Grand Rapids travel guide
Grand Rapids Tourism | Grand Rapids Guide
You're Going to Love Grand Rapids
With a population of 188,040, Grand Rapids is a must-see destination in Michigan, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Grand Rapids deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.
Where to Eat in Grand Rapids
Downtown is the neighborhood with the most restaurants in Grand Rapids. These include popular favorites such as Leo's (60 Ottawa Ave NW), jdek at Margaux (235 Louis St NW) and San Chez A Tapas Bistro (38 W. Fulton). If you’re looking for affordable options, Bistro Bella Vita (44 Grandville Ave SW) and The Chop House - Grand Rapids (190 Monroe Ave NW) are great picks. For delicious green meals, Noto's Old World Italian Dining (6600 28th Street SE) and Friesian Gastro Pub (720 Michigan St NE) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in Grand Rapids.
When to visit Grand Rapids
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Grand Rapids in July, when the average temperature is 73.4 °F, and the highest can go up to 82.4 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 17.6 °F, with an average temperature of 24.8 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in September, when precipitation is around 4.3″. In contrast, February is usually the driest month of the year in Grand Rapids, with an average rainfall of 1.8″.
How to Get to Grand Rapids
Plane
When flying to Grand Rapids, you’ll arrive at Gerald R. Ford Airport (GRR), which is located 9 miles from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Grand Rapids include Frontier, United Airlines and Southwest. The shortest domestic flight to Grand Rapids departs from Nashville and takes around 1h 31m.
Train
Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Grand Rapids. The train station in Grand Rapids is called Grand Rapids, and is located 0.8 miles from the city center.
Car
Another option to get to Grand Rapids is to pick up a car rental from Chicago, which is about 125 miles from Grand Rapids. You’ll find branches of Kyte and Turo, among others, in Chicago.
Bus
You can travel by bus to Grand Rapids using Greyhound or FlixBus. From Chicago, the bus ride to Grand Rapids takes 230 miles and will cost you around $64. From Indianapolis, the ticket costs about $67 for a journey of 1065 miles. Grand Rapids’s bus station is located 0.7 miles from the city center.
Airports near Grand Rapids
Airlines serving Grand Rapids
Where to stay in Grand Rapids
There are also lots of vacation rental options in Grand Rapids, with prices from $54 to $338 per night. Downtown is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Grand Rapids are about 70% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.
Where to stay in popular areas of Grand Rapids
Most booked hotels in Grand Rapids
Renting a car in Grand Rapids
Renting a car in Grand Rapids costs $70 per day, on average, or $140 if you want to rent if for 2 days. Alamo, National and Enterprise Rent-A-Car are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Grand Rapids is the Hertz branch at 5500 44th Street Se Unit 4, which is 6 miles from the city center.
It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 4% cheaper than airport locations in Grand Rapids.
Expect to pay $3.90 per gallon in Grand Rapids (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $46.79 and $62.38. The most frequently booked car type in Grand Rapids is Mini (Chrysler Pacifica or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Honda Fit or similar) are, on average, 66% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.
Best car rental deals in Grand Rapids
Economy
2 Adults, 2 Bags
$39/day
Intermediate
5 Adults, 3 Bags
$39/day