Click on map for more detail

Directions / Parking

Driving Time to Grand Rapids

Because of its access via the interstate highway system, Grand Rapids is only a few hours drive from most major Midwestern cities.

Directions to Downtown Grand Rapids

• US-131 Northbound (arriving from the South): Take Exit 85B (Pearl Street). Turn right onto Pearl Street at the light. Take Pearl Street through the next stop light and over the river to downtown.
• US-131 Southbound (arriving from the North): Take Exit 85A (Pearl Street). Turn left onto Pearl Street at the light. Go under expressway, through 2 stop lights and over the river to downtown.
• From I-96 Westbound (from Lansing/Detroit): Follow I-96 West to the Grand Rapids area. Take I-196 West (also called the Gerald R. Ford Freeway) to downtown Grand Rapids. Take Exit 77 C (Ottawa Avenue) to downtown.
• From Chicago/Indiana via I-94 East: Take I-94 to I-196 North/East to Grand Rapids. Continue on I-196 (also called the Gerald R. Ford Freeway) to downtown Grand Rapids. Take exit 77C (Ottawa Avenue) to downtown.
• From Holland via I-196 East: Take I-196 East to Grand Rapids. Continue on I-196 (also called the Gerald R. Ford Freeway) to downtown Grand Rapids. Take exit 77C (Ottawa Avenue) to downtown.

Parking

Most convenient is the parking area under the DeVos Place Convention Center with capacity for 700 vehicles. The entrance to the convention center’s parking area is on Michigan Street. Other public parking areas are convenient to the convention center. Click here to download a Grand Rapids parking map (Adobe PDF format).

DASH Shuttle Service

Free shuttle service is available from the north end of the Scribner Lot. Use the DASH WEST bus. This bus stops on Pearl Street in front of the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and at the southeast corner of Michigan and Monroe (across the street from DeVos Place). Shuttles run continuously from 7-9 a.m. and from 4-6 p.m. They run every 10 minutes from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Flying to Grand Rapids

Gerald R. Ford International Airport is located about 12 miles southeast of downtown Grand Rapids. Nonstop service is available from a number of Midwestern cities and major U.S. hubs.

Ground Transportation

None of the hotels offering convention rates operate airport shuttles (some area hotels have shuttles to and from the airport). Metro Cab (616-827-6500) and Calder City Taxi (616-454-3774) offer curbside service to and from the airport. Taxi fare to downtown Grand Rapids is approximately $32. These companies also offer 6-passenger minivans that can be pre-arranged. The fare to downtown Grand Rapids is approximately $35.