Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse stands in Mackinaw City, Michigan, at the Straits of Mackinac — the meeting point of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, beside the Mackinac Bridge. First lighted in 1892, it guided vessels through the Straits for sixty-five years until the bridge made it obsolete. Restored and reopened as a museum in 2004 by Mackinac State Historic Parks, it makes a memorable stop for RV travelers crossing northern Michigan.
Best season — Late spring through fall (seasonal museum hours)
At a glance
The facts worth checking before you roll out
Conservative, source-minded facts for planning your visit — always worth confirming against current conditions before you travel.
State
Michigan
Body of water
Straits of Mackinac (Lake Michigan / Lake Huron)
First lighted
1892
Operated by
Mackinac State Historic Parks
Town
Mackinaw City, MI
On the ground
Sitting right where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron meet, the lighthouse is woven into the story of the Straits — for sixty-five years its keepers and their families helped guide vessels through one of the Great Lakes' busiest crossings.
The light station closed in 1957 after the Mackinac Bridge opened, and a careful restoration returned the complex to its early-1900s appearance before it reopened to the public as a museum in 2004.
Visitor hours are seasonal, so confirm current opening times on the Mackinac State Historic Parks site if you are timing a stop around a Straits-of-Mackinac RV route.
Official sources
- Mackinac State Historic Parks — Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse History State parks agency
Nearby & related
Keep planning Michigan
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- Michigan RV rental costFuel · camping · tax, sourced
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- Wild & scenic riversFree-flowing river trips
- BattlefieldsHallowed-ground history stops
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Planning an RV trip near Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse: An RV Traveler's Guide to the Straits of Mackinac?
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