Chippewa County (CIU) Airport Car Service

CIU (officially Chippewa County International Airport, located on the site of the former Kincheloe Air Force Base which closed in 1977) sits in Kincheloe, Michigan about 20 miles south of Sault Ste. Marie in Chippewa County, accessible via Interstate 75. The airport is owned and operated by Chippewa County and serves as the primary commercial gateway for the eastern Upper Peninsula. American Eagle provides limited scheduled commercial service to Detroit (DTW). Two parallel runways including a 12,360 foot main runway (one of the longest civilian runways in Michigan, inherited from the SAC bomber operations) accommodate every category of aircraft. Our chauffeurs stage at the terminal commercial vehicle lane.

CIU to Sault Ste. Marie and the Soo Locks (the legendary set of canal locks on the St. Marys River that connect Lake Superior to the lower Great Lakes, handling some of the heaviest cargo tonnage in the world) runs about 25 to 30 minutes via Interstate 75 northbound. We handle daily Sault Ste. Marie transfers to the Kewadin Casino Hotel and the Holiday Inn Express Sault Ste Marie.

Yes. Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie (the home of the LSSU Lakers Division I men's hockey program, one of the most storied programs in college hockey) runs about 25 to 30 minutes from CIU. We handle parent weekend transfers, Lakers hockey game weekend transport at Taffy Abel Arena, graduation week pickups, and Great Lakes shipping and freshwater research conference logistics.

Yes. The Kewadin Casinos (the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians casino operations with locations in Sault Ste. Marie and elsewhere in the eastern UP) run about 25 to 30 minutes from CIU, and Bay Mills Resort and Casino on the shores of Lake Superior runs about 40 to 50 minutes via M 28 westbound. We handle daily casino guest transfers and tribal corporate event pickups.

Yes. The St. Ignace ferry terminals for the Star Line and Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry services run about 50 to 60 minutes from CIU via Interstate 75 southbound to US 2. We handle Mackinac Island day trip transfers timed to ferry schedules, Grand Hotel Mackinac Island day visit transport, and the seasonal Lilac Festival and Yacht Race weekend visitor logistics.

Yes. Tahquamenon Falls State Park (one of the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi, including the iconic Upper Falls with its 50 foot drop) runs about 90 minutes from CIU via M 28 westbound. We handle daily park visitor transfers and the broader Whitefish Point Lighthouse and Shipwreck Museum visitor logistics in Paradise, Michigan.

Yes. The Mackinac Bridge (the legendary 5 mile suspension bridge connecting Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas, opened in 1957) runs about 50 minutes from CIU via Interstate 75 southbound, and the Mackinaw City side of the bridge runs about 60 minutes. We handle daily Mackinac Bridge crossings, Mackinaw City visitor transfers, and Colonial Michilimackinac historic site logistics.

Yes. The eastern Upper Peninsula hosts diverse industries including the Cliffs Natural Resources iron ore operations, the Sault Tribe casino enterprises, US Coast Guard operations on Lake Superior, and the broader Mackinac Bridge Authority. We hold standing accounts with corporate visitors, supplier logistics teams, and the Sault Tribe gaming and economic development corporate base.

Mackinac Island peak summer season runs from late May through mid October, with the heaviest demand during the Lilac Festival in early June, the Chicago Mac Yacht Race finish in July, and Labor Day weekend (when the Mackinac Bridge Walk closes the bridge to vehicle traffic for the annual walk). We recommend three to four weeks of lead time for peak summer SUV and Sprinter bookings, since Mackinac Island and St. Ignace hotel inventory fills four to six months ahead.

Yes. Dispatch runs around the clock with a live human on the line, and we operate red eye charter arrivals, 5 am Mackinac Island ferry connection departures during peak summer season, and late night Kewadin Casino guest transfers. There is no surcharge for late night or early morning service on standard bookings.