Mackinac Bridge walkers can ferry to St. Ignace, Mackinaw City. How to book service

The thousands of people planning to walk the Mackinac Bridge this weekend have an additional option to get back and forth once the walk's over: Arnold Transit Company says it will offer direct service between St. Ignace and Mackinaw City the day of the walk on Sept. 1.

The annual Mackinac Bridge Walk kicks off at 6:30 a.m. on Labor Day, Sept. 1, closing the bridge to vehicles until noon.

Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry and Arnold Transit Company both are providing transportation before and after the walk. Arnold Transit is offering a direct, one-way trip between the peninsulas while Shepler's is offering its normal roundtrip fare that can be used to visit Mackinac Island and then continue on to either St. Ignace or Mackinaw City.

Pedestrians can walk the bridge's full 5-mile span or walk halfway and turn around to return to their starting point, according to organizers. As the morning goes on, the turnaround points will move closer to the ends of the bridge, so walkers need to keep up a reasonable pace.

Those who intend to walk the entire 5-mile span have to arrange their own return trip to their starting point.

"No bus transportation across the bridge will be provided as part of the event," the Mackinac Bridge Authority said. "Walkers who decide to walk across the entire bridge will need to arrange their own transportation back to the end of the bridge where they started after the bridge reopens to public traffic at noon. (In addition to the ferry services), local transportation companies also offer shuttle service between various locations."

Ferries leave from St. Ignace in the Upper Peninsula and Mackinaw City in the Lower Peninsula from the early morning into the afternoon on Labor Day.

You can book ferry tickets online, but be sure to book early, as capacity could fill up.

Here's what to know about ferry transportation for the Mackinac Bridge Walk.

When is the Mackinac Bridge Walk?

The bridge walk will be Labor Day, Sept. 1, with traffic closed for the walk from 6:30 a.m. to noon, the Mackinac Bridge Authority said.

Where is the Mackinac Bridge?

Located in the Straits of Mackinac where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron meet, the Mackinac Bridge links Michigan's Lower Peninsula in Mackinaw City to Michigan's Upper Peninsula in St. Ignace.

What ferry service is Arnold Transit Company offering?

Arnold Transit Company will offer a one-way water shuttle service for bridge walk participants from St. Ignace or from Mackinaw City, the company said. Tickets are $25 for adults, $15 for children ages 5 to 12 and children ages 4 and under get on free.

One-way trips will depart the Mackinaw City Dock, 801 S. Huron St., at 6 a.m., 8 a.m., 10 a.m. and noon on Sept. 1. One-way rides from the St. Ignace Railroad Dock. N. State St., will depart at 7 a.m., 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Sept. 1.

What ferry service is Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry offering?

Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry is offering roundtrip ferry service for participants in the Mackinac Bridge Walk from either Mackinaw City or St. Ignace, with a stop on Mackinac Island. The tickets then allow passengers to board a ferry and continue on to the other mainland location.

Shepler's ferry rides depart Mackinaw City at 6:30 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m., noon, 12:30 p.m., 1 p.m. and into the evening on Sept. 1, according to the daily ferry schedule.

Departures from St. Ignace are at 6:30 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m., noon, 1 p.m. and into the evening on Sept. 1.

Basic adult tickets are $38, basic child tickets for ages 5 to 12 are $26 and children younger than five get on free. You can buy tickets for the ferry service online.

What is the Mackinac Bridge Walk?

The Mackinac Bridge will close to vehicular traffic for the annual Mackinac Bridge Walk on Labor Day, when pedestrians can stroll across the bridge.

Walkers can go halfway and return to Mackinaw City or St. Ignace or walk the entire bridge length, the bridge authority's website says. However, anyone who walks the entire length should arrange transportation to get back to the other side of the bridge.