Mackinac Island Ferry Price Dispute for 2026 Season

If you’ve ever been to Mackinac Island, you already know it’s not exactly a cheap day trip.

Why Mackinac Island Leaders Rejected Ferry Price Increases

Between the ferry, parking, food, maybe a hotel if you’re staying overnight, it adds up fast. And now? The one thing you have to pay just to get there, the ferry, is turning into a full-on fight.

MLive reports that the Mackinac Island City Council just stepped in and basically said, “Hold up… not so fast” to another round of price hikes planned for 2026.

Who Controls Ferry Service To Mackinac Island

Here’s the deal. The same company now owns both ferry services to the island. So whether you’re hopping on Shepler’s or Arnold Transit, you’re still paying the same parent company. And that’s where things start to feel a little uncomfortable.

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City leaders are now questioning whether those rising ticket prices are actually justified, or if people are just getting squeezed because there’s no real competition anymore.

How Much Ferry Tickets Have Already Increased

And let’s be honest, prices have already jumped. A round-trip ticket went from about 34 bucks to 38, and if you want to skip the line? That’ll run you 50. Oh, and don’t forget the extra fees on top of that.

So now the city is demanding the company open up its books and prove these increases are legit. Because at some point you’ve got to wonder with everything else getting more expensive right now, how much more can people afford just to get to Mackinac Island?