PYRTPlan Your Road Trips
Create TripMy TripsCommunityMerchandise
PYRTPlan Your Road Trips
Create TripMy TripsCommunityMerchandise
G
Destinations
Home›Destinations›Grand Rapids
North AmericaUnited StatesMichigan

Grand Rapids

Michigan, United States · North America

About Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids is worth a stop: 10 minutes from East Grand Rapids, 60km from Gilmore Car Museum.

Grand Rapids is a city located in Michigan, United States. With a population of 195,097, it is an important destination in North America.

On a road trip, Grand Rapids sits in United States, where you drive on the right. It's in the America/Detroit time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Grand Rapids to your route.

About Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids is a city in and the county seat of Kent County, Michigan, United States. It is the second-most populous city in Michigan, with a population of 198,917 at the 2020 census (estimated at 200,117 in 2024). The Grand Rapids metropolitan area, with over 1.18 million residents, is the 49th-largest metropolitan

Read more area in the U.S. Grand Rapids is situated along the Grand River approximately 25 miles (40 km) east of Lake Michigan and is the economic and cultural hub of West Michigan. Originally inhabited by the Hopewell and later Odawa people, the area was settled by European Americans in the early 19th century and incorporated in 1850. Grand Rapids gained prominence in the late 19th Century as the "Furniture City" due to its thriving furniture manufacturing industry, a legacy that continues to influence the region's industrial profile. Its economy is diversified, encompassing healthcare, education, manufacturing, and technology, with major employers such as Corewell Health, Meijer, and Steelcase anchoring its economic landscape. Culturally, Grand Rapids is home to several museums, including the Grand Rapids Art Museum and Grand Rapids Public Museum. The city also hosts the annual ArtPrize, an international art competition, and the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, a premier horticultural and artistic destination. As a result of the numerous craft breweries in the city, including Founders Brewing Company, Grand Rapids is also known as "Beer City USA". Grand Rapids was the childhood home of U.S. President Gerald Ford, who is buried with his wife Betty on the grounds of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in the city. The city's Gerald R. Ford International Airport and Gerald R. Ford Freeway are named after him.

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in Grand Rapids

Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.

Filter presets

Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.

Booking.comExpediaTripAdvisorHotels.comAgodaAirbnb

Compare before you book!

Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Grand Rapids.

Explore the Area

Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Grand Rapids.

Loading map...
Open in Google Maps

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Grand Rapids?

Grand Rapids offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.

How do I plan a road trip to Grand Rapids?

Plan your road trip to Grand Rapids with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Grand Rapids as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Where is Grand Rapids located?

Grand Rapids is located in Michigan, United States, North America. The coordinates are 42.9634 latitude, -85.6681 longitude.

What is the population of Grand Rapids?

Grand Rapids has a population of approximately 195,097 people, making it a city in United States.

Plan a Road Trip

Add to your itinerary

Start planning your road trip with Grand Rapids as a destination. Create a custom route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Start Road Trip

What's Nearby?

Discover destinations like Tinder

Swipe through stunning destinations near Grand Rapids. Save your favourites and add them to your trip.

Explore now

Quick Information

Population
195,097
Continent
North America
Country
United States
Region
Michigan
Timezone
America/Detroit
Coordinates
42.9634, -85.6681

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in United States

Police
911
Ambulance
911
Fire
911
Driving side
right

AAA roadside assistance: 1-800-222-4357. Right turn on red is legal in most states unless signed otherwise.

Full driving guide for United States

Tags

North AmericaUnited StatesMichiganCity

Worth the detour from Grand Rapids

2 notable places within an hour's drive.

cafe

Rosie's Diner

A vintage 1946 Paramount diner in Michigan made famous by the Bounty paper towel TV commercials, an icon of American roadside dining culture.

20 km · about 25 min drive

museum

Gilmore Car Museum

One of North America's largest auto museums: 400-plus vehicles spread across a 90-acre Michigan campus of historic barns, a recreated 1930s Shell station and a vintage diner.

60 km · about 70 min drive

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Grand Rapids.

East Grand Rapids

🇺🇸 United States

5 km awayPop. 11,311

Wyoming

🇺🇸 United States

6 km awayPop. 75,275

Comstock Park

🇺🇸 United States

8 km awayPop. 10,088

Walker

🇺🇸 United States

9 km awayPop. 24,647

Grandville

🇺🇸 United States

10 km awayPop. 15,953

Kentwood

🇺🇸 United States

11 km awayPop. 51,357

Northview

🇺🇸 United States

11 km awayPop. 14,541

Jenison

🇺🇸 United States

12 km awayPop. 16,538

Plan a trip around Grand Rapids

North America road trip planner

Plan a Road Trip from Grand Rapids

Create your perfect itinerary with our calendar-based planner. Add stops, discover attractions along the way, and share your trip with friends.

Start Planning
PYRT

The ultimate road trip planning platform. Discover 150,000+ destinations worldwide, plan scenic routes, and create unforgettable adventures.

Inspiration

  • Discover Trips
  • Travel Guides
  • Community

The Product

  • Calendar Planner
  • Integrations
  • How It Works
  • Collaboration Mode
  • Get the App
  • Merchandise: PYRT Supply Co.
  • Become a Creator
  • Trip Marketplace

Plan Your Trip

  • Road Trip Planner
  • Famous Routes
  • Planners by Country
  • Best Road Trip Planner App
  • Discover Road Trips
  • Events
  • Travel Guides
  • How It Works
  • My Trips
  • Community Groups

Company

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Support
  • Contact Us
  • Sign In
  • Create Account

© 2026 Plan Your Road Trips. All rights reserved.

•[email protected]
Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence