Why visit Ludington
Townapedia lists 12 museums and landmarks, 22 parks and trails, 44 places to eat, 19 places to stay and 2 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Ludington Light, North Breakwater Light, East Ludington Avenue Historic District and Mason County Courthouse.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 79°F; January lows average 17°F.
Weather in Ludington
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Ludington
Ludington is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat and the largest city in Mason County. The population was 7,655 at the 2020 census, making it the fourth largest city in the northern Michigan area. It is located near a military base.
From the Wikipedia article Ludington, Michigan (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do2
Ludington Light
Lighthouse · National Register of Historic Places · 1.3 mi
Lighthouse in Michigan, United States
Museums and landmarks12
East Ludington Avenue Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Residential historic district in Ludington, Michigan, United States
Mason County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Courthouse in Ludington, Michigan, USA
SS Badger
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Passenger and vehicle ferry in the United States
Warren A. and Catherine Cartier House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Building in Michigan, United States
Ludington United States Coast Guard Station
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Sandcastles Children's Museum
Museum
129 East Ludington Avenue, Ludington
Mo,Fr 09:30-13:00; Sa 09:30-15:00; Su 09:30-16:00
SS Spartan
Monument and historic site · 0.7 mi
The SS Spartan, launched in 1952, is the twin sister to the SS Badger. The Badger continues to operate while the Spartan is laid up at...
Parks, trails and playgrounds22
Lake Street Marina
Marina and boat launch · 0.6 mi
800 South Washington Avenue, Ludington
10 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes44
Old Hamlin
Restaurant · Regional, American
122 West Ludington Avenue, Ludington
Su-Th 07:00-19:00; Fr-Sa 07:00-20:00
Sportsman's Restaurant & Bar
Restaurant · Irish
111 West Ludington Avenue, Ludington
Su 11:30-19:00; Mo-Tu, Th 11:30-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:30-23:00
The Blu Moon
Restaurant · Regional
125 South James Street, Ludington
Mo-Su 11:30-22:00
House of Flavors
Ice cream · 0.5 mi
402 West Ludington Avenue, Ludington
Su-Th 08:00-21:30; Fr,Sa 08:00-22:00
KRAVE Frozen Yogurt & Candy Shoppe
Ice cream
103 East Ludington Avenue, Ludington
Su-Th 12:00-20:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-21:00
Ludington Harbor Cafe
Cafe · 0.4 mi
316 South James Street, Ludington
Mo-Su 06:00-14:00
Trail's End Baking Company
Bakery · 0.4 mi
110 West Filer Street, Ludington
Tu-Sa 08:00-15:00
32 more on the map.
History
In 1675, Father Jacques Marquette, French missionary and explorer, died and was laid to rest near the modern site of Ludington. A memorial and 40-foot (12 m) iron cross were built in 1955 to mark the location.
In 1845, Burr Caswell moved to the area near the mouth of the Pere Marquette River as a location for trapping and fishing. In July 1847, when he brought his family to live there, they became the first permanent residents of European ancestry. Two years later they built a two-story wood-framed house on their farm. After the organization of Mason County in 1855, the first floor of this building was converted into the county's first courthouse. Restored in 1976 by the Mason County Historical Society, the structure stands today as a part of White Pine Village, a museum consisting of several restored and replica Mason County buildings (see external links).
The town was originally named Pere Marquette, then later named after the industrialist James Ludington, whose logging operations the village developed around. Ludington was incorporated as a city in 1873, the same year that the county seat was moved from the village of Lincoln to the city of Ludington. The area's population boom in the late 19th century was due to these sawmills and also the discovery of salt deposits.
From the History section of Ludington, Michigan on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay19
Snyder's Shoreline Inn
Motel and hotel · 0.8 mi
903 West Ludington Avenue, Ludington
Churches and places of worship17
Shopping14
Gas and EV charging6
Schools, colleges and libraries11
Academy of Science Math And Technology Early College High Sc
School · 5.5 mi
2130 W Us Highway 10, Ludington
Healthcare3
Map of Ludington
150 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29°F | 17°F | 2.6 in |
| Feb | 32°F | 18°F | 2.0 in |
| Mar | 41°F | 24°F | 2.3 in |
| Apr | 54°F | 33°F | 3.5 in |
| May | 67°F | 43°F | 3.6 in |
| Jun | 76°F | 52°F | 3.4 in |
| Jul | 79°F | 58°F | 3.5 in |
| Aug | 78°F | 56°F | 3.4 in |
| Sep | 71°F | 50°F | 3.3 in |
| Oct | 57°F | 40°F | 4.0 in |
| Nov | 45°F | 30°F | 3.2 in |
| Dec | 34°F | 22°F | 2.5 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Ludington 4 Se (4 mi away), rain and snow from Scottville 2Se, 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
Mason 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)
- 2008-07-14: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2005-09-07: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Mason County Airport (LDM) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 2 miles away.
- Scottville 8 mi east, about 13 min by car
- Hart 19 mi south, about 30 min by car
- Shelby 24 mi south, about 39 min by car
- Baldwin 30 mi east, about 48 min by car
- Montague 38 mi south, about 1 h by car
- Whitehall 39 mi south, about 1 h by car
- Fremont 42 mi southeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
- White Cloud 43 mi southeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Reed City 47 mi east, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Muskegon 51 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
- Downtown Ludington, MI 2023, Notorious4life ( talk ) ( Uploads ), CC0
- LudingtonLight, Parkerdr, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ludington Courthouse, Doug Coldwell, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Warren A. Cartier house, Doug Coldwell, CC BY-SA 3.0
- SS Badger preparing to sail from Manitowoc, Wisconsin, 2025, Lynnewu, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Frank N. and Fannie Allen Latimer House, rossograph, CC BY-SA 4.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.