Rome2Rio

How to get fromDubuque to Mackinac Islandby car, plane, ferry, bus, or train

Find Transport to Mackinac Island

See all options

There are 9 ways to get from Dubuque to Mackinac Island by car, plane, ferry, bus, or train

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

  1. Drive to Quad City International Airport, fly, ferry

    best
    1. Drive from Dubuque to Moline-Airport-MLIcar car
    2. Fly from Quad City International Airport (MLI) to Pellston (PLN)plane plane MLI - PLN
    3. Take the ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Islandferry ferry
    8h 44m
    $106–418

  2. Bus, train, ferry via Milwaukee

    1. Take the bus from Dubuque to Milwaukeebus bus
    2. Take the train from Milwaukee to Chicago Union Stationtrain train
    3. Take the train from Chicago Union Station to East Lansing Amtrak Stationtrain train
    4. Take the bus from East Lansing, MI to Mackinawbus bus
    5. Take the ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Islandferry ferry
    19h 33m

  3. Drive to The Eastern Iowa Airport, fly, ferry

    1. Drive from Dubuque to Cedar-Rapids-Airport-CIDcar car
    2. Fly from The Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) to Pellston (PLN)plane plane CID - PLN
    3. Take the ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Islandferry ferry
    8h 21m
    $172–788

  4. Bus to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field, fly, ferry

    1. Take the bus from Dubuque to Madisonbus bus
    2. Fly from Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field (MSN) to Pellston (PLN)plane plane MSN - PLN
    3. Take the ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Islandferry ferry
    10h 12m

  5. Bus, bus to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, fly, ferry

    1. Take the bus from Dubuque to Madisonbus bus
    2. Take the bus from 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus to O'Hare International Airport - Terminal 1 Departuresbus bus
    3. Fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Pellston (PLN)plane plane ORD - PLN
    4. Take the ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Islandferry ferry
    10h 22m

  6. Bus, ferry via Lansing

    1. Take the bus from Dubuque to Madisonbus bus
    2. Take the bus from 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus to W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton Stbus bus
    3. Take the bus from Chicago Union Station to East Lansing Amtrak Stationbus bus
    4. Take the bus from East Lansing, MI to Mackinawbus bus
    5. Take the ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Islandferry ferry
    19h 41m

  7. Bus, train, ferry

    1. Take the bus from Dubuque to Madisonbus bus
    2. Take the bus from 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus to W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton Stbus bus
    3. Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Grand Rapids Vernon J. Ehlers Stationtrain train
    4. Take the bus from Grand Rapids to Mackinaw Citybus bus
    5. Take the ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Islandferry ferry
    20h 50m

  8. Bus, ferry

    1. Take the bus from Dubuque to Madisonbus bus
    2. Take the bus from Madison to Chicago Bus Stationbus bus
    3. Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Kalamazoo Bus Stopbus bus
    4. Take the bus from Kalamazoo Metro Transit to Mackinaw Citybus bus
    5. Take the ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Islandferry ferry
    21h 14m

  9. Bus, train, ferry via Madison

    1. Take the bus from Dubuque to Madisonbus bus
    2. Take the bus from UW Madison Campus - N Lake St to Milwaukee Intermodalbus bus
    3. Take the train from Milwaukee to Chicago Union Stationtrain train
    4. Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Flint Amtrak Stationtrain train
    5. Take the bus from Flint Amtrak to Mackinawbus bus
    6. Take the ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Islandferry ferry
    21h 25m

Quad City International Airport (MLI) to Pellston (PLN) flights

Calendar34Weekly Planes
Duration7h 8mAverage Duration
Ticket$57Cheapest Price
See schedules

Questions & Answers

Map of how to get from Dubuque to Mackinac Island.ExpandLaunch map view
  • Distance: 509.1 mi
  • Duration: 8h 44m

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

There is no direct connection from Dubuque to Mackinac Island. However, you can drive to Moline-Airport-MLI 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 bus from Dubuque to Mackinac Island via Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Chicago Union Station, East Lansing Amtrak Station, East Lansing, MI, Mackinaw, and Mackinaw City in around 19h 33m.

Airlines
Train operators
Bus operators
Ferry operators

Want to know more about travelling around United States

Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.

Related travel guides

Need to know: Greyhound

Read the travel guideNeed to know: Greyhound