MACKINAC ISLAND SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS
Planning a school trip to Mackinac Island? Start here.
A trip to Mackinac Island can be one of those school experiences students remember for years. There’s history to explore, plenty to learn, and for many students, even the ferry ride across the Straits is part of the adventure.
If you’ve been tasked with planning your school’s Mackinac Island trip, Arnold Transit Company can help make getting there simple.
We work with elementary, middle and high school groups traveling to Mackinac Island and can help coordinate ferry transportation, schedules, bus parking and group boarding from Mackinaw City or St. Ignace.
GETTING TO MACKINAC ISLAND
Arnold Transit Company offers passenger ferry service to Mackinac Island from both Mackinaw City and St. Ignace, making it easy to choose the departure point that works best for your school’s route.
For larger school groups, planning ahead helps make arrival, parking, ticketing and boarding much easier. Our team can work with your school before the trip so you know where to go, when to arrive and what to expect when you get there.
We can help with:
- Group rates and ticketing
- Bus arrival and parking information
- Coordinating your departure and return times
- Choosing between Mackinaw City and St. Ignace
- General Mackinac Island trip-planning questions
Your Mackinac Island Field Trip: Step by Step
Not sure where to begin? You’re not alone. Here’s a simple way to start planning.
1. Pick Your Date
Spring is a popular time for Mackinac Island school trips. Once you have a potential date—or a few possibilities—reach out to us.
2. Estimate Your Group Size
You don’t need a final head count to begin planning. An estimate of the number of students, teachers and chaperones is enough to get the conversation started.
3. Decide Where You’ll Depart
Arnold offers Mackinac Island ferry service from both Mackinaw City and St. Ignace. We can help determine which departure location makes the most sense for your school.
4. Plan Your Island Experience
Mackinac Island offers opportunities to explore Michigan history, Great Lakes transportation, geology, nature and more. Popular school-trip destinations include Fort Mackinac and other Mackinac State Historic Parks sites.
5. Coordinate Your Ferry Transportation
Once we know your group size and itinerary, we’ll help you understand arrival times, bus logistics, ferry schedules and your return trip.
6. Enjoy the Trip
Get the students on the bus. We’ll help with the part where the road ends.
The Ferry ride is part of the trip
For generations of Michigan students, arriving on Mackinac Island by boat has been part of the experience.
It’s also an opportunity to see some of Michigan’s most recognizable landmarks from the water, experience the Straits of Mackinac firsthand and begin talking about the maritime history that has connected Mackinac Island to the mainland for generations.
Arnold Transit Company’s history on the Straits dates to 1878.
That means when your students step aboard an Arnold ferry, they’re not simply traveling to one of Michigan’s most historic destinations.
They’re becoming a small part of that history themselves.
Mackinac Island SCHOOL TRIP FAQs
How do school groups get to Mackinac Island?
Most school groups travel to Mackinac Island by passenger ferry. Arnold Transit Company provides ferry service to Mackinac Island from Mackinaw City and St. Ignace.
Does Arnold Transit Company accommodate school groups?
Yes. Arnold works with school and youth groups traveling to Mackinac Island and can help coordinate group ferry transportation and trip logistics.
Can our school bus park at the ferry dock?
Bus parking and arrival logistics can be coordinated with your group reservation. Contact our team with information about your group and transportation plans so we can help you prepare for arrival.
How early should our school group arrive
Recommended arrival time can vary depending on your group size, departure location and scheduled ferry. We’ll provide arrival and boarding information as part of planning your trip
Should we depart from Mackinaw City or St. Ignace?
Both locations offer ferry service to Mackinac Island. The best choice usually depends on the direction your school is traveling from, your itinerary and your transportation needs. Our team can help you decide.
Can large school groups travel together?
Yes. Let us know your estimated number of students, teachers and chaperones when you contact us so we can help plan appropriately for your group.
Do we need an exact student count when we contact Arnold?
No. If you’re still early in the planning process, start with an estimate. You can work with our group sales team as the details of your trip come together.
Can Arnold help us plan the rest of our Mackinac Island field trip?
We can help with the ferry portion of your trip and point you toward resources for planning your time on Mackinac Island, including historic attractions, educational experiences and other group activities.
READY TO START PLANNING?
Meet sue – your school trip contact
Planning a school trip comes with a lot of moving pieces. Sue Laurie can help with the ferry part.
Sue is Arnold Transit Company’s Group Sales Manager and also manages our St. Ignace office. She works directly with schools and groups to help coordinate reservations, schedules, bus logistics and all the little details that come with getting a group of students to Mackinac Island.
She knows Arnold pretty well beyond the office, too. Her husband is one of our ferry captains!
So whether you already have your date and student count or you’ve simply been told, “You’re in charge of the Mackinac trip this year,” give Sue a call.
She’ll help you figure out where to start.
Sue Laurie
Group Sales Manager
slaurie@arnoldtransitcompany.com
800.638.9892 x107
