Transportation & Maps

When you fly into Grand Rapids, you’ll land at Gerald R. Ford International Airport (airport code: GRR), the closest major airport to the city – and one of the nation’s friendliest and most efficient airports.

Quick Trip from the Airport to Downtown Grand Rapids

How fast can you get from the airport to Downtown GR? As fast as it takes you to listen to our 16-minute playlists. Hit play below and enjoy the perfect Grand Rapids soundtracks from landing to check-in. All the performers are from West Michigan or have a local connection.

Driving to Grand Rapids from any point in Michigan is easy and direct. The city is located at the intersections of I-96, I-196 and US-131, so drivers can access the city from the north, east, south and west. Once you reach the metro area, every sector of the region – from downtown GR to outlying suburbs – is within a 10-20 minute drive. At most, Grand Rapids is only a two and a half hour trip from Michigan’s major population areas:

• Lansing: 68 miles
• Ann Arbor: 132 miles
• Traverse City: 142 miles
• Detroit: 154 miles

To get to downtown:

• From the north or south - US 131 to exit 85B (Pearl Street)
• From the east  - I-96 to I-196/Downtown (slight left) to exit 77C (Ottawa Ave.)
• From the west - 1-96 to US 131 south to exit 85B (Pearl Street)

Driving to Grand Rapids from other states is easy and direct via interstate highways. The city is located at the intersections of I-96, I-196 and US-131, so drivers can access the city from the north, east, south and west. Once you reach the metro area, every sector of the region – from downtown GR to outlying suburbs – is within a 10-20 minute drive. Grand Rapids is within a day’s drive of half the U.S. populations and a few hours from the Midwest’s major population areas:

• Chicago: 175 miles
• Indianapolis: 290 miles
• Cleveland: 300 miles
• Columbus: 320 miles
• Milwaukee: 264 miles
• St. Louis: 442 miles

Whether you’re driving to Grand Rapids from within Michigan or from another state, you’ll want to check to see if any road closures will impact your journey. Visit our Roadworks Update page for current projects and detours. 

Amtrak provides daily rail service between Grand Rapids and Chicago’s Union Station, which connects to points all across the country. Travel time from Chicago to Grand Rapids is roughly four hours. The Grand Rapids Amtrak station is located on the southern edge of downtown, a two-minute walk from Rapid Central Bus Station.

How to Get Around Grand Rapids

Once you arrive in Grand Rapids, you’ll find all sorts of ways to navigate around the city and Kent County – via car, bus, bike, scooter and even on foot in the city’s safe, compact, oh-so-walkable downtown.

If you don’t arrive by car, or you’d prefer to keep your vehicle parked in one spot while you explore the city, there are plenty of other options for getting around Grand Rapids – including our award-winning Rapid bus system and the free DASH bus, which circulates around downtown GR every eight minutes. Our public transportation system prioritizes accessibility, and all Rapid and DASH buses are wheelchair-friendly and are equipped with an easy-to-load exterior bike rack. Uber and Lyft are readily available for on-demand or scheduled trips. You can also engage a taxi, limo, motorcoach, party bike and more – scroll to the bottom of this page to see all your options.

DART gives residents and visitors access to electric vehicles by the hour, creating a flexible and low-cost alternative to car ownership or traditional rentals. Vehicles are located at three downtown locations and three more across the city. The fee is $5 per hour, and insurance, maintenance and roadside assistance are included in the rental. You must download the MDO Carshare app and complete the application to begin the rental process. Details here.

The city’s Bike and Scooter Share Program lets you rent two-wheeled vehicles to get around a 12-mile area of the city, including downtown. Just download the Veo app to set up your session and then access a seated e-assist bike or standing e-scooter from designated parking zones located across the service area.

If you drive to Grand Rapids or rent a vehicle here, you should know that the vast majority of Grand Rapids/Kent County hotels, restaurants, shops and other attractions offer plenty of free parking. Downtown Grand Rapids is the exception. With thousands of available public spaces on streets and in garages, downtown parking is convenient but generally fee based. Most downtown hotels offer their own parking, and DeVos Place has 700 spaces for people attending its conventions, trade shows, concerts and stage shows. Several parking structures offer electric car charging. Explore the comprehensive guide to parking in Grand Rapids.

We offer electric vehicle charging stations in three of our parking ramps. You'll pay the same as other users to park and pay the meter at the charging station to pay for the charging cost.

• DeVos Place Convention Center Ramp
• Gallery Ramp
• Ottawa Fulton Ramp

You'll pay the same as other users to park and pay the meter at the charging station to pay for the charging cost. You can use online maps and apps like PlugShare and ChargeHub to find other local charging stations.

Once you park in downtown Grand Rapids, you can easily get around on foot – which is why WalkScore.com refers to downtown as a “Walker’s Paradise.” . There are 300+ restaurants, shops, cultural attractions and entertainment venues within a 10-minute walk of DeVos Place, the site of hundreds of yearly conventions, trade shows and public events. Immediately behind DeVos Place, a 2.1-mile trail loop along the Grand River is ideal for a scenic leisurely stroll. It’s part of the Grand River Greenway, an ongoing project to connect 85+ miles of trails between downtown GR and points east and west – including the Lake Michigan coastal city of Grand Haven.

Consult these maps to assist you in driving, parking, biking, hiking and locating specific attractions in and around Grand Rapids/Kent County.

• Beer City Ale Trail Map. PDF File(Printable) (7MB)
• DASH - FREE Downtown Shuttle
• Downtown Grand Rapids Map. PDF File (Printable)
• Grand Rapids Neighborhoods and Wards
• Kent County Trails & Parks
•  Road & Trail Bicycling Map