Hilltop · Since 1887
Grand Hotel
A landmark hotel with the world’s longest porch, afternoon tea, formal dinners and a dress code after 6 p.m.
Official details for Grand HotelMichigan · Couples · Two nights
Mackinac Island
No cars. Just horses, bikes and the Grand Hotel’s porch.
Cars have been banned on Mackinac Island since the 1890s, so the clip-clop of horses and the ring of bicycle bells set the pace. Land on the island’s own runway, take a horse-drawn taxi to the Grand Hotel, bike the eight-mile shore road, explore an 18th-century fort and sample the famous fudge.
Car-free islandGrand HotelBikes & carriages
YOUR ROUTEKMYR to KMCD
STRAIGHT-LINE DISTANCE~777 NM
ILLUSTRATIVE FLIGHT TIME~5 hr 26 min
WEEKEND STYLETwo nights · Horses, bikes + walks
Time illustration: direct distance at 150 KTAS plus 15 minutes for departure and arrival, matching the discovery page. Use ForeFlight for your actual flight plan.
01 / Aviation & getting around
Land on the island itself.
KMCD, Mackinac Island Airport, sits on the island’s plateau, about a mile and a half from downtown. It is run by the Mackinac Island State Park Commission.
The FBO
Mackinac Island Airport (state park; not a full-service FBO)
906-847-3231FBO detailsMackinac Island, MI 49757
Call ahead about landing and parking fees, fuel, hours and seasonal operations. The island is busiest from June to August; arrange a horse-drawn taxi to town from the airport.
Runway 8/26 is about 3,500 feet, on high ground with trees at both ends; Lake Huron winds bring crosswinds and fog. Brief performance and an alternate such as Pellston. About 780 nm from Myrtle Beach: plan a fuel stop, and consider a third night.
02 / Where to stay
A grand porch or the water’s edge.
Rates and availability need travel dates. Most hotels are open roughly May to October.
Waterfront · Downtown
Chippewa Hotel Waterfront
A harborfront hotel on Main Street, home to the Pink Pony bar.
Official details for Chippewa Hotel WaterfrontLakeside · Resort
Mission Point Resort
A sprawling resort on 18 acres at the quiet end of downtown, with lawns down to the lake.
Official details for Mission Point Resort03 / Where to eat
Two dinners. One fudge crawl.
Reserve Grand Hotel dinner, and check its dress code.
Friday dinner · Waterfront
The Pink Pony
A lively waterfront bar and restaurant on Main Street, with harbor views.
Official details for The Pink PonySaturday dinner · Formal
Grand Hotel Main Dining Room
A five-course dinner in the Grand Hotel’s grand dining room. Jackets for men in the evening.
Official details for Grand Hotel Main Dining RoomAfternoon · Since 1887
Original Murdick’s Fudge
Watch fudge made on marble slabs at the island’s oldest fudge shop on Main Street.
Official details for Original Murdick’s Fudge04 / Things to do
Forts, bluffs and the shore road.
Everything is by bike, horse or on foot.
Fort Mackinac
A hilltop fort built by the British in 1780, with cannon and rifle firings and views over the harbor.
TicketsBike around the island
M-185, the only state highway with no cars, runs eight flat miles around the shore.
Arch Rock
A natural limestone arch 146 feet above the water, in Mackinac Island State Park.
A carriage tour
A narrated horse-drawn tour of the island’s history, bluffs and cottages.
The Grand Hotel porch
Have a drink or afternoon tea on the 660-foot porch overlooking the Straits.
05 / What’s happening
Sometimes the season is the reason to fly.
This prototype links to the local visitor site. It does not yet match events to your travel dates.
June
Lilac Festival
The island’s famous lilacs in bloom, with a parade.
Summer
High season
Busy, lively and pricey. Book early.
September–October
Quieter season
Fall color and fewer crowds until the hotels close for winter.
Concerts, festivals & local happenings
Check the local calendar when choosing a weekend, and confirm dates and tickets with the organizer.
06 / Suggested itinerary
Friday in. Sunday home.
A sample weekend: the fort, a bike ride and a Grand Hotel dinner. A third night makes the long flight easier. No bookings or availability confirmed.
Day trip version
Just for the day
- Arrive
Land at KMCD mid-morning and take a carriage to town.
- Midday
Fort Mackinac and lunch on Main Street.
- Afternoon
Fudge and the Grand Hotel porch, then back to the airport.
FRI
Arrive & downtown
- Arrival
Land at KMCD, subject to weather, your fuel stop and your actual flight plan, and take a horse-drawn taxi to town.
- Afternoon
Check in and walk Main Street.
- Evening
Dinner at the Pink Pony.
SAT
Around the island
- Morning
Bike the eight-mile shore road to Arch Rock and back.
- Afternoon
Fort Mackinac, then tea on the Grand Hotel porch.
- Evening
Dinner at the Grand Hotel.
SUN
An easy departure
- Morning
A carriage tour and a box of fudge.
- Before leaving
Book a taxi to the airport ahead.
- Fly home
Lake fog and winds can delay departures; keep the day flexible.
Longer stay · Add a day
With an extra day
- Morning
A ferry to St. Ignace or Mackinaw City for the bridge view.
- Afternoon
A bike ride through the island’s interior trails.
- Evening
Sunset at Mission Point.
07 / Good to know
Keep the weekend easy to change.
These details make the difference between an appealing list and a usable getaway.
Book in this order
Lodging and airport arrangements first, then dinner reservations.
Long flight
About 780 nm. Plan a fuel stop and consider a third night.
Seasons
Most hotels and services run May to October.
Runway
About 3,500 feet with trees at both ends. Check performance.
Reviewed · Destination 46
Reviewed November 3, 2026.
Picks and links reviewed by WingAway Weekends. Hours, prices, menus and availability change often, so confirm directly with each place before booking. Spotted something out of date, or have a favorite we missed? Email us at [email protected].
WingAway Weekends helps you discover the destination. Use ForeFlight and current official aviation information for route, performance, weather, NOTAMs and preflight decisions. Flight planning and PIC responsibility stay with the pilot.