Mackinac Bridge
Iconic Bridge · Mackinaw City, Michigan
The Mackinac Bridge, called the Mighty Mac, is the roughly five-mile suspension bridge that joins Michigan's two peninsulas across the Straits of Mackinac, between St. Ignace in the Upper Peninsula and Mackinaw City in the Lower. It opened in 1957 and replaced a ferry service that could mean hours of waiting in summer. For most people it is a drive rather than a destination: you cross in about ten minutes, pay a toll (confirm the amount) and see Lake Huron and Lake Michigan meet on either side. The best way to enjoy it is to stop at a viewpoint on one shore and look at it, since you cannot stop on the span. It suits road trippers, photographers and anyone who finds a famous bridge worth a detour. Be honest: high winds, ice and traffic can restrict the crossing, and some drivers dread the height. A driver-assistance programme exists for them (confirm), and nearby viewpoints, Colonial Michilimackinac and the island ferries make it easy to turn the crossing into a day.
Interstate 75 at the Straits of Mackinac, Mackinaw City, Michigan, 49701, United States
The bridge is open around the clock, every day of the year, for vehicle traffic, and tolls are collected at booths on the St. Ignace side. High winds, ice, snow and crashes can close or restrict the crossing, often for high-profile vehicles, trailers or motorcycles first and sometimes for all traffic, so check current conditions before you set off. Pedestrians cannot walk across except at the Labor Day Bridge Walk, which takes place in the early morning on Labor Day (confirm the current arrangements and route). Viewpoints such as Bridge View Park in St. Ignace and the grounds around Old Mackinac Point lighthouse in Mackinaw City have their own seasons and daylight hours.