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How to get fromCalifornia to Mackinac Islandby plane, ferry, train, or bus

Find Transport to Mackinac Island

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There are 8 ways to get from California to Mackinac Island by plane, ferry, train, or bus

Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.

  1. Fly San Diego International Airport to Pellston, ferry

    best
    1. Fly from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Pellston (PLN)plane plane SAN - PLN
    2. Take the ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Islandferry ferry
    11h 19m
    $170–622

  2. Fly San Diego International Airport to Chippewa County International Airport, bus, ferry

    cheapest
    1. Fly from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Chippewa County International Airport (CIU)plane plane SAN - CIU
    2. Take the bus from Kinross to St. Ignace Transportation Centerbus bus
    3. Take the ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Islandferry ferry
    10h 49m
    $168–643

  3. Train, bus, ferry via Grand Rapids

    1. Take the train from Los Angeles to Chicago Union Stationtrain train
    2. Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Grand Rapids Vernon J. Ehlers Stationtrain train
    3. Take the bus from Grand Rapids to Mackinaw Citybus bus
    4. Take the ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Islandferry ferry
    2d 8h
    $700–1,516

  4. Fly Los Angeles International Airport to Chippewa County International Airport, bus, ferry

    1. Fly from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Chippewa County International Airport (CIU)plane plane LAX - CIU
    2. Take the bus from Kinross to St. Ignace Transportation Centerbus bus
    3. Take the ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Islandferry ferry
    11h 13m
    $183–651

  5. Fly San Francisco International Airport to Chippewa County International Airport, bus, ferry

    1. Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Chippewa County International Airport (CIU)plane plane SFO - CIU
    2. Take the bus from Kinross to St. Ignace Transportation Centerbus bus
    3. Take the ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Islandferry ferry
    11h 28m
    $176–601

  6. Fly Sacramento International Airport to Chippewa County International Airport, bus, ferry

    1. Fly from Sacramento International Airport (SMF) to Chippewa County International Airport (CIU)plane plane SMF - CIU
    2. Take the bus from Kinross to St. Ignace Transportation Centerbus bus
    3. Take the ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Islandferry ferry
    11h 6m
    $177–691

  7. Fly Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Chippewa County International Airport, bus, ferry

    1. Fly from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) to Chippewa County International Airport (CIU)plane plane SJC - CIU
    2. Take the bus from Kinross to St. Ignace Transportation Centerbus bus
    3. Take the ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Islandferry ferry
    11h 14m
    $180–694

  8. Train, bus, ferry

    1. Take the train from Fullerton Amtrak Station to Chicago Union Stationtrain train
    2. Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Flint Amtrak Stationtrain train
    3. Take the bus from Flint Amtrak to Mackinawbus bus
    4. Take the ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Islandferry ferry
    2d 10h
    $691–1,584

San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Pellston (PLN) flights

Calendar22Weekly Planes
Duration12h 5mAverage Duration
Ticket$134Cheapest Price
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Questions & Answers

Map of how to get from California to Mackinac Island.ExpandLaunch map view
  • Distance: 1,962.3 mi
  • Duration: 11h 19m

What companies run services between California, USA and Mackinac Island, MI, USA?

There is no direct connection from California to Mackinac Island. However, you can take the line 923 bus to N Harbor Dr & Harbor Island Dr, walk to San Diego International Airport (SAN) airport, fly to Pellston (PLN), take the taxi to Pellston, take the line 1484 bus to Mackinaw City, walk to Mackinaw City, then take the ferry to Mackinac Island. Alternatively, you can take a train from Los Angeles to Mackinac Island via Chicago Union Station, Grand Rapids Vernon J. Ehlers Station, Grand Rapids, Mackinaw City, and Mackinaw City in around 2d 8h.

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