Mackinaw City has a greater number of tourist-y shops, and the advantage of better lighting direction for taking pictures of the bridge. St. Ignace is quieter, less people, and a bit shorter ride to the Island. Hard to go wrong either way.
If you get a chance, look up the bakery in Mackinaw City... E to end of tourist strip, then north a block or two. The best cinnamon bread this side of my sister's kitchen. I try to get a loaf every time I pass through (which is nearly every summer).
Mike & Sherry
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Please be aware, the last weekend in June is the car show in St. Ignace. It is a huge car show with lots of cars on display, car parades, and lots and lots of people. This year the show is June 29 & 30. It will be very difficult to find a campground in the Mackinac Straits area. The show's website is below.
Straits State Park in St. Ignace will likely be full the car show weekend and through the 4th. Mill Creek is a good option, but I'd call ASAP. Other state parks in the general area are Cheboygan SP, Aloha SP south of Cheboygan, Wilderness SP west of Mackinaw City. If you can't get into one of these you might check further south. Possibly Gaylord at Otsego Lake SP. The state's state park reservation website is below.
In addition, the straits area has a big 4th of July fireworks display over the Mackinaw Bridge. Again, there are lots of tourists and local residents in the area for that. Plan ahead if you want to camp in this area during that time.
I don't mean to make it sound as though you won't find a place to camp, but I used to live not far from the straits area for about 20+ years. Get working on your plans now.
Parrothead Mike wrote: Please be aware, the last weekend in June is the car show in St. Ignace. It is a huge car show with lots of cars on display, car parades, and lots and lots of people. This year the show is June 29 & 30. It will be very difficult to find a campground in the Mackinac Straits area. The show's website is below.
Straits State Park in St. Ignace will likely be full the car show weekend and through the 4th. Mill Creek is a good option, but I'd call ASAP. Other state parks in the general area are Cheboygan SP, Aloha SP south of Cheboygan, Wilderness SP west of Mackinaw City. If you can't get into one of these you might check further south. Possibly Gaylord at Otsego Lake SP. The state's state park reservation website is below.
In addition, the straits area has a big 4th of July fireworks display over the Mackinaw Bridge. Again, there are lots of tourists and local residents in the area for that. Plan ahead if you want to camp in this area during that time.
I don't mean to make it sound as though you won't find a place to camp, but I used to live not far from the straits area for about 20+ years. Get working on your plans now.
Sault Ste Marie will be crowded as June 29th is Engineers Day at the locks which is really neat but both campgrounds in the Soo might be full. Soo Locks Engineers day Randu
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We love Wilderness SP and its only a quick 10 min? drive west from Mackinaw city. We found it a pleasant break from the touristy bustle of MC. One section has sites which are beachfront. We found Mill Creek to be way too close together and the mile long hike to the showers not worth it and you have have your fire in a 10 quart drain pan. I feel the Island trip is the same time from either Mac city or St Ignace. Aloha SP is one of our favs and we hoped our secret An easy drive from Mac city its a nice park with a nice lake. Enjoy
Be advised that Starcraft is having their International Rally at Mill Creek from July 9-13 and then Jayco is having their rally immediately after so it will be crowded.
I've been spending a couple of weeks in July annually in the Mackinac area for the past ten years, I've done Mill Creek once, too crowded, and love the Straights State Park on the Ignace side. Good base for day trips into the U.P. and great views of the bridge and Mackinac Island. The lower campground has the best sites, many with water views.
Mill Creek is a fantastic campground with a ton of variety in sites. For a week stay I would recommend it. Both state parks in the area are fantastic as well and you can't go wrong.
wingsfan20 wrote: We found Mill Creek to be a parking lot with tight sites. Unless you like that sort of thing.
A lot of people complain about this. My response is always...don't stay in that area. There is the parking lot section with the bridge view that so many people want and they are packed in there tight. But that's only 20% of the entire campground. There are *lots* of nice big and wooded sites. Last time we stayed we were in the area along the lake just before the final turn to the parking lot area. The sites are so wide I could turn my truck around on the site and not have to backup. And lots of trees. Electric and water only though. So if you can "sacrifice" and not have sewer you can get much larger sites there at Mill Creek. In the evening walk about 200 feet with your chair and sit on the lake and watch the bridge and the fireworks.
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An easy drive from Mac city its a nice park with a nice lake. Enjoy
and love the Straights State Park on the Ignace side.
Good base for day trips into the U.P. and great views of the bridge and Mackinac Island. The lower campground has the best sites, many with water views.
