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Fort Mackinac, Mackinac Island, MI

Photo: Drdpw, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingHistory BuffFamily Favorite

Fort Mackinac

7127 Huron Rd · Mackinac Island, MI

Why you should go…

The British built Fort Mackinac during the American Revolution to control the Straits of Mackinac, and the US Army garrisoned it until 1895. The fort sits on limestone bluffs about 150 feet above the straits, and its 14 original structures include barracks, a hospital and blockhouses. The Officer's Stone Quarters, from 1780, is called Michigan's oldest building. You can watch daily cannon and rifle firings by costumed interpreters.

  • #historic fort
  • #military history
  • #living history
  • #cannon firing
  • #state park

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Fort Mackinac, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Stay
    Iconic

    Grand Hotel

    Under $25

    Stroll the 660-foot front porch of this 1887 island resort, tour its gardens, or stay over and arrive by horse-drawn carriage.

    0.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Stay

  • Sightseeing
    Outdoor Adventure

    Arch Rock

    Free

    You climb 207 steps or bike Arch Rock Road to see a limestone arch framing Lake Huron far below.

    0.6 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Mackinac Island

    Free

    Ride a ferry to a car-free Lake Huron island of horse-drawn carriages, bicycles, fudge shops and a hilltop fort.

    0.9 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Mackinac Bridge

    Under $25

    Drive five miles across the Straits of Mackinac on the suspension bridge that links Michigan's two peninsulas.

    5.9 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Colonial Michilimackinac

    Under $25

    A reconstructed 18th-century fort at the Straits of Mackinac where costumed interpreters give live demonstrations.

    7.3 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Tahquamenon Falls State Park

    Under $25

    Walk a boardwalk to the amber Upper Falls, then rent a rowboat to reach the island at the Lower Falls.

    59 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor