With Kids! 
Mackinac Island is a wheelchair accessible island dream. I never knew such beautiful waters existed in the U.S. I also never knew there was a fudge capital of the world. Now, imagine those two places sharing a location. Wait, you don’t have to imagine! Mackinac Island is real life, and it will blow your mind. With no cars allowed on the island, you’re transported to another realm… reminiscent of Disney’s Main Street USA… a simpler time of horse and carriage, or bicycles, if you prefer, where you can visit a plethora of historic sites and immerse yourself in the Victorian era.
Here’s everything you need to know for a family friendly and wheelchair accessible visit to Mackinac Island!
When to Go
Summer.
Yes, like many tourist destinations, summer is most crowded here, but the weather is perfect. The island closes to tourists from late October until May. Fall would also be beautiful – Maine has some incredible foliage that would make an impressive foreground by these turquoise waters. Summer is optimal for weather, but you do have to face the crowds.
Getting Around
Getting There
You can only access the island by ferry, and cars aren’t allowed. You have two ferry options. We did Shepler’s ferry. When we went, it was the more expensive of the two, at $27 for adults, and $16 for youth (under five is free, which is half my crowd), but it was also faster and we had limited time. The other option is Star Line. When I had researched for our trip, I found that one line was significantly slower, and therefore cheaper. In current reality, they’re both about the same price and travel times are only a few minutes apart. Both offer free day lots for parking (with accessible shuttles), paid premium parking, and paid overnight parking. Both have wheelchair accessible ferries.
I do suggest that when you arrive you ask about the the ferry rotations. The ferry we went out on was “accessible,” but you were expected to leave your chair and climb a few steps to seating. The ferry we returned on had an easy roll-on deck. Depending on your abilities, you’ll want to better ferry!
Seeing the Island
By Foot/Wheels
Once you’re on the island, you can walk/roll most places. If you do bicycles, you can bring your own along on the ferry for an additional fee. You can also rent bicycles on the island, but they do not have any adaptive options. The bike rentals are conveniently located right between ferry docks. You can check out a detailed map here, but I suggest you touch base at the Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau Booth on Main St. to help orient yourself in the direction you want to take. Fort Mackinac is not wheelchair accessible. A couple of the smooth paths (Like Fort St.) have steep inclines that would be difficult for a wheelchair user. I held Jaden’s wheelchair going down, and it was still a little scary. Most people on bicycles were walking their bikes, just for this hill. The key to remember is that the island takes the shape of a mountain – the farther in you go, the steeper it will get. The easiest paths are the loops around the base. Still, overall, the paths are smooth and accessible.
By Horse and Carriage
For all those hills or distances you can’t manage, you can also book a wheelchair accessible carriage ride. They only have one ramped carriage, so it’s advised to book in advance at (906) 847-3307. This would be the best way to catch a view of Skull Cave, since it’s up pretty high on the island.
What to Do
Stroll/Walk/Roll/Ride
Once you’re here, you really can’t go wrong. Any direction you take is beautiful. I suggest a leisurely ramble through town and around as much of the island as you can handle. We can’t cover many miles in a day with my kids, but we loved every step (well, until the last few returning steps, because apparently we’d already surpassed their limits). Here are some highlights to aim for:
Arch Rock
This is what we braved Fort St. for. It was worth the work, and the only other trail option includes a lot of steps. You can also view the rock from the bottom, without having to worry about the hills.
Pontiac’s Lookout and Devil’s Kitchen
Rocks and caves against the contrast of the turquoise water is a big highlight of the island. Take in as many of the perimeter views as you can!
Downtown
Downtown can get crowded for a wheelchair. This could be a great place to start your day, if you arrive early. The charming shops are all reminiscent of the Victorian era, making it a beautiful place to wander… and nibble on fudge…
Fudge
Did I mention Mackinac Island is the fudge capital of the world? In fact, if you google the best fudge in the world, there are a couple of locations on the island that come up! We decided to play it safe and just try them all. You can watch the fudge making process while you wait in the quintessential old-time U.S. fudge shops. Just the fudge is an experience in itself. I won’t tell you were to eat your fudge because, honestly, we loved them all!
Butterfly House
Another fun stop to mix things up is the Butterfly House and Insect World. Even though it’s one of the oldest butterfly houses in the nation, the exhibits are up to date and there’s so much to take in.
Where to Eat
I was pleasantly surprised that for a seemingly elitist location, the food prices were not exorbitant. Unfortunately, we didn’t have much room left for real food when we were done with all that fudge! There are lots of easy options while you wander downtown, like Bill’s Grill or The Chuckwagon.
If you’re going for a little more upscale to take in the incredible views, you could also try The Gate House at The Grand Hotel (boasting the world’s longest porch).
Where to Stay
This is more a choice of budget than of accessibility. Despite the many older cottages of the island, most hotels have accessible options. Lodging Hotels on island typically starts at just below $300 a night. There are not a lot of Airbnb options, there’s no camping on the island, and many of the home-run bed and breakfasts are not accessible. If you can swing it, it would be fun to stay in one of the Victorian era hotels, but that’s not for everyone.
We camped off-island and made Mackinac a day trip. We saw as much as we had energy for in a day, anyway… though we would certainly welcome a return visit. You can stay on the other end of the ferry, in Mackinaw City or St. Ignace, and find many of your favorite chains at typical rates. There are also camping options just outside of both cities, as well as plenty of Airbnb’s.
Did I miss anything?? Let me know if you have any questions – or if you’ve been and I missed a favorite highlight! Check out more family friendly and wheelchair accessible destinations here!