Is parking available at the property?

Free self-parking is available on-site for guests.

What type of breakfast is offered and what are the serving hours?

A complimentary buffet breakfast is served daily from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM.

What are the standard check-in and check-out times?

Check-in is from 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM, and check-out is at 11:00 AM. Early or late check-in/check-out may be available upon request.

What accessibility features are available for guests with disabilities?

The property offers step-free entrances and wheelchair-accessible facilities in public areas, ensuring a comfortable experience for guests with disabilities.

What is the location like in relation to key landmarks?

The property is situated on the waterfront, just steps from Lake Huron and a 3-minute drive from Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse. It is also close to several attractions, including Edgewater Beach and Mackinaw City Ferry Terminal.

Does the property have a swimming pool?

Yes, there is an indoor pool available for guests to enjoy.

Are children allowed to stay at the property?

Children are welcome at the property, and kids can stay for free up to a certain age.

Clearwater Lakeshore Motel in Mackinaw City

Average nightly price at Clearwater Lakeshore Motel by month, last 12 months (USD)
Month	Average price
May	US$104
June	US$169
July	US$213
August	US$188
September	US$157
October	US$121

What guests think

At Clearwater Lakeshore Motel, travelers praise the friendly staff, lakeside views of the Mackinac Bridge, and nightly beach bonfires with s’mores, noting a generally clean, good-value stay that feels quiet yet close to ferries and downtown attractions.

Rooms are frequently described as small—with very compact bathrooms—but suites provide more space, and many units include balconies or patios. Facilities include an indoor pool and hot tub, free kayaks, and shuttle service to ferries, while the beach is often rocky and not ideal for swimming. Guests report mixed experiences with breakfast and occasional maintenance or odor issues, plus sporadic Wi-Fi and no elevator. Expect a scenic, simple stay with memorable waterfront evenings.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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Facilities

The property offers an indoor pool and hot tub, lakeside fire pits with s’mores, free ferry shuttles, and kayaks. Several guests note a rocky, largely non-swimmable beach, occasional Wi-Fi issues, no elevator, and the pool in a separate building.

Related guest reviews

10

Theresa

29 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

We had a great stay here. The rooms were clean and nice, though there was a strong perfume scent. The pool and hot tub were nice. Breakfast was great. The bonfires with s'mores supplies provided were awesome. The only thing is that the beach is not swimmable and there is no beach where you can walk to the water. There's huge boulders that separate the upper part and lower part of the beach, but the part by the water is mucky and muddy and not crossable. Otherwise, great stay. Would stay again.

6

Alexis

24 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

The "private beach" aspect is very misleading, as are the pictures. Sand and water was very muddy, similar to quick sand. Huge boulders were there as well, the water does not come up to the sand. Those pictures need to be updated as it wasn't accurate. Breakfast was the same every day, in a super cramped area, which was a bit disappointing. The facilities themselves were pretty good, otherwise.

6

charles

21 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The property was clean but the room we were in was very small and over the breakfast area so smelled like food. not in a good way. The pool and hot tub are in a separate building you have to walk to it and did not have a changing room or shower. Not convenient but the hot tub was hot and the pool was clean.

6

Amy

27 Jun 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

The pool is not heated as advertised it is actually ice cold! More like a polar plunge. Great hotel and views but very disappointing for the kids.

8

Mark

26 Oct 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

WI-FI was down. Room was nicely appointed. Staff was fabulous. Best view of mackinaw bridge. Nightly some-mores on the beach. Rocky beach would be tough for swimming.

10

Sydney

1 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

We booked a King suite here last minute before heading up for the Labor Day bridge walk. I hadn’t read any reviews or anything, just needed to book something and hoped for the best. Needless to say we were absolutely amazed by everything at this hotel! The room was very spacious and clean, the kitchen was well stocked, they had complimentary s'more's for the evening bonfires, free kayaks for guest to use, the pool and hot tub are indoors in a very clean pool house, the breakfast had a huge selection and all of it was delicious! We had our 3 boys with us and they slept on the sleeper sofa which was made up nicely and was comfy. The king bed is actually in a separate bedroom which was really nice for privacy. We will absolutely stay there again in the future and I highly recommend it to others!

10

Jason

26 Jul 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Great hotel, indoor pool and hottub was amazing. Coke and sprite were backwards in the vending machine, but our stay was perfect. Thank you

10

Elaine

26 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The staff here was phenomenal! The pool was nice and clean and warm, the hot tub was hot and delightful. The beach side bonfires with s’mores and a night view of the bridge were a delight. Everything about this place was fantastic!

8

Lisa

1 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Nice property but room, pool, and breakfast were all in separate buildings. The non-swimming beach area is nice for a campfire which they permitted with a great view of the Mackinac Bridge.

10

Jack

7 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Staff was exceptional and available, clean property lived the kayaks and campfires/s’mores every night. Breakfast was very good and fresh and cleaned continuously. Great proximity to ferries and downtown.

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Cleanliness

Many reviews highlight clean rooms and well-kept grounds, but recurring issues include musty odors, dirty or spider-webbed windows and balconies, and occasional bathroom or hallway smells. Overall cleanliness appears to vary by building and room.

Related guest reviews

6

Pat

23 Sept 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The room was very nice. However the dirty and insect infested windows were DISGUSTING. That prevented us from opening the windows instead of using the A/C. Clean the exterior and windows and your review will be much better.

8

Michael

15 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Manager was very nice and the hotel has a pleasant view of the water. Our room was beginning to suffer from repair neglect with an A/C that didn't work correctly and a toilet which was very loose on the floor. We also had to kill over 20 spiders on the dirty balconies of our 2 rooms. The property is newer but since it doesn't appear to be well taken care of it will probably suffer even more from poor maintenance and neglect.

10

RANDY

29 Oct 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The rooms & grounds are immaculately clean & well taken care of. It was so relaxing sitting in front of the campfires on the beach & it never felt crowded because there are seven to choose from. The hotel crew started the campfires at 7pm every evening & added wood throughout the evening until 10pm. They even passed out s’more kits to every person! It was so relaxing sitting in front of the campfire & taking in the beauty of the Mackinac Bridge all lit up & we could also see Mackinac Island in the distance. We had a room with a balcony facing the lake. We didn’t use the pool but if it’s anything like the rooms & grounds I’m sure it is maintained very well. This will be the only place we stay when visiting Mackinaw City!

8

Derek

3 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Very cute place but the grounds and the room itself was dirty. The cleaning was definitely poor and it smelt like backed up septic.

8

Denise

28 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Windows should be cleaned more often. We walked out of our room, and could barely see out of it. Streaked with who knows what. I to Ed than that, staff were very friendly:)

2

Melissa

4 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The bathroom was awful. The toilet paper holder was missing and looked like it had been ripped off the wall. The tub/shower was dirty. The bed was uncomfortable. There were no mirrors in the room area. There was a sprinkler head missing in the hall outside our room. The continental breakfast was not very good and the breakfast area was dirty. We would definitely never stay here again.

8

Marcy

15 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Room was nice but had really bad musty smell and everything felt damp

6

Monique

25 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

We stayed 1 night. The smell when we walked into the building was not pleasant at all. When we got into our room it smelled musty. I opened the curtains and there was a bunch of spiderwebs with spiders crawling. Not a pleasant sight at all. The breakfast was just ok. We would not stay here again. The service was very pleasant though.

10

Russell

19 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Very clean

10

Laurie

29 Aug 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The staff was over the top friendly. It definitely could be cleaner. There were stains on the sheets and it had a musty smell.

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Rooms

Rooms are often small with very compact bathrooms, while suites and some units add space and balconies/patios. Comfort and amenities vary, with intermittent Wi-Fi and occasional noise from adjacent rooms or stairwells.

Related guest reviews

8

Pamela

31 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Our room was very small, other than that was fine.

10

Margaret

28 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

The staff here are so helpful and friendly! The King rooms are a little small so if possible reserve the suite. The property is BEAUTIFUL, the flowers!!! Smores on the beach, quiet and peaceful!

10

richard

14 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Excellent value. Nice room overlooking the lake and the bridge

8

Annette

27 May 2024

·

Stayed 5 nights

Internet every night was poor no connection for me and my daughters room who stayed on another floor.

6

Cindy

16 Oct 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

This property is well maintained and in a good location. Our unit was loud due to the people above us and some guests that had arguments outside our room.

8

Evonne

25 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Clean and updated. We have stayed here many times over the years! Staff was wonderful. Evening fire was lovely. Hydrangeas were stunning! Rm 105, King suite w/balcony & full kitchen was spacious & clean. A few spots in kitchen needed paint, a couple couch stains, shower faucet needed some work, and A/C units needed filters, but those are minor and did not affect our stay. Wonderful place, and great location for all the Mackinaw fun!!

10

Calvin

14 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The room was quite small but very adequate and well equipped and very clean. Pool and hot tube area were well maintained and clean. Staff was friendly, and helpful. the beach fires were nice and had a good view of the bridge.

6

Debra

10 May 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

This should be a high four review and only isn’t because of my specific room. The property is lovely, location is great and the owner/manager is super friendly and anxious that guests are happy. I wish I could say my stay was perfect but cannot. Sadly my room was quite noisy. My biggest complaint was a thumping that was always in the background. I asked the owner/manager about it and she could not account for the noise. Being a light sleeper, I just couldn’t get past the noise even with ear plugs. I think if I had a different room my review would have been five stars because the owner/manager really does make every effort to make a stay perfect.

8

Tammy J

24 Jul 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The view was spectacular. Friendly staff. Came back to my room after gone all day. Clean towels and room provided. Only downside is bathroom is very small. Would recommend and stay again.

10

Dan

10 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Our room was spacious and clean. Breakfast was a step above a continental and check in was easy.

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Service

Staff are widely praised as friendly, helpful, and accommodating, including arranging shuttles and quick fixes. A few guests reported curt or strict check-in and occasional housekeeping misses.

Related guest reviews

10

Dahlia

13 Oct 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

This hotel is a nice gem. The front desk receptionist was pleasant yet professional. The room was very clean with updated furniture, carpet is new, the king bed was so comfortable, pillows soft and fluffy. Mr Rolstan made our visit so enjoyable by his personable spirit especially when he lighted the fire pits outside in the evenings, along with provisions for s’mores (those were the biggest marshmallows we’ve ever seen) The only little negative is the internet was very spotty or intermittent. But that can be overlooked when you consider all else that’s available! This is our second stay and we look forward to returning!

8

Leah

11 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Check-in started promptly at 3:00 pm, which we thought was quite odd as we are frequent travelers and have never been told we couldn’t go to our room or explore the property (we traveled 7 hours and arrived a little less than an hour early). However, everything else was great! The cleanliness of the rooms, location, complimentary breakfast, and the s'more kits by the fire! Overall, we had a great stay and would come back again.

10

Kent

29 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Accommodated our group with an early check-in and arranged a shuttle to get to the ferry going to Mackinac Island.

10

Anne

4 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The staff was so kind and attentive! Would stay again just because of their service and attention to detail!

2

Travis

26 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The check in person, we the rudest I have had in 40 years of travel. As a result of her, I would not stay again. Best.

10

Richard

20 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The staff was very accommodating. They helped get transportation to the ferry going to Mackinac Island. The included breakfast had hot and cold options and the breakfast area was tiddy and clean. The rooms in our section are well maintained.

4

Kinga

18 Jul 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Unhelpful and bordering on rude staff at registration desk.

6

Mark

11 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The staff were pleasant and helpful. The was no easy way to walk into town from the hotel because there were no sidewalks in the hotel area. The room was very dark. The beach and lake are not nice in that area We were supposed to pay on arrival but they called us in the morning to get our credit card number. Then we had to give them the credit card number again on arrival. It was very pricey considering the ready availability of rooms in Mackinaw City during our stay. The hotel parking lot is awkward and probably too small for all the rooms. Overall, it was a disappointment.

6

Derek

10 Oct 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Con: The room smelled very musky. The floor didn't appear to have been vacuumed. The TV initially didn't work but was fixed by maintenance. Pro: The staff was very nice. Our TV initially didn't work but they quickly sent someone to fix it. And the front desk staff were also very pleasant when we checked in.

10

Mark

14 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Our front desk gal was extremely helpful and extremely nice! Nice view

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Location

Scenic, lakeside setting with direct bridge views in a quiet area, a short drive or shuttle to ferries and downtown. Walking can be inconvenient due to limited sidewalks and occasional road construction.

Related guest reviews

6

Therese

2 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The view was amazing! Staff is friendly. The room is average, clean, and not luxurious. The bed is firm. The bathroom is tiny and low shower pressure. Breakfast is average. It is close to attractions, but you will need to drive to downtown and ferry lines. There is currently construction present in front of the hotels along that strip.

10

Jean

22 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Staff and location were great

10

Leslie

8 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

When I booked this "motel" I wasn't expecting much because it's so affordable, but our room was great, right on the beach with beautiful views of the bridge and Mackinac Island, and they even set campfires on the beach one night! We rode our bikes from the motel to the ferry, 5 minutes, highly recommend you bring your own bikes if you can, and beach shoes. We could have easily ridden all over town safely. The inside pool and hot tub looked clean, the breakfast was in line with what you'd find at most economy hotels, the staff was kind and welcoming. Comfy bed!

8

Jonathan

5 Nov 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Great location on the lake. Slightly dated property for great value for the cost and very close to the ferry

10

Chandra Sekhar

18 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Excellent place with clean rooms and easy access to the beach. Very close to the ferries to Machinac Island.

10

frank

1 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Beautiful view of the lake & bridge. Nice pool & hot tub!! Not far at all from downtown.

10

John

15 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

We needed a pit stop in Mackinaw City and chose Clearwater. Its location is perfect. The view of the Bridge and Lake Huron is spectacular.

8

Ashley

13 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great motel! Loved the location right on the beach with good view of the bridge. Fire pits every night and free smores kits were a great perk! Also had cookies at check-in. Rooms were spacious with great views! The trolley for the ferry even comes to the motel to pick you up! Overall, a great stay!

10

Tara

18 Sept 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Check in was easy. It was a quiet hotel away from the hustle of down town. And the view of the bridge was excellent.

10

Glenys

1 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Very convenient to Mackinac Island access, around 3 minutes to the ferries. Nice and clean place. Beautiful views from the patio/ beach.

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Dining

Breakfast gets frequent praise for variety, but the serving area is small and can feel crowded, and some guests report inconsistent temperature and coffee quality.

Related guest reviews

10

Tina

12 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Our stay was fabulous ! Staff, room and breakfast was fantastic..

6

Alexis

24 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

The "private beach" aspect is very misleading, as are the pictures. Sand and water was very muddy, similar to quick sand. Huge boulders were there as well, the water does not come up to the sand. Those pictures need to be updated as it wasn't accurate. Breakfast was the same every day, in a super cramped area, which was a bit disappointing. The facilities themselves were pretty good, otherwise.

8

Arthur

27 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Breakfast was ok and shops nearby

10

Edward

6 Jun 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Right on the lake and nice beach area was visible and right outside our balcony. Chairs to sit in were plentiful and the nightly fires were a nice touch! Breakfast was served in a cramped area, both the serving and seating area. But the bagels, yogurt and make your own waffles were nice, the eggs and coffee weren't too tasty. A nice, clean, affordable place to stay.

6

Edward

20 Oct 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

The breakfast wasn’t that great. The sausage gravy was cool and the apple fritter was very stale.

10

E ALLEN

29 Aug 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The firepits on the beach at twilight was a really nice touch. The smores, too. Using the ATV to deliver the Smores was too much, though. The beach isn't THAT big. Otherwise, it was clean and quiet, with a good breakfast.

10

Judson

3 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

We loved the bonfire at night with s'mores they provide. Breakfast offered many selections. Room was neat and clean.

2

Wyatt

8 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Bed was terrible and uncomfortable for the price I paid for the rooms never again Milk was also expired and had gone bad every day I tried to have breakfest

8

Jim

28 Sept 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Good breakfast but small area.

10

Dan

10 Oct 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Our room was spacious and clean. Breakfast was a step above a continental and check in was easy.

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Clearwater Lakeshore Motel

Prices for Clearwater Lakeshore Motel

Monthly average prices

About this property

Location

Room options

2 Queen Non-Lakefront

King Lakefront, Balcony

2 Queen Sofa Bed Lakefront, Balcony

Queen Non-Lakefront

King Jetted Tub Lakefront, Balcony

King Single Lakefront, Balcony

King Suite with Kitchen and Sofa Bed, Balcony

Guest reviews of Clearwater Lakeshore Motel

Who stays here?

What guests think

Property policies

Check-in instructions

Good to know

FAQs about Clearwater Lakeshore Motel