Pick a mainland town and see the last boat home tonight, what the ferry round trip costs, where to park, and which errands are over there — so you get back without being stranded.
Loading the latest information…
Town Tools builds free, public tools for Mackinac Island and towns around the world. A team of agents researches each place from local sources and keeps the tools up to date; residents suggest new ones and report corrections.
Living on the island means every real errand is a boat trip: the ER and the pharmacy are in St. Ignace to the north, the cheap big-box groceries are past Mackinaw City to the south, and the one thing you can't miss is the last boat home. Pick where you're headed and this sorts out the crossing, the cost, the parking — and, most of all, whether you'll make it back tonight.
Where are you headed on the mainland?
North — the Upper Peninsula side
Last boat back tonight
You can still make the last boat back — it leaves at 9:00 pm.
Be at the dock by about 8:45 pm.
Winter service is weather-dependent
| Car park | Day | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| City of St. Ignace street parkingCheapestDowntown; 3-hour limit. | Free (3-hr limit) | — |
| City lots (Hazelton / Marquette St)CheapestMunicipal lots, cheaper than the dock lots. | About $6–8 | About $10 |
| Ferry dock lots (Main Dock)Free shuttle to the dock. The Classic Dock lot is $15 / $25. | $10 | $20 |
| Dockside / valetPremium dockside and valet run highest. | $40+ | — |
Parking prices are the most volatile figures here — a court left them unregulated, so they change, and there is no free ferry-lot parking any more. Confirm before you leave the car.
Hospital & 24/7 ER
Mackinac Straits Hospital — the nearest ER to the island. Fast Care walk-in clinic 9 AM–7 PM, 7 days.
Pharmacy
Straits Area Pharmacy, on the hospital's first floor — open 7 days. Family Fare has a pharmacy too.
Grocery
South — the Lower Peninsula side
Last boat back tonight
Summer boats run late (often to about 9 PM at peak), but we haven't verified the exact last departure from Mackinaw City — check the operator's live schedule before you cross so you're not left on the wrong side.
| Car park | Day | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Ferry dock lotsFree shuttle to the dock (both operators). | $10–15 | $20–25 |
| Dockside / premiumPremium dockside runs highest; overnight can top $50. |
Tap the numbers to match your group; the round-trip total updates as you go.
Mackinac Island Ferry Co. (Arnold Transit) fast ferry, 2026 round-trip rates. Shepler's runs within a dollar or two. Fares are set seasonally and are currently in dispute — confirm at the dock before you buy.
These are the published seasonal schedules, not a live feed. Boats shift with weather and the operators have the final word — check their own page before you rely on a time.
Fares and parking prices change with the season and, on Mackinac, are actively disputed — parking fees especially. Treat the figures as a guide, dated below, and confirm at the dock.
Source: Operator schedules (Arnold Transit), Mackinac Straits Health System, City of St. Ignace, checked 18 July 2026 (2 weeks ago).
Family Fare Supermarket (SpartanNash) — a full grocery with an in-store pharmacy.
Nearest Walmart
Sault Ste. Marie Supercenter — about 51 miles / an hour north via I-75.
| $40+ |
| — |
Parking prices change seasonally and are unregulated — confirm at the lot.
Nearest Walmart & big-box
Cheboygan Supercenter — about 16 miles south. Where most Mackinaw City grocery and pharmacy shopping happens.
Grocery (in town)
Mackinaw Family Market — a small local store; most people do the main shop in Cheboygan.
Medical clinic
Mackinaw City Medical Clinic (Mackinac Straits Health System) — a clinic, not an ER. For emergencies use the St. Ignace ER.