Host City & Hotel Info
Grand Rapids, MI
Meet Our Host City: Grand Rapids, MI
From world-class attractions and outdoor recreation to nationally ranked food and craft beverage scenes – Grand Rapids, Michigan is filled with unexpected surprises. Discover why we’re America’s Best Beer City, the nation’s Craft Beverage Capital, and a Top 20 U.S. Foodie City. Get an eyeful of spectacular art and an earful of live music. Explore our endless opportunities for family fun. Make your travel dreams come true in Grand Rapids!
There are many ways to get to Grand Rapids as we’re a 3 hour drive from Chicago and a 2.5 hour drive from Detroit. Better yet, fly right into Grand Rapids at our award-winning Gerald R. Ford International Airport that’s right next to the Hartford Nationals venues!
For accessibility trip planning in Grand Rapids, check out this page from our friends at Experience Grand Rapids. Don’t forget to book your accessible tours of Grand Rapids with Tours Around Michigan.
Now You Know!
- Grand Rapids is the second largest city in Michigan and is home to over 1 million people in the metro area. Although you don’t see large rapids in the river running through downtown, by 2026 the rapids will be back!
- President Gerald R. Ford was from Grand Rapids and his Presidential Museum and Burial Site are located right downtown along the Grand River.
- Summer is great time to visit our local markets, whether it’s the indoor Downtown Market featuring incubator restaurants and delicacies or the farm to table outdoor Fulton Street Market, you’ll always find great things to eat!
- Grand Rapids has earned the title of Beer City USA for over 12 years with its over 40 craft breweries. Download the Beer City Brewsader app and become Brewsader within the next two years!
- Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park has become one of the world’s top 50 most visited art museums featuring indoor and outdoor gardens and children’s play area.
- We are 30 miles to Lake Michigan, America’s 3rd Gold Coast, which has beautiful freshwater beaches and some of the best summer sunsets. Tip: You can extend your day there as it doesn’t get dark until 10pm this far west of the Est!
- Grand Rapids is known as ‘Furniture City’ as it was the center of the furniture industry in the 19th century and to this day still plays a key role in office furniture
- There are many historical homes in Grand Rapids, including the Heritage Hill district where many homes are built from field stones and wooden siding. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Meyer May House has free tours within this district for you to explore.
- Grand Rapids has a lot of history with their art culture, historic homes, riverfront and ghost tours. If you want to learn more, book an accessible tour with Tours Around Michigan.
- If you’re looking for something indoors to do before the clinics on Monday night, visit Main Event inside Woodland Mall for a fun time with an arcade, bowling, laser tag and restaurant. All You Can Play games or activities is only $12.99 a person. https://www.mainevent.com/specials/monday-night-madness/.
You’ll be Smitten with the Mitten before you leave our city!
Hotel Information
There will no traditional host hotel in 2026. Information on discounted rates at select hotels will be shared in spring 2026.
Air Travel and Ground Transportation
Gerald R. Ford International Airport (Grr) is the suggested airport for travel to Nationals. For information on airlines serving Grr and rental car options, visit the airport website. Move United does not provide transportation to participants. Ground transportation is the responsibility of each attendee.
Contacts
Local Sponsorship Info
Barb Benda, West Michigan Sports Commission
bbenda@westmisports.com
Eligibility, Sports-Specific Info, and Registration
Jessie Cloy, Competition Manager
240-268-5380, jcloy@moveunitedsport.org
National Sponsorship Info
Dave Simonson, Development Director
301-217-9837, dsimonson@moveunitedsport.org
Media Relations
Shuan Butcher, Communications Manager
240-268-2180, sbutcher@moveunitedsport.org
Volunteers
Katy Tigchelaar, West Michigan Sports Commission
ktigchelaar@westmisports.com
