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4 Car-Free Destinations

No vehicle? No worries! Walking, biking and golf carts rule at these vacation locations across the country

a horse-drawn carriage passes by a historic home on mackinac island in michigan
A horse-drawn carriage is one of the nonmotorized ways to get around Mackinac Island, Michigan.
Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau
By

Susan B. Barnes,

 
AARP
Published October 02, 2023

​Planning a road trip is always fun, but dealing with traffic jams, rush hour and possible car problems can really pump the brakes on a good time. 

​If you’re thinking of ditching the car on your next trip, you’re not alone. The appeal of car-free communities is growing. In August, the first car-free community “built from scratch” in the U.S. made its debut in Tempe, Arizona. 

​Alternative modes of transportation such as golf carts and horse-drawn carriages also add another element of fun to your vacation.

Here are four car-free options to consider across the U.S. 

a view of boats docked at mackinac island in michigan
Cars are banned on Mackinac Island, so most people walk, ride bikes or rent scooters to get around.
Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau

​Mackinac Island, Michigan

This year marks 125 years since Mackinac Island banned automobiles, a result of an 1898 “… first encounter between horse and ‘horseless carriage.’” Ever since, the popular vacation destination at the tip of Michigan’s "mitten" between the state’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas, has been a no-car zone.

​Leave your car behind and board Shepler’s Ferry or Mackinac Island Ferry Company for the 16- to 18-minute rides to the island. Ferries are regularly-scheduled from late April through October ($34 round trip).

​Once you’re on the island, you have three options when it comes to getting around: walking, horse — carriage tours or riding horseback — or biking, which is definitely a popular option. Bicycles are so popular, Mackinac has more bikes per person than anywhere in the world. Join the two-wheeled fun by renting a bike at the on-island rental shops (fees start around $15 per hour). Take your time riding the 8.2-mile route that skirts the island. Electric scooters are available for rent, and one accessible horse-drawn carriage is available.

​The slower pace on Mackinac Island makes it perfect for leisure activities, with hiking trails, walking tours, kayaking, a golf course, art galleries and boutiques. Don’t forget the world-famous fudge. At the end of the day, stay at the historic Grand Hotel, the grande dame of Mackinac Island; rates start around $319.

the harbor of catalina island in california
Catalina Island in Southern California is a mostly car-free destination.
Love Catalina

​Catalina Island, California

Catalina Island is 22 miles off Southern California, at the southernmost end of the Channel Islands. Accessible by boat, helicopter or private plane, Catalina has been a mostly car-free destination since the 1980s to regulate the number of vehicles within the Avalon city limits. The current wait to bring a full-size vehicle onto Catalina is more than 25 years.

​To move around the island, residents and visitors primarily depend on golf carts, called autoettes; each home is permitted to have one golf cart, and rentals are available. 

​There are two golf cart rental companies on the island (Island Rentals and Catalina Island Golf Cart Rentals) and rates start at $60 per hour. Or, let someone else do the driving and take a two-hour island tour with Avalon Local Tours and Guided Golf Cart Tours; $260 for up to five people. Bike and e-bike rentals are also available. Catalina remains accessible with a taxi and fixed-route bus service for visitors needing assistance.

​The island offers outdoor activities such as bird-watching, kayaking, stand up paddling, scuba diving and hiking; a hiking permit through the Catalina Island Conservancy is required for interior island hiking. 

​Accommodations on Catalina range from tent camping to inns, bed and breakfasts, and hotels. The boutique Catalina Island Inn is in the heart of Avalon, overlooking the harbor and just steps from the ferry; rates start around $127.

people riding bikes and driving golf carts on bald head island north carolina
Bald Head Island, North Carolina, has been car-free since 1983.
courtesy of Bald Head Island Limited

​​Bald Head Island, North Carolina​

Bald Head Island, south of Wilmington, North Carolina, has been car-free since 1983. The 12,000-acre island is accessible only by ferry or private boat, and once you’ve arrived, you’ll travel by tram to your accommodations, where you may have a golf cart to use for the duration of your stay. If not, rentals are available through Cary Cart Company ($89 per day). Bicycle rentals are also available through two on-island shops; rates from $12 for two hours.

​There’s a slower pace of life on the island — take a stroll along 14 miles of beaches; hike the M. Kent Mitchell Nature Trail for 360-degree views of the marsh; go fishing, kayaking, stand up paddling or sailing. One site not to miss is Old Baldy, North Carolina’s oldest standing lighthouse, built in 1817.​

a small ranch house sits under an old oak tree covered in spanish moss on daufuskie island in south carolina
Visitors can see ancient oak trees covered with Spanish moss on Daufuskie Island in South Carolina.
courtesy of Discover South Carolina

Daufuskie Island, South Carolina​

On Daufuskie Island, cars are few and far between, as are paved roads. Instead, islanders find pristine beaches, ancient oak trees covered with Spanish moss and a sense of stepping back in time. Without a bridge connecting the island to the mainland, travelers arrive by ferry or personal boat.

​A shuttle will take you from the ferry dock to your accommodations. There are no hotels on Daufuskie Island, so a vacation rental is the way to go. Many of the rentals will include a golf cart, or you can rent one from a rental company on the island (rates start around $65 a day). 

​Once on Daufuskie, you’ll find nonmotorized activities such as horseback riding, bicycling, paddleboarding and kayaking. Stopping into any one of the handful of eateries or art galleries is a fun way to get to know the locals; more than 500 people live on the island year-round.

Susan B. Barnes is a Florida-based independent journalist with a passion for travel, wellness and the environment.

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