With a stay at Thunderbird Inn in Mackinaw City, you'll be within a 15-minute walk of Mackinaw City Ferry Terminal and Lake Huron. .This motel is 3 mi (4.9 km) from Lake Michigan and 3.5 mi (5.6 km) from Headlands International Dark Sky Park.
Mackinaw City Ferry Terminal - 7 min walk - 0.6 km
Mackinaw City Dock - 18 min walk - 1.5 km
Mackinaw Bridge Museum - 18 min walk - 1.5 km
Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse - 3 min drive - 2.6 km
Headlands International Dark Sky Park - 5 min drive - 5.5 km
Getting around
Pellston, MI (PLN-Pellston Regional) - 29 min drive
Restaurants
Keyhole Bar & Grill - 17 min walk
Dixie Saloon - 17 min walk
Wienerlicious - 18 min walk
Darrow's Family Restaurant - 2 min drive
Starbucks - 14 min walk
About this property
Thunderbird Inn
Motel with free parking, 8-minute walk to Mackinaw City Ferry Terminal
Thunderbird Inn offers 48 accommodations, which are accessible via exterior corridors and feature coffee/tea makers and hair dryers. Beds feature pillowtop mattresses. 32-inch flat-screen televisions come with cable channels. Bathrooms include shower/tub combinations and complimentary toiletries.
Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access. Business-friendly amenities include phones along with free local calls (restrictions may apply). Change of towels and change of bedsheets can be requested.
Recreational amenities at the motel include an indoor pool.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
Make yourself at home in one of the 48 guestrooms featuring refrigerators and flat-screen televisions. Your room comes with a pillowtop bed. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming is available for your entertainment. Bathrooms feature shower/tub combinations, complimentary toiletries, and hair dryers.
Take advantage of recreation opportunities such as an indoor pool, or other amenities including complimentary wireless internet access and concierge services.
The front desk is staffed during limited hours. A ferry terminal shuttle is provided at no charge, and free self parking is available onsite.
Property amenities
Internet
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Parking and transport
Free ferry terminal shuttle
Free self parking on site
Things to do
Indoor pool
Indoor pool (guest access)
Family friendly
In-room refrigerator
Indoor pool
Rollaway/extra bed (surcharge)
Conveniences
Limited-hour front desk
Vending machine
Guest services
Change of bedsheets (on request)
Change of towels on request
Concierge services
Tour and ticket assistance
Outdoors
Pool loungers
Accessibility
No lift
More
1 building
2 floors
Smoke-free property
Room amenities
Bedroom
Bedsheets provided
Pillowtop mattress
Rollaway/extra bed (surcharge)
Bathroom
Free toiletries
Hair dryer
Shower/bathtub combination
Towels provided
Entertainment
32-inch flat-screen TV with cable channels
Food and drink
Coffee/tea maker
Refrigerator
More
Access via exterior corridors
Air conditioning (climate-controlled)
Free local calls
Heating (climate-controlled)
Iron/ironing board
Phone
Policies
Check-in
Check-in start time: 4 PM; Check-in end time: 11:00 PM
Early check-in subject to availability
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age: 18
Check-out
Check-out before 11 AM
Contactless check-out available
Late check-out subject to availability
Special check-in instructions
The front desk is open daily from 7:00 AM - midnight
Front desk staffed during limited hours
If you are planning to arrive after 11:00 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation
For any questions, please contact the property using the information on the booking confirmation
This property will place a credit card authorization of 1 night for any bookings where payment for the stay will be made on site instead of at the time of booking.
Access methods
Front desk (limited hours)
Pets
Pets allowed for an extra charge of USD 35 per pet, per stay
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs and cats only
2 total pets
Pets cannot be left unattended
Specific rooms only, restrictions apply; pet-friendly rooms can be requested by contacting the property at the number on the booking confirmation
An off-leash area is available
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Children up to the age of 12 years can stay for free if using existing beds when occupying the parent or guardian's room
Rollaway/extra beds are available for USD 40.0 per night
Cribs (infant beds) are not available
Payment types
Important information
Optional extras
Pet fee: USD 35 per pet, per stay
Service animals are exempt from fees
Rollaway bed fee: USD 40.0 per night
The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation
This property accepts credit cards and cash
This property reserves the right to pre-authorize the guest's credit card prior to arrival.
Safety features at this property include a smoke detector
Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property; the policies listed are provided by the property
We should mention
This property does not have elevators
Pool access available from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Property is also known as
Thunderbird Inn Mackinaw City
Thunderbird Mackinaw City
Thunderbird Inn Motel
Thunderbird Inn Mackinaw City
Thunderbird Inn Motel Mackinaw City
Reviews
Thunderbird Inn Reviews
7.6
Good
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
Great value and comfort. Shuttle service to ferry a bonus.
Verified traveller
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025
10/10 Excellent
Cynthia
Travelled with family
5 Aug 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities
Excellent value; clean, comfortable, friendly and helpful staff
Cynthia
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025
8/10 Good
James
5 Aug 2025
Liked: Staff & service
James
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025
8/10 Good
NAYEEMUDDIN, Columbia
5 Aug 2025
NAYEEMUDDIN
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025
10/10 Excellent
Becky Ann, Junction City
Travelled with family
4 Aug 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Great last-minute choice. The folks behind the counter were nice and were helpful. The rooms decor is dated, but I don't care about that - it was kept very clean and had a nice roomy fridge. Towels and bedding were clean and nice. A/C was very cold. Water was hot and worked well. That's what I want in a room. We did not use the pool. We noticed it had water in it but no one was using it when we arrived, so I can't comment on the condition of that.
I made a reservation and paid in advance. I arrived at the Thunderbird at 10:20 and was told I did not have a room due to overbooking. Again, room was already paid for!! I was traveling with my 2 elderly parents. I got upset but was told this motel also owned the neighbor motel so I could get a room there. The room was in need of updates. Toilet was clogged which resulted in a trip to office to be given a plunger to fix myself. Big spider in tub. Shower curtain rod was not affixed to the wall and was not secured. As I had no other option we stayed but got out first thing in the morning. The whole experience was stressful! I would not stay again and would not recommend!
Kim
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025
6/10 Okay
Verified traveller
29 Jul 2025
I think it's average for a hotel in this price range.
However, we were uncomfortable with window without locks, too dirty floor and etc.
It took me a conversation with Expedia to get a clean room and we ended up with a 2 queen bed room instead of a king bed room. 1st room mattress was stained, 2nd room mattress was worse and there was a large area of either blood or food behind nightstand with killer dust balls. The manager offered to have room cleaned but by then I had decided to contact Expedia for a refund. Refund was refused. Manager then took us to the 3rd room which we then agreed to. No apology from manager! Would not recommend!
Checkin took a long time for a prepaid stay. Small lobby and people lined up out the door at 4 pm. I got there a little early and told I had to wait. When I came back there was the line. Walls thin. Could hear people outside on the walkway talking until at least midnight. Could hear toilet flush and shower in next room. Certainly way overpriced for facility but I needed a place to stay that night.
The property was clean, well maintained, staff were helpful and professional, close to highway, lots of places to eat nearby.
Patricia
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025
4/10 Poor
Ryan
18 Jul 2025
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness
If cleanliness is important to you, maybe skip this hotel. The counters were dirty (dried fluids and dead bugs), the pillows had hairs on them, and the floors weren’t mopped.
Ryan
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025
6/10 Okay
Vicki
Travelled with pets, Travelled with partner
17 Jul 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Amenities
Staff very friendly. Room ok, could have been cleaner. Bed was clean but floors quite dirty. Floors need to be mopped after every customer when they clean the rooms. Pet friendly. They had a building which indicated you could do laundry. Put money in the machine. Didn’t work. Lady at front desk seemed upset when we asked her for refund of what we put in washing machine. She said, “ The laundry is not one of our amenities. “