Frankenmuth, Michigan
Frankenmuth is a city of 5,157 people in Saginaw County, Michigan, founded in 1845.
Why visit Frankenmuth
Townapedia lists 10 museums and landmarks, 24 parks and trails, 33 places to eat, 9 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Gugel Bridge, Lovira Hart, Jr., and Esther Maria Parker Farm, Frankenmuth Historical Museum and Ultimate Mirror Maze.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 81°F; January lows average 15°F.
Weather in Frankenmuth
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Frankenmuth
Frankenmuth is a city in Saginaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,987 at the 2020 census. The city is surrounded by Frankenmuth Township.
From the Wikipedia article Frankenmuth, Michigan (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Gugel Bridge
Bridge · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
Bridge in Frankenmuth Township, Michigan, United States
Museums and landmarks10
Lovira Hart, Jr., and Esther Maria Parker Farm
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.2 mi
Historic farmstead in Tuscola Township, Michigan
Frankenmuth Historical Museum
Museum
613 South Main Street
Mo,Th 10:00-17:00; Fr-Sa 10:00-19:00; Su 12:00-17:00
Parks, trails and playgrounds24
Ultimate Mirror Maze
Sports field and stadium · 0.7 mi
925 South Main Street
Su-Th 10:00-18:00; Fr-Sa 10:00-20:00
Bavarian Blast Waterpark
Sports field and stadium · 0.4 mi
Weiss Street
Su-Th 10:00-20:00; Fr-Sa 10:00-21:00
Willkommen Park
Park
This park is an urban plaza featuring a memorial wall to the community’s war veterans. Benches invite pedestrians to escape the bustling...
Zehnder’s Splash Village Water Park
Sports field and stadium · 1.1 mi
1365 South Main Street, Frankenmuth
12 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes33
Zehnder's of Frankenmuth
Restaurant · Chicken, American · 0.4 mi
730 South Main Street, Frankenmuth
Su-Th 11:00-20:30; Fr 11:00-21:30; Sa 10:45-21:30
MI Pot Korean BBQ & Hot Pot
Restaurant · Korean · 1.3 mi
281 Heinlein Strasse, Frankenmuth
Su-Th 12:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-00:00
Frankenmuth Brewery
Bar and pub
425 South Main Street, Frankenmuth
Su, Th 11:30-20:00; Fr-Sa 11:30-21:00
Tim Hortons
Cafe · Coffee Shop
142 North Main Street, Frankenmuth
Mo-We 06:00-20:00; Fr-Su 06:00-20:00
Frankenmuth Kaffee Haus
Cafe · Coffee Shop
500 South Main Street, Frankenmuth
The Harvest Coffeehouse
Cafe · Coffee Shop
626 South Main Street, Frankenmuth
Poblano's Mexican Grill & Cantina
Restaurant · Mexican · 0.8 mi
East Jefferson Street
21 more on the map.
History
The area was settled and named by conservative Lutheran immigrants from Roßtal area of Franconia in Germany. The group of settlers left Germany aboard the Caroline on April 20, 1845, and arrived at Castle Garden in New York seven weeks later. They traveled via canals and the Great Lakes from New York to Detroit and arrived in August 1845. Sailing then on the Nelson Smith, the settlers made their way to Saginaw and traveled over land to what is now the city of Frankenmuth.
The purpose of the settlement was primarily religious. The Lutheran group planned to start a mission among the Native Americans. One of the first large buildings was a church. However, their attempts to convert the local groups failed because most of the Native Americans were forced away within a few years.
The settlers selected a hilly area that reminded them of their native Mittelfranken and began building rough shelters there. Frankenmuth was to be an exclusively German Lutheran community. The colonists pledged to remain loyal to Germany, specifically the Kingdom of Bavaria (German: Königreich Bayern), and to be faithful to the German language. Germans continued arriving until the start of the Second World War.
From the History section of Frankenmuth, Michigan on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay9
Churches and places of worship2
Shopping19
Gas and EV charging4
Schools, colleges and libraries5
Healthcare2
Covenant Healthcare
Clinic and pharmacy · 0.9 mi
600 North Main Street, Frankenmuth
Map of Frankenmuth
109 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29°F | 15°F | 2.0 in |
| Feb | 32°F | 15°F | 1.4 in |
| Mar | 42°F | 23°F | 1.9 in |
| Apr | 56°F | 34°F | 3.3 in |
| May | 68°F | 45°F | 3.5 in |
| Jun | 78°F | 55°F | 3.4 in |
| Jul | 81°F | 59°F | 4.1 in |
| Aug | 79°F | 57°F | 3.7 in |
| Sep | 73°F | 50°F | 3.0 in |
| Oct | 60°F | 40°F | 3.1 in |
| Nov | 46°F | 30°F | 2.7 in |
| Dec | 35°F | 22°F | 2.1 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Frankenmuth 1Se (1 mi away), rain and snow from Vassar, 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
Saginaw County has had 9 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for floods.
- 2026-06-30: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2020-07-09: Severe Storms And Flooding (Dam/Levee Break)
- 2020-03-27: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2013-06-18: Flooding (Flood)
- 2008-07-14: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Harry W Browne Airport (HYX) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 9 miles away.
- Birch Run 6 mi southwest, about 10 min by car
- Bridgeport 8 mi west, about 12 min by car
- Vassar 9 mi east, about 14 min by car
- Buena Vista 10 mi northwest, about 16 min by car
- Clio 11 mi south, about 17 min by car
- Saginaw 12 mi northwest, about 20 min by car
- Millington 12 mi east, about 19 min by car
- Montrose 13 mi southwest, about 21 min by car
- Zilwaukee 14 mi northwest, about 22 min by car
- Mount Morris 15 mi south, about 24 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
- Bavarian Inn Lodge, NoahGul, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Hart-Parker Farm Tuscola, kennethaw88, CC BY 4.0
- Gugel Bridge - Frankenmuth Michigan, Ian Poellet, CC BY-SA 3.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.