Next 7 departures
- TueOct 13
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 58–72°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Chicago7 AM CDT Sunny71°F Illinois–Indiana line7:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny72°F Indiana–Michigan line9:15 AM EDT Mostly sunny71°F Holland10:30 AM EDT Mostly sunny68°F Grand Rapids10:45 AM EDT Partly sunny70°F Cadillac12:15 PM EDT Mostly cloudy69°F Gaylord1:30 PM EDT Isolated light rain showers64°F Mackinaw City2:30 PM EDT Cloudy58°F - WedOct 14
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 54–65°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Chicago7 AM CDT Chance of rain showers63°F Illinois–Indiana line7:15 AM CDT Chance of rain showers65°F Indiana–Michigan line9:15 AM EDT Chance of light rain showers63°F Holland10:30 AM EDT Slight chance of light rain showers60°F Grand Rapids10:45 AM EDT Mostly cloudy59°F Cadillac12:15 PM EDT Mostly cloudy58°F Gaylord1:30 PM EDT Mostly cloudy54°F Mackinaw City2:30 PM EDT Mostly cloudy55°F - ThuOct 15
CautionChance of thunderstorms near Chicago around 7 AM CDT.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Chicago7 AM CDT Chance of thunderstorms57°F Illinois–Indiana line7:15 AM CDT Rain showers likely58°F Indiana–Michigan line9:15 AM EDT Light rain showers likely56°F Holland10:30 AM EDT Chance of light rain showers54°F Grand Rapids10:45 AM EDT Chance of light rain showers54°F Cadillac12:15 PM EDT Mostly cloudy53°F Gaylord1:30 PM EDT Mostly cloudy54°F Mackinaw City2:30 PM EDT Partly sunny54°F - FriOct 16
HighGusts to 41 mph near Mackinaw City around 2:30 PM EDT. Also at 5 other checkpoints.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Chicago7 AM CDT Partly sunny53°F Illinois–Indiana line7:15 AM CDT Partly sunny54°F Indiana–Michigan line9:15 AM EDT Chance of light rain showers51°F Holland10:30 AM EDT Chance of light rain showers53°F Grand Rapids10:45 AM EDT Chance of light rain showers52°F Cadillac12:15 PM EDT Light rain showers likely49°F Gaylord1:30 PM EDT Light rain showers likely48°F Mackinaw City2:30 PM EDT Chance of light rain showers51°F - SatOct 17
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 42–50°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Chicago7 AM CDT Mostly sunny45°F Illinois–Indiana line7:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny45°F Indiana–Michigan line9:15 AM EDT Mostly sunny43°F Holland10:30 AM EDT Mostly sunny45°F Grand Rapids10:45 AM EDT Mostly sunny42°F Cadillac12:15 PM EDT Mostly sunny47°F Gaylord1:30 PM EDT Mostly sunny47°F Mackinaw City2:30 PM EDT Sunny50°F - SunOct 18
CautionGusts to 30 mph near Gaylord around 1:30 PM EDT. Also at 1 other checkpoint.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Chicago7 AM CDT Mostly sunny45°F Illinois–Indiana line7:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny45°F Indiana–Michigan line9:15 AM EDT Sunny41°F Holland10:30 AM EDT Mostly sunny48°F Grand Rapids10:45 AM EDT Sunny46°F Cadillac12:15 PM EDT Mostly sunny53°F Gaylord1:30 PM EDT Mostly sunny55°F Mackinaw City2:30 PM EDT Mostly sunny56°F - MonOct 19
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 48–58°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Chicago7 AM CDT Partly sunny51°F Illinois–Indiana line7:15 AM CDT Partly sunny51°F Indiana–Michigan line9:15 AM EDT Mostly sunny48°F Holland10:30 AM EDT Partly sunny54°F Grand Rapids10:45 AM EDT Partly sunny53°F Cadillac12:15 PM EDT Partly sunny56°F Gaylord1:30 PM EDT Partly sunny58°F Mackinaw City2:30 PM EDT Partly sunny57°F
The worst conditions expected at any checkpoint, timed to when you would reach it driving without stops. Levels use Road Travel’s driving-risk scale.
The route, stop by stop
Checkpoints in order, with driving time from Chicago (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.
- Chicago, ILStart 594 ftelevation
- Illinois–Indiana lineState line · Mile 15 · 21 min 614 ftelevation
- Indiana–Michigan lineState line · Mile 66 · 1 h 11 min 702 ftelevation
- Holland, MIMile 150 · 2 h 27 min 606 ftelevation
- Grand Rapids, MIMile 177 · 2 h 52 min 641 ftelevation
- Cadillac, MIMile 271 · 4 h 13 min 1,308 ftelevation
- Gaylord, MIMile 355 · 5 h 34 min 1,350 ftelevation
- Mackinaw City, MIMile 413 · 6 h 25 min 597 ftelevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and days with an inch or more of snow, at Chicago, Grand Rapids and Mackinaw City.
| Month | Chicago 658 ft | Grand Rapids East Grand Rapids station · 746 ft | Mackinaw City Cheboygan station · 588 ft | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | Snow days | |
| Jan | 32° / 19° | 3.6 | 31° / 17° | 7.7 | 27° / 11° | 9.3 |
| Feb | 36° / 22° | 3.1 | 34° / 18° | 7.0 | 29° / 10° | 6.5 |
| Mar | 47° / 31° | 1.5 | 44° / 24° | 1.8 | 38° / 18° | 3.9 |
| Apr | 59° / 40° | 0.4 | 57° / 35° | 0.9 | 49° / 30° | 1.8 |
| May | 71° / 51° | 0 | 69° / 46° | 0 | 62° / 41° | 0 |
| Jun | 80° / 61° | 0 | 79° / 56° | 0 | 72° / 52° | 0 |
| Jul | 85° / 66° | 0 | 82° / 60° | 0 | 77° / 58° | 0 |
| Aug | 83° / 65° | 0 | 81° / 58° | 0 | 77° / 57° | 0 |
| Sep | 76° / 57° | 0 | 74° / 51° | 0 | 70° / 50° | 0 |
| Oct | 63° / 45° | 0.1 | 61° / 40° | 0 | 56° / 39° | 0.1 |
| Nov | 48° / 34° | 0.5 | 47° / 31° | 1.6 | 44° / 30° | 3.0 |
| Dec | 37° / 24° | 2.2 | 36° / 23° | 5.7 | 33° / 21° | 8.0 |
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: CHICAGO OHARE INTL AP (USW00094846, 658 ft); E GRAND RAPIDS (USC00202375, 746 ft); CHEBOYGAN (USC00201492, 588 ft). Snow days are days with at least 1 inch of new snow. “—” means the station does not publish that normal.
Road conditions
Closures and chain rules change by the hour, so we link to the official reports for Illinois, Indiana and Michigan rather than repeat them.
- Illinois · IDOTGetting Around Illinois road conditions
- Indiana · INDOTINDOT 511
- Michigan · MDOTMDOT Mi Drive
Check the official National Weather Service forecast and each state's road report before you leave.
Get alerts timed to where you’ll be when you get there
Road Travel plans the drive from Chicago to Mackinaw City with the forecast at every stretch for the hour you’ll reach it, then warns you about weather ahead while you drive.
Questions about this drive
How long is the drive from Chicago to Mackinaw City?
413 miles, about 6½ hours of driving without stops, by way of US-131 and I-75. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the highest point on the drive?
Gaylord, at 1,350 ft. It comes at mile 355, about 5 h 34 min of driving after you leave Chicago.
How cold is Mackinaw City in January?
The nearest long-term NOAA station, Cheboygan (588 ft), averages a high of 27°F and a low of 11°F in January (1991–2020 normals).