Charlevoix to the Mackinac Bridge: U.S. 31 Road Trip Stops

Road distance and drive time are a routing estimate (OSRM) with no traffic and no stops.

The three stops from our co-pilot reel, in the order you would drive them through northern Michigan. Facts and visitor notes come from official sources (linked under each stop). The photos are ours. Mileage and drive time are a routing estimate without traffic or stops. Check current road and hours before you go.

1. 01Earl Young Mushroom Houses

   

   Our photo.

   Verified facts

   • Each of Earl Young's houses is individually different and was designed to blend in with its surrounding landscape. Source: visitcharlevoix.com ↗
   • Over the course of his fifty-year career, Earl Young built twenty-six residential houses and four commercial properties. Source: visitcharlevoix.com ↗
   • 11 homes are included in Charlevoix's Earl Young Local Historic District, along with landscaping features that are original to the site. Source: charlevoixmi.gov ↗
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2. 52 mi · 1 hr 20 min from stop 1

   02Icebreaker Mackinaw Maritime Museum

   

   Our photo.

   Verified facts

   • The Mackinaw served as the primary heavy icebreaker on the Great Lakes for 62 years. Source: themackinaw.org ↗
   • The Mackinaw's keel was laid on March 20, 1943, at the Toledo Shipbuilding Company. Source: themackinaw.org ↗
   • The Mackinaw was commissioned on December 30, 1944. Source: themackinaw.org ↗
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3. 3 mi · 6 min from stop 2

   03Mackinac Bridge

   

   Our photo.

   Verified facts

   • The Mackinac Bridge is the longest suspension bridge in the western hemisphere. Source: mackinacbridge.org ↗
   • The Mackinac Bridge measures 26,372 feet in total length. Source: mackinacbridge.org ↗
   • The Mackinac Bridge roadway sits roughly 200 feet above the water at mid-span. Source: mackinacbridge.org ↗

   Visitor notes (official sources)

   • The Mackinac Bridge speed limit is 45 mph, with no U-turns and no stopping on the bridge. Source: mackinacbridge.org ↗
   • In sustained winds of 20-35 mph, RVs should go no faster than 20 mph; at 35-50 mph, high-profile vehicles must wait for an escort. Source: mackinacbridge.org ↗
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