Year-Round Mackinac Island Resident – Frequently Asked Questions

Please note if you have a question that is not answered here on our FAQ page please visit, email or call our offices and we will be happy to assist you.  Our addresses and contact information are located at the bottom of this page.


“Year-Round Mackinac Island Resident Pass” FAQs


Who can purchase and/or use “Year-Round Mackinac Island Resident Pass”?

“Year-Round Mackinac Island Resident Passes” are special passes only for purchase and use by Mackinac Island Residents. To purchase a “Year-Round Mackinac Island Resident Pass” you must be able to verify that you are a year-round Mackinac Island resident with two forms of verification.

Some documents and credentials that can be used for verification are:

  • Valid Michigan ID or driver’s license that shows your island address as your residence.
  • Current utility bill in your name for your home or abode on the island.
  • Current property tax bill for property located on Mackinac Island.
  • Valid voter registration card for Mackinac Island.
  • Other forms of verification may be applicable. Please call or visit our offices to check on other means of verification. If you have no valid documents for verification the City of Mackinac Island and Mackinac Island Ferry Company have appointed “Liaisons”, who are people that can identify if you are an Island Resident as alternative form of identification. Resident verification is at Mackinac Island Ferry Company’s reasonable discretion.

When and where can we purchase “Year-Round Mackinac Island Resident Passes”?

“Year-Round Mackinac Island Resident Passes” can be purchased M-F from 8:30am-4pm at the following Mackinac Island Ferry Company Offices. Mackinac Island Dock #1, St. Ignace Dock #3 and Mackinaw City Dock #1

How much does a “Resident Pass” Cost?

A single “Mackinac Island Ferry Company Resident Pass” cost $245.00 for an Adult 18 years and older or $150.00 for a Child 17 years or younger.

Can a “Year-Round Mackinac Island Resident Pass” be used by someone other than myself?

No, they can only be used by the named person they are issued for.

Can I use my Mackinac Island Ferry Company “Year-Round Mackinac Island Resident Pass” during the “Winter Service”?

Yes, no other tickets or surcharges are needed for the subsequent “Winter Service” season.


“Commuter Books” and “Commuter Season Pass” FAQs


Who can purchase and/or use “Commuter Ticket Books” or “Commuter Season Passes”?

“Commuter Ticket Books” (20 or 40 ride)  and “Commuter Season Passes” are special tickets only for purchase and use by people that work on Mackinac Island.

When and where can we purchase commuter ticket books or passes?

Commuter ticket books and passes can be purchase M-F from 8:30am-4pm at the following Mackinac Island Ferry Company Offices. Mackinac Island Dock #1, St. Ignace Dock #3 and Mackinaw City Dock #1 (St Ignace Dock #2 Nov thru Apr)

How much does a “Commuter Season Pass” Cost?

A single “Commuter Season Pass” cost $965.00. However, if you purchase 10 or more “Commuter Season Passes”, you are eligible to purchase them at the discount rate of $600.00 each.

What if I purchase a “Commuter Season Pass” for an employee, but they do not work for my company anymore?

We will exchange the pass for a new pass for your new or alternative employee. If you do not have the pass call our offices and let us know the employee no longer works for you. We will deactivate their pass and confiscate it if the employee tries to use it.

Can I use my “Commuter Season Pass” during the “Winter Service”?

Yes, if you have a valid “Commuter Season Pass” you can us it during the subsequent “Winter Service” season if you purchase a “$5.00 Winter Surcharge” for each trip to and from the island.

Why is the cost of a “Commuter Season Pass” so high?

“Commuter Season Passes” are for people that work on the island and travel to it very frequently for their employment. We find that for an average island commuter a round trip price averages out to about $8.95 per round trip. This is significantly less expensive from our normal round trip ticket price of $34.00 per ticket.

To look at this another way if an average commuter travels to the island about 5 days a week for about 100 days a season. If they purchased a full price round trip ticket for every trip they made during the season the cost would be about $3,100.00. So a “Commuter Season Pass” is a significant cost savings for a commuter.

If you plan traveling to the island less frequently a “Commuter Book” of 20 trips or 40 trips may be a better option for you.


Shepler Pass FAQs

Can I use my Shepler pass for “Winter Service”?

If you are a verified Mackinac Island Resident and have a “Shepler Resident Pass” which was paid for at publicized rates.  You may trade it in at Mackinac Island Ferry Company offices starting November 1st. M-F from 8am-4:30pm for a “Star Line Winter Pass”.  The “Mackinac Island Ferry Company Winter Pass” will allow the person issued the pass to use the “Winter Service” via purchasing the “$5.00 Winter Surcharge” ticket for each and every direction of travel.

To trade the “Shepler Resident Pass” in for a “Mackinac Island Ferry Company Winter Pass” you must present a proof of purchase receipt for the full price of the “Shepler Resident Pass” and you must be able to verify that you are a Mackinac Island resident with two forms of verification.

NOTE:  Other types of Shepler passes are NOT ELIGIBLE to be traded in for a “Mackinac Island Ferry Company Winter Pass” or used for the ‘Winter Service”.

Some documents and credentials that can be used for verification are:

  • Valid Michigan ID or driver’s license that shows your island address as your residence.
  • Current utility bill in your name for your home or abode on the island.
  • Current property tax bill for property located on Mackinac Island.
  • Valid voter registration card for Mackinac Island.
  • Other forms of verification may be applicable.

Please call or visit our offices to check on other means of verification.

If you have no valid documents for verification the City of Mackinac Island and Mackinac Island Ferry Company have appointed “Liaisons”, who are people that can identify if you are an Island Resident as alternative form of identification.

Resident verification is at Mackinac Island Ferry Company’s reasonable discretion.