Introduction
What to do
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting a car

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.

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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), Divani (15 Ionia Avenue, SW Suite 130) and Ruth's Chris Steak House - Grand Rapids (187 Monroe NW). 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

Grand Rapids in February
Estimated hotel price
$127
1 night at 3-star hotel
Grand Rapids in February
Estimated hotel price
$127
1 night at 3-star hotel

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″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

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 Raleigh and takes around 1h 54m.

Train

Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Grand Rapids. The train journey from Grand Rapids to Chicago takes 4h 04m and costs around $29 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Detroit, expect to pay about $226 for a 17h 08m trip. 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 Routes Car & Truck Rentals and Turo, among others, in Chicago.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Grand Rapids using Tornado Bus or FlixBus. Grand Rapids’s bus station is located 0.7 miles from the city center.

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 Raleigh and takes around 1h 54m.

Train

Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Grand Rapids. The train journey from Grand Rapids to Chicago takes 4h 04m and costs around $29 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Detroit, expect to pay about $226 for a 17h 08m trip. 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 Routes Car & Truck Rentals and Turo, among others, in Chicago.

Bus

You can travel by bus to Grand Rapids using Tornado Bus or FlixBus. Grand Rapids’s bus station is located 0.7 miles from the city center.

Airports near Grand Rapids

GRRGrand Rapids Gerald R. Ford Intl
LANLansing Capital City
SBNSouth Bend/Michiana

Airlines serving Grand Rapids

KLM
Good (1,405 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,514 reviews)
Delta
Good (7,981 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,468 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,997 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,992 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,477 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,383 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,657 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,346 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,535 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (11,156 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,333 reviews)
Frontier
Okay (3,127 reviews)
LATAM Airlines
Good (1,870 reviews)
ANA
Excellent (990 reviews)
Japan Airlines
Excellent (1,584 reviews)
Korean Air
Excellent (1,153 reviews)
Aer Lingus
Good (1,352 reviews)
Aeromexico
Good (1,681 reviews)
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Find flights to Grand Rapids

Where to stay in Grand Rapids

If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Holiday Inn Express & Suites Grand Rapids Airport - South By IHG and Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Grand Rapids. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Grand Rapids, with prices from $47 to $315 per night. Downtown is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Grand Rapids are about 144% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Where to stay in popular areas of Grand Rapids

Most booked hotels in Grand Rapids

See all
Drury Inn & Suites Grand Rapids
3 stars
Excellent (9.3, 1021 reviews)
$124+
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Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Grand Rapids East
3 stars
Excellent (9.1, 1593 reviews)
$109+
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Canopy by Hilton Grand Rapids Downtown
4 stars
Excellent (9.1, 316 reviews)
$157+
View
Amway Grand Plaza, Curio Collection by Hilton
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, 983 reviews)
$239+
View
Hyatt Place Grand Rapids-South
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, 529 reviews)
$107+
View
Rodeway Inn
2 stars
Good (7.2, 691 reviews)
$60+
View

Renting a car in Grand Rapids

Renting a car in Grand Rapids costs $51 per day, on average, or $102 if you want to rent if for 2 days. Avis, Dollar and Budget are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Grand Rapids is the Dollar branch at 5500 44th Street Se, which is 9 miles from the city center.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 17% cheaper than airport locations in Grand Rapids.

Expect to pay $3.48 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 $41.79 and $55.72. Full-size (Hyundai Santa Fe or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Grand Rapids, while also 29% cheaper than other types, on average.

Renting a car in Grand Rapids costs $51 per day, on average, or $102 if you want to rent if for 2 days. Avis, Dollar and Budget are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Grand Rapids is the Dollar branch at 5500 44th Street Se, which is 9 miles from the city center.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 17% cheaper than airport locations in Grand Rapids.

Expect to pay $3.48 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 $41.79 and $55.72. Full-size (Hyundai Santa Fe or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Grand Rapids, while also 29% cheaper than other types, on average.

Best car rental deals in Grand Rapids

Compact

4 Adults, 2 Bags

$33/day

Compact

Intermediate

5 Adults, 3 Bags

$33/day

Intermediate
Find car rentals in Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids Travel Guide - View the KAYAK Grand Rapids city guide for the best Grand Rapids travel tips. To help you organize your Grand Rapids trip ideas, this Grand Rapids visitors guide provides travel information and trip tips about how to get there, where to stay, what to do, where to eat and more.