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Thunderbird Inn

2.5 star property

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Photo gallery for Thunderbird Inn

Children’s play area – outdoor
Exterior
Property grounds
Indoor pool, open 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, pool loungers
Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed, Jetted Tub | Pillow-top beds, iron/ironing board, rollaway beds, free WiFi

Reviews

7.6 out of 10
Good

Popular amenities

  • Pool
  • Pet-friendly
  • Air conditioning
  • Free WiFi
  • Parking included

Explore the area

View in a map
146 Old Us 31, Mackinaw City, MI, 49701
  • Place, Mackinaw City Ferry Terminal
    ‪7 min walk‬
  • Place, Mackinaw City Dock
    ‪18 min walk‬
  • Place, Headlands International Dark Sky Park
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Airport, Pellston, MI (PLN-Pellston Regional)
    ‪23 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Deluxe Room, 1 Queen Bed, Jetted Tub

Deluxe Room, 1 Queen Bed, Jetted Tub | Pillow-top beds, iron/ironing board, rollaway beds, free WiFi

Deluxe Room, 1 Queen Bed, Jetted Tub

  • 26 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Standard Room, 1 King Bed

Standard Room, 1 King Bed | Pillow-top beds, iron/ironing board, rollaway beds, free WiFi

Standard Room, 1 King Bed

8.2 out of 10
Very good
(16 reviews)
  • 23 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Standard Room, 1 Queen Bed

Standard Room, 1 Queen Bed | Pillow-top beds, iron/ironing board, rollaway beds, free WiFi

Standard Room, 1 Queen Bed

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(12 reviews)
  • 23 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed, Jetted Tub

Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed, Jetted Tub | Pillow-top beds, iron/ironing board, rollaway beds, free WiFi

Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed, Jetted Tub

7.6 out of 10
Good
(4 reviews)
  • 33 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds

Pillow-top beds, iron/ironing board, rollaway beds, free WiFi

Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds

7.8 out of 10
Good
(39 reviews)
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

View all photos for Standard Room, 1 Queen Bed

Standard Room, 1 Queen Bed | Pillow-top beds, iron/ironing board, rollaway beds, free WiFi

Standard Room, 1 Queen Bed

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(28 reviews)
  • 23 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

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About this property

Thunderbird Inn

Motel with free parking, a short walk to Mackinaw City Ferry Terminal
An indoor pool, concierge services and tour/ticket assistance are available at this smoke-free motel. Free WiFi in public areas and free self parking are also provided. Other amenities include a vending machine. Change of towels is available on request
Thunderbird Inn offers 48 accommodations, which are accessible via exterior corridors and feature coffee/tea makers and a hairdryer. Beds feature pillowtop mattresses. 32-inch flat-screen televisions come with cable channels. Bathrooms include a combined bath/shower unit and complimentary toiletries.

Guests can surf the web using complimentary wireless Internet access. Business-friendly amenities include telephones 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.

Our customers tell us that they can't get enough of the helpful staff at Thunderbird Inn. During your stay, you're just a quick walk from Mackinaw City Ferry Terminal. Free WiFi in public areas, free self-parking and a free ferry terminal shuttle are available. This property offers pet-friendly amenities, such as an off-lead area.
  • Free WiFi
  • Free self-parking
  • Take a swim in the indoor pool
  • Services include a concierge and tour or ticket assistance
  • Guests have great things to say about the clean guestrooms and the helpful staff
  • Within a 15-minute walk of Mackinaw City Ferry Terminal and Lake Huron
  • Free ferry terminal shuttle service
  • Cats and dogs welcome for a fee (restrictions apply)
  • Pet-friendly amenities are available, including an off-lead area
As a guest of Thunderbird Inn, you'll find an indoor pool, a vending machine, and tour/ticket assistance. WiFi is free in public spaces. Free self parking is available. You'll have access to the indoor pool at a partner property.

This Mackinaw City motel is smoke free.

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
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: USD 35 per pet, per stay
  • Only dogs and cats are allowed
  • Maximum 2 pets
  • Pets cannot be left unattended
  • An off-lead area is available
  • Certain rooms only, restrictions apply
  • You can request a pet-friendly room by reaching out to the property at the number on the booking confirmation
    • Service animals are exempt from fees.

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Kids stay free! Children 12 years old and younger stay free when using existing bedding.
  • Rollaway/extra beds are available for USD 40.0 per night.
  • Cots (infant beds) are not available.

Payment types at the property

Important information

Optional extras

The fees and deposits listed below will be charged at the time of service, check-in, or check-out.

  • Pet fee: USD 35 per pet, per stay
  • Service animals are exempt from fees
  • Rollaway bed fee: USD 40.0 per night

This may not be a comprehensive list. Fees and deposits are subject to change and might not include tax.

You need to know

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
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-authorise 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
The front desk at this property is open daily from 7:00 AM - midnight.
Guests arriving after 11:00 PM must make advance arrangements by contacting the property using the information on the booking confirmation. Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property. For any questions, please contact the property using the information on the booking confirmation.

We should mention

  • Pool access available from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
  • Children aged 12 years old and younger stay free in the same room as the parent or guardian when using existing bedding.
  • Pets are welcome in certain rooms only; other restrictions apply (please see the Fees section for related charges). To make arrangements for your pet, contact the property directly at the number on your booking confirmation.

Property is also known as

Thunderbird Inn Mackinaw City
Thunderbird Mackinaw City
Thunderbird Inn Motel
Thunderbird Inn Mackinaw City
Thunderbird Inn Motel Mackinaw City

Thunderbird Inn Reviews

Reviews

7.6

Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 322 out of 1005 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 345 out of 1005 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 176 out of 1005 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 97 out of 1005 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 65 out of 1005 reviews

7.8/10

Cleanliness

8.4/10

Staff & service

7.0/10

Amenities

7.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

7.2/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

2/10 Terrible

Richard

Travelled with group
Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The check in process is SO SLOW, the staff are in no hurry and there is frequently a line out the door. When rooms are assigned, they did not look at all like the pictures. One of the two rooms missing a refrigerator. That room also had NO pressure in the shower. Maintenance could not fix, and we had to argue with the front desk for a new room. Literally there was no water in the shower. The hotel is in desperate need of maintenance as the rooms are not in good shape. I will never stay at this hotel again. The owners also own the 2 hotel next to this one.
That's pool and yes it was open.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Robert

Liked: Cleanliness
Fair rates and clean.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Daniel

Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

4/10 Poor

Joseph

Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

2/10 Terrible

Veeramuthu

Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Not honoring the commitment. They said they overbooked due to a technical glitch in Expedia and forced me to stay at different property which has no wifi Internet and lesser star.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ajay Kumar

Travelled with family, Travelled with family and small children, Travelled with pets, Travelled with partner, Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Excellent
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

2/10 Terrible

Zachary

Travelled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
40 minute wait to get checked in and then had zero respect for the clients and had to buy my own toilet paper cuz I couldn't get none from the front desk had no microwave in room and couldn't get clean linens I want my money back
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

2/10 Terrible

Jonathan

Travelled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Awful, disgusting, outdated, falling apart

This is one of the worst overnight experiences I have ever had. My family and I stayed 2 nights to explore Mackinac Island. We arrived and waited almost an hour to check-in. The staff was nice l, even with the wait. However, when we got to our room we already had issues. The floor was very sandy, and the nightstands both had copious amounts of dog hair on them. We don’t have a dog. We also noticed the flush handle on the toilet was laying on the ground.The first night I was awoke multiple times with extreme itching from the bed. The next morning, as we were preparing for the trip to the island, we heard a noise and our daughters started screaming. The lamp was plugged in behind the bed, and the cord was arching on the sheets. When I turned on our issues to the office, I was asked if it was ok that someone went into our room, and I said yes. No repairs or fixes were completed and there was no evidence they were attempted. I want to reiterate that the office staff was always polite and courteous, but at no point was anything else about our stay worth the $500 for 2 nights.
After hearing the arching, and scaring our kids. This was the result.
Should have burnt the whole building down
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Niti

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Nice, clean place. Bathroom was slightly old but tolerable. Went for 4th of July and check in took a longer time.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Michelle

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Quick and friendly service while checking in. The paperwork was already started since I pre paid. Saved time walking distance to downtown mackinaw city
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

Heather

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

4/10 Poor

Ben

Travelled with family and small children
Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The room was disgustingly dirty. Bottom of feet were black if one went barefoot. The bathroom stunk like pee. Pool was green but we were able to get indoor waterpark passes at a different facility for free. The only this good about the stay was the front desk was friendly and helpful.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Laura

Travelled with group
Like the area, the room was nice.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Kristi

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort

Close to Arnold Ferry Dock!

Motel is a quick 7 minute walk to the Arnold Ferry Dock which is great since parking at the dock is anywhere from $10-40 per day, and more for overnight. Room was adequate for our needs. My top sheet was put on the bed in the wrong direction which I found comical, but I didn't bother fixing it for the 2 nights we stayed. My daughter and friend used the pool, which had several small bugs floating on it the first night, but the second night someone had cleaned the pool and they said it was much better. They had pool towels in the pool area for guests to use, which was nice. Overall, I would stay here again as we only used it for sleeping as we went to the island and spent more time there than in the room.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

6/10 Okay

Gregg

Travelled with group
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tom

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

4/10 Poor

steven

Hard to get any cleaning service while we were there. Stayed 4 nights only got new towels and trash emptied once after having to ask twice. The laminate flooring was gritty probably from tracking in gravel/ dirt from parking area. Only swept after our 2 requests. Ran out of toilet paper, fortunately brought some of our own. On our last night some guys decided to have a tailgate party right outside our room with a keger on the tailgate. Were being loud until after 10 pm.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Karen

Travelled with family, Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
This was clean and safe. We were pleasantly surprised with the comfort of the mattresses. We would stay there again.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

4/10 Poor

Amy

Travelled with partner
Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
No microwave. Half the lights didnt work. Tub didnt work right. Had issues with the signal on the tv quite a bit. Will never go back.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ashley

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We were the only guests, it was great!!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Steve

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
I liked it.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Carl

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Huiyun

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
thanks

10/10 Excellent

Mark

Stayed 1 night in Oct 2024