Indian River, Michigan
Indian River is a community of 2,039 people in Cheboygan County, Michigan.
Why visit Indian River
Townapedia lists 3 museums and landmarks, 17 parks and trails, 15 places to eat, 16 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Griswold Mountain, Faunce-McMichael Farm, Giant Sturgeon Statue and Cooperation Park.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 79°F; February lows average 7°F.
Weather in Indian River
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Indian River
Indian River is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Cheboygan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,950 at the 2020 census. The CDP is located in Tuscarora Township between Burt Lake and Mullett Lake.
From the Wikipedia article Indian River, Michigan (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks3
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Faunce-McMichael Farm
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.6 mi
Historic district in Burt Lake, United States of America
Giant Sturgeon Statue
Monument and historic site · 1.6 mi
This 32 foot long steel fish was sculpted by Tom Moran of Moran Iron Works, with help from the students of Onaway’s Industrial Arts Institute
24/7
Parks, trails and playgrounds17
5 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes15
The Wigwam
Diner · American · 2.3 mi
4529 Onaway Road, Indian River
Mo-We 15:00-21:00; Th-Fr 15:00-22:00; Sa 12:00-22:00; Su 12:00-20:00
Michael's Tavern & Steakhouse
Restaurant · 2.3 mi
4653 South Straits Highway, Indian River
Tu-Sa 17:00-22:00
Vivio's
Restaurant · Italian, American · 2.2 mi
4531 South Straits Highway, Indian River
Mo-Su 16:00-22:00
Pinehurst Inn
Bar and pub · 1.0 mi
6214 Lake Street, Indian River
Mo-Su 09:00-02:30
Brass Rail Bar and Grill
Bar and pub · 1.2 mi
6001 Lake Street, Indian River
Mo-Su 12:00-02:00
The Station @ 310
Restaurant · 1.2 mi
3499 South Straits Highway, Indian River
Wildwood Coffee Company
Cafe · 1.1 mi
3464 South Straits Highway, Indian River
Wilson's Rivers Edge Restaurant
Restaurant · 1.7 mi
4208 South Straits Highway, Indian River
3 more on the map.
History
The area of Indian River was first settled as early as 1876. The community was founded two years later by land owner Floyd Martin and surveyed and platted by Oliver Hayden by 1880. The new settlement was named after the Indian River, which flows through the community. A post office was established on September 22, 1879.
The North Central State Trail goes through the town. The National Shrine of the Cross in the Woods, an open-air sanctuary, is located in Indian River and dedicated to Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American saint.
From the History section of Indian River, Michigan on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay16
Churches and places of worship6
Cross in the Woods Chapel
Church · Catholic · 2.1 mi
7078 West M-68 Highway, Indian River
Indian River Baptist Church
Church · Baptist · 0.9 mi
6194 Hemlock Street, Indian River
Indian River Catholic Shrine
Church · Catholic · 2.1 mi
7078 West M-68 Highway, Indian River
Shopping8
Gas and EV charging5
Schools, colleges and libraries6
Cheboygan-Otsego-Presque Isle Educational Service District (COPESD)
School · 2.4 mi
Healthcare2
McLaren Northern Michigan - Indian River Family Medicine
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.4 mi
6135 Cressy Street, Indian River
Otsego Memorial Hospital (OMH) Medical Group - Indian River
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.5 mi
3860 South Straits Highway, Indian River
Map of Indian River
79 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 27°F | 9°F | 1.6 in |
| Feb | 29°F | 7°F | 1.1 in |
| Mar | 38°F | 16°F | 1.7 in |
| Apr | 52°F | 27°F | 2.4 in |
| May | 66°F | 38°F | 2.8 in |
| Jun | 76°F | 48°F | 2.6 in |
| Jul | 79°F | 53°F | 2.7 in |
| Aug | 78°F | 52°F | 2.9 in |
| Sep | 70°F | 44°F | 3.4 in |
| Oct | 57°F | 35°F | 4.2 in |
| Nov | 44°F | 27°F | 2.7 in |
| Dec | 33°F | 18°F | 1.9 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Pellston Rgnl Ap (13 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
Cheboygan County has had 5 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for biologicals.
- 2026-06-30: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2025-07-22: Severe Winter Storm (Severe Ice Storm)
- 2020-03-27: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2005-09-07: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Pellston Regional Airport of Emmet County (PLN) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 13 miles away.
- Alanson 8 mi west, about 13 min by car
- Pellston 12 mi northwest, about 19 min by car
- Harbor Springs 18 mi west, about 29 min by car
- Boyne City 24 mi southwest, about 39 min by car
- East Jordan 31 mi southwest, about 49 min by car
- Charlevoix 32 mi west, about 51 min by car
- Central Lake 40 mi southwest, about 1 h by car
- Bellaire 42 mi southwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Elk Rapids 53 mi southwest, about 1 h 30 min by car
- Grayling 53 mi south, about 1 h 30 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
- Indian River, Michigan, Notorious4life ( talk ) ( Uploads ), CC0
- Indian River from North Central State Trail Cheboygan County Michigan, Tim Kiser, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Faunce-McMichael Farm, rossograph, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Timothy P. Schmalz, Saint Kateri Tekakwitha (detail) (2001), Beloved female saints, CC0
- Tuscarora Township, Michigan, Notorious4life ( talk ) ( Uploads ), CC0
- 2019 SEAS Orientation (48689929866), University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability from Ann Arbor, CC BY 2.0
- 2019 SEAS Orientation (48689591443), University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability from Ann Arbor, CC BY 2.0
- 2019 SEAS Orientation (48689929956), University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability from Ann Arbor, CC BY 2.0
- 2019 SEAS Orientation (48689930071), University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability from Ann Arbor, CC BY 2.0
- Cross in the Woods August 2003 02, Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cross in the Woods August 2003 01, Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cross in the Woods August 2003 03, Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0
- STS120-E-7051 - View of Earth, NASA, Public domain
- ISS042-E-7668 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS059-E-98512 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS030-E-41933 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- Burt Lake 1, H.G. Judd, CC BY-SA 3.0
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