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How to get fromIowa City to Mackinac Islandby plane, ferry, bus, or train

Find Transport to Mackinac Island

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There are 8 ways to get from Iowa City to Mackinac Island by 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. Fly The Eastern Iowa Airport to Pellston, ferry

    best
    1. Fly from The Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) to Pellston (PLN)plane plane CID - PLN
    2. Take the ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Islandferry ferry
    8h 29m
    $159–738

  2. Bus to Quad City International Airport, fly to Pellston, ferry

    cheapest
    1. Take the bus from Iowa City to Molinebus bus
    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
    10h 38m
    $102–415

  3. Bus, ferry via Lansing

    1. Take the bus from Iowa City to Chicagobus bus
    2. Take the bus from Chicago Union Station to East Lansing Amtrak Stationbus bus
    3. Take the bus from East Lansing, MI to Mackinawbus bus
    4. Take the ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Islandferry ferry
    16h 58m
    $176–293

  4. Fly The Eastern Iowa Airport to Chippewa County International Airport, bus, ferry

    1. Fly from The Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) to Chippewa County International Airport (CIU)plane plane CID - 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 30m
    $174–779

  5. Bus, train, ferry via Grand Rapids

    1. Take the bus from Iowa City to Chicagobus bus
    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
    17h 47m

  6. Bus, train, ferry

    1. Take the bus from Iowa City to Napervillebus bus
    2. Take the train from Naperville 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
    17h 48m

  7. Bus, train, ferry #2

    1. Take the bus from Iowa City to Napervillebus bus
    2. Take the train from Naperville to Chicago Union Stationtrain train
    3. Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Flint Amtrak Stationtrain train
    4. Take the bus from Flint Amtrak to Mackinawbus bus
    5. Take the ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Islandferry ferry
    19h 16m

  8. Bus, ferry

    1. Take the bus from Iowa City to Davenportbus bus
    2. Take the bus from Davenport 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
    19h 19m
    $125–236

The Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) to Pellston (PLN) flights

Calendar29Weekly Planes
Duration7h 9mAverage Duration
Ticket$122Cheapest Price
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Questions & Answers

Map of how to get from Iowa City to Mackinac Island.ExpandLaunch map view
  • Distance: 479 mi
  • Duration: 8h 29m

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

There is no direct connection from Iowa City to Mackinac Island. However, you can take the bus to Cedar Rapids, walk to Cedar-Rapids-Airport-CID 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 Iowa City to Mackinac Island via Chicago, Chicago Union Station, East Lansing Amtrak Station, East Lansing, MI, Mackinaw, and Mackinaw City in around 16h 58m.

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