Port Huron to Mackinac Island

Blueone

Well-Known Member
SILVER Sponsor
Jan 24, 2007
13,688
Lake Erie, Ohio
Boat Info
2004 420 Sundancer
Engines
Cummins 6CTA 450's
We are kicking around the idea of running up to Mackinac Island ... then over to the North Channel. We have done the NC before so familiar with that and the Canadian coast. I would prefer to get up to Mackinac as quick as possible with minimal stops. I don't know the Michigan coast at all.
Has someone done the trip and could you recommend a few stops or must see along a pretty direct route to the island?... We are comfortable travelling up to 5 or 6 hours per day (at 27mph).

Thanks
 
We are kicking around the idea of running up to Mackinac Island ... then over to the North Channel. We have done the NC before so familiar with that and the Canadian coast. I would prefer to get up to Mackinac as quick as possible with minimal stops. I don't know the Michigan coast at all.
Has someone done the trip and could you recommend a few stops or must see along a pretty direct route to the island?... We are comfortable travelling up to 5 or 6 hours per day (at 27mph).

Thanks
Hey Blueone. As for the Michigan Harbors to visit, while taking getting up there in a direct route, I would make the below recommendations (from Port Huron On).
-Port Austin. At the tip of the thumb and nice harbor. Good restaurant called The Bank.
Then you can leave Port Austin in the morning, crossing over Saginaw Bay. It is always recommended to cross the bay early in the morning if possible, before any afternoon heat builds the winds. Get fuel at Port Austin
-From Port Austin, you can make it straight to Mackinaw Island. However, I would recommend stopping in Roger's City to top off your fuel, there is no fuel on the island. Roger's City is easy in and easy out.

If weather comes into play, another good stop is Lexington (first port north of Port Huron). You can always ditch into Port Sanilac, Harbor Beach or others if weather gets nasty.

I am sure others will chime in, but those are my thoughts.
 
More information is required to provide an answer. For instance, do you want to harbor hop and see the sites on the way up to Mackinac or do you want to get to Mackinac so you can spend time in the Norh Channel.

If the goal is Mackinac and spend time in the North Channel I would go from Port Huron directly to Presque Isle. I am guessing 175 miles since it is 161 miles from my harbor in Lexington to Presque Isle (235 miles from Lexington to Mackinac).

If you are not comfortable being offshore for the straight line across SAGINAW bay, it is common for boats to go from Port Huron to Harrisville, Harrisville to Presque Isle then Presque Isle to Mackinac. These are fairly easy segments except for the fish nets (commercial and Indian).

Not matter which way you travel or harbors you enjoy, heading north is always enjoyable. Our favorite harbors (besides Lexington) are East Tawas and Presque Isle. My wife could enjoy spending lots of time at Presque Isle!
 
Blueone, I have an Excel spreadsheet that I put together several years ago that shows the mileage between ports on both sides of the "mitten state".

If you want a copy, PM me with your email address and I'll send it to you.

That offer is good for anyone else who wants a copy.
 
Since you stated in your initial post that you want to go straight to Mackinac (not Mackinaw) Island, plan to hit Port Austin for fuel, then either Harrisville or Rogers City for fuel. Some here have mention Presque Isle, but I have just heard they aren’t selling fuel so that would be a wasted stop.

I’m typing this from Mackinac Island and I can tell you it is as beautiful as ever. Said hello - and good bye - to Jamie and Sheila from CSR “Jaws”. They’re headed back to Sarnia as of this morning.
 
Blueone, I have an Excel spreadsheet that I put together several years ago that shows the mileage between ports on both sides of the "mitten state".

If you want a copy, PM me with your email address and I'll send it to you.

That offer is good for anyone else who wants a copy.
GFC.... you gave it to me a while ago. Great resource... thankyou
 
Tc410 what you heard about Presque Isle not having gas or diesel this year is correct! That will come as a big surprise to quite a few boaters heading north the next few weeks. They are replacing their fuel tanks and do not have a promise date for completion.
 
Tc410 what you heard about Presque Isle not having gas or diesel this year is correct! That will come as a big surprise to quite a few boaters heading north the next few weeks. They are replacing their fuel tanks and do not have a promise date for completion.
Wow, thanks for the head's up. This harbor has always been a stop for us.
 
Since you stated in your initial post that you want to go straight to Mackinac (not Mackinaw) Island, plan to hit Port Austin for fuel, then either Harrisville or Rogers City for fuel. Some here have mention Presque Isle, but I have just heard they aren’t selling fuel so that would be a wasted stop.

I’m typing this from Mackinac Island and I can tell you it is as beautiful as ever. Said hello - and good bye - to Jamie and Sheila from CSR “Jaws”. They’re headed back to Sarnia as of this morning.
Jeff,
It was great meeting you in your beautiful port of Charlevoix and also at The Island, and our trip was a great success. About 800 NM and conditions were mostly excellent but modern weather apps and back up programs gives us the confidence to do those big voyages. Fog was generally the biggest obstacle in Lakes Michigan and Huron.
Our fuel prices ranged between $2.85 to $3.15/ gallon with Straits and Port Austin being fairly reasonable. Marinas were generally quiet with the two exceptions of The Island and Charlevoix. Plenty of space at Lexington, Rogers City, Straits (Mackinaw City), Sturgeon Bay Wisconsin, Frankfort, Petoskey and Port Austin.
Jamie
 
We left early on the 4th and ran from Mac Ray Harbor (Lake St Clair) to Rogers City. 240 miles in 9.5 hours. Lake Huron was like a mirror!

We stopped for fuel in Harrisville ($3.10). As stated, Presque Isle is a nice picturesque harbor but no fuel this summer. Thus we went to Roger City. Nice marina but not much in town. Got up the next morning and had a short ride (2 hours) to Mac City (Straits State Marina). Fuel was $3.03. We head to Harbor Springs, Petoskey and Charlevoix from here.

Enjoy your trip. The North Channel is beautiful!
 
Blueone, I have an Excel spreadsheet that I put together several years ago that shows the mileage between ports on both sides of the "mitten state".

If you want a copy, PM me with your email address and I'll send it to you.

That offer is good for anyone else who wants a copy.
I would love to have a copy of that excel spreadsheet...planning on doing some travel end of this month from Lake St. Clair to Grand Bend (Ontario) to Lexington...to other locations up to Mackinaw....
 
Made the trip recently and enjoyed it all...Tubermory CA to Michigan City IN. Still brisk and fogging up there but this Florida boy sure enjoyed the cool weather.....I saw a sign here the other day that said "God, whatever your'e cooking down here in Florida, it's done!"

Capt. R
 
Made the trip recently and enjoyed it all...Tubermory CA to Michigan City IN. Still brisk and fogging up there but this Florida boy sure enjoyed the cool weather.....I saw a sign here the other day that said "God, whatever your'e cooking down here in Florida, it's done!"

Capt. R
Captain,
Enjoyed your other post and photos. Nice of you to deliver those "other boats" for the Beauregard family business. Too bad we didn't know you were cruising by. We would have waved to you from the Bluewater bridge shoreline (or maybe from the adjacent casino patio; we are at Bridgeview Marina with a bunch of other Sea Rays that you know).
 
Captain,
Enjoyed your other post and photos. Nice of you to deliver those "other boats" for the Beauregard family business. Too bad we didn't know you were cruising by. We would have waved to you from the Bluewater bridge shoreline (or maybe from the adjacent casino patio; we are at Bridgeview Marina with a bunch of other Sea Rays that you know).
Jaws we were in Sarnia Bay Marina 9th, 10th and 11th for the tall ships. We enjoyed it up there in your neck of the woods. Nice marina and the food at Paddy's was awesome. My first time staying there and I would go back.
 
Jaws we were in Sarnia Bay Marina 9th, 10th and 11th for the tall ships. We enjoyed it up there in your neck of the woods. Nice marina and the food at Paddy's was awesome. My first time staying there and I would go back.
Good to hear Joe,
We are in Bridgeview Marina which is pretty much right beside Sarnia Bay, just upriver a bit. The area has a lot to offer and it's a nice jump-off point for trips north.
We missed the tall ships festival this weekend due to another event, the birth of another grandson. Priorities.... :)
 
Made the trip recently and enjoyed it all...Tubermory CA to Michigan City IN. Still brisk and fogging up there but this Florida boy sure enjoyed the cool weather.....I saw a sign here the other day that said "God, whatever your'e cooking down here in Florida, it's done!"

Capt. R
What stops did you make from Tobermory to Michigan City?
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,945
Messages
1,422,746
Members
60,928
Latest member
rkaleda
Back
Top