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How to get fromMackinac Island to Iowa Cityby ferry, plane, bus, or train

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There are 9 ways to get from Mackinac Island to Iowa City 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 The Eastern Iowa Airport

    best
    1. Take the ferry from Mackinac Island to Mackinaw Cityferry ferry
    2. Fly from Pellston (PLN) to The Eastern Iowa Airport (CID)plane plane PLN - CID
    9h 12m
    $96–404

  2. Ferry, bus, train

    1. Take the ferry from Mackinac Island to Mackinaw Cityferry ferry
    2. Take the bus from Mackinaw City to East Lansingbus bus
    3. Take the train from East Lansing Amtrak Station to Chicago Union Stationtrain train
    4. Take the bus from Chicago to Iowa Citybus bus
    18h

  3. Ferry to Pellston, fly to Quad City International Airport, bus

    1. Take the ferry from Mackinac Island to Mackinaw Cityferry ferry
    2. Fly from Pellston (PLN) to Quad City International Airport (MLI)plane plane PLN - MLI
    3. Take the bus from Moline Center Station to Iowa Citybus bus
    11h 29m
    $101–412

  4. Ferry, bus to Chippewa County International Airport, fly to The Eastern Iowa Airport

    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 The Eastern Iowa Airport (CID)plane plane CIU - CID
    11h 14m
    $105–436

  5. Ferry to Pellston, fly to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, bus

    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 Chicago to Iowa Citybus bus
    11h 16m
    $108–379

  6. Ferry, bus

    1. Take the ferry from Mackinac Island to Mackinaw Cityferry ferry
    2. Take the bus from Mackinaw City to East Lansingbus bus
    3. Take the bus from East Lansing Amtrak Station to Chicago Union Stationbus bus
    4. Take the bus from Chicago to Iowa Citybus bus
    18h

  7. Ferry, bus, train via Naperville

    1. Take the ferry from Mackinac Island to Mackinaw Cityferry ferry
    2. Take the bus from Mackinaw City to East Lansingbus bus
    3. Take the train from East Lansing Amtrak Station to Chicago Union Stationtrain train
    4. Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Napervilletrain train
    5. Take the bus from Naperville to Iowa Citybus bus
    18h 44m

  8. 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 bus from Chicago to Iowa Citybus bus
    19h 37m

  9. Ferry, bus 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 bus from Grand Rapids Vernon J. Ehlers Station to Chicago Union Stationbus bus
    4. Take the bus from Chicago to Iowa Citybus bus
    19h 37m

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

Calendar28Weekly Planes
Duration7h 5mAverage Duration
Ticket$61Cheapest Price
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Questions & Answers

Map of how to get from Mackinac Island to Iowa City.ExpandLaunch map view
  • Distance: 478.6 mi
  • Duration: 9h 12m

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

There is no direct connection from Mackinac Island to Iowa City. 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 The Eastern Iowa Airport (CID), walk to Cedar Rapids, then take the bus to Iowa City. Alternatively, you can take a ferry from Mackinac Island to Iowa City via Mackinaw City, Mackinaw City, East Lansing, East Lansing Amtrak Station, Chicago Union Station, and Chicago in around 18h.

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