Sugar Loaf towers 75 feet above the forest floor

Sugar Loaf is the tallest limestone stack on the island, a 75-foot column rising straight out of the woods. Ancient Lake Algonquin shaped it more than 11,000 years ago.

It’s not the only formation scattered through Mackinac Island State Park. Skull Cave, Devil’s Kitchen, and Lover’s Leap are all within reach on foot.

The state park itself covers more than 80 percent of the island, a mix of forests, meadows, and cliffs that most visitors never bother to explore beyond the downtown strip.

Ride a horse-drawn carriage past every landmark

Narrated carriage tours have been running on the island since the mid-1800s, and the company that operates them is the oldest and largest horse-and-buggy livery in the world.

Tours stop at Arch Rock, Fort Mackinac, the Grand Hotel, and other key spots along the way. If you’d rather set your own pace, you can rent a horse and buggy by the hour.

Guided horseback trail rides through the state park are also on the table if you want to get deeper into the interior.

Paddle a kayak with the Mackinac Bridge in view

Two butterfly conservatories let you walk among hundreds of free-flying tropical butterflies.

The Original Butterfly House, opened in the early 1990s, is the third-oldest live butterfly exhibit in the country.

Guided kayak tours take you around the island with the Mackinac Bridge and the shoreline in full view. If you play golf, Wawashkamo is Michigan’s oldest course, built on ground where soldiers fought during the War of 1812.

Main Street has no chains except one

Downtown Main Street is lined with one-of-a-kind shops, fudge stores, and locally owned restaurants. Every hotel on the island is family-run.

The only chain you’ll find is a single Starbucks. Victorian-era cottages and buildings give the streets a 19th-century look, and the pace matches.

About 500 to 580 people live here year-round, but close to a million visitors come through every summer. The contrast between the quiet off-season and the packed summer months is hard to overstate.

Three-time winner of best summer destination

USA Today named Mackinac Island the Best Summer Travel Destination three years running, and the entire island carries a National Historic Landmark designation.

June brings the Lilac Festival while August embraces the Fudge Festival. The season opens in late April and wraps up in late October.

You have a solid six-month window to plan your trip. The island also serves as the finish line for the Chicago-to-Mackinac yacht race, which has run every year since 1898.

Catch a ferry to Mackinac Island, Michigan

You can reach Mackinac Island by ferry from either Mackinaw City or St. Ignace, with boats leaving roughly every 30 minutes during the summer season.

The ride takes about 16 to 25 minutes. Round-trip adult tickets run about $37 to $39, and children ages five to 12 pay $25 to $27.

Pellston Regional Airport is a 20-minute drive from the Mackinaw City dock, and Traverse City Airport is about two hours south.

Check the ferry company websites for current schedules before you go.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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