Travel & Accommodations

Grand Rapids is the second-largest city in Michigan, known for its friendly culture and range of world-renowned art, gardens, museums and historic sites, an impressive restaurant scene, and plenty of family-friendly parks & programs.

We're also home to nationally recognized breweries and a number of equally lauded coffee spots. Learn more about Grand Rapids tourism and events at ExperienceGR.com.

When booking your stay, remember to consider both the Festival dates (April 11-13, 2024) and the optional Workshop Wednesday sessions (April 10, 2024), depending on your registration selection(s). For start and end times related to Festival, refer to the Schedule and Workshops pages.

Travel to Grand Rapids

Plane: The Gerald R. Ford International Airport is only 15-20 minutes from the Calvin University campus.  A variety of ground transportation options are available at the Ford Airport.   

Car: By car, Grand Rapids is roughly 2.5 hours from Detroit, 3 hours from Chicago, 5.5 hours from Columbus, 5 hours from Indianapolis, and 6.5 hours from Toronto. Local car services include Lyft, Uber, and Metro Cab Grand Rapids.

Bus: Greyhound and Indian Trails buses provide long-distance and interstate service. The Rapid provides local bus transportation, including a stop right at the entrance to Calvin's campus.

Train: The Amtrak Pere Marquette line runs between Grand Rapids and Chicago, round-trip, seven days a week. Riders on the Pere Marquette line travel along the coast of Lake Michigan.

Where to Stay

Hotels: There are a wide range of lodging options located within a few miles of Calvin University’s campus. We have negotiated special rates for 2024 Festival attendees at a variety of local hotels. More information is available here.

Airbnb & Vrbo: There are more Airbnb and Vrbo hosts in Grand Rapids each day, some within walking or biking distance from campus.

Student Housing: We are able to offer a very limited number of dorm rooms on the campus of Calvin University for visiting college students who are attending the Festival. All dorm accommodations feature 2-bedroom suites with an adjoining shared bathroom. Each room contains two beds and is priced at $50/night. Please fill out this form to request on-campus housing. The submission of this form does not guarantee availability. Requests will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis, and someone from the CCFW team will be in touch with you directly to discuss your request.

Local Transportation

Car Rental: Several companies operate out of Ford Airport.  

Bus: The Rapid provides local bus transportation, including a stop right at the entrance to Calvin's campus. See their website for route planning and further information.

Ridesharing: Both Lyft and Uber operate in Grand Rapids and are quick options. Ridesharing can also be arranged by visiting our Festival app to connect with other attendees. If you are driving to the Festival, please consider offering rides to other Festivalgoers. 

Taxi: Metro Cab Grand Rapids (616) 827-6500. If you wish to call a taxi, you may encounter a wait of 30 to 45 minutes. The Prince Conference Center is located at 1800 East Beltline Avenue SE. 

On Campus

Parking: There will be limited parking available on campus with overflow parking one mile from campus (and a shuttle available for the overflow lot). Please allow yourself extra time to park and make your way to/from Festival events.  

As parking on campus is limited, we encourage Festivalgoers to check with their hotel and other attendees to see if group rides to campus are available. Along with Lyft, Uber, public transit, and local taxi services, rides can also be arranged by visiting our Festival app to connect with others in our official Festival Rideshare group. If you are driving to the Festival, please consider offering rides to other Festivalgoers.

On-Campus Shuttles will be available for the duration of Festival to provide transportation around campus.