Trip Planning FAQ

Grand Rapids is located in West Michigan, about 185 miles from Chicago and 157 miles from Detroit, by car. It’s just 30 miles or so from the clean, sugar-sand beaches of Lake Michigan.

CNN named Grand Rapids 1 of the 10 Best American Towns to visit in 2014, recommending our “vibrant arts scene, thriving beer culture and family-friendly recreation.” USA Today has named us 1 of the 10 Best Cities Where You Can See Amazing Art, America’s Best Beer City and America’s Craft Beverage Capital. Thrillist says Grand Rapids is “rich in art, food, music and every other big-city amenity, only in a quieter package” and Travel Zoo says Grand Rapids “pairs big-city convenience with small-town charm.” It’s definitely worth a visit!

This website! Start at the home page. You can also get great info by following us on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok.

Check our Things to Do page for general recommendations and our Calendar of Events for a list that matches your visiting dates.

Our Top 10 list covers the most popular visitor activities. Some of the biggest annual events include ArtPrize (Sept-Oct), the World of Winter Festival (Jan-Mar), LaughFest (March) and the Festival of the Arts (June).

What are you hungry for? Grand Rapids is home to 1,000+ restaurants offering every kind of cuisine. We’ve been named 1 of America’s Top 20 Foodie Cities and Michigan’s Best Food City, partly because our restaurants source fresh ingredients from dozens of family farms and orchards that circle the city.

Browse our hotel packages.

Attraction Pass GR offers reduced admission and other discounts at some of the area’s most popular attractions. You can get a free t-shirt when you use the Beer City Brewsader® app to check in to 8 local breweries, and additional free perks when you check in to 35+ breweries. Use the Flights of Flavor app to find local food and/or drink flights and earn points that can be redeemed for free merchandise.

Lake Michigan is about 30 miles due west of Grand Rapids. There are 20+ Lake Michigan beaches and five lakeshore communities (Grand Haven, Holland, Muskegon, Saugatuck/Douglas and South Haven) within a 30-60 minute drive of downtown Grand Rapids.

Take your pick - Grand Rapids is easily accessible by air, car, bus, train and even ferry across Lake Michigan. If you're driving, you'll find Grand Rapids at the intersection of two major expressway systems: US-131 and I-96/I-196.

Airports Council International named Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) the #1 airport in North America in its size class, and the easiest, most enjoyable and cleanest airport of any size. GRR is served by seven airlines connecting to 30+ non-stop destinations and conducting more than 140 flights each day.

Yes, both Uber and Lyft operate here. Visitors can also take advantage of a FREE DASH shuttle to travel around downtown and use the Rapid Bus service to go beyond the city center. Electric scooters and bikes are also available to rent.

Very – you can walk to 200+ downtown hotels, restaurants, breweries, shops, museums and entertainment venues within the space of 10 minutes. You can even walk with an alcoholic beverage in hand, as long as you stay within the very spacious boundaries of the Downtown Refreshment Area.

Grand Rapids enjoys all four seasons to the fullest. Visit our Weather page for average temperatures and seasonal packing tips.

Grand Rapids is located in the Eastern Time zone and follows Daylight Saving Time from March through November. Check the current time.

Michigan sales tax is 6% on all “tangible” goods. The city of Grand Rapids does not impose an additional sales tax.

Grand Rapids is the second largest city in Michigan, with a population of 196,908 residents as of the 2022 census. The metro area, which consists of four counties, is home to more than 1 million people.

Grand Rapids was voted Beer City in nationwide polls in 2012 and 2013, and it has held the title ever since. USA Today has also named us America’s Best Beer Town, America’s Best Beer Scene and America’s Best Beer City (4 years running!).

Grand Rapids is also recognized for its art, food, craft beverages, outdoor recreation, live music and family-friendly atmosphere.

Grand Rapids prioritizes sustainability and has received worldwide recognition for its efforts. With many LEED-certified buildings (often first of their kind), renewable energy sources, public transit and walkability, Grand Rapids has plenty to show for their commitment to being "green." 

The area's largest employers include:

• Corewell Health
• Trinity Health Grand Rapids
• Meritage Hospitality Group
• Gordon Food Service
• Meijer
• Gentex
• MillerKnoll
• Perrigo

Yes – cannabis is legal to buy and consume in Grand Rapids and throughout Michigan.

You must be at least 21 years of age to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages in Michigan. The sale of alcohol is not allowed from 2am to 7am. Bars close at 2am. You can consume alcoholic beverages purchased from approved vendors while you walk around the region’s outdoor Refreshment Areas.

Michigan is one of 49 states requiring the use of seat belts. Law enforcement can stop and ticket motorists solely for not being buckled up. Drivers and front seat passengers must be buckled up, and all passengers aged 8-15 must be buckled up whether front or back. Children must be properly buckled in a car seat or booster seat until they are 8 years old or 4’9” tall.

You need a fishing license if you’re 17 years of age or older. Boaters born after June 30, 1996, and most personal watercraft operators who operate a vessel in Michigan must have a boater education card (boating safety certificate). A base hunting license is required for anyone who hunts in Michigan and additional hunting licenses may be required for different game.

Visit the Michigan DNR website for more information, including how to purchase your license.