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How to get fromMackinac Island to New Orleansby ferry, plane, bus, or train

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There are 6 ways to get from Mackinac Island to New Orleans 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 Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)plane plane PLN - MSY
    12h 17m
    $167–667

  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 New Orleans Union Passenger Terminaltrain train
    32h 53m
    $430–903

  3. Ferry, bus

    1. Take the ferry from Mackinac Island to Mackinaw Cityferry ferry
    2. Take the bus from Mackinaw to Detroit Greyhoundbus bus
    3. Take the bus from Detroit Bus Station to Montgomery Intermodal Centerbus bus
    4. Take the bus from Montgomery Intermodal Center to New Orleans Bus Stationbus bus
    37h 50m
    $255–488

  4. Ferry, bus to Alpena County Regional Airport, fly

    1. Take the ferry from Mackinac Island to Mackinaw Cityferry ferry
    2. Take the bus from Mackinaw to Alpenabus bus
    3. Fly from Alpena County Regional Airport (APN) to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)plane plane APN - MSY
    16h 6m
    $183–702

  5. 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 Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)plane plane CIU - MSY
    13h 41m
    $176–689

  6. 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 New Orleans Union Passenger Terminaltrain train
    34h 25m
    $420–883

Pellston (PLN) to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) flights

Calendar21Weekly Planes
Duration12h 57mAverage Duration
Ticket$129Cheapest Price
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Questions & Answers

Map of how to get from Mackinac Island to New Orleans.ExpandLaunch map view
  • Distance: 1,156 mi
  • Duration: 12h 17m

What companies run services between Mackinac Island, MI, USA and New Orleans, LA, USA?

There is no direct connection from Mackinac Island to New Orleans. 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 Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY), walk to Kenner Terminal Parking Garage, then take the bus to Tulane @ Loyola. Alternatively, you can take a ferry from Mackinac Island to New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal via Mackinaw City, Mackinaw, East Lansing, MI, East Lansing Amtrak Station, and Chicago Union Station in around 32h 53m.

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