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How to get fromWaterloo to Mackinac Islandby car, plane, ferry, bus, or train

Find Transport to Mackinac Island

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There are 8 ways to get from Waterloo 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.

  1. Drive to The Eastern Iowa Airport, fly to Pellston, ferry

    best
    1. Drive from Waterloo to Cedar-Rapids-Airport-CIDcar car
    2. Fly from The Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) to Pellston (PLN)plane plane CID - PLN
    3. Take the ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Islandferry ferry
    7h 55m
    $168–784

  2. Fly Waterloo Municipal Airport to Pellston, ferry

    cheapest
    1. Fly from Waterloo Municipal Airport (ALO) to Pellston (PLN)plane plane ALO - PLN
    2. Take the ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Islandferry ferry
    11h 2m
    $117–441

  3. Bus, train, ferry

    1. Take the bus from Waterloo to Chicago Bus Stationbus bus
    2. Take the train from Chicago Union Station to East Lansing Amtrak Stationtrain train
    3. Take the bus from East Lansing, MI to Mackinawbus bus
    4. Take the ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Islandferry ferry
    19h 48m
    $182–354

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

    1. Drive from Waterloo to Cedar-Rapids-Airport-CIDcar car
    2. Fly from The Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) to Chippewa County International Airport (CIU)plane plane CID - CIU
    3. Take the bus from Kinross to St. Ignace Transportation Centerbus bus
    4. Take the ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Islandferry ferry
    9h 56m
    $176–805

  5. Fly Waterloo Municipal Airport to Traverse City, bus, ferry

    1. Fly from Waterloo Municipal Airport (ALO) to Traverse City (TVC)plane plane ALO - TVC
    2. Take the bus from Traverse City, MI to Mackinaw Citybus bus
    3. Take the ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Islandferry ferry
    12h 17m
    $121–447

  6. Bus, ferry

    1. Take the bus from Waterloo to Chicago Bus Stationbus bus
    2. Take the bus from Chicago Union Station to East Lansing Amtrak Stationbus bus
    3. Take the bus from East Lansing, MI to Mackinawbus bus
    4. Take the ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Islandferry ferry
    19h 53m
    $192–324

  7. Bus, train, ferry via Grand Rapids

    1. Take the bus from Waterloo to Chicago Bus Stationbus bus
    2. Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Grand Rapids Vernon J. Ehlers Stationtrain train
    3. Take the bus from Grand Rapids to Mackinaw Citybus bus
    4. Take the ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Islandferry ferry
    20h 42m
    $172–334

  8. Bus, ferry via Grand Rapids

    1. Take the bus from Waterloo to Chicago Bus Stationbus bus
    2. Take the bus from Chicago Union Station to Grand Rapids Vernon J. Ehlers Stationbus bus
    3. Take the bus from Grand Rapids to Mackinaw Citybus bus
    4. Take the ferry from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Islandferry ferry
    20h 42m
    $177–309

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

Calendar29Weekly Planes
Duration7h 9mAverage Duration
Ticket$120Cheapest Price
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Questions & Answers

Map of how to get from Waterloo to Mackinac Island.ExpandLaunch map view
  • Distance: 518.2 mi
  • Duration: 7h 55m

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

There is no direct connection from Waterloo to Mackinac Island. However, you can drive to Cedar-Rapids-Airport-CID 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 bus from Waterloo to Mackinac Island via Chicago Bus Station, Chicago Union Station, East Lansing Amtrak Station, East Lansing, MI, Mackinaw, and Mackinaw City in around 19h 48m.

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