There are 7 ways to get from Chicago to Mackinac Island by train, bus, ferry, plane or night bus
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Recommended option
Train, bus, ferry • 11h 50m
Cheapest option
Train, bus, ferry via Grand Rapids • 12h 44m
5 alternative options
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Chicago to Mackinac Island is to train and bus and ferry via Grand Rapids which costs $60 - $260 and takes 12h 44m.
The fastest way to get from Chicago to Mackinac Island is to fly and ferry which takes 7h and costs $180 - $550.
The distance between Chicago and Mackinac Island is 473 miles.
The best way to get from Chicago to Mackinac Island without a car is to train and bus and ferry which takes 11h 50m and costs $60 - $270.
It takes approximately 11h 50m to get from Chicago to Mackinac Island, including transfers.
Mackinac Island is 1h ahead of Chicago. It is currently 3:44 AM in Chicago and 4:44 AM in Mackinac Island.
There are 88+ hotels available in Mackinac Island. Prices start at $65 USD per night.
- Distance: 473.1 miles
- Duration: 11h 50m
What companies run services between Chicago, IL, USA and Mackinac Island, MI, USA?
There is no direct connection from Chicago to Mackinac Island. However, you can take the train to East Lansing Amtrak Station, take the walk to East Lansing, MI, take the bus to Mackinaw City, MI, take the walk to Mackinaw, then take the ferry to Mackinac Island. Alternatively, you can take a vehicle from Chicago to Mackinac Island via Grand Rapids Vernon J. Ehlers Station, Grand Rapids, MI, Mackinaw City, MI, and Mackinaw in around 12h 44m.
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Chicago Midway to Pellston via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 7m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $140 - $550
Flights from Chicago Midway to Pellston via Columbus, Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 10m
- When
- Monday, Thursday and Friday
- Estimated price
- $140 - $470
Flights from Chicago Midway to Pellston via Grand Rapids, Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 45m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $140 - $550
Flights from Chicago Midway to Pellston via Buffalo, Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 50m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $160 - $550
Flights from Chicago O'Hare to Pellston via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 36m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120 - $420
Flights from Chicago Midway to Sault Ste Marie via Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 59m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150 - $550
Flights from Chicago Midway to Sault Ste Marie via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 24m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160 - $550
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare to Traverse City
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 11m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100 - $850
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare to Traverse City
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 14m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100 - $800
Amtrak is a rail service that connects the US and three Canadian provinces. Covering 21,000 route miles (34,000km) Amtrak operates more than 300 trains daily. These medium and long distance intercity services operate at speeds of up to 240km/h, to more than 500 destinations. Founded in 1971, it is based in Washington, D.C. and offers four classes of travel: First Class, Sleeper, Business and Coach. Ticket fares are divided into five subclasses: Saver, Value, Flexible, Business and Premium. Amtrak trains are known for their wide seats, plug-in power, big windows and storage capabilities.
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Chicago Union Station to East Lansing Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 55m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $8 - $110
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Child Coach - Advance Purchase
- $8 - $40
- Child Coach - short notice
- $24 - $35
- Child Business Class - advance purchase
- $19 - $65
- Child Business Class - short notice
- $21 - $65
- Coach Seat - Advance Purchase
- $28 - $55
- Business Seat - advance purchase
- $40 - $130
- Business Seat - short notice
- $45 - $120
- Coach Seat - short notice
- $25 - $110
Train from Chicago Union Station to Grand Rapids Vernon J. Ehlers Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 4m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $7 - $100
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Child Coach - Advance Purchase
- $7 - $35
- Child Coach - short notice
- $22 - $35
- Child Business Class - advance purchase
- $18 - $60
- Child Business Class - short notice
- $20 - $60
- Coach Seat - Advance Purchase
- $25 - $50
- Business Seat - advance purchase
- $35 - $120
- Business Seat - short notice
- $40 - $110
- Coach Seat - short notice
- $21 - $100
- Phone
- +1 800-292-3831
- Website
- indiantrails.com
Bus from East Lansing, MI to Mackinaw City, MI
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 20m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $20 - $130
- Website
- https://www.indiantrails.com/
- Children 2-16
- $20 - $29
- College students
- $25 - $40
- Senior Citizens 62+
- $30 - $45
Bus from Grand Rapids, MI to Mackinaw City, MI
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 5m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $21 - $130
- Website
- https://www.indiantrails.com/
- Children 2-16
- $21 - $29
- College students
- $26 - $40
- Senior Citizens 62+
- $30 - $45
Bus from Kalamazoo, MI to Mackinaw City, MI
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 25m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $25 - $160
- Website
- https://www.indiantrails.com/
- Children 2-16
- $25 - $35
- College students
- $30 - $45
- Senior Citizens 62+
- $35 - $50
Night bus from Kinross, MI to St. Ignace, MI
- Ave. Duration
- 35 min
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $4 - $18
- Website
- https://www.indiantrails.com/
- Children 2-16
- $4 - $6
- College students
- $7 - $10
- Senior Citizens 62+
- $6 - $9
Bus from Traverse City, MI to Mackinaw City, MI
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 55m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $9 - $55
- Website
- https://www.indiantrails.com/
- Children 2-16
- $9 - $14
- College students
- $13 - $19
- Senior Citizens 62+
- $14 - $20
Greyhound is a leading bus company based in Dallas, Texas, serving over 3800 destinations across North America, Mexico and Canada. Greyhound carries around 18 million passengers a year who travel 5.4 billion miles (8.6 billion km) a year on their fleet of around 1700 vehicles. For travel flexibility, you can board or get off a Greyhound bus at official Greyhound stations, partner stations and curbside stops. There are around 230 Greyhound stations across the US where you can both catch your bus and buy tickets, that are also available on the official website and via the mobile app.
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- ifsr@greyhound.com
- Website
- greyhound.com
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Kalamazoo Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 50m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $16 - $55
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Amtrak is a rail service that connects the US and three Canadian provinces. Covering 21,000 route miles (34,000km) Amtrak operates more than 300 trains daily. These medium and long distance intercity services operate at speeds of up to 240km/h, to more than 500 destinations. Founded in 1971, it is based in Washington, D.C. and offers four classes of travel: First Class, Sleeper, Business and Coach. Ticket fares are divided into five subclasses: Saver, Value, Flexible, Business and Premium. Amtrak trains are known for their wide seats, plug-in power, big windows and storage capabilities.
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Bus from Kalamazoo, MI - Amtrak to Mackinaw City, MI
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 25m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Bus from Traverse City Amtrak Bus Stop to Mackinaw City Amtrak Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 55m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- 231-436-5023
- Website
- sheplersferry.com
Ferry from Mackinaw to Mackinac Island
- Ave. Duration
- 20 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $34
- Schedules at
- sheplersferry.com
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