Toledo to Mackinac Island: a 5-day dog-friendly road trip

From Northwood, Ohio you can reach Mackinac Island — one of America's most magical dog destinations — in about 5.5 hours. But the best version of this trip is 5 days. Here's the route every Toledo-area dog owner should drive at least once.

Day 1 — Northwood → Detroit (1.5 hr drive)

**Morning**: Start at **Maumee Bay State Park** in Oregon, OH for a Lake Erie sunrise walk. Leashed dogs welcome on trails.

**Drive north on I-75**. Stop at **Sterling State Park** (Monroe, MI) — Michigan's only state park on Lake Erie. 1,300 acres, 7 miles of trails, your first taste of Michigan dog freedom.

**Afternoon in Detroit**: head to **Belle Isle Park** (982-acre island state park on the Detroit River). Walk the perimeter loop. Dinner at **Eastern Market Brewing** (dog patio).

**Sleep**: **Detroit Foundation Hotel** (no pet fee, no breed restriction).

Day 2 — Detroit → Ann Arbor → Frankenmuth (2.5 hr total)

**Breakfast walk**: Leashed loop at Belle Isle, then drive to Ann Arbor.

**Ann Arbor stop**: **Swift Run Dog Park** (10 acres off-leash) for an hour of play. Lunch at **Jolly Pumpkin** patio.

**Drive northeast** to Frankenmuth (Michigan's "Little Bavaria"). The whole town welcomes dogs on outdoor patios. Stop at **Sebewaing County Park** for the lakeshore.

**Sleep**: pet-friendly cabins at any Frankenmuth chain.

Day 3 — Frankenmuth → Mackinaw City (3 hr drive)

**Long driving day**, but with great stops: - **Hartwick Pines State Park** (near Grayling) — Michigan's largest old-growth pine forest. 49 mi of trails, leashed dogs welcome. - **Mackinaw City** lakeshore for Mackinac Bridge views.

**Sleep**: pet-friendly hotel in Mackinaw City. Multiple Best Western and Holiday Inn properties accept dogs.

Day 4 — Mackinac Island day trip 🌉

**Mackinac Island is one of the most dog-friendly destinations in America.** No cars allowed on the island — only horses, bikes, and feet. Dogs travel free.

**Morning**: Take **Shepler's Ferry** or **Star Line** from Mackinaw City. Both allow dogs on a leash, no extra fee. About 16 minutes each way.

**On the island**: - Walk the **8.2-mile perimeter trail** (M-185, the only US state highway that prohibits cars) - Visit **Arch Rock** - Explore the **Grand Hotel grounds** (lobby and porch are members-only, but the gardens welcome dogs) - Lunch on a patio — dogs welcome at most island restaurants

**Afternoon**: Ferry back to Mackinaw City.

**Sleep**: same Mackinaw City hotel.

Day 5 — Mackinaw City → home (5.5 hr drive)

**Stretch break**: **P.J. Hoffmaster State Park** in Muskegon (Lake Michigan dunes — leashed dogs welcome).

Continue south through **Toledo** (your home) — but if you have time, finish at **Wildwood Preserve Metropark** in Toledo for a sunset walk before going home.

What to pack - 6-foot leash + spare - Two collapsible water bowls (one in car, one in your bag) - Travel-size first-aid kit - A towel for muddy paws / lake water - Pre-existing vaccination records (some hotels and ferries ask) - Microchip + ID tag (mandatory for ferry boarding) - A photo of your dog on your phone in case they bolt

What to expect costs - Ferries (Detroit-area): free for dogs - Mackinac Island ferry: free for dogs - Hotels: $0 (Kimpton/Detroit Foundation/Aloft) to $75 (Hilton brand) - State park entry: $11/day MI residents, $32/day non-residents (Recreation Passport covers MI residents annually)

Don't skip The unspoken rule of this trip: every meal is on a patio. Every walk is a Great Lakes shoreline. Every stop is a city your dog has never smelled before.