My sis and I are taking a cross country road trip and would like to visit Mackinac Island. Where should we stay? I assume it would be best to stay on the island but if we can't afford that what is best -- St. Ignace? Mackinaw City? Also, do we need to make reservations...we would be there around August 5th (midweek). Thanks for any help.

Try the island house or Inn at Stone Cliff. check their websites for availability and pricing - a lot will depend on the timing of your visit. skip the Grand Hotel - very pricey and you can walk the ground/bike through, have tea, etc for a nominal fee.

There are also a ton of motels in Mackinaw City if you prefer to stay on the mainland.

But it looks as though most of the ferries leave from St. Ignace...does anyone know?

There are 3 ferry lines that go to Mackinac Island: Star, Shepler's, and Arnold. All of them go from either Mackinaw City or St. Ignace. Prices and discounts are the same among all of them so it's just a matter of personal preference as to which one you use.

We go up to the Mackinac area almost every year and we stay in Mackinaw City at the Clearwater Lakeshore. It's a basic place right on the lake at the end of the hotel strip. Most of the rooms are lakefront with balconies and great views of the bridge and the island. We prefer staying in Mackinaw City rather than St. Ignace. We've never stayed on the island so I can't comment on that. Make sure to take a drive over the bridge while you're there!

I would also prefer to stay in Mackinaw City rather than St Ignace - just more to do there. There are lots of ferries from Mackinaw city. We have stayed on the island too (at the Grand Hotel) and that was fun too, but lots more expensive.