East Lansing, Michigan
East Lansing is a city of 45,758 people in Clinton County, Michigan, founded in 1847.
Why visit East Lansing
Townapedia lists 60 museums and landmarks, 105 parks and trails, 229 places to eat, 18 places to stay and 11 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include NCG Cinema, Phillips Market, Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum and Michigan State University Museum.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 83°F; January lows average 18°F, and about 36 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in East Lansing
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About East Lansing
East Lansing is a city in Ingham and Clinton counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. A college town, East Lansing is home to Michigan State University (MSU), one of the largest public universities in the United States. As of 2026, the city has a population of 49,435. The city is located immediately east of Lansing, Michigan's capital and sixth most populous city; the two cities anchor the Lansing–East Lansing metropolitan area.
From the Wikipedia article East Lansing, Michigan (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do11
Potter Park Zoo
Zoo and aquarium · 3.2 mi
Zoo in Lansing, Michigan, USA
Stage One Performing Arts Center
Cinema and theater · 2.1 mi
Arts hub that is the result of a partnership between Sycamore Creek Church’s Eastwood campus and community theater groups: Peppermint...
2200 Lake Lansing Road, Lansing
Museums and landmarks60
Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum
Museum · 1.2 mi
Art museum in East Lansing, Michigan
547 East Circle Drive, East Lansing
We-Su 10:00-18:00
Michigan State University Museum
Museum · 1.2 mi
Museum on Michigan State University campus
409 West Circle Drive, East Lansing
Mo 09:00-17:00, Tu 09:00-20:00, We 09:00-17:00, Th 09:00-17:00, Fr...
Accident Fund Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.6 mi
Office building and former power plant in Lansing, Michigan, US
Arbaugh's Department Store Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.8 mi
Building in Lansing, Michigan, United States
Bailey Buildings
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.0 mi
Building complex in Lansing, Michigan
Barnes Avenue School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.9 mi
Historic school building in Lansing, Michigan, United States
Boji Tower
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.8 mi
Building in Lansing, Michigan, United States completed in 1931
Brown-Price House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.6 mi
Lansing, Michigan, listed on the NRHP
Central School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Central School in East Lansing, Michigan
Christman Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.7 mi
Office building located at 208 North Capitol Avenue in Lansing, Michigan
Dodge Mansion
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.5 mi
Building in Michigan, United States
Elliott-Larsen Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.0 mi
State government office in downtown Lansing, Michigan
48 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds105
Bancroft Park
Park · 2.4 mi
A large park comprised of the ancient Mason Esker, characterized by steep hills and forested land with many exposed boulders, as well as...
1330 Otto Street
dawn-dusk
Robert S. Shaw Park
Park · 0.5 mi
"...a pleasant 1.3 acre neighborhood mixed use park."
Northlawn Avenue, East Lansing
Crego Park
Park · 3.0 mi
Park in Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
Lake Lansing Park North
Park · 4.8 mi
Park in Haslett, Ingham County, United States of America
93 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes229
The Avenue Cafe
Bar and pub · Ramen · 2.2 mi
Take in all the crazy-good live music your little ears can handle. Eat. Drink. Be Merry.
2021 East Michigan Avenue, Lansing
Mo-Sa 15:00-22:00
Acapulco Mexican Grill
Restaurant · Mexican · 1.5 mi
300 North Clippert Street
Mo-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr 11:00-22:45; Sa 11:00-22:30; Su 11:00-21:00
Aladdin's Restaurant
Restaurant · Mediterranean · 1.5 mi
300 North Clippert Street, Lansing
Mo-Sa 10:00-22:00; Su 11:00-20:00
Altu's Ethiopian Cuisine
Restaurant · Ethiopian · 1.4 mi
1312 Michigan Avenue, East Lansing
11:00-21:00
Art & Jakes
Diner · American · 1.8 mi
2800 Preyde Boulevard, Lansing
Su-Th 11:00-00:00, Fr-Sa 11:00-01:00
Baps
Restaurant · Korean, Ice Cream, Dessert, Asian, International · 1.0 mi
340 Albert Avenue, East Lansing
12:00-21:00
Batter Up Bistro
Cafe · Coffee Shop, Sandwich · 3.3 mi
621 East Michigan Avenue
We-Sa 09:00-21:00; Su 09:00-15:00
Beggar's Banquet
Diner · American · 0.9 mi
218 Abbot Road, East Lansing
Mo-Th 11:00-22:30; Fr 10:00-23:00; Sa 10:00-23:00; Su 10:00-22:30
Biggby
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 0.7 mi
3499 East Lake Lansing Road, East Lansing
Mo-Fr 06:00-21:00; Sa-Su 07:00-21:00
Blaze Pizza
Restaurant · Pizza · 1.5 mi
300 North Clippert Street, Lansing
Mo-Th,Su 11:00-23:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-24:00
217 more on the map.
History
East Lansing is located on land that was an important junction of two major Native American groups: the Potawatomi and the Fox. By 1850, the Lansing and Howell Plank Road Company was established to connect a toll road to the Detroit and Howell Plank Road, improving travel between Detroit and Lansing, which cut right through what is now East Lansing. The toll road was finished in 1853, and included seven toll houses between Lansing and Howell.
Michigan State University was founded in 1855 and established in what is now East Lansing in 1857. For the first four decades, the students and faculty lived almost entirely on the college campus. A few commuted from Lansing, and that number increased when a streetcar line was built in the 1890s, but there were few places to live in the then-rural area surrounding the campus.
That started to change in 1887, when professors William J. Beal and Rolla C. Carpenter created Collegeville, along what is now Harrison Road and Center and Beal Streets, north of Michigan Avenue. Few faculty were attracted to the location, and the first residents were "teamsters and laborers". In 1898, the College Delta subdivision (including what is now Delta Street) had the support of the college itself, which provided utilities, and several professors built homes there (one of which survives today at 243 W. Grand River Ave.). Other subdivisions followed.
From the History section of East Lansing, Michigan on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay18
SpringHill Suites East Lansing University Area
Motel and hotel · 2.1 mi
1100 Trowbridge Road, East Lansing
Churches and places of worship46
Central Methodist Episcopal Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 3.8 mi
First Baptist Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 3.8 mi
Franklin Avenue Presbyterian Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 3.5 mi
St. Mary Cathedral
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 3.9 mi
Edgewood United Church of Christ
Church · United Church Of Christ · 1.3 mi
469 North Hagadorn Road, East Lansing
Grace International Outreach Church
Church · Nondenominational · 2.7 mi
1901 Massachusetts Avenue, Lansing
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Church · Greek Orthodox · 2.2 mi
1701 East Saginaw Street, Lansing
Shopping36
Gas and EV charging31
Schools, colleges and libraries62
MATRIX: The Center for Digital Humanities and Social Sciences
School · 1.2 mi
288 Farm Lane, East Lansing
Healthcare20
Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Specialists
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.7 mi
3108 East Michigan Avenue, Lansing
Map of East Lansing
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 18°F | 2.1 in | 14.1 in |
| Feb | 34°F | 19°F | 1.6 in | 7.3 in |
| Mar | 45°F | 27°F | 1.7 in | 4.2 in |
| Apr | 58°F | 37°F | 3.5 in | 0.9 in |
| May | 70°F | 48°F | 4.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 79°F | 58°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 83°F | 61°F | 3.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 81°F | 60°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 76°F | 52°F | 3.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 62°F | 42°F | 3.1 in | 0.3 in |
| Nov | 48°F | 32°F | 2.5 in | 1.8 in |
| Dec | 37°F | 24°F | 1.6 in | 7.4 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for East Lansing 4 S (5 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Clinton County has had 4 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for biologicals.
- 2020-03-27: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2005-09-07: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (Hurricane)
- 2001-01-10: Snow (Snowstorm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Capital Region International Airport (LAN) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 6 miles away.
- Okemos 4 mi southeast, about 7 min by car
- Haslett 4 mi east, about 7 min by car
- Lansing 5 mi southwest, about 7 min by car
- Bath 5 mi north, about 8 min by car
- Edgemont Park 6 mi west, about 9 min by car
- Holt 8 mi south, about 13 min by car
- Waverly 8 mi west, about 12 min by car
- Burton 47 mi east, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Battle Creek 49 mi southwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Ann Arbor 50 mi southeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- MSU Beaumont Tower 1, The original uploader was Jeffness at English Wikipedia ., CC BY-SA 2.5
- Michigan State Medical Society Building, Saginaw Street and Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI - 54382467225, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Michigan State Medical Society Building, Saginaw Street and Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI - 54382280189, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Michigan State Medical Society Building, Saginaw Street and Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI - 54381203202, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Michigan State Medical Society Building, Saginaw Street and Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI - 54382280014, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Michigan State Medical Society Building, Saginaw Street and Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI - 54382078976, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Michigan State Medical Society Building, Saginaw Street and Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI - 54381203337, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Michigan State Medical Society Building, Saginaw Street and Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Michigan State Medical Society Building, Saginaw Street and Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI - 54382078731, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Michigan State Medical Society Building, Saginaw Street and Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI - 54382466885, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Michigan State Medical Society Building, Saginaw Street and Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI - 54382466790, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Michigan State Medical Society Building, Saginaw Street and Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI - 54382466595, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Michigan State Medical Society Building, Saginaw Street and Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI - 54381202527, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Michigan State Medical Society Building, Saginaw Street and Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI - 54381202672, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Michigan State Medical Society Building, Saginaw Street and Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI - 54382466540, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Michigan State Medical Society Building, Saginaw Street and Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI - 54382466565, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Michigan State Medical Society Building, Saginaw Street and Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI - 54382078246, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Michigan State Medical Society Building, Saginaw Street and Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI - 54382279019, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Michigan State Medical Society Building, Saginaw Street and Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI - 54382279164, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Michigan State Medical Society Building, Saginaw Street and Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI - 54381202552, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Michigan State Medical Society Building, Saginaw Street and Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI - 54382078111, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Michigan State Medical Society Building, Saginaw Street and Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI - 54382312498, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Michigan State Medical Society Building, Saginaw Street and Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI - 54382077936, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Michigan State Medical Society Building, Saginaw Street and Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI - 54381202187, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Michigan State Medical Society Building, Saginaw Street and Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI - 54382278889, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Michigan State Medical Society Building, Saginaw Street and Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI - 54382077791, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Michigan State Medical Society Building, Saginaw Street and Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI - 54382077611, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Michigan State Medical Society Building, Saginaw Street and Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI - 54382077451, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Michigan State Medical Society Building, Saginaw Street and Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI - 54382311958, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Michigan State Medical Society Building, Saginaw Street and Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI - 54381201797, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Michigan State Medical Society Building, Saginaw Street and Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI - 54382077156, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Stockwell Wing, Michigan State Medical Society Building, Saginaw Street and Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI - 54382311943, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Stockwell Wing, Michigan State Medical Society Building, Saginaw Street and Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Michigan State Medical Society Building, Saginaw Street and Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI - 54382278364, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Michigan State Medical Society Building, Saginaw Street and Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI - 54382278734, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Michigan State Medical Society Building, Saginaw Street and Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI - 54382077391, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- East Lansing High School, kennethaw88, CC BY 4.0
- St Thomas Aquinas Parish East Lansing 2, kennethaw88, CC BY 4.0
- MSU Broad Art Museum exterior 1, Dj1997, CC BY-SA 3.0
- MSU Museum, Gpwitteveen, CC BY-SA 3.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.