Fort Michilimackinac
Fort Michilimackinac ( MISH-ə-lə-MAK-ə-naw) was an 18th-century French, and later British, fort and trading post at the Straits of Mackinac; it was built on the northern tip of the lower peninsula of the present-day state of Michigan in the United States. Head to Mackinaw City to see it. Our list goes on with Lake Michigan–Huron, 2.1 mi away.
An ancient site inside Mackinaw City
Winters are cold
January nights drop to 13°. When to go ↓
You can stay in Mackinaw City
Fort Michilimackinac is inside Mackinaw City, which has 45 places to stay, so you won’t need a base farther out. Where to stay ↓
Best months: Jun, Jul, Aug and Sep
June, July, August and September are the mild months, with highs of 68–75°. When to go ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
Weather, month by month
The months below show the weather around Fort Michilimackinac.
Fort Michilimackinac
Fort Michilimackinac ( MISH-ə-lə-MAK-ə-naw) was an 18th-century French, and later British, fort and trading post at the Straits of Mackinac; it was built on the northern tip of the lower peninsula of the present-day state of Michigan in the United States. Built around 1715, and abandoned in 1783, it was located along the straits that connect Lake Huron and Lake Michigan of the Great Lakes of North America. A reconstruction of the fort is preserved as the main feature of Colonial Michilimackinac Historic State Park.
The present-day village of Mackinaw City developed around the site of the fort, which has been designated as a National Historic Landmark. It is preserved as an open-air historical museum, with several reconstructed wooden buildings and palisades, and is now part of the state park.
- Type
- Ancient site
- Listed
- National Historic Landmark (1960) · National Register of Historic Places (1966)
- Wikipedia readers
- 22K a year
Towns to stay in near Fort Michilimackinac
Close by, places to stay are in Mackinaw City (45) and Wawatam Township (6).
Compare 8 towns
| Town | From Fort Michilimackinac | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mackinaw City 40% vacation homes | in town | — | 45 27 hotels · 8 motels · 7 inns & B&Bs · 2 lodges & cabins · 1 campground | 836 | $224K | — |
| Wawatam Township 39% vacation homes | in town | — | 6 3 hotels · 2 motels · 1 campground | 697 | $227K | — |
| Mackinaw Township 46% vacation homes | 4 mi southeast | 5 min | 50 25 hotels · 11 motels · 7 inns & B&Bs · 4 lodges & cabins · 3 campgrounds | 495 | $279K | — |
| St. Ignace | 7 mi north | 10 min | 26 18 hotels · 6 motels · 1 inn or B&B · 1 lodge or cabins | 2,351 | $132K | — |
| Carp Lake Township 52% vacation homes | 8 mi southwest | 10 min | 12 4 hotels · 1 motel · 1 inn or B&B · 6 lodges & cabins | 747 | $195K | — |
| St. Ignace Township 26% vacation homes | 18 mi north | 25 min | 13 3 hotels · 4 motels · 2 inns & B&Bs · 4 campgrounds | 1,007 | $179K | — |
| Moran Township 38% vacation homes | 20 mi northwest | 30 min | 16 6 hotels · 3 motels · 1 lodge or cabins · 4 campgrounds · 2 RV parks | 1,072 | $230K | — |
| Tuscarora Township 35% vacation homes | 26 mi south | 40 min | 17 2 hotels · 5 motels · 9 lodges & cabins · 1 campground | 3,113 | $254K | B |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Beyond Fort Michilimackinac
All of these are within 69 miles.
12 mi LakeLake Michigan–Huron28 mi Park & preserveMackinac National Park
37 mi LandmarkFort Mackinac
53 mi DamSoo Locks
60 mi WaterfallTahquamenon Falls
46 mi MuseumSt. Ignace Mission
69 mi MuseumGreat Lakes Shipwreck Museum
57 mi MuseumRobert Stuart HousePhoto credits
Lake Michigan–Huron: ChongDae, Public domain · Fort Mackinac: P. Hughes, CC BY 4.0 · Soo Locks: USGS, Public domain · Tahquamenon Falls: Bobak Ha'Eri, CC BY 3.0 · St. Ignace Mission: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum: Doug Coldwell, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Robert Stuart House: Royalbroil, CC BY-SA 3.0
Planning a visit to Fort Michilimackinac
Is Fort Michilimackinac in Mackinaw City?
Yes. It’s inside Mackinaw City, MI.
When is the best time to visit Fort Michilimackinac?
June, July, August and September, with highs of 68–75°.
What is the closest airport to Fort Michilimackinac?
Pellston Regional Airport of Emmet County (PLN), about 15 miles away. The nearest big hub is Gerald R. Ford (GRR), about 205 miles.
Where should I stay near Fort Michilimackinac?
Mackinaw City (in town, 45 places to stay), Mackinaw Township (4 mi, 50 places to stay) and St. Ignace (7 mi, 26 places to stay).
Tips from people in Mackinaw City
There are no tips yet, so start one in Mackinaw City’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.