There are 7 ways to get from Sterling to Mackinac Island by car, 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.
Drive to Peoria International Airport, fly, ferry
best- Drive from Sterling to Peoria-Airport-PIAcar
- Fly from Peoria International Airport (PIA) to Pellston (PLN)plane PIA - PLN
- Take the ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Islandferry
9h 25m$107–419Bus, train, ferry
- Take the bus from Dixon Reagan Transit Center to Chicago Bus Stationbus
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to East Lansing Amtrak Stationtrain
- Take the bus from East Lansing, MI to Mackinawbus
- Take the ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Islandferry
16h 3m$199–352Bus to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, fly, ferry
- Take the bus from Dixon Reagan Transit Center to Chicago Bus Stationbus
- Fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Pellston (PLN)plane ORD - PLN
- Take the ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Islandferry
8h 47m$153–469Bus to Quad City International Airport, fly, ferry
- Take the bus from Dixon Reagan Transit Center to Moline Center Stationbus
- Fly from Quad City International Airport (MLI) to Pellston (PLN)plane MLI - PLN
- Take the ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Islandferry
10h 49m$155–479Bus, ferry
- Take the bus from Dixon Reagan Transit Center to Chicago Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Chicago Union Station to East Lansing Amtrak Stationbus
- Take the bus from East Lansing, MI to Mackinawbus
- Take the ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Islandferry
16h 8m$209–322Bus, train, ferry via Grand Rapids
- Take the bus from Dixon Reagan Transit Center to Chicago Bus Stationbus
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Grand Rapids Vernon J. Ehlers Stationtrain
- Take the bus from Grand Rapids to Mackinaw Citybus
- Take the ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Islandferry
16h 57m$189–332Bus, ferry via Grand Rapids
- Take the bus from Dixon Reagan Transit Center to Chicago Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Chicago Union Station to Grand Rapids Vernon J. Ehlers Stationbus
- Take the bus from Grand Rapids to Mackinaw Citybus
- Take the ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Islandferry
16h 57m$194–302
Peoria International Airport (PIA) to Pellston (PLN) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Sterling to Mackinac Island is to bus and train and ferry via Grand Rapids which costs $180 - $340 and takes 16h 57m.
The fastest way to get from Sterling to Mackinac Island is to bus and fly and ferry which takes 8h 47m and costs $150 - $470.
The distance between Sterling and Mackinac Island is 532 miles.
The best way to get from Sterling to Mackinac Island without a car is to bus and train and ferry which takes 16h 3m and costs $190 - $360.
It takes approximately 9h 25m to get from Sterling to Mackinac Island, including transfers.
Mackinac Island is 1h ahead of Sterling. It is currently 10:47 AM in Sterling and 11:47 AM in Mackinac Island.
There are 107+ hotels available in Mackinac Island.
What companies run services between Sterling, IL, USA and Mackinac Island, MI, USA?
There is no direct connection from Sterling to Mackinac Island. However, you can drive to Peoria-Airport-PIA 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 vehicle from Sterling to Mackinac Island via Dixon Reagan Transit Center, Chicago Bus Station, Chicago Union Station, East Lansing Amtrak Station, East Lansing, MI, Mackinaw, and Mackinaw City in around 16h 3m.
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Peoria International Airport to Pellston via Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 7h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $55–330
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Pellston
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 26m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $45–300
Flights from Quad City International Airport to Pellston via Chicago O'Hare International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 22m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $55–330
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Quad City International Airport to Pellston via Atlanta, Detroit
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 12m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–550
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Chicago Union Station to East Lansing Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 55m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $65–140
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Chicago Union Station to Grand Rapids Vernon J. Ehlers Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 4m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $55–120
- Website
- Amtrak
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- [email protected]
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Dixon Reagan Transit Center to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 55m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $16–35
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Dixon Reagan Transit Center to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 55m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $16–35
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Dixon Reagan Transit Center to Moline Center Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $9–19
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Dixon Reagan Transit Center to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 55m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $16–35
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Dixon Reagan Transit Center to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 55m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $16–35
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Dixon Reagan Transit Center to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 55m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $16–35
- Website
- Greyhound
- Phone
- +1 989-725-5105
- Website
- Indian Trails
Bus from East Lansing, MI to Mackinaw
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 20m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $40–75
- Website
- Indian Trails
Bus from East Lansing, MI to Mackinaw
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 20m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $40–75
- Website
- Indian Trails
Bus from Grand Rapids to Mackinaw City
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 5m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $40–75
- Website
- Indian Trails
Bus from Grand Rapids to Mackinaw City
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 5m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $40–75
- Website
- Indian Trails
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Bus from Chicago Union Station to East Lansing Amtrak Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $75–110
- Website
- Amtrak
Bus from Chicago Union Station to Grand Rapids Vernon J. Ehlers Station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 4m
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $60–90
- Website
- Amtrak
- Phone
- +1 800.638.9892
- Website
- Arnold Transit Company Homepage
Ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Island
- Ave. Duration
- 15 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $25–37
- Schedules at
- Arnold Transit Company Schedules
- Website
- Arnold Transit Company Homepage
- Adult Round Trip
- $37
- Adult One-way
- $25
Ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Island
- Ave. Duration
- 15 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $25–37
- Schedules at
- Arnold Transit Company Schedules
- Website
- Arnold Transit Company Homepage
- Adult Round Trip
- $37
- Adult One-way
- $25
Ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Island
- Ave. Duration
- 15 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $25–37
- Schedules at
- Arnold Transit Company Schedules
- Website
- Arnold Transit Company Homepage
- Adult Round Trip
- $37
- Adult One-way
- $25
Ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Island
- Ave. Duration
- 15 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $25–37
- Schedules at
- Arnold Transit Company Schedules
- Website
- Arnold Transit Company Homepage
- Adult Round Trip
- $37
- Adult One-way
- $25
Ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Island
- Ave. Duration
- 15 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $25–37
- Schedules at
- Arnold Transit Company Schedules
- Website
- Arnold Transit Company Homepage
- Adult Round Trip
- $37
- Adult One-way
- $25
Ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Island
- Ave. Duration
- 15 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $25–37
- Schedules at
- Arnold Transit Company Schedules
- Website
- Arnold Transit Company Homepage
- Adult Round Trip
- $37
- Adult One-way
- $25
Ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Island
- Ave. Duration
- 15 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $25–37
- Schedules at
- Arnold Transit Company Schedules
- Website
- Arnold Transit Company Homepage
- Adult Round Trip
- $37
- Adult One-way
- $25
- Phone
- +1 231-436-5023
- Website
- Shepler's Ferry
Ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Island
- Ave. Duration
- 20 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $38
- Website
- Shepler's Ferry
- Adult Round Trip
- $38
Ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Island
- Ave. Duration
- 20 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $38
- Website
- Shepler's Ferry
- Adult Round Trip
- $38
Ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Island
- Ave. Duration
- 20 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $38
- Website
- Shepler's Ferry
- Adult Round Trip
- $38
Ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Island
- Ave. Duration
- 20 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $38
- Website
- Shepler's Ferry
- Adult Round Trip
- $38
Ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Island
- Ave. Duration
- 20 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $38
- Website
- Shepler's Ferry
- Adult Round Trip
- $38
Ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Island
- Ave. Duration
- 20 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $38
- Website
- Shepler's Ferry
- Adult Round Trip
- $38
Ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Island
- Ave. Duration
- 20 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $38
- Website
- Shepler's Ferry
- Adult Round Trip
- $38
- Phone
- +1 (800) 638-9892
- Website
- Arnold Transit Co.
Ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Island
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $37
- Website
- Arnold Transit Co.
- Adult Roundtrip
- $37
Ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Island
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $37
- Website
- Arnold Transit Co.
- Adult Roundtrip
- $37
Ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Island
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $37
- Website
- Arnold Transit Co.
- Adult Roundtrip
- $37
Ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Island
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $37
- Website
- Arnold Transit Co.
- Adult Roundtrip
- $37
Ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Island
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $37
- Website
- Arnold Transit Co.
- Adult Roundtrip
- $37
Ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Island
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $37
- Website
- Arnold Transit Co.
- Adult Roundtrip
- $37
Ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Island
- Ave. Duration
- 40 min
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $37
- Website
- Arnold Transit Co.
- Adult Roundtrip
- $37
Want to know more about travelling around United States
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
Related travel guides
Travelling to the US: What do I need to know?
Read the travel guide
Need to know: Greyhound
Read the travel guide
Why you should take the train in the US
Read the travel guide






