Michigan’s most gorgeous airport is one-of-a-kind! Pilots and passengers who land there will not use another motor vehicle until they return to their plane! This is owing to the airport’s wonderful position on Mackinac Island! Mackinac Island is a small hamlet located on an island in the center of Lake Huron.
While it isn’t as well-known as other island villages like Martha’s Vineyard, it’s well worth seeing. Mackinac Island has an extraordinary law that prohibits motor vehicles such as cars, trucks, motorcycles, and buses! Instead, horse-drawn carriages lend a delightful character to the island!
As a result, the restriction on motor vehicles excludes planes and boats. And that gets us to the amazing Mackinac Island Airport, which has everything that makes it so special! The surrounding waters of Lake Huron create a stunning blue backdrop for the green dot of Mackinac to stand out.
A one-of-a-kind and breathtaking spectacle awaits pilots and passengers as they approach the airport. The runway is situated on a tiny strip of land that connects the magnificent blue water of Lake Huron to the island’s historic city. This ensures superb views regardless of which side of the plane you sit on.
An Airport This Small Cannot Be Commercial!
Of course, it should come as no surprise that an airport this small, located on an island without motor vehicles, is not a commercial airport. Serving only charter and private planes, being able to enjoy this vista is definitely out of reach for the common traveler! But it’s worth it for the breathtaking sights and whole experience on the historic island.
Travel and Leisure Magazine named Mackinac Island the finest island in the continental United States for 2022. To build on that success, they were named the top summer travel destination by USToday’s Readers Choice Awards.
Once you’ve landed at Michigan’s most gorgeous airport, the island has plenty to offer! From the island’s famed fudge factory to golfing and relaxing spas, there’s no shortage of entertainment options.
The horse-drawn carriages, on the other hand, are unquestionably one of the most iconic and unique aspects of the island experience. The lovely ‘clip-clop’ of horseshoes fills the air as the gorgeous creatures transport visitors from one location to another!
Read More: Explore The Most Abandoned Towns in Michigan
Landing and Parking at the Mackinac Island Airport
Here are the details for anyone who wants to fly to this wonderful airport and experience it for themselves! The Mackinac Island Airport zealously enforces landing and nighttime parking fees. It categorizes prices according to aircraft type and provides monthly and annual licenses.
Single-piston aircraft landing is charged a $12.50 landing fee and $12.50 each night, with monthly licenses priced at $62.50 and annual permits priced at $312.50. Twin piston aircraft and jets have slightly higher fees due to their bigger sizes.
In the winter, the airport is critical for inhabitants, especially when ferry services are disrupted due to Lake Huron freezing. Air-taxi services may link from surrounding airports in approximately 6 minutes. During the winter season, commodities are manually unloaded, sorted, and transported.
Motor cars are prohibited during the winter, thus snowmobiles or horse-drawn wagons are used instead. Snowmobiles and horse-drawn taxis are the principal modes of winter mobility; however, inclement weather can cause aircraft cancellations that last for days.
Learn More:
- Sneak Peek into 5 Most Dangerous Neighborhoods in Fort Myers, Florida
- Ranking 3 Most Busy Airports in Utah