Festival Map & Location

The Festival is located in downtown East Lansing, near the campus of Michigan State University.  Click here for a Map of the Festival Site



Travel Information

East Lansing, home of Michigan State University Museum and the Great Lakes Folk Festival, is easily accessible by bike, car, air, bus or train.

By Car
East Lansing is only 4 hours by car from Chicago, 1-1/2 hours from Detroit/Windsor and 6 hours from Toronto.

By Bicycle
See "Bike to the Festival" below.

By Plane
Capitol City Airport (Lansing) is twelve miles from East Lansing. Detroit, Flint and Grand Rapids airports are within 90 miles. Carriers include Northwest, ATA Connection, Comair In./Delta Connection, Continental Express, United Express and U.S. Airways Express/Skyway Airlines. For more information, visit www.capitalcityairport.com.

By Train
An Amtrak station is located less than two miles from the festival www.amtrak.com.

By Bus
Greyhound and Indian Trails buses serve the CATA Transportation Center in downtown Lansing where patrons can make easy transfers to CATA Route 1 buses to get to East Lansing. Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) provides excellent local transit. Visit www.cata.org for routes and schedules. There is a link on the home page to the Folk Festival route as well.


Downloadable Maps and Directions to East Lansing and GLFF

City of East Lansing Map

MSU Campus & Area Map

CATA Maps

Lansing Area Map

Visit the Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau website for information on accommodations, or call them at (888) 2-LANSING.

Or, Check the Travel Michigan website for additional information on local campsites, lodging, attractions and more.


Park & Ride Program

Ride for just 25-cents each way when you board a Great Lakes Folk Festival bus or use your CATA fixed-route bus pass. Children 42" or less ride for free. If you pay with cash, you must use exact change. Board and deboard at any CATA bus stop along the routes. Try the convenient park and ride lot on Service Road, just west of Hagadorn, on MSU's campus. Buses run approximately every 10 minutes. CATA service is open to all and transfers are free to other CATA routes.
Special thanks to CATA for providing free public bus service to and from festival parking areas, located on MSU's campus and in East Lansing.

Parking Areas Located on the Festival Green and Red Routes

Green Route
Lot 91, located on the corner of Hagadorn and Service Roads at MSU

Red Route
Abbott Center 1400-1500 Abbott Road (at Saginaw Rd.)
     AND
East Lansing Public High School located on Burcham St., between Division and Kedzie

Complete Printable Map of CATA Folk Festival Bus Routes

CATA Folk Festival Bus Routes Operating Times

Friday, Aug. 13, 4:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 14, 11 a.m.-11:30 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 15, 11a.m.-6:30 p.m.

Buses will run approximately every 10 minutes.
See CATA Map for bus stops and routing.

Service is Provided to All -- Not Restricted to Festival Patrons
The fare for this service is FREE and customers may ask for a free transfer ticket for other CATA routes.

Bus Capabilities
Look for bike racks on CATA fixed route buses. All buses are equipped with wheelchair ramps or lifts. Service Animals (such as guide dogs) accompanying our customers are welcome on all CATA vehicles.

Need More Information?
Visit the CATA website or call CATA Customer Information at (517)394-1000.

Parking Areas for Vehicles With Wheelchair Tags or Cards Will Be Reserved

• Next to St. John's Student Parish, 327 M.A.C. Avenue
  
• On the east side of the Valley Court Community Center
  
• In designated areas
  
• In each Park & Ride parking area

Parking in the City of East Lansing and on Campus

City of East Lansing website- use the drop down menu at the top of the page for "Dept/Divisions", click on the link to Parking-downtown.
     OR
Michigan State University website- note- Most Faculty/Staff spaces are available for free parking after 6pm on Friday, Aug 13 through the end of the Festival.

Bike to the Festival

Volunteers from the League of Michigan Bicyclists and Tri-County Bicycle Association park and guard bicycles for FREE in a special Bike Valet Parking Area located in the heart of the Festival, at the Northwest corner of Albert Street and Abbott Road.

Don't forget that state law requires a white headlight and red reflectors, visible to 600 feet, for after-dark cycling. Festival staff strongly recommends using a taillight and at all times, a helmet.

Also, look for bike racks on CATA fixed-route buses.