Great Lakes Inn — Mackinaw City, United States

Great Lakes Inn is a basic 2-star roadside motel near the Mackinac Island ferries in Mackinaw City, United States.

Address: 150 Old U.S. 31, Mackinaw City. Property ID: 1296513.

Source: https://helloaxel.com/en/hotels/mackinaw-city/great-lakes-inn-1296513

Prices and availability

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Axel's take: 5.5/10

Convenient for the ferries, but upkeep and unreliable amenities weaken the value. a basic 2-star roadside motel near the Mackinac Island ferries, scored for what it is.

Great Lakes Inn is a basic 2-star motel within walking distance of the ferry terminal and a longer stroll from downtown Mackinaw City. We'd consider it only for a short, budget-focused stop, not a stay built around the hotel's facilities. Recent Expedia and Hotels.com guests often praise helpful staff, and some report clean rooms and comfortable beds. Free parking, refrigerators and microwaves cover useful basics.

The drawback is inconsistency, not simply dated decor. Summer 2026 reviews on Expedia and Trip.com repeat complaints about musty smells, uneven cleaning and maintenance problems. Guests also reported an empty or unusable pool despite advertised swimming facilities; confirm both pools and the hot tub before booking. Check-in may be handled at the neighboring Thunderbird Inn. We'd skip it for a pool-focused family trip or if dependable cleanliness matters more than a low-cost overnight.

• Best for: budget-focused ferry travelers; short overnight stops

• Watch out for: inconsistent cleaning and room maintenance; reported pool closures despite advertised facilities; check-in may be next door

• Location: Walkable to the ferry terminal and Lake Huron; downtown is a longer stroll.

• Rooms: Fridges and microwaves are useful, but dated furnishings and maintenance complaints recur.

• Cleanliness: Some recent guests report clean rooms; others describe musty odors, stained bedding and dirty surfaces.

• Service: Helpful staff earn repeated praise, though problem handling receives mixed feedback.

• Amenities: Indoor and outdoor pools and a hot tub are advertised, but recent guests report unavailable swimming facilities.

• Fees and surprises: Parking is free; pet charges apply, there is no elevator, and the supplied official website now displays unrelated content.

Axel's opinion of Great Lakes Inn, from the hotel's website and recent guest reviews. Sources: Hotel website · Expedia · Hotels.com · Trip.com · Kayak · Tripadvisor. Reviewed Oct 27, 2026.

About Great Lakes Inn

• Property type: Mini-hotel
• 2-star hotel
• 150 Old U.S. 31, Mackinaw City
• Guest rating: 2.8/5 on Google from 308 reviews (location 3.5/5)
• Getting around (travel times from Google's hotel listing): Headlands International Dark Sky Park: 10 min by taxi · Pellston Regional Airport: 19 min by taxi · Chippewa County International Airport: 47 min by taxi · Icebreaker Mackinaw Maritime Museum: 5 min by taxi · Straits State Park: 12 min by taxi · Wilderness State Park: 14 min by taxi
• Charged by the hotel at the property: Resort fee: 3 percent of room rate; Breakfast; Pool access; Internet access; Phone calls; Faxes
• Hotel policies: Pet deposit: $30 per guest per stay; Pets: $30 per guest per stay
• Amenities: Indoor pool, Hot tub, Breakfast (free), Restaurant, Parking (free), Airport shuttle (extra charge), Pet-friendly, Accessible, Wi-Fi (free), Kitchen
• Check-in from: 16:00
• Check-out by: 11:00
• City page: Hotels in Mackinaw City

Room types

Room types and selected features reported for this hotel. Check your dates for availability.

Source: ETG room descriptions.

Economy room

• Economy room — room photo 1
• Economy room — room photo 2
• Economy room — room photo 3

Economy Double room (full double bed)

• Beds: full double bed
• Economy Double room (full double bed) — room photo 1
• Economy Double room (full double bed) — room photo 2
• Economy Double room (full double bed) — room photo 3

Standard room

• Room features: Fridge; Microwave; Washing machine
• Standard room — room photo 1
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Standard room with pool view

• Standard room with pool view — room photo 1
• Standard room with pool view — room photo 2
• Standard room with pool view — room photo 3

Standard room with water view

• Standard room with water view — room photo 1
• Standard room with water view — room photo 2
• Standard room with water view — room photo 3

Standard Single room

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Standard Quadruple room

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Standard Family room

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Standard Family room with water view

• Standard Family room with water view — room photo 1
• Standard Family room with water view — room photo 2
• Standard Family room with water view — room photo 3

Standard Family room with balcony

• Room features: Balcony
• Standard Family room with balcony — room photo 1
• Standard Family room with balcony — room photo 2
• Standard Family room with balcony — room photo 3

Standard Quadruple Family room

• Standard Quadruple Family room — room photo 1
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• Standard Quadruple Family room — room photo 3

Standard Quadruple Family room with water view

• Standard Quadruple Family room with water view — room photo 1
• Standard Quadruple Family room with water view — room photo 2
• Standard Quadruple Family room with water view — room photo 3

Standard Single room (single bed)

• Beds: single bed
• Standard Single room (single bed) — room photo 1
• Standard Single room (single bed) — room photo 2
• Standard Single room (single bed) — room photo 3

Standard Double room (full double bed)

• Beds: full double bed
• Room features: Fridge; Microwave; Patio
• Standard Double room (full double bed) — room photo 1
• Standard Double room (full double bed) — room photo 2
• Standard Double room (full double bed) — room photo 3

Standard Double room with pool view (full double bed)

• Beds: full double bed
• Standard Double room with pool view (full double bed) — room photo 1
• Standard Double room with pool view (full double bed) — room photo 2
• Standard Double room with pool view (full double bed) — room photo 3

Standard Double room with view (full double bed)

• Beds: full double bed
• Standard Double room with view (full double bed) — room photo 1
• Standard Double room with view (full double bed) — room photo 2
• Standard Double room with view (full double bed) — room photo 3

Standard Double room with balcony (full double bed)

• Beds: full double bed
• Room features: Balcony; Fridge; Microwave
• Standard Double room with balcony (full double bed) — room photo 1
• Standard Double room with balcony (full double bed) — room photo 2
• Standard Double room with balcony (full double bed) — room photo 3

Standard Double room with balcony and with pool view (full double bed)

• Beds: full double bed
• Room features: Balcony
• Standard Double room with balcony and with pool view (full double bed) — room photo 1
• Standard Double room with balcony and with pool view (full double bed) — room photo 2
• Standard Double room with balcony and with pool view (full double bed) — room photo 3

Standard Double room with balcony and with view (full double bed)

• Beds: full double bed
• Room features: Balcony
• Standard Double room with balcony and with view (full double bed) — room photo 1
• Standard Double room with balcony and with view (full double bed) — room photo 2
• Standard Double room with balcony and with view (full double bed) — room photo 3

Standard Quadruple room

• Beds: Multiple beds (configuration not supplied)
• Room features: Fridge; Microwave
• Standard Quadruple room — room photo 1
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• Standard Quadruple room — room photo 3

Standard Quadruple room with pool view

• Beds: Multiple beds (configuration not supplied)
• Standard Quadruple room with pool view — room photo 1
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• Standard Quadruple room with pool view — room photo 3

Standard Quadruple room with balcony

• Beds: Multiple beds (configuration not supplied)
• Room features: Balcony; Fridge; Microwave
• Standard Quadruple room with balcony — room photo 1
• Standard Quadruple room with balcony — room photo 2
• Standard Quadruple room with balcony — room photo 3

Standard Quintuple room with pool view

• Beds: Multiple beds (configuration not supplied)
• Standard Quintuple room with pool view — room photo 1
• Standard Quintuple room with pool view — room photo 2
• Standard Quintuple room with pool view — room photo 3

Standard Sextuple room

• Beds: Multiple beds (configuration not supplied)
• Standard Sextuple room — room photo 1
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• Standard Sextuple room — room photo 3

Standard Sextuple room with pool view

• Beds: Multiple beds (configuration not supplied)
• Standard Sextuple room with pool view — room photo 1
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• Standard Sextuple room with pool view — room photo 3

Standard Quadruple Family room

• Beds: Multiple beds (configuration not supplied)
• Standard Quadruple Family room — room photo 1
• Standard Quadruple Family room — room photo 2
• Standard Quadruple Family room — room photo 3

Standard Quadruple Family room with pool view

• Beds: Multiple beds (configuration not supplied)
• Standard Quadruple Family room with pool view — room photo 1
• Standard Quadruple Family room with pool view — room photo 2
• Standard Quadruple Family room with pool view — room photo 3

Standard Quadruple Family room with balcony

• Beds: Multiple beds (configuration not supplied)
• Room features: Balcony
• Standard Quadruple Family room with balcony — room photo 1
• Standard Quadruple Family room with balcony — room photo 2
• Standard Quadruple Family room with balcony — room photo 3

Standard Quadruple Family room with balcony and with pool view

• Beds: Multiple beds (configuration not supplied)
• Room features: Balcony
• Standard Quadruple Family room with balcony and with pool view — room photo 1
• Standard Quadruple Family room with balcony and with pool view — room photo 2
• Standard Quadruple Family room with balcony and with pool view — room photo 3

Standard Quintuple Family room with balcony

• Beds: Multiple beds (configuration not supplied)
• Room features: Balcony
• Standard Quintuple Family room with balcony — room photo 1
• Standard Quintuple Family room with balcony — room photo 2
• Standard Quintuple Family room with balcony — room photo 3

Standard Sextuple Family room with balcony

• Beds: Multiple beds (configuration not supplied)
• Room features: Balcony; Fridge; Microwave
• Standard Sextuple Family room with balcony — room photo 1
• Standard Sextuple Family room with balcony — room photo 2
• Standard Sextuple Family room with balcony — room photo 3

Standard Sextuple Family room with balcony and with pool view

• Beds: Multiple beds (configuration not supplied)
• Room features: Balcony
• Standard Sextuple Family room with balcony and with pool view — room photo 1
• Standard Sextuple Family room with balcony and with pool view — room photo 2
• Standard Sextuple Family room with balcony and with pool view — room photo 3

Deluxe room

• Deluxe room — room photo 1
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• Deluxe room — room photo 3

Deluxe room with water view

• Deluxe room with water view — room photo 1
• Deluxe room with water view — room photo 2
• Deluxe room with water view — room photo 3

Deluxe room with balcony

• Room features: Balcony
• Deluxe room with balcony — room photo 1
• Deluxe room with balcony — room photo 2
• Deluxe room with balcony — room photo 3

Deluxe Quadruple room

• Deluxe Quadruple room — room photo 1
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• Deluxe Quadruple room — room photo 3

Deluxe Family room

• Deluxe Family room — room photo 1
• Deluxe Family room — room photo 2
• Deluxe Family room — room photo 3

Deluxe Double room (full double bed)

• Beds: full double bed
• Deluxe Double room (full double bed) — room photo 1
• Deluxe Double room (full double bed) — room photo 2
• Deluxe Double room (full double bed) — room photo 3

Deluxe Double room with pool view (full double bed)

• Beds: full double bed
• Deluxe Double room with pool view (full double bed) — room photo 1
• Deluxe Double room with pool view (full double bed) — room photo 2
• Deluxe Double room with pool view (full double bed) — room photo 3

Deluxe Double room with balcony and with pool view (full double bed)

• Beds: full double bed
• Room features: Balcony
• Deluxe Double room with balcony and with pool view (full double bed) — room photo 1
• Deluxe Double room with balcony and with pool view (full double bed) — room photo 2
• Deluxe Double room with balcony and with pool view (full double bed) — room photo 3

Deluxe Quadruple room

• Beds: Multiple beds (configuration not supplied)
• Deluxe Quadruple room — room photo 1
• Deluxe Quadruple room — room photo 2
• Deluxe Quadruple room — room photo 3

Deluxe Quadruple room with pool view

• Beds: Multiple beds (configuration not supplied)
• Deluxe Quadruple room with pool view — room photo 1
• Deluxe Quadruple room with pool view — room photo 2
• Deluxe Quadruple room with pool view — room photo 3

Deluxe Quadruple room with balcony and with pool view

• Beds: Multiple beds (configuration not supplied)
• Room features: Balcony
• Deluxe Quadruple room with balcony and with pool view — room photo 1
• Deluxe Quadruple room with balcony and with pool view — room photo 2
• Deluxe Quadruple room with balcony and with pool view — room photo 3

Deluxe Suite

• Room features: Fridge
• Deluxe Suite — room photo 1
• Deluxe Suite — room photo 2
• Deluxe Suite — room photo 3

Deluxe Family Suite

• Room features: Fridge
• Deluxe Family Suite — room photo 1
• Deluxe Family Suite — room photo 2
• Deluxe Family Suite — room photo 3

Deluxe Sextuple Family Suite

• Beds: Multiple beds (configuration not supplied)
• Deluxe Sextuple Family Suite — room photo 1
• Deluxe Sextuple Family Suite — room photo 2
• Deluxe Sextuple Family Suite — room photo 3

Deluxe Sextuple Family Suite with pool view

• Beds: Multiple beds (configuration not supplied)
• Deluxe Sextuple Family Suite with pool view — room photo 1
• Deluxe Sextuple Family Suite with pool view — room photo 2
• Deluxe Sextuple Family Suite with pool view — room photo 3

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