Manitoulin Island Hotels: The Best Places to Stay on Manitoulin Island
Manitoulin Island Hotels
Manitoulin Island is quickly becoming a favourite destination for many Canadians seeking a summer getaway. The gorgeous vistas, incredible beaches, delicious food, and amazing people, are a definite draw for vacationers. And lower crowd levels, coupled with some excellent Manitoulin Island hotels, make this destination a favourite for families and adventure-seekers alike.
What is Special About Manitoulin Island
Manitoulin Island is unique for so many reasons. Not only is Manitoulin (or “Spirit Island” in the Ojibwe language of Anishnaabemowin) the largest freshwater island in the world, it also has about 108 inland lakes, some of which even have their own islands!
And beautiful vistas aren’t the only reasons you should visit Manitoulin. The island is also rich in history and culture, with a carefully preserved indigenous culture.
Many of the First Nations people that call Manitoulin home live on small reserves, including Wikwemikong, which is the only unceded reserve in Canada.
Where is Manitoulin Island
Manitoulin Island is located on Lake Huron in Northern Ontario. It is approximately a 1.5 hours drive south of Sudbury, and just over a 5-hour drive northwest of Toronto.
How to Get On Manitoulin Island
There are three main ways to get to the island. The first is by driving across the Little Current Swing Bridge located on the northeastern part of the island. This is the only land crossing onto Manitoulin.
The second method is by flying into one of two airports. The Gore Bay-Manitoulin Airport serves air traffic and fly-in access on the west end of Manitoulin for commercial flights.
The Manitoulin East Municipal Airport is located at the east end of Manitoulin. This airport is on Highway 6, in between Sheguiandah and Manitowaning, and is for private aircraft only.
The third way to access the island is by ferry. The MS Chi-Cheemaun (Ojibwe for “large canoe”) makes several trips daily between Tobermory and South Baymouth from May until October.
Where to Stay on Manitoulin Island
When it comes to Manitoulin Island hotels, there are many options to choose from. Whether you are on a budget, or you are in the mood to splurge, you can easily find something to fit your needs.
Of course, renting a cottage or camping on Manitoulin Island are also great options. However, if you are looking for more of the comforts and amenities of a hotel, then there are a lot of great choices available.
So aside from your budget, location is probably the biggest thing you need to consider when choosing which Manitoulin Island hotel is right for you.
Insider Tip Because there are a relatively small number of hotels on Manitoulin Island, accommodations book up pretty fast. Our advice is to book early If you are planning to visit the island, especially during the summer months.
If you want to be close to amenities like grocery stores, restaurants, shops, and gas stations, then staying central in one of the larger townships like Little Current or Providence Bay, will be the best option.
On the other hand, you may be ok with driving around the island while exploring different attractions. Or maybe you are not concerned with being close to amenities. If this is the case, then maybe a more remote location would be ideal.
At the end of the day, you won’t find a large number of hotels on the island. But the ones that are available, offer enough comforts and amenities for a weekend stay, or for a full week of exploring all the awesome things to do on Manitoulin Island.
Manitoulin Hotel and Conference Centre – Little Current
Located in Little Current, just past the Swing Bridge, the Manitoulin Island Hotel and Conference Centre is the largest hotel on the island. And we would definitely say, it is one of our favourite Manitoulin Island hotels.
If you are looking to explore the east side of the island, the hotel is not only conveniently located near the Little Current Marina, but it is also within walking distance from the Manitoulin Brewing Company, grocery stores, LCBO, and restaurants.
One of the things that makes this Manitoulin Island hotel really special, is that it is completely owned and operated by the Islands’ Indigenous communities. This includes the on-site restaurant, North46, which features Indigenous-fusion cuisine.
We enjoyed a couple of dinners at the restaurant during our stay at the hotel. The food was absolutely delicious! And sitting on the outdoor patio overlooking Georgian Bay, was a pretty awesome way to end the evening.
We enjoyed awesome bison burgers, delicious Anishnaabe Tacos, bison chilli, and local craft beer. The servings were generous, and the prices were reasonable.
As for the hotel, we found the rooms to be quite spacious and clean. The beds were comfortable, and the rooms had a good-sized bathroom, fridge, and microwave.
The outdoor heated pool was perfect for the kids to cool off in, especially after a long hike on the Cup and Saucer Trail. There is a small private deck alongside the pool to enjoy the sun, read a book, or hang out with the kids.
Hawberry Motel – Little Current
Located in Little Current, the Hawberry Motel is conveniently situated just minutes from the Swing Bridge.
The Hawberry Motel has 22 rooms, which are all smoke-free and pet-free. This is great news if, like me, you suffer from allergies.
If you are on a budget, and interested in staying in the Northern part of the island, then this motel is a good choice.
We found the rooms to be a little dated, but clean, and with newer bathrooms, fridge and microwave. Our room actually had a separate bedroom for the kids, which was nice!
The Hawberry Motel is within walking distance of a grocery store, restaurants, LCBO, ice-cream shop, Tim Horton’s, and The Manitoulin Brewing Company. There is plenty of free parking.
You can book your stay at the Hawberry Hotel here.
My Friends Inn – Manitowaning
If you would like to stay on the east side of Manitoulin Island, then we would definitely recommend My Friends Inn in Manitowaning. This family-run Inn is clean and charming and is in close proximity to both Mindemoya and Little Current.
We found the newly-renovated rooms to be spacious, and well laid out, with comfortable beds, WiFi, a microwave, and a coffee maker. Other on-site amenities include picnic tables and a BBQ, which are available for the use of guests.
My Friends Inn is within walking distance from a beautiful beach with a boat launch and playground, an 18-hole golf course, a museum, restaurants, a grocery store, a drug store, and a liquor store. And if you are a fan of Lighthouses, the Manitowaning Lighthouse is also a short walk from the Inn.
But just a heads up, this 8-room hotel is pretty popular with guests. We would definitely recommend booking your stay in advance. The owners advised us that they were sold out for most of the summer season.
You can book your stay at My Friends Inn here.
Final Thoughts on Manitoulin Island Hotels
No matter what kind of accommodations you are looking for, Manitoulin Island Hotels will provide the perfect home base for all your family’s adventures. Whether you are thinking about a short stay or a week-long getaway, you will find the perfect place to rest your head after an awesome day of sightseeing on the island.
Check the availability and pricing for all Manitoulin Island hotels here.
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Related Posts:
- The Beautiful Ontario Lighthouses of Manitoulin Island and Georgian Bay
- Manitoulin Island Hotels: The Best Places to Stay on Manitoulin Island
- The Best Camping on Manitoulin Island – Manitoulin Eco Park
- Hiking the Amazing Cup and Saucer Trail on Manitoulin Island
- 15 Awesome Things to Do on Manitoulin Island with Kids
