Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry

Everything was great! The employees working for them is a class act. Everyone was very helpful and assisted us whenever needed. It was seamless as possible and I would highly recommend using Shepler’s.

Always take Shepler’s to the Island. Best way to go.
Fast & friendly all the time!

Shepler’s is as good as it gets. Their service is fast and friendly and they get the job done. I appreciate the very clean ferry boats and friendly customer service. I have visited Mackinac Island a number of times because of the sailboat race and also a few other times. They are my pic to get to and from the Island.

Best ferry service in town. Extremely quick service from dockside to the ferry and to the Island. The staff if very friendly and knowledgeable.

Fun, fast ride. Cool that they valeted my car for overnight stay for a relatively low price.
Every single person that I interacted with was VERY helpful, went out of their way to take care of me and answer my questions.
They earned my 5 stars because they ran at least 2 unscheduled boats (that I’m aware of) one right before I left the mainland, one right before I left the island. Why does this matter to me? Because their boat filled up and they didn’t shrug and say oh well, they sent that one early and made sure they had another on hand to run on time, even though it wasn’t even ½ full.
THAT is service.

We chose sheplers for our recent ride to the island. I tried to get our tickets online but the website kept saying the tickets were sold out. I knew that couldn’t be true. The downside was we didn’t get the discount. I mentioned the website problem at the counter when we arrived and literally got no response. Nada… Customer service at the ticket purchase counter is non excitant. Other than that the ferry ride was nice and fast and the parking process easy.

Shepler’s to Mackinac Island has customer service that is second to none. Luggage gets tagged and shows up at your hotel on the island. I thought it was a ridiculous idea to bring our own bikes to the island when my husband insisted on it, but Shepler’s made the transfer seamless. Overnight parking on the mainland was safe, and didn’t feel the need to pay for secure, covered parking. Cast members were all hustling around to get the job done with a smile. Do not hesitate to go with Shepler’s to transfer to Mackinac Island.

We arrived 15 minutes before our boat left and were 3^rd in line to pay for parking for 10 minutes. The line stood still until the last minute. We asked a worker if there was anything we could do to expedite the process so we could make the next boat. Her response: You will have to wait for the next boat.” She turned around and left.
I could poke a few holes in Shepler’s system as they have more people standing around than they have being productive, but the worst problem was the indifference of this staff member.

Great ferry ride to and from Mackinac Island! The boats run every 30 minutes so you never need to wait very long. The ride itself provides fabulous photo opportunities!

Great experience! We took the Mackinaw bridge ferry ride that goes under the bridge on the way to Mackinaw. The captain asked my son to blow the horn to let everyone know we were ready to go. All of the staff was very friendly and very helpful. They carried the stroller on and off for me (7.5 months pregnant). So nice. Very happy with the experience!

Fastest ferry. Prompt and friendly service. Spend the extra 5 bucks and get there in half the time!

Nice and clean.
Every employee we encountered was polite and professional. The fair is average for the area, however, a little time saver– buy your tickets online and have them printed at the print station. We stood in line for about 20 mins before we realized this short cut. Had we not, we would have missed our boat. And an added bonus, it’s $ 2 cheaper if you buy online.

This was great we paid for the unlimited ferry rides for two days only 38.00 bucks an adult.
We have fast beautiful scenic ride to the island of mackinaw. With comments front the ship captain as well as booklets to purchase of the island only 2 bucks for wealth of knowledge of the island.
The ship arrived on time to pick and depart one ferry ever hour so it was easy to anticipate when the next ferry would be in to take us back to mackinaw city for even more fun deffinately better then the overpriced star line ferry where it was 38.50 for just one trip there and back. Our ferry got us to the city and island in 18 min and it went fast the time flew.

So, there’s a few choices for ferries over to Mackinac Island. Arnold, Sheplers and Starline. When I was a kid, we used to take Arnold and I always had fond memories of riding their boats. Today, we took Shepler’s because we had a coupon and they were closer to our hotel.
I don’t expect much for ferries, but considering they have a schedule that runs on the hour, I do expect them to run on time. The ride there ran on time, but on the way back, it did not. We waited over an hour for our 5 PM departure and it left about 15 minutes late. The lines back were long, which I understand, but with a boat running behind I would not be thrilled to be last in line.
Overall it was a decent ride there and back. Plenty of photo opportunities of the bridge, the water and the approaching Island as well. The ride itself was only about 15 to 20 minutes, which isn’t bad. I think you spend more time waiting to get on and loading then you do actually doing the ride itself.
Overall, this was a okay, but if I come back up again, I’d be more willing to try Arnold next time. Tickets for round trip are $ 23 a person for adults. Children are less, but I don’t know the rates since no children were with us. There is onsite parking available, but more then likely you can probably leave your car at the hotel (like we did) and walk to the ferry itself.

Shepler’s Ferry service is a business which ran like a well oiled machine. It was a pleasure to watch how they had thought about everything and took care of things we had not thought about.
The ferries were clean and spacious. There were plenty of staff around to help. They run on time. They took the luggage and tagged it for the hotel. At the island, the hotel porter was standing with the luggage. They even took care of small purses, grocery bags etc. Nothing was too small for them. The best part was the convenience of online reservations for ferry and parking.
I just wish that parking was included in the ferry ticket price.

From start to finish my experience with Sheplers ferry was exemplary!
Buy your tickets — $ 25 for Adults (round trip), $ 7 bicycles (round trip). They have valet parking available. They will give you a ticket stub to reclaim your vehicle when you return. They have free parking, secured parking or covered parking available. You leave your email address and when you board the ferry for your return trip, show the staff your parking pass and they will email you the location of your car. All the parking spots are lettered and numbered. We chose the free unsecured parking and had absolutely no difficulty with the condition of our vehicle upon our return.
The ferry’s are clean and comfortable, and the personnel are professional and helpful. The journey across the Mackinac Straits is narrated and very interesting. The trip takes approximately 16 minutes. During our trip in late May the ferry’s departed every hour and every half an hour.

Logistically, getting from Mackinaw City to Mackinac Island should be a nightmare — how to deal with bags, what to do with your car — it’s madness! But luckily, Shepler’s has it all figured out. We stayed on the island for a few days, so the valet service took care of our car and bags. For us it was a simple matter of getting on the ferry and arriving at our destination. Easy peasy.
There was a bit of mix-​up with the man who sold us our tickets. He forgot to get our phone number, so retrieving our car when returning was a little more of an ordeal than it should have been. But even that was handled fairly easily and we were on our way in no time.
Next time we’re headed to the island, we’ll definitely be on a Shepler ferry.

For a smooth and enjoyable passage from the mainland to Mackinac Island, we suggest Shepler’s ferry.
If you are planning to return back from Mackinac island the same day, their private parking lot is free of charge. Valet lots are available for longer term parking.
We felt that the crew was very polite and helpful on both our trip to the island and back. A Mackinac island guide book is available for sale on board for the nominal fee of $ 2 (cash only). We consulted the one that we purchased several times during our visit.
I would certainly use them again and would suggest that you do too.
PS: Shelplers has «Lighthouse Cruises» that we hope to be able to check out on our next visit to northern Michigan.

I’m convinced Shepler’s is the only way to travel to Mackinac Island. Take it from a lifelong ferry user on a much larger island (Vancouver), they could offer lessons on punctuality and courtesy to the big corporations that knit together islands from Puget Sound to Alaska.
Enter under the gateway arch to a surprisingly busy wharf surrounded by ample free parking, and watch out for the shuttle buses connected to hotels throughout Mackinaw City. Inwardly I giggle at the valet treatment for people headed to a car-​free island. All they need are 19^th century tophats and daysuits to make the event into high theatre. Adult tickets run somewhere around $ 20, with local hotels and venues offering discounts of $ 1 – 5 off each. Bicycles brought onto the island cost an additional $ 8 at last check, which may eat up the savings for an on-​island rental. Tickets are round-​trip prices.
While tourists pile into long lines, accompanied by bicycles and strollers, the hardworking staff somehow manage to keep things running especially smoothly. When the boat puttered in right on time, they loaded a mountain of cyclists and luggage at 9:00 AM on a Saturday in record time.
Beau, baby, and I found a spot on the open-​air top deck, totally worth every penny of the $ 18-​ish adult ticket. Bring a hoodie or a coat on a cooler day because the boat will hit a good speed. Dangly earrings are not recommended, and any ladies with hats or fancy hairdos, figure out how to secure them before they start the engines. The little one delighted in seeing seagulls, the sunshine, and the spray but not so much being windblasted in the face. We got panoramic views over Lakes Huron and Superior, the atmospheric UP forests, broken island chains, and the bright palisades of Fort Michilimackinac. Oh, and that bridge.
Big Mac? Yeah. Five miles long, took a few years to build, you’ve probably heard all the stories (if not, they narrate key details) and possibly traveled over it in the course of your journeys. But have you been UNDER it? Shepler’s does a special bridge tour that swings underneath the mighty Mackinac Bridge and swoops around one of the massive pilings. Even the engineering illiterate are brought to breathless silence, cameras all train upwards, and someone gasps when they realize this American marvel can withstand icebergs grinding down from Lake Superior. Seriously, the thing is a marvel and hopping on the boat when it makes a little detour is so worth the added few minutes to your trip. We love it. I didn’t realize we caught the Big Mac boat, as it wasn’t announced as one on the scheduled sailing, so the added surprise was a real treat.
The sailings are pleasant and precise, and I think you can buy small snacks on board. But it’s only 16 minutes to fudgeland or Mackinaw City, really not that substantial. Shepler’s moors right on the main strip, adjacent to the lighthouse, and porters haul luggage to hotels all around the island. Bike rentals are a hop, skip, and a jump away. The luggage lockers allow for stowing your things while you wander and shop.
Shepler’s wins for an extended schedule, easy access to the island, gorgeous views, and an effortless experience. I think the boat ride to Mackinac is the best part of the trip (granted, I’m a water baby) and arguably the easiest part.

Getting to and from Mackinac Island is a breeze thanks to Shepler’s. They have a nice dock in Mackinaw City that makes boarding very easy. The ticket booth is quick and they have a little coffee shop in there as well (in case you’re taking the early boat and need a little more pep in your step). They board bikes and luggage in a different area so being a solo human hopping on for the day is a speedy process.
The boats themselves are very clean and comfy enough for a 16 minute boat ride. There’s the open air top tier (great for sight seeing) and a covered bottom level which also provides lovely views but is also a bit more insulated if it’s cold or the weather is a bit crummy.
Staff is nice and welcoming to dogs. We brought our pup with us and they had treats at the ticket counter for him and every staff person showered him with love. Bonus points from me. And he LOVED the ride.
Boats leave roughly every half hour to hour depending on the time of year. They service Mackinaw City to Mackinac Island and back as well as St. Ignace to the Island and back. The return trip is just as easy and there’s plenty of seating at the Island dock if you get there early and need to lounge a bit.
Round trip is $ 23 for adults. $ 12 for kids ($ 9 for each bike) and they’re good for any time you want to use them. In Mackinaw City they offer overnight parking ($ 14.00 for the first night in fenced, outside lot + $ 7.00 each additional night; $ 22.00 for the first night in indoor lot +$ 15.00 each additional night) so you don’t have to worry about your car while you’re on vacation.