Some people might want a room that faces the lake. We got a room that faces downtown Mackinac Island, and honestly, that's the way to go. From our hotel room, we could see people walking and biking around the streets, we could hear the clip-clop of the horse hooves on the cobblestones, we could smell the fudge from all of the fudge stores nearby. Chippewa Hotel is located in downtown Mackinac, and you can really get a feel for the island from this hotel. We visited around Halloween, and the hotel was decked out in decorations. It was very cute, and I feel like they might have gone all out because we were there the weekend before the island shuts down to tourists, so they really put their foot in it, so to speak. The hotel itself is very clean and tidy, but it's "vintage," meaning that some of the fixtures and furniture look like they're straight out of the early 1980s. But it all looks intentional. Everything in the hotel is purposefully placed, so you get an antique vibe but without a touch of disarray. One of the things that I appreciated about the rooms here is that the windows open! I love a hotel room that can receive fresh air. Another thing that I love: They service your room without you even having to ask! And they arrange any stuffed animals on the bed just so. Plus, they offer turn-down serve complimentary! You get a little chocolate on your pillow. They go the extra mile here. Outside, they have a gigantic heated hot tub. This thing is like a small pool! It's open all season. My hot-tub-loving youngest child requested that we visit the hot tub multiple times per day. Chippewa Hotel is attached to The Pink Pony, a bar and restaurant. It's downstairs, literally just steps away. read more

Stayed in a third floor suite and glad to have paid a bit more for a room with a lot of space and a balcony! The rooms were well maintained and the views were gorgeous. The elevator is VERY small, so I would expect a wait during the busy season, but wasn't a problem in October. read more

Incredible views!! Spacious, clean rooms! The hotel manager Bart was so gracious and kind! Traveled 2 days to get to see this island and THIS hotel is SO much BETTER than the OVERRATED grand nightmare hotel that SUCKS!!! This hotel has a great restaurant Pink Pony and comes around in the evening giving out milk & cookies! read more

Such a great hotel! Service was very nice. We got a suite and it was super spacious. Two queen beds and a pull out. The living room area was nice and we were on the first floor which was great because it was right next to everything. Pink pony was right next to us too so it was good to go there for breakfast and or drinks! read more

Fantastic location, great rooms, and connected to the Pink Pony. To add, great Large scale hot tub and killer view of the harbor.

If you want to be where the action is, this is the hotel for you. Visiting here in September 2020, we were in the COVID era and appreciated their attention to cleanliness. The hotel is centrally located on the main street to the Mackinaw Island attractions (a short walk to the Ferry to the mainland, fishing charters, bike rentals, and their only grocery store on the small island). The location alone cannot be beaten! They have a popular restaurant (Pink Pony) that serves up good food on the first floor, and it's a Michagnder's favorite hot spot to grab a drink in the summer. The front desk staff was friendly, and we had no trouble getting our luggage to and from the ferry. It's a sight to be seen when you see how many large pieces of luggage can be carried on a single bike (no cars are allowed on the island). The Chippewa Hotel is spotless, clean, and serves up great customer service (hotel and restaurant). The atmosphere here is very comfortable and not stuffy or pretentious like The Grand Hotel Mackinaw Island, which is frankly, hasn't been properly maintained and is falling apart. The only reason I'm giving it 3 stars is for its old-timey decor/carpet. The bathroom in our room was updated, but the rest of the hotel room was just grandma-ish. You won't notice it as much if you're just popping by to the restaurant or the lobby. However, I feel they could greatly benefit from a renovation to bring it from the '90s to 2020. Other than that, it truly is a terrific hotel and it wouldn't stop me from visiting this location in the future. Note: Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there was no daily housekeeping unless you called for it. read more

As soon as we walked into our room and went out on the balcony we had a positive interaction with Tamera. She was cleaning the room next door and took a minute of her time to talk with our 4 year old daughter and 2 year old son. She was super sweet and didn't need to go out of her way to be so nice. Thank you Tamera for making us feel so welcome. There is so many reasons why you have to book so far in advance and that is one of them. The staff makes you feel so welcome to stay. The room and the view keep you coming back for more as well. read more

Chippewa Hotel Waterfront - View from third floor balcony mid afternoon in the middle of august. - Hotels Near Me - Mackinac Island, Michigan

Loved this hotel! Spotted it on our 1st visit and decided to come back to stay. Clean small room. Walls are pretty thin but people really do quiet down around 10. My bed was very comfortable and smelled very clean. The only con is that the adults cannot relax in the hot tub! There were so many kids jumping & playing which is fine but they should cut them off at night, for adult only hours. We wanted to relax in the hot tub over looking the water. So, that was a big bummer. That's why I took a star off. read more

See all

Been visiting the island for more than a dozen years. This is the first year I've had the opportunity to stay at the Chippewa Hotel. What an excellent experience!! Service; front desk, housekeepers, servers, bartenders, etc.... were all wonderful! Love the view, rooms we clean, food was terrific! Heading back next year! read more

Despite all the trouble that Detroit has gone through with their recent bankruptcy, the state itself continues to make a strong push to boost their tourism revenue. I'm sure some of you have seen the Pure Michigan commercials in Philly which often tout Mackinac Island as the premier destination 'Up North.' And staying on the island for four days, I can see what all the fuss is about. To get on the island, you have to take a ferry to get across the lake. You have a variety of options including Arnold Transit Co. and Shepler's. Though Arnold's is closer to the Chippewa Hotel, all the ferries have porters who will take your bags from the ferry to your hotel. This is appreciated, especially since the only form of transport on the island is by horse & carriage, bike, or by foot. Having lived in the city all of my life, it was nice to get away and be transported to a more relaxed way of living. Due to its history and having been featured in the Christopher Reeve movie Somewhere in Time, the Grand Hotel is often touted as the place to stay. However, that beautiful hotel is far from Main Street and maintains a bit more of a suit-and-tie demeanor which went against the whole idea behind this vacation. So, we decided to stay at the Chippewa Hotel which is located on the inland portion of Main Street - a perfect location to get to all points on the island with a bike. Beautifully done and quite quaint, the GF's dad made the perfect choice. The Pink Pony Bar is also located in the hotel, which offers indoor seating and outdoor lake-side dining. On the way up the stairs (the Chippewa Hotel does have a small elevator), we noticed the ice machine and vending machine right off of the second floor. And right from there was a nice three bed suite to house five of us. As we entered the suite, there were two beds at the entrance. This opened up to a nice sitting room with several chairs and couches. There was also a nice 40 inch flat screen mounted to the wall with free cable. Oh and if you're curious - this is one of those joints that DOES offer free Wi-Fi, which is much appreciated since I couldn't help but work despite being on vacation. Don't worry - I did so when everyone was in bed! A small kitchen area was without a stove, but did have a nice fridge and microwave. But the main perk of the suite? The balcony vie. It's right above the hot tub, which is open from 8AM to 11PM. And offers great panoramic views of the Lake Huron. Overall, the Chippewa Hotel is a great place to stay if you're looking to be on Main Street where all of the action is. However, I will say that having a room on the 2nd floor isn't ideal (we stayed in room 208). You're right above the Pink Pony Bar, which means that you will definitely hear the "coffee-shop" singer all through the night till about 2AM. I will say that the one we heard singing was quite good. Also, I would request a room away from the stairs since apparently there are water pipes that run through the walls. However, first impressions are everything and the Chippewa Hotel is quaint and a nice choice for any stay on Mackinac Island. read more

See all

They will not accommodate any request to cancel or change date even when illness is the issue. Tried to move stay back a few weeks due to my wife hospitalized with an intestinal blockage. I would have forfeited my $ 400 deposit by postponing. Cancelled instead because our deposit was gone no matter what. Have been an almost annual customer for 30 years. Will not go back. read more

After we got off ferry and checked in, my family went here to get something to eat. They have a great beer selection. We had chicken caesar, chicken salad and a burger. Everything was fresh, well made. Not 'unbelievable', but a solid lunch and we will try it again. It's definitely a go-to place when you need to relax. Nice water front views. read more

I stayed at the Chip for a fabulous wedding weekend. The party definitely never stops on the island and I was so pumped to be part of it. Live music in the Pony, rum runners on the patio and cozy rooms and comfy beds to help me sleep off the festivities. I especially loved the soap in the room and definitely made it a point to stop by the housekeeping cart to ask for a few more. The chip is an incredibly homey hotel that makes you feel like your at the family lake house. read more

The Chippewa hosted our wedding, and was absolutely perfect. We came back for our anniversary and it was even better. It may be an older hotel with some quirks, but if you allow to staff to take care of you they absolutely will. I've been in hospitality for my adult life, and this is the most genuine I've seen. read more

Chippewa Hotel Waterfront - Hotels Near Me - Mackinac Island, Michigan

We stayed here for one night for a quick getaway on the island. The staff was friendly and we had no trouble getting our luggage to and from the ferry. The street facing room was very small. We could also hear everything from the room next door. Overall it was an okay stay, but we would probably try something different next time... read more

I can't say enough about this hotel. Waterfront, balcony rooms are amazing. Best Waterview on Island. The staff has been so awesome to us through the years. On Main Street close to Starline dock. read more

We visited the Pink Pony Bar and Grill inside the motel for a lunch. We sat out back on the upper level. The upper level is shady...the first floor is sunny. There seemed to be a lot more activity on the first floor so if you like the action and can put up with the sun... Our food and service was good. Nothing was outstanding. We were back by here in the evening and it seemed like a happening place. read more

We had a great overnight stay at the Z Chippewa. We ate there twice and had great meals. We really enjoyed the singer on the patio.

Look, this island operates between May and September and there's such a crush of tourists that I can appreciate that they operate a hotel that's just good enough. And it was. If you are serious about accommodation spend the $600 for the Grand or the $400 for the Iroquois. Otherwise suck it up and live with the street noise and the other idiosyncrasies of a 100+ year old hotel. I hung out by the pool-sized jaccizzi and had drinks from the bar looking out over the harbour and on to Main St. and thoroughly enjoyed myself. You're in the shadow of Fort Mackinac and the marina is right next door too. The other posters are right about street-side rooms, you can hear everything, especially around last call so either join them or wear earplugs. read more

Chippewa Hotel Waterfront - Patio looking toward Main St. + Island Hotel - Hotels Near Me - Mackinac Island, Michigan

I've got mixed feelings about this place, but overall, I feel it was worth the money in the end. We wanted a king bed both nights, but I booked so late, the only way to do it was to stay in one room the first night and another room the second. We ended up doing just that. Our first night we stayed right off the dock side literally 20 feet from the hot tub. It was awesome. It was cold at night so it was nice to just jump out of the hot tub and run back to our room within seconds. Room was super spacious with a nice long bathroom sink. The room backed the men's bathroom though, and you could hear the hand dryer every time it went off which was a little annoying but liveable. The next morning we packed our stuff up and left in the room. They dragged it over to our new room for us; a third floor room overlooking the street. Again, the room was spacious, but this bathroom was cursed. Both at night and in the morning, the shower was moody. You could set the water at whatever temperature you wanted, but then it periodically spouted out freezing cold or boiling lava hot water. It was like a guessing game if it was safe to wash your face or risk first-degree burns. The toilet also wasn't bolted to the floor properly, and anytime you sat on it, it rocked back and forth. The beds though were the best part of this place. Soooooo comfortable. It was nearly impossible to wake up in the morning. I coulda stayed in bed all day. The bathrooms are cool too because they have heat lamps you can set on timers to dry your swimwear for you, or to just bask in after a shower. Overall a nice hotel. It's in a great location and reasonably priced, as far as Mackinac Island prices go. Staff were friendly too. Only thing I wish we had were refrigerators in the rooms. For the money, you'd at least expect that. Hint hint management! read more

Cute hotel. Affordable during off season. Right on the water. The hotel has a restaurant, gift shop, bar and cute lobby area. The queen room is cozy and small. However, it has everything you need. Including Keurig coffee maker (decaf/caffeinated), Lilac spa soap/shampoo/conditioner and eye makeup remover face wipe. Fan, heating/ac unit. Window overlooking street (opens for fresh air) and iron. I didn't see a hairdryer however they had a nice nite saying to ring down if we needed anything. The ferry/hotel bell hops Josh and Mark were awesome. They even took time to give us local recommendations am answer my many questions about the island. The front desk receptionist Chelsea was also very lovely and even gave us some coupons. We ended up getting Murdock's fudge 15% off the $40 we spent. The island is very unique and we had a nice short stay. Wish it hadn't rained we would of rented bikes. read more

See all

As a Christmas gift to my mom, my husband and I got a nice suite on the top level overlooking the straits. It was a beautiful view and perfect for a sunny June day. The living room area also helped quite a bit so that you didn't feel like you were confined to a hotel room bed when you wanted to take a break from walking and biking. It was spacious and clean. The balcony makes this room. Hands down. read more

Great hotel... My fiance and I stayed there in 2011. Conveniently located on Main St, close to everything, and also right on the water. We had a room facing Main St, and it was great hearing the horses going up & down the street all day/night. The only downside to this hotel is the noise... The walls are thin, and the drunk wedding party downstairs singing Journey songs over & over was rather annoying. The same drunk wedding party decided to stand in the hallway outside our hotel door at 2am. Loud drunks aside, this was a great hotel. read more

Pink Pony was a great waterfront restaurant. Ordered a corn and black bean chicken wrap with avocado instead of chicken for a vegetarian version. Great whitefish sandwich and for lighter appetites they'll let you order from the kids menu ! Worth the wait and reasonable prices for mackinac island dining! read more

Chippewa Hotel Waterfront - Great view and atmosphere. Good food options ! - Hotels Near Me - Mackinac Island, Michigan

We really enjoyed this hotel. We had a lovely suite facing the water for much less than that "famous hotel" on Mackinac Island. And the location was much more convenient...right downtown. The staff was very friendly, handled our baggage to and from the ferry, and had turndown service with Oreos and milk at bedtime. We put our sign out asking for our room to be made up and it was done quickly. The ice cream store is right across the street! The lobby and bar/restaurant are very nice too. read more

The rooms are always nice, the housekeeping is outstanding. The only problem here is with the front desk staff. Apparently they get a tax credit for hiring retards. We have stayed in both the Main Street Deluxe rooms and a harbor view suite. Both were very nice rooms. Less pricey than other hotels on Main. Most importantly, it is directly across from the only beer store on the Island. read more

We stayed for two nights here and our experience was great! Our bags got delivered to our room within a few minutes. The room was very clean and large. We had the downtown view room so we got to see what was happening on the streets but barely any noise. We also got a coupon for the pink pony restaurant that's connected and the food there is great! read more

We ate dinner at the pink pony bar & grill inside the Chippewa hotel. We sat outside on the lower deck and had a wonderful time. One of the few restaurants you can sit near the water. A cpl of us had broiled whitefish with sautéed mixed vegetables - which was to die for! Subbed spinach for potato - loved that too. Another had prime rib - also excellent. Wait staff was wonderful. Only down side was the cost. Cocktail and beer cpl dollars overpriced and food - although exclusive - on the high end. Regardless - it was a memorable dinner and will make a point to go back. read more

Great food. Atmosphere is very comfortable, not stuffy or pretentious. Blake was our server and he was so knowledgeable and so pleasant. I had the Brie flatbread, my friends had stuffed chicken and sirloin tips and risotto. Unbelievably good. Blake recommended everything and it was the best. Ask for Blake and tip him well he deserves it. read more

i stayed here for three days, two nights, while in mackinac for my very close friend's wedding. i took the star line ferry, but the hotel is further from the ferry dock than most of the hotels/inns on main street. however, the hotel does transport your luggage for you. the rooms are relatively clean, but the shower has very low water pressure. my room was pretty big with a comfy bed and couch. the only problem was the noise from main street, but that was remedied with ear plugs. all in all, it was a pleasant trip, the hotel staff was nice enough, and their food in the dining room was not bad, plus you get a good view of the lake. read more

Very nice surprise. We took our two kids there for lunch. Good menu for the whole family and fair prices. Service is good and the food was very good. Wait for an outside table on the patio, the view is awesome. read more

Very nice. Perfect for a couple nights. Great location. Clean. Friendly. Fun. Right on water, best in town. Easy to walk ever where in town. read more

We couldn't have been happier with our decision to stay at the Chippewa. We chose the marina side, which was a little more but well worth it. The service was great, the hot tub was great. Our room was very clean and well decorated. We ate at the Pink Pony, which we didn't love, but the entertainment there was fantastic when we went back to the bar area later. read more

We had a nice one night stay here. It was clean and the workers were polite. The location is great. The room was very small. There wasn't much room to move around and there wasn't anywhere to put makeup and other items while getting around. read more

Harbor view rooms on the top floor are wonderful. View of the marina is beautiful. Sunrise is breathtaking! Staff is fabulous!!! Love this place!! read more

Fabulous! This hotel is perfect for those who want to stay at the heart of Mackinac Island. Open your window to hear horse hoofs clomping by! The Pink Pony Restaurant featured both kid-friendly and adult-approved meals. A huge jacuzzi overlooking the bay doubled as a pool for our two small children (we went in early enough so as not to disturb any adults who did not like the idea of it being a child's pool). read more

The property is our favorite based on location, water view, hot tub, and accommodating staff. Bart and his front desk team did everything possible to make our stay a wonderful experience. We will be back again in September, 2015. read more

Reasonable rates, charming waterfront hotel, location right downtown close to everything = total package. I'll definitely stay here again we loved it. read more

My favorite place to stay on the island. It is actually a reasonable place, when compared with other hotels there. The rooms are sometimes small, but clean and neat. My biggest problem? The bar lets out at 2am and everyone seems to need to scream at the top of their lungs. The hotel includes ear plugs with the shower cap and the little bottle of hand cream, but wouldn't it just be easier to tell the folks to shut up when they leave the bar? read more