FAQ - Answers to questions almost everyone asks.
Q: What is the cost of a round trip ticket?
A: $22 per adult and $11.00 per child, ages 5-12 years old; children under 5-years old ride FREE. Bikes and bike carts are $7.50 each round trip. Save on every ticket when you order your tickets online or present this online coupon at one of our dockside reception centers.
Q: May we bring our dog on the ferry and to the island?
A: Dogs are welcome aboard our ferries and ride across at no charge! We ask that you keep your dog on a leash and under control at all times. Once you are on the island, most businesses do not allow dogs to come inside unless they are trained service dogs. The Mackinac Island City ordinance also requires you to keep your dog on a leash and under control, and that you clean up and properly dispose of all of your dog's waste. Please consider, too, that there are many horses on the island. If your dog is not familiar with horses, it may become nervous or aggressive. For everyone's safety, including your dog's, prevent your best friend from frightening or startling these powerful animals.
Q: How often do you cross the straits?
A: You'll be on the next boat across when you arrive at our Mackinaw City, Mackinac Island or St. Ignace Docks. Our boats accommodate large groups, so you can ride across together. Check out this year's dates and times on our Schedule.
Q: How long is a ferry ride?
A: 15 minutes on the fastest, smoothest ferries on the straits — the Arnold catamarans. Or savor 35-45 minutes of scenic, relaxing travel aboard Arnold's traditional ferries.
Q: How do we get to your docks?
A: You may reach us by car, airplane or commercial bus service. If you come by car, get door-to-door directions from your home or business to Mackinaw City or St. Ignace. The Mackinac Island downtown map gives you clear directions to the docks.
Q: Is camping allowed on the island?
A: No, camping is not allowed on the island. But there are campgrounds near St. Ignace or Mackinaw City. Some offer a view of the Mackinac Bridge.
Q: What is a fudgie?
A: It's what the islanders call tourists. Most visitors cannot resist buying at least a small slab of creamy fudge before going home...hence the nickname.
Q: What does Mackinac mean?
A: Mackinac is short for Michilimackinac, which is based on the Native American phrase, "The Great Turtle." If you look at a map of Mackinac Island, it looks like a great turtle swimming in Lake Huron.
Q: Why is Mackinaw City spelled with a "w" and Mackinac Island is spelled with a "c"?
A: In French, Mackinac sounds like Mackinaw, not Mackinack. English-speaking settlers spelled Mackinaw City with a "w" at the end to show how it was pronounced. Because the French were the first European explorers in the region, many of the communities and forts have French spellings. The island, straits, forts and famous bridge are all spelled in French ... with a "c" at the end.
Q: How many people live year-around on Mackinac Island?
A: There are around 400 people who live year round on the Island. There is a school (K-12) for families with children.
Q: How do you get on and off Mackinac Island in the winter?
A: Arnold Ferry Line keeps boats running across until early January. Then islanders can catch a ride across on a six-seater plane operated by Great Lakes Air. When the straits freeze, usually in February, Islanders are able to cross on snowmobiles, following a "bridge" marked by Christmas trees "planted" in the snow and ice at intervals between the Island and St. Ignace.
Q: Where do the horses go in the winter?
A: Every spring, Arnold Transport Co. helps to ferry across the nearly 700 draft and pleasure horses that work on the island. Then, in the late fall, we carry up to 30 horses across at a time to St. Ignace, where they are trailered to Pickford, a community south of Sault Ste. Marie.
Buy eTickets
Q: I'm having trouble purchasing tickets with my credit card. What could I be doing wrong?
A: First, check again to make sure that all the information was filled in with no errors. The name needs to be typed exactly as it is on your credit card. Also, the billing address must be the same as the one for your credit card. The credit card number must be entered with no spaces, dashes, or other punctuation. If all this information is correct, then your card may be expired. If you continue to experience problems, call us at (800) 542-8528 or click here to send an e-mail.
Q: Can't I make several copies of my boarding pass?
A: Each ticket contains a unique code that is recorded by Arnold Transit Co. Once a code number enters the system, subsequent tickets with that code number are voided.
Q: What if I lose my boarding pass?
A: If you lose your boarding passes, you can bring your receipt to an Arnold Reception Center. Your receipt was sent to your e-mail account at the time of purchase. If you have further problems, please call us for assistance at (800) 542-8528.
Q: What is the cost of a round trip ticket?
A: $22 per adult and $11.00 per child, ages 5-12 years old; children under 5-years old ride FREE. Bikes and bike carts are $7.50 each round trip. Save on every ticket when you order your tickets online or present this online coupon at one of our dockside reception centers.
Q: May we bring our dog on the ferry and to the island?
A: Dogs are welcome aboard our ferries and ride across at no charge! We ask that you keep your dog on a leash and under control at all times. Once you are on the island, most businesses do not allow dogs to come inside unless they are trained service dogs. The Mackinac Island City ordinance also requires you to keep your dog on a leash and under control, and that you clean up and properly dispose of all of your dog's waste. Please consider, too, that there are many horses on the island. If your dog is not familiar with horses, it may become nervous or aggressive. For everyone's safety, including your dog's, prevent your best friend from frightening or startling these powerful animals.
Q: How often do you cross the straits?
A: You'll be on the next boat across when you arrive at our Mackinaw City, Mackinac Island or St. Ignace Docks. Our boats accommodate large groups, so you can ride across together. Check out this year's dates and times on our Schedule.
Q: How long is a ferry ride?
A: 15 minutes on the fastest, smoothest ferries on the straits — the Arnold catamarans. Or savor 35-45 minutes of scenic, relaxing travel aboard Arnold's traditional ferries.
Q: How do we get to your docks?
A: You may reach us by car, airplane or commercial bus service. If you come by car, get door-to-door directions from your home or business to Mackinaw City or St. Ignace. The Mackinac Island downtown map gives you clear directions to the docks.
Q: Is camping allowed on the island?
A: No, camping is not allowed on the island. But there are campgrounds near St. Ignace or Mackinaw City. Some offer a view of the Mackinac Bridge.
Q: What is a fudgie?
A: It's what the islanders call tourists. Most visitors cannot resist buying at least a small slab of creamy fudge before going home...hence the nickname.
Q: What does Mackinac mean?
A: Mackinac is short for Michilimackinac, which is based on the Native American phrase, "The Great Turtle." If you look at a map of Mackinac Island, it looks like a great turtle swimming in Lake Huron.
Q: Why is Mackinaw City spelled with a "w" and Mackinac Island is spelled with a "c"?
A: In French, Mackinac sounds like Mackinaw, not Mackinack. English-speaking settlers spelled Mackinaw City with a "w" at the end to show how it was pronounced. Because the French were the first European explorers in the region, many of the communities and forts have French spellings. The island, straits, forts and famous bridge are all spelled in French ... with a "c" at the end.
Q: How many people live year-around on Mackinac Island?
A: There are around 400 people who live year round on the Island. There is a school (K-12) for families with children.
Q: How do you get on and off Mackinac Island in the winter?
A: Arnold Ferry Line keeps boats running across until early January. Then islanders can catch a ride across on a six-seater plane operated by Great Lakes Air. When the straits freeze, usually in February, Islanders are able to cross on snowmobiles, following a "bridge" marked by Christmas trees "planted" in the snow and ice at intervals between the Island and St. Ignace.
Q: Where do the horses go in the winter?
A: Every spring, Arnold Transport Co. helps to ferry across the nearly 700 draft and pleasure horses that work on the island. Then, in the late fall, we carry up to 30 horses across at a time to St. Ignace, where they are trailered to Pickford, a community south of Sault Ste. Marie.
Buy eTickets
Q: I'm having trouble purchasing tickets with my credit card. What could I be doing wrong?
A: First, check again to make sure that all the information was filled in with no errors. The name needs to be typed exactly as it is on your credit card. Also, the billing address must be the same as the one for your credit card. The credit card number must be entered with no spaces, dashes, or other punctuation. If all this information is correct, then your card may be expired. If you continue to experience problems, call us at (800) 542-8528 or click here to send an e-mail.
Q: Can't I make several copies of my boarding pass?
A: Each ticket contains a unique code that is recorded by Arnold Transit Co. Once a code number enters the system, subsequent tickets with that code number are voided.
Q: What if I lose my boarding pass?
A: If you lose your boarding passes, you can bring your receipt to an Arnold Reception Center. Your receipt was sent to your e-mail account at the time of purchase. If you have further problems, please call us for assistance at (800) 542-8528.
Frequently Asked Questions
