If you’re looking for a spot to book your perfect fall trip, Mackinac Island is the nation’s best destination, according to USA TODAY’s 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards.
Nestled on the Great Lakes in northern Michigan, the popular island draws more than 1 million tourists per year and a seasonal lineup beckons visitors to explore your fall adventure.
The island has been named USA TODAY’s No. 1 summer destination three years in a row and has also been recognized as a top fall destination, among other honors. The island’s Grand Hotel, Lilac Festival and butterfly house also have been honored in past reader surveys.
From a scenic walk and run along Mackinac Island’s vast nature, a festival celebrating classic Mackinac fudge, Halloween celebrations and more, there will be something for everyone to check out this fall.
Here’s what to know about visiting Mackinac Island this fall.
Where is Mackinac Island?
Mackinac Island is located within the Straits of Mackinac in Lake Huron. It’s a few miles offshore from both St. Ignace and Mackinaw City.
What are Mackinac Island’s fall events?
The island hosts numerous events throughout the fall. Key events before the end of the season include:
Where can you stay on Mackinac Island?
The island offers more than three dozen hotels, resorts, condos, cottages and bed and breakfasts, including the famous Grand Hotel, the tourism bureau says.
When does Mackinac Island close?
Tourism season on Mackinac Island typically runs until October, the Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau says, but the island remains open to visitors year-round. One of the sure signs of the end of the season is the closing of the Grand Hotel Oct. 26-27, 2025.
Despite many businesses closing after the season, the island itself is open year-round. Ferry service in the winter, however, is dependent on ice coverage in the straits.
How can you get to Mackinac Island?
Ferry services take visitors to Mackinac Island from Mackinaw City in the Lower Peninsula and St. Ignace in the Upper Peninsula. You can also get to the island by private boat or cruise. Flight options include personal planes, commercial flights or Fresh Air Aviation’s air taxi service from St. Ignace.
Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry and Arnold Transit Company run ferry rides about every 30 minutes between April and October, during tourist season. Ticket rates can be found on the companies’ websites.
What is there to do on the island in the fall?
Attractions on the island include Fort Mackinac; the Michigan Governor’s Summer Residence; Arch Rock, a prime photo spot; the Richard & Jane Manoogian Mackinac Art Museum and more, some within the state park. To explore the landscape, you can rent bicycles from several local shops and bike around the island.
The Mackinac Island State Park, Michigan’s oldest state park, covers 80% of the island’s area. The park combines historic sites and natural beauty, with forests, nature trails, rock formations with lakefront views and more, per the website. The park is open 24/7, 365 days a year.
Visitors can explore the island through tours, from walking, biking, kayaking to horse-drawn carriage tours. Dining is available from dozens of restaurants, ice cream parlors, bars and coffee and tea shops and beloved Mackinac fudge shops.
The downtown shopping district, along with art galleries, gift shops, grocery and hardware stores throughout the island, sells apparel, baked goods, art, home décor, books, sporting goods, deli goods, children’s and pets’ toys, jewelry and accessories, beverages and more.
Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: This northern Michigan island is the best fall destination in US. What you should know
Reporting by Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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