Just returned fromour family vacation and it was the perfect place to stay- in budget, on beach, free shuttle to Island ferry, pool, hot tub, nightly campfires with free s'more kits, decent breakfast, balcony overlooking the bridge, and the nicest staff. (& more) If you are going up to Mackinac city or the island, I highly recommend this for families too! read more

I recommended this place to my family and it got rave reviews! They all said it was very clean and the staff went above and beyond. Not going to get into those details because maybe my aunt has a way with getting people to do much more than any employee should ...which says a lot about their service. So to the employees working on 6/12/2026 ... thank you!! read more

We were assigned the smallest room I've ever been in! The door hit the queen bed when you walk in! We asked for a king and they flat out said no! They had availability because I looked it up online! The pool and hot tub looked dirty. We didn't even get in it. The water from the tub ran continuously. Breakfast was under par as far as continental breakfasts go. Wouldn't rate it over a 1 star. For our stay. Just poorly ran. read more

We stopped in Mackinaw City on our way back home from camping in the UP. Chose this motel because it had pretty high reviews. We ended up in Building 3 on the first floor. We had an attached balcony with a view of the bridge. We also had access to the lake front, which has chairs, fire pits, and corn hole boards available. All of which were pretty dated, but it's a nice gesture. The rooms themselves were large. We had a king bed that was pretty comfortable. The mattress pad did have a stain on it, as did a few of the towels that they provided. You could tell that the carpet around the baseboards hadn't been vacuumed well. Lastly, we had a few spiders on our wall. They might have gotten in when we opened the door, but it seems unlikely since we only stayed briefly for one night. Reservation process was easy and the staff in the office were very nice. The site also has a pool and provides breakfast in the morning. Compared to other hotels in the area, $210 for the night seemed reasonable. Overall, it was fine for a short stay, but nothing great or memorable. read more

I didn't quite know what to expect but the reviews were good. Drove up to the motel and was pleasantly surprised to see how amazing the place looked. And then I walk into the room and see the amazing view of the lake. The room size was spacious. The only minor thing was the water pressure was lower than I like but that's not that big of a deal. The staff was nice and the check in process was easy. They also offer a campfire and s'mores that they provide everything for. Sadly we missed that but sounds amazing. The breakfast was your standard with scrambled eggs, biscuit and sausage, and other continental breakfast items. Food was okay but the rest of the motel makes up for it. I love this place. read more

Clearwater Lakeshore - The view from our room. - Hotels Near Me - Mackinaw City, Michigan

See all

Rooms were small and dated but very clean! The staff was very accommodating and I loved the campfire at the beach! I would definitely stay here again! read more

I stayed here with two friends and my boyfriend for 3 days and 2 nights during the beginning of June. This was my first experience at a motel, and I absolutely loved it. The rooms were clean, spacious, and very comfortable. The heating/AC unit was easy to use and worked well, the water pressure and temp in the shower were good, and the tv offered more options than many hotels I've stayed at. As far as other amenities, we were THRILLED. The continental breakfast offered a wide variety of both hot and cold items. We used the hot tub several times and even ended up having it to ourselves for a while which was really nice. The balcony seating was such a cozy spot for enjoying morning coffee or evening drinks. The opportunity to kayak and paddle board was a wonderful and unique experience, and the nightly bonfires with provided s'mores kits was a fantastic way to spend the evenings. The staff was SO kind and attentive. We will be back and will be telling all of our friends about this little slice of Michigan paradise. read more

See all

This hotel is really pretty on the outside. Very different from all the others. Even though we didn't pay for a beach view, the walk to the beach probably took 2 minutes though. As other reviews said, there's nice chairs and fire pits on the beach, which they light at night. In the morning you get a complimentary breakfast which has a lot to offer....waffles, biscuits & gravy, oatmeal, etc. The only negative about the breakfast was that the room was full of fruit flies. They were landing everywhere. It was really annoying and gross. Our room was nice and clean, though nothing spectacular. We didn't find the beds comfortable at all, unfortunately. As far as the staff, we only interacted with the ladies in the office and the guy who lit the fire pits. All of these folks were extremely nice and professional. I will say that this hotel had no vacancies the entire weekend while the others on the strip showed vacancies on their signs, so this place seems to be a favorite. The other guests I saw in the office had stayed there previously as well. If we came back to the city, we'd probably give this hotel another chance with fingers crossed that the fruit flies were gone. read more

What a darling find! It is on the south lakeshore, Huron side, with a view of the bridge. You can hear the noise from the city in the distance on a particularly raucous night (we were there for the iron workers' reunion weekend), but it's not bad at all. In the mornings we heard gulls and geese and watched the kayakers and boats glide by. The room was quite comfortable. The beds were firm but not hard and the sliding patio door has double panes so you really don't hear the noise outside when the doors are closed. There's also a play area for kiddos on the east side of the buildings, away from the beach. When we come back to Mackinaw City, we will stay here. Great value and the right pace for our taste. read more

Clearwater Lakeshore - This is the view from our balcony. The motel staff provides kettle grills and fueled fire rings on the beach every night - Hotels Near Me - Mackinaw City, Michigan

Beautiful property, and very friendly staff. The grounds are covered in flowers, the room was clean, and the beach cannot be beat! read more

See all

Very nice hotel, one hiccup we had was that the TV was set up for Roku however the remote didn't work. We told management to have someone check it. Apparently our room #601 is the only room with Roku capabilities which is why they aren't going to get a new remote. Apparently it's a hazard since people forget to log out and others steal information. The TV is supposed to only work on cable . Regardless it was a nice place. read more

We have been staying at this hotel for many years when we are visiting Mackinaw. The Motel is very modest but nice. The staff is absolutely wonderful! Location is nice and always enjoy the fires on the beach. read more

Phenomenal property. Well maintained. Beautiful. Lakefront rooms. Fires nightly provided along with s'mores bags. They also provide kayaks and paddle boards. Beautiful views of the lake and mackinaw bridge. Peaceful & relaxing. Friendly staff. Large breakfast nice pool and hot tub also. Very clean property inside and out. Definitely recommend. read more

Not good. Stinky, outdated. The room reeked. It looked nothing like the photos. The bathroom had a plunger next to the toilet in a bucket. The whole bathroom reeked like a portapoty. Me and my hubby left after being there for an hour. Maybe we got a bad room but would not recommend to anyone read more

LOVE this motel! It's super nice and the view is stunning. The rooms are small but absolutely worth it. They gave us breakfast for our rooms and if you go to the bonfires they give you s'mores. The room was super clean and you can hear the seagulls and waves. Definitely will be back! read more

Overall pretty good. Room was clean and nice. We had a beautiful lakefront room with a gorgeous view. Not much insulation between floors, upstairs neighbors woke us up at 7am with sounds like they were moving furniture. Ice machine FULL OF BUGS ... Midge flies that were everywhere! Many were frozen into the ice cubes. Ick!!! They keep the ice machine outside so flies of all kinds and mosquitoes or anything else that can crawl or fly can get into it. I'm wondering if health department regulations are being followed. I read that these flies can carry diseases. It was truly gross! I went to the front desk (9:00 pm on 5/26/19) and the woman working was not apologetic or understanding and quite dismissive. read more

See all

The Clearwater is in the same price ballpark or less expensive than the chain hotels in Mackinaw City. The rooms ARE dated in terms of decor but are very clean and the king bed was comfy. Most rooms have lake views and balconies with bridge views. The private beach and fire pits are the icing on the cake. This is a great, quiet option for adults who care less about room aesthetics and more about the overall experience. read more

Clearwater Lakeshore - Balcony bridge view - Hotels Near Me - Mackinaw City, Michigan

We stayed there for two nights and loved the amenities. At night they keep several fire pits going and pass out smore kits. The service was also very friendly. Why the 3 star review you might ask? The beds are rock and I mean rock hard. They feel like 100-200 dollar cheap hotel mattresses. Since sleeping is a key aspect of a hotel and I got very little of it on the hard mattresses I can't rate over a 3. If they had better mattress this hotel would easily be a 5. read more

Good clean room. View of the mackinaw bridge... very beautiful. They have a pool, but we didn't use it. Some of the staff was very friendly, all were helpful, except I wasn't able to get salt and pepper from the staff because they were not able to open the breakfast room doors. They have grills on the beach and fire pits on the beach that were very nice to use (I did use the grills and they worked very well, thus the need for salt and pepper). They came very promptly if you wanted a fire started. They had s'mores kits that they gave away along with metal sticks to use. Housekeeping could've been a bit more thorough. They didn't clean the table from the night before and didn't wipe off the nightstand, but beds were made and towels were replenished and floors swept. We had a larger room on the first floor and stayed 2 nights. We were able to cancel our 3rd night on checkin without problem or charge. read more

The staff at the Clearwater Lakeshore were wonderful. We were offered and accepted a ride to town when we learned Ubers weren't available. The manager even offered to come back and get us when we finished shopping. The room was very clean and the balcony had a fantastic view of the lake and the bridge. Every evening they light bonfires on the beach and even offer for us to make s'mores! Wonderful Michigan friendliness! A "Pure Michigan" spot for sure! read more

Great hotel outside of the hustle and bustle of the city. Nice rooms and a great view of the bridge. read more

Clearwater Lakeshore - Sunset view from our room - Hotels Near Me - Mackinaw City, Michigan

Wonderful place. Good prices and nice location. On State Hiway 23, on the water's edge. They build fires on the beach and give you the supplies needed to make S'mores. We requested a room with a queen bed and were upgraded to a large room with beach view and with three beds. We did not see any restaurants in immediate area so it is necessary to get into your car for dinner. For dinner go back onto 23, then turn right/north onto S Huron Ave; see the ferry boats and lots of hotels and food. The busy street seems to be E Central Ave. read more

We stayed here, because it it was still available for a decent price just days before our trip. We were surprised to find out how great it was. The views were amazing and rooms were clean. There were a lot of little extras no one mentions though like a sandy beach with plenty of chairs and 6 fire pits they will maintain for you, and even s'mores kits handed out at no cost. We will be staying here the next time we are in Mackinaw. read more

This hotel does not have any amenities for handicap guests. Not even a hand rail in the bath. My wife struggled to get around in the dinky bath with Her disability. We were told when we booked they had handicapped rooms. The pool was not working and neither were the phones. The pool was out of order and the owner told me she did not have enough money to fix things. I would never recommend this hotel to anyone. STAY AT YOU OWN RISK! read more

This is a wonderful motel! Our rooms were exceptionally clean and well maintained. The bed was very comfortable. The hotel staff were super friendly and helpful. I have stayed at several chain hotels in Mackinaw City for about the same price, and the Clearwater was vastly superior. I'm pretty picky about lodging, especially re: cleanliness, and this place clearly works hard to keep up the property. I definitely would recommend the Clearwater! read more

Not my choice, but I was brought here by my wife and her sisters whose Dad stays here on a regular basis when he travels up North. If you are going to stay here, get a room facing the water, maybe that will help. We had three rooms in our party, all on the interior in building 6. The hallway had a smell of cat urine, our room had a sour smell when the A/C was run, and one of the sister-in-laws rooms was overpowered by air freshener and had sand in the shower. The grounds are nice, open and clean, plenty of sitting space for taking in the view, but the beach is not really a beach at all, so if you have kids looking for that, this is not your place. That and the location off the main strip make this a good location for a quiet stay, but not so much if you have young kids who need to get out. OK value for the money, but not my cup of tea. read more

Stayed here over the Fourth of July weekend 2014 with my wife and three daughters. The staff were super awesome, the continental breakfast was the best ever with a waffle iron and great waffle batter, the room was nice with a great view of the bridge and fireworks and plenty of furniture for my family. Please save us a room! read more

Friendly staff, clean rooms. The staff actually appreciates your patronage, as opposed to most places in this town. Great view of the bridge and fire pits at night. Highly recommended!!! read more

I was really looking forward to staying at this motel, there were a lot of great reviews. But, what booking.com and the motel website had failed to mention is that you must be 21+ to stay here. I am 20 years old as is my boyfriend, we were denied a room after it was booked a month in advanced and already paid for. I understand that there a rules and guidelines that staff have to follow as a part of their job, after getting my money back and being told "you can't stay here, bye", I would have hoped for a little help. (She asked if we had been to the area before, which we have not. So, she knew that we had no idea where else to go) After an hour of driving around and calling every motel/hotel in the area, we ended up in the motel next door for $40 cheaper with the same view and awesome customer service. read more

We were very pleased with the accommodations, our room was clean and neat, bed and pillows were comfortable. The view from our room was beautiful. Great value for the money comparative to other hotels, I will definitely be coming back! read more

Clearwater Lakeshore - Hotels Near Me - Mackinaw City, Michigan

Beautiful little hotel. Room was on the second floor overlooking the beach and it had the most incredible view of the bridge! I will definitely be staying here again. read more

This was a delightful place to stay. It's not the newest or shiniest place I've ever stayed, but it's more than adequate and quite clean. I loved having a balcony overlooking the lake and slept with the sliding door open every night so I could enjoy the sound of the waves. The staff updates the beach furniture throughout the day, putting out lounge chairs and umbrellas in the morning and lighting the fire pits in the evening. Every staff member I interacted with was great and the breakfast was good. read more

This motel is the best little find! The staff goes above and beyond to make guests comfortable. We stayed 2 nights for 4th of July and we couldn't be happier. The bathroom/shower area was a bit small, and that's the ONLY reason I'm giving 4 stars. The views were amazing. The staff started nightly fires and kept them going and handed out S'mores. They even brought bottled water around on the 4th. They provide kayaks and SUPs. And there are enough lawn chairs and umbrellas to go around. Really a great experience! read more

My husband I went on vacation and made a reservation at Clearwater Lakeshore. We had a small issue when we checked into the room. The staff and the owner took care of the issue immediately. The place is gorgeous and the view of Lake Michigan is spectacular. The staff and the owner are very nice people. I would highly recommend this place to anyone. Thank you to the staff and the owner of this establishment. John & Cathy read more

Lovely motel and quiet location. Super-clean rooms, big fluffy pillows and very, very comfortable beds. It is not in the downtown area but it is less than a 5 minute drive away (which means it's also away from the noise). Nice view of the bridge. Pool was large and was also extremely well-kept, we used it every day. It was unseasonably cold for August so we needed to turn on the heat every night, the heater kept the room nice and warm. Very friendly owners, too! The only reason for not giving 5 stars is that the towels small and the water pressure was low (but this may be the case with other hotels there, too, I don't know for sure). read more

I was super excited to find this hotel due to the great reviews and competitive pricing. Our entire stay was awful. From cold showers to horribly rude staff. I would never recommend staying at this hotel. Take your business elsewhere. read more