Top Rankings – Mackinac Island (2024)

More than 200 years ago, Mackinac Island was a coveted economic and military hub fought over by the British, French and Americans. The forts are still there to prove it!

Mackinac Island no longer has so much geopolitical significance. Instead, it has become one of the world’s most cherished vacation destinations, a place where visitors can escape the hustle and bustle of the world and relax. It’s where you can take a break from the routine and appreciate the incredible beauty of one of America’s most amazing places.

It’s no wonder that Mackinac Island garners major tourism honors year after year. Here’s a sampling of the well-deserved recognition that Mackinac Island has received in recent years:

Top Rankings – Mackinac Island (1)

Mackinac Island Named Best Summer Travel Destination

After a panel of experts curated a short list of must-see summer vacation places in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, people voted Mackinac Island the Best Summer Travel Destination! Readers adore Mackinac Island’s car-free roads full of horse-drawn carriages and bicycles, the island’s historic sites including Fort Mackinac and the outdoor recreational activities you can enjoy in Mackinac Island State Park.

More reasons why USA Today recognized Mackinac Island:

  • World famous Mackinac Island fudge
  • Car-free charm of Mackinac Island

Mackinac Island Voted No. 1 Best Island in the Continental U.S.

Travel + Leisure magazine readers voted Mackinac Island atop the publication’s list of top islands in the Lower 48 states, calling it “quintessential vacation spot for enjoying the simple pleasures.” Mackinac Island’s charming atmosphere, extraordinary hospitality, diverse shopping and dining, and abundance of outdoor adventure all contributed to the top ranking.

More reasons why Travel + Leisure recognized Mackinac Island:

  • Mackinac Island’s historic character
  • The incredible natural beauty of Mackinac Island

Top Rankings – Mackinac Island (3)

Mackinac Island Voted One of the Best Islands in the U.S.

You might think of Hilton Head, Maui or Nantucket when imagining the best islands in the country. But ranking right alongside those dreamy destinations in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards is Mackinac Island. The magazine hails Mackinac Island as “both well-preserved and filled with natural beauty,” since a state park makes up more than 80% of the land.

More reasons why Condé Nast recognized Mackinac Island:

  • Delightful horse-drawn carriage tours of Mackinac Island
  • World’s longest front porch at Mackinac Island’s Grand Hotel

Top Rankings – Mackinac Island (4)

Mackinac Island Named One of 10 Hottest U.S. Destinations for Summer

Yellowstone National Park and Martha’s Vineyard are uber-popular summertime vacation spots. But the No. 1 destination is Mackinac Island, according to TripAdvisor. Not only is the “charming island” a “throwback to old-timey seaside leisure” with a quaint downtown, the travel site says, but it’s also “world-famous for its homemade fudge and travelers can work off sugar highs by exploring the limestone bluffs of Mackinac Island State Park.”

More reasons why TripAdvisor recognized Mackinac Island:

  • Mackinac Island is fudge capital of the world
  • The majestic rock formations of Mackinac Island

Top Rankings – Mackinac Island (5)

Mackinac Island on List of Most Tourist-Friendly Cities in the U.S.

“Storybook charm” combines with a fantastic selection of unique, high-quality places to stay, a helpful visitor’s center and lots of great activities to make Mackinac Island a wonderfully pleasant vacation spot, says Expedia.

More reasons why Expedia recognized Mackinac Island:

  • Scenic kayaking tours of Mackinac Island
  • Mackinac Island’s beautiful butterfly houses

Top Rankings – Mackinac Island (6)

Mackinac Island Ranked Among 5 Greatest Golf Experiences in Michigan

Mackinac Island is home to the oldest golf course in Michigan, one of only three natural-grass putting courses in the state and one of the most picturesque and playable resort courses anywhere. No wonder Golf Digest thinks highly of Mackinac Island. Nowhere else do you take a horse-drawn carriage ride between nines or play on a War of 1812 battlefield that was turned into a golf course by a two-time U.S. Open champion.

More reasons why Golf Digest recognized Mackinac Island:

Top Rankings – Mackinac Island (7)

Mackinac Island on List of Best Little Beach Towns to Visit in Summer

The Beach Boys sang about Malibu, Calif. but they could have lyricized about The Crown Jewel of the Great Lakes, too, according to Southern Living, which called Mackinac Island one of The Best Little Beach Towns to Visit in Summer. Some of the magazine’s recommendations for your summer bucket list: skipping stones against world record-holders at the annual W.T. Rabe Stone Skipping Contest each July 4 on Mackinac’s Windermere Point Beach, celebrating Independence like it’s 1880 at historic Fort Mackinac, strolling the world’s longest porch at the iconic Grand Hotel and sampling world-famous Mackinac Island fudge.

More reasons why Southern Living recognized Mackinac Island:

  • The beautiful beaches of Mackinac Island
  • Lots of places to get a drink on Mackinac Island

As you can tell from these awards, Mackinac Island truly is a national treasure and an enticing destination for travelers from around the country and beyond. Come see for yourself why Mackinac Island is so special!

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Top Rankings – Mackinac Island (2024)

FAQs

Top Rankings – Mackinac Island? ›

Travel + Leisure magazine readers voted Mackinac Island atop the publication's list of top islands in the Lower 48 states, calling it “quintessential vacation spot for enjoying the simple pleasures.” Mackinac Island's charming atmosphere, extraordinary hospitality, diverse shopping and dining, and abundance of outdoor ...

What is the ranking of Mackinac Island? ›

The Michigan island ranked No. 1 on USA Today's 10Best list of top places to travel in the United States this summer. The list was compiled by 10Best travel editors and a panel of experts.

What is the number 1 tourist attraction in Michigan Mackinac Island? ›

Mackinac Island State Park

The park surprises visitors with its faraway-woods feel, despite being a few hundred yards from downtown. More than 80 percent of Mackinac Island is within the state park. Hike, bike or ride a horse through forests, past geological formations and along limestone bluffs.

What stars live on Mackinac Island? ›

Do any celebrities live on Mackinac Island? Yes, celebrities have houses on Mackinac Island. A few are actor Vince Vaughn, Director Ron Howard, and Michigan's own Bob Seger.

What is the average income on Mackinac Island? ›

In 2022, the median household income of the 344 households in Mackinac Island, MI grew to $79,500 from the previous year's value of $60,500.

How many days is enough on Mackinac Island? ›

For a relaxed visit that gives you time to really get to know Mackinac Island, you may want to consider spending an entire weekend, or even an entire week.

Who owns most of Mackinac Island? ›

While all of Mackinac Island, the landform, is located within the corporate limits of the City of Mackinac Island, today 82 percent of the island's landmass is owned by the State of Michigan and managed by the Mackinac Island State Park Commission (MISPC).

What famous movie was filmed at Mackinac Island? ›

In a sense, visiting Mackinac Island is like going back in time. Maybe that's why “Somewhere in Time” has become such a cult classic over the years, even though the 1980 movie starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour wasn't a big box office hit.

What is the best month to visit Mackinac Island? ›

Spring is called pre-season, summer is peak season, and fall can be described as the perfect season on Mackinac Island. In September, Mackinac Island transforms into a tranquil paradise, where the fading warmth of summer meets the crisp anticipation of autumn.

What is the busiest day on Mackinac Island? ›

July and August tend to be the busiest times of the year on Mackinac Island. As you might expect, dates during these months often sell out the fastest – especially around the Fourth of July, during the yacht races that take place in July and during the annual Mackinac Island Fudge Festival in August.

What is the famous house on Mackinac Island? ›

The Biddle House is a historic house and fur trade shop space, built before 1800 on Market Street on Mackinac Island in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is part of Mackinac Island State Park. It is a Michigan Registered Site and a contributing resource to Mackinac Island's status as a National Historic Landmark.

Is Mackinac Island cheap to live? ›

The total cost of housing, food, child care, transportation, health care, taxes, and other necessities for a single adult in Mackinac Island is $34,098 a year — greater than the annual cost of living for Michigan of $32,897 yet less than the national figure of $38,433.

Are there 2 butterfly houses on Mackinac Island? ›

Mackinac Island is home to two butterfly conservatories: The Original Butterfly House & Insect World, located in Mackinac Island's Mission District, and Wings of Mackinac, located in Surrey Hill.

Does anyone live full time on Mackinac Island? ›

Living on Mackinac Island is possible; there are nearly 600 people that do so year-round. According to the 2020 census, there are exactly 583 people who call Mackinac Island their home. That being said, it can be challenging to become a full-time resident of Mackinac Island, due to limited housing and jobs.

How much is a room on Mackinac Island? ›

Mackinac Island Hotels Information
Hotels in Mackinac Island34
Travel high seasonJun - Aug
Travel low seasonSep - Nov
High season avg price$489
Low season avg price$297
3 more rows

How much do Mackinac Island workers make? ›

How much does Mackinac Island Ferry in the United States pay? Average Mackinac Island Ferry hourly pay ranges from approximately $14.24 per hour for Seller to $27.47 per hour for Boat Captain.

What is so special about Mackinac Island? ›

Readers adore Mackinac Island's car-free roads full of horse-drawn carriages and bicycles, the island's historic sites including Fort Mackinac and the outdoor recreational activities you can enjoy in Mackinac Island State Park. More reasons why USA Today recognized Mackinac Island: World famous Mackinac Island fudge.

How popular is Mackinac Island? ›

Mackinac Island has been named the No. 1 island in the continental U.S. for 2022 by Travel + Leisure.

What rank is the Mackinac Bridge? ›

A new survey ranks Michigan's Mighty Mac among the nation's top 10 most scenic bridges. The Mackinac Bridge ranked seventh nationwide, falling within the top 10 of a 100-bridge ranking.

Is it expensive to live on Mackinac Island? ›

The total cost of housing, food, child care, transportation, health care, taxes, and other necessities for a single adult in Mackinac Island is $34,098 a year — greater than the annual cost of living for Michigan of $32,897 yet less than the national figure of $38,433.

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