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

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There are 6 ways to get from Mackinac Island to Madison 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

    best
    1. Take the ferry from Mackinac Island to Mackinaw Cityferry ferry
    2. Fly from Pellston (PLN) to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field (MSN)plane plane PLN - MSN
    7h 23m
    $138–666

  2. Ferry, bus

    cheapest
    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 Chicago Bus Station to Madisonbus bus
    18h 35m
    $117–208

  3. Ferry, bus via Lansing

    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 W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton St to 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campusbus bus
    16h 23m
    $140–248

  4. Ferry, bus to Chippewa County International Airport, fly

    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 Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field (MSN)plane plane CIU - MSN
    9h 19m
    $147–738

  5. Ferry, bus, train via Milwaukee

    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 Milwaukeetrain train
    5. Take the bus from Milwaukee, WI - Amtrak to Madison, WI-Lake St.bus bus
    17h 10m
    $154–323

  6. Ferry, bus, train

    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 W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton St to 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campusbus bus
    18h
    $130–268

Pellston (PLN) to Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field (MSN) flights

Calendar20Weekly Planes
Duration4h 54mAverage Duration
Ticket$102Cheapest Price
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Comparing Your Travel Options

Map of how to get from Mackinac Island to Madison.ExpandLaunch map view
  • Distance: 315.1 mi
  • Duration: 7h 23m

What companies run services between Mackinac Island, MI, USA and Madison, WI, USA?

There is no direct connection from Mackinac Island to Madison. 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 Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field (MSN), walk to Airport at Terminal Door 6, then take the bus to University at East Campus. Alternatively, you can take a ferry from Mackinac Island to 250 N. Lake St - Madison UW Campus via Mackinaw City, Mackinaw City, East Lansing, East Lansing Amtrak Station, Chicago Union Station, and W Jackson Blvd, after S Clinton St in around 16h 23m.

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