M-185 is a truly unique state route which serves one of the most popular tourist destinations in the state of Michigan: Mackinac Island. M-185 has the distinction of being the only state route in the entire country that is not used by motor vehicles. Since the early 1900s, there has been a ban on motor vehicles on Mackinac Island. Today, Mackinac Island's visitors and residents alike traverse M-185 and the other roadways of the island by means of horse-drawn carriage, bicycling, and walking.

M-185 is a circular route, which follows along the perimeter of the island. Therefore, there is no true "terminus" for M-185. The Mackinac Island State Park Commission has ereceted wooden mile markers along the entire length of M-185. The point considered mile zero for M-185 is at the Mackinac Island State Park Visitors Center in downtown Mackinac Island. Eric provides the two scenes of the zero mile marker shown here: the first is an overview of mile zero, and the second is a close-up of the zero mile marker. Each of the other wooden mile markers along M-185 appear in the same format as the zero mile marker: in the shape of the diamond used for Michigan state routes, with "M-185" across the top half, and the mile number on the bottom half.

PHOTOS # 1, # 2: Eric Meier - September 21, 2002