No Cars, Just Horses: Discover This Unique US Island
Mackinac Island, sitting in Lake Huron between Michigan’s peninsulas, banned motor vehicles in 1898 and never looked back. The daily commute here depends on horses and bicycles, and the way visitors get around hasn’t changed in over a century.
Let’s learn more about this charming town below.
Around Town on Four Legs or Two Wheels
Image via FreePik/Kireyonok Yuliya
During peak season, about 600 horses live and work on the island. They haul construction supplies, pull taxi carriages, and take visitors on narrated tours past limestone cliffs, military forts, and rows of Victorian homes.
These horses have set hours, proper veterinary care, and mandatory breaks to prevent overwork. Most are Percherons or Belgian Drafts, chosen for their strength, calm, and ability to handle long shifts on pavement.
Aside from horses, bicycles are the other main option. There are over 1,500 rental bikes available during the Summer. Most visitors use them to ride the 8.5-mile loop that circles the shoreline. It’s technically a state highway (M-185), but it’s the only one in the country where motor vehicles are banned. The road is smooth, flat, and dotted with scenic overlooks. You can ride the whole loop without hitting a traffic jam, unless you count the occasional group of slow-moving geese.
Local Life and Seasonal Rhythms
Despite the postcard visuals, Mackinac is still a modern world just with different modes of operation. Horses pick up trash, deliver packages, and transport luggage from ferries to hotels. Businesses run on a schedule that depends on boat arrivals.
The island has about 600 full-time residents. That number grows during the Summer, when seasonal workers arrive to keep tourism moving. Over a million visitors come every year, mostly between May and October. They walk, cycle, and eat a lot of fudge. At least a dozen shops make it fresh daily, and the scent drifts through downtown.
The island doesn’t have cars, but it does have Wi-Fi, schools, churches, and grocery stores. Doud’s Market, operating since 1884, claims to be the oldest grocery store in America. Medical services are available, and emergency responders use bicycles and electric carts when needed.
Military History and Native Roots
The island’s strategic location in the Great Lakes gave it a role in early American wars. Fort Mackinac sits high on the bluff, built by the British in 1780 and later taken by American forces. The original barracks and hospital still stand. Costumed guides give cannon demonstrations, and visitors walk through the restored buildings to get a look at daily life in the 1800s.
Long before forts and ferries, the island was home to the Anishinaabe people. They called it Michilimackinac, or “place of the great turtle,” based on the island’s shape. Today, the Mackinac Island Native American Museum sits inside Biddle House, one of the oldest buildings in Michigan. It tells the story of the land through the lives of the people who lived there long before roads and wagons.
Touring the Island Without a Dashboard
Image via Wikipedia/Gsgeorge
The most common way to sightsee is through tours that run throughout the day. They cover well-known spots like Arch Rock, a natural limestone arch with views over Lake Huron. Fort Holmes, the island’s highest point, is also on most routes, along with the Governor’s Summer Residence and the edge of Mackinac Island State Park.
Bike rentals are easy to find. Guided rides are available, but many choose to go solo. There are over 70 miles of trails crossing through forests and shoreline, open to cyclists and hikers. Routes are usually flat and breezy, but some climb into the woods, where you can stop at places like Skull Cave or Sugar Loaf Rock. Most riders make at least one stop to take pictures.
Nothing Accidental About It
Mackinac’s setup is the result of a choice that’s been enforced for over 125 years. Every part of life has adapted to it. Kids grow up riding bikes instead of sitting in backseats. Workers learn to drive carriages. Businesses plan around ferry timetables. There are trade-offs, but the system works because everyone who lives there buys in.