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How to get fromMackinac Island to Elginby ferry, plane, bus, or train

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There are 7 ways to get from Mackinac Island to Elgin by ferry, plane, 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. Ferry to Pellston, fly to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, bus

    best
    1. Take the ferry from Mackinac Island to Mackinaw Cityferry ferry
    2. Fly from Pellston (PLN) to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)plane plane PLN - ORD
    3. Take the bus from Rosemont CTA Station to Elgin Transportation Center Bay 4bus bus
    6h 2m
    $75–323

  2. Ferry, bus, train

    1. Take the ferry from Mackinac Island to Mackinaw Cityferry ferry
    2. Take the bus from Mackinaw to East Lansing, MIbus bus
    3. Take the train from East Lansing Amtrak Station to Chicago Union Stationtrain train
    4. Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Elgintrain train
    14h 4m
    $135–260

  3. Ferry to Pellston, fly to Chicago Midway International Airport, train

    1. Take the ferry from Mackinac Island to Mackinaw Cityferry ferry
    2. Fly from Pellston (PLN) to Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)plane plane PLN - MDW
    3. Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Elgintrain train
    12h 21m
    $98–396

  4. Ferry, bus to Chippewa County International Airport, fly to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, bus

    1. Take the ferry from Mackinac Island to Mackinaw Cityferry ferry
    2. Take the bus from St. Ignace Transportation Center to Kinrossbus bus
    3. Fly from Chippewa County International Airport (CIU) to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)plane plane CIU - ORD
    4. Take the bus from Rosemont CTA Station to Elgin Transportation Center Bay 4bus bus
    7h 25m
    $89–355

  5. Ferry, bus, train via Grand Rapids

    1. Take the ferry from Mackinac Island to Mackinaw Cityferry ferry
    2. Take the bus from Mackinaw City to Grand Rapidsbus bus
    3. Take the train from Grand Rapids Vernon J. Ehlers Station to Chicago Union Stationtrain train
    4. Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Elgintrain train
    15h 36m
    $125–240

  6. Ferry, bus, train via Grand Rapids #2

    1. Take the ferry from Mackinac Island to Mackinaw Cityferry ferry
    2. Take the bus from Mackinaw City to Grand Rapidsbus bus
    3. Take the bus from Grand Rapids Vernon J. Ehlers Station to Chicago Union Stationbus bus
    4. Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Elgintrain train
    15h 36m
    $130–215

  7. Ferry, bus

    1. Take the ferry from Mackinac Island to Mackinaw Cityferry ferry
    2. Take the bus from Mackinaw City to Kalamazoo Metro Transitbus bus
    3. Take the bus from Kalamazoo Bus Stop to Chicago Bus Stationbus bus
    4. Take the bus from Rosemont CTA Station to Elgin Transportation Center Bay 4bus bus 603
    16h 46m
    $98–182

Pellston (PLN) to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) flights

Calendar15Weekly Planes
Duration2h 28mAverage Duration
Ticket$39Cheapest Price
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Questions & Answers

Map of how to get from Mackinac Island to Elgin.ExpandLaunch map view
  • Distance: 348 mi
  • Duration: 6h 2m

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

There is no direct connection from Mackinac Island to Elgin. However, you can take the ferry to Mackinaw City, walk to Mackinaw, take the line 1488 bus to Pellston, MI, take the taxi to Pellston (PLN) airport, fly to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), walk to O'Hare, take the subway to Rosemont, walk to Rosemont CTA Station, then take the bus to Elgin Transportation Center Bay 4. Alternatively, you can take a ferry from Mackinac Island to Elgin via Mackinaw City, Mackinaw, East Lansing, MI, East Lansing Amtrak Station, and Chicago Union Station in around 14h 4m.

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