Tns of thousands of people will cross at least part of the Mackinac Bridge on Monday, Sept. 7, on foot as part of Michigan's annual walk on the state's most iconic bridge.
From 6:30 a.m. to noon on Monday, participants will have the chance to walk to the middle of the bridge, from either St. Ignace or Mackinaw City, and back to their starting point — or complete the entire one-way, 5-mile trek across the span as long as they start early enough.
Organizers say participants will receive a numbered bridge walk certificate at the completion of the walk.
Here's what to know about the annual bridge walk.
The Mackinac Bridge Authority closes the bridge to vehicular traffic for the walk, the only time during which pedestrians can cross the bridge.
The bridge is closed from 6:30 a.m. to noon on Monday.
Participants starting from both the north and south ends of the bridge can walk to the middle and back to their starting point or cover the entire distance, if they start early enough.
Starting at 10 a.m., walkers who have not made it halfway will be turned around at the nearest bridge tower. The turnaround points move closer to start points each half hour.
The bridge walk is set for Sept. 7, 2026, with traffic closed for the walk from 6:30 a.m. to noon, the Authority said.
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Walkers can trek halfway and return to Mackinaw City or St. Ignace or walk the entire bridge length, which runs about 5 miles, the Mackinac Bridge Authority says.
Anyone who walks the entire length needs to arrange their own transportation to get back to the other side of the bridge.
Except for pre-qualified, registered participants in the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness Run, no running or racing is permitted on the bridge.
Once the walk gets underway, officials will keep track of time and move the turnaround points back toward the ends of the bridge, beginning at 10 a.m. to ensure the bridge can reopen on time. Participants can walk at least a portion of the bridge if they start by 11:30 a.m. Walkers must be on the side of the bridge they wish to return to (or past the halfway point if going all the way across) before 10 a.m. or they will be turned back.
Walkers must use the left-hand outside paved lane as they walk onto the bridge, regardless of which end of the bridge they start from, the Authority said. Walkers who turn back at the midpoint will turn right, then return using the opposite side outside paved lane.
Walkers who choose to cross the entire bridge will stay in the left-hand outside paved lane all the way across.
The inside lane, over the metal grates, in both directions will remain open for emergency vehicles.
The Mackinac Bridge Authority does not provide shuttles to parking lots or cars.
Members of the "Mackinac Bridge Walk Fans" Facebook group suggest riding your bike to the starting area and locking it up nearby.
Mackinaw City walkers will need to rely mostly on street parking. If you have a hotel, you can leave your vehicle in the hotel lot and walk. If you plan to take a ferry, you may be able to park in the ferry service's lot.
North of the bridge, Bridge View Park is a popular location to park. There is some parking at the Mackinac Bridge Authority plaza.
Northern Bridge & Shuttle says it is running continuous loops between Little Bear and Bridge View parks on the St. Ignace side of the strait starting at 6 a.m. for $10 per person each way.
Both Shepler's and Arnold Transit are offering transportation between the endpoint cities, in the case of Shepler's via Mackinac Island. Once on shore, you still need to get yourself back to your hotel or car.
"We will be running our schedule as printed in our 2026 brochure, starting at 6:30am out of Mackinaw City and St. Ignace," Shepler's said. "Shepler's roundtrip tickets are not assigned to a port at the time of purchase. Guests can depart from either mainland port, go to Mackinac Island, and return to the other mainland port on one roundtrip ticket."
Arnold Transit one-way tickets are $25 per adult. Shepler's round-trip tickets are $39 per adult.
There are no restrooms on the bridge and the average length of time to walk the bridge is about 2 hours. Portable toilets will be available in St. Ignace and Mackinaw City.
There is limited parking space available west of the Mackinac Bridge Authority plaza area. Parking lots are available throughout both St. Ignace and Mackinac City.
There also is street parking throughout both St. Ignace and Mackinaw City.
There is no fee or registration required to participate in the walk, according to the Bridge Authority.
The following items are prohibited:
Bicycles, roller skates, skateboards, wagons and similar types of devices
With the exception of working service dogs, no animals are allowed
Participants can see the bridge authority's website for further details on the walk and what items are allowed on the bridge during the event.
Travelers can check the Mackinac Bridge Cam online for updates. The images from multiple cameras are configured to automatically update every 60 seconds.
Cameras capture the administration building looking south, the dock in St. Ignace, looking south; Bridge View Park in St. Ignace, looking south; from Mackinaw City, looking north; and St. Ignace, along Interstate 75.
The Authority said 489,255 vehicles passed over the bridge in June 2026.
Bridge traffic in August 2024 topped 640,000 — the most vehicles since at least 2014.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Walking the Mackinac Bridge? Where to park, shuttles, bathrooms
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