Why visit Okemos
Townapedia lists 13 museums and landmarks, 68 parks and trails, 140 places to eat, 8 places to stay and 6 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Studio C!, Michigan State University, Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum and Central School.
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 Okemos
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Okemos
Okemos is a census-designated place (CDP) in Ingham County in the U.S. state of Michigan. A suburb of Lansing, Okemos is located immediately southeast of East Lansing. Okemos is located mostly within Meridian Charter Township, with small portions extending south into Alaiedon Township and east into Williamstown Township. As of the 2020 census, the CDP had a population of 25,121.
From the Wikipedia article Okemos, Michigan (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do6
Michigan State University
School · 3.5 mi
Public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, United States
Museums and landmarks13
Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum
Museum · 3.6 mi
Art museum in East Lansing, Michigan
547 East Circle Drive, East Lansing
We-Su 10:00-18:00
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Central School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.2 mi
Central School in East Lansing, Michigan
Eustace Hall
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.8 mi
Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
Goetsch-Winckler House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.3 mi
Single-family detached home in Okemos, United States of America
Masonic Temple Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.8 mi
Building in East Lansing, Michigan
Michigan State Medical Society Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.4 mi
Historic building in East Lansing, Michigan, USA
Williamston Downtown Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.2 mi
Michigan State University Museum
Museum · 3.8 mi
Museum on Michigan State University campus
Michigan Women's Historical Center & Hall of Fame
Museum · 1.2 mi
1982 West Grand River Avenue
Mo-Sa 10:00-21:00;Su 12:00-18:00
1 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds68
Lake Lansing Park South
Park · 3.2 mi
Park in Ingham County, Michigan, United States of America
Crego Park
Park · 5.0 mi
Park in Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
Lake Lansing Park North
Park · 4.3 mi
Park in Haslett, Ingham County, United States of America
56 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes140
Bread Bites
Restaurant · Mediterranean · 1.3 mi
A family-owned Mediterranean-style bakery and cuisine.
5100 Marsh Road, Okemos
Tu-Fr 11:30-20:00; Su 12:00-19:00
Dusty's Cellar
Diner · American · 0.7 mi
American bistro with upscale food & wine served in a relaxed setting with exposed wood beams.
1839 West Grand River Avenue, Okemos
Mo-Th 11:00-22:00, Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00, Su 11:00-21:00
Dusty's Tap Room
Restaurant · Burger, American · 0.7 mi
Laid-back tavern serving burgers & other classic American bar bites, plus draft beer & wine.
1857 West Grand River Avenue, Okemos
Mo-Th 11:00-24:00, Fr-Sa 11:00-01:00, Su 12:00-22:00
Biggby Coffee
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 2.7 mi
1602 Haslett Road, Haslett
Mo-Sa 06:00-18:00; Su 07:00-18:00
Blue Gill Grill
Bar and pub · American, Pizza, Sandwich, Fish · 3.1 mi
1591 Lake Lansing Road
Tu,We 11:00-22:00; Th-Sa 11:00-23:00; Su 12:00-20:00
Buddy's Pizza
Restaurant · Pizza · 1.0 mi
2010 West Grand River Avenue, Okemos
Mo-Su 11:00-22:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-23:00
Cancun Mexican Grill
Restaurant · Mexican · 1.3 mi
1754 Central Park Drive, Okemos
Mo-Th 11:00-22:00; Fr 11:00-22:45; Sa 11:00-22:30; Su 11:00-21:00
Cottage Inn Pizza
Restaurant · Pizza · 0.6 mi
1473 West Grand River Avenue, Okemos
Su-Th 10:30-01:00, Fr-Sa 10:00-02:00
128 more on the map.
History
Pioneer Freeman Bray platted the village in 1841, giving it the name of Hamilton. Residents called it Okemos, after chief John Okemos ("Little Chief"), of the Ojibway (Chippewa) people. In 1859, the State legislature officially named the village "Okemos" in honor of the chief.
The Red Cedar River, a tributary of the Grand River, flows from east to west through Okemos.
From the History section of Okemos, Michigan on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay8
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Okemos
Motel and hotel · 1.9 mi
2350 Jolly Oak Road, Okemos
Staybridge Suites Lansing-Okemos
Motel and hotel · 2.0 mi
3553 Meridian Crossings Drive, Okemos
Churches and places of worship23
St. Katherine's Chapel
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 2.7 mi
Edgewood United Church of Christ
Church · United Church Of Christ · 3.1 mi
469 North Hagadorn Road, East Lansing
Shopping31
Gas and EV charging12
Admiral Petroleum
Gas station · 3.1 mi
1120 East Grand River Avenue, East Lansing
Schools, colleges and libraries44
Healthcare13
Map of Okemos
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 (4 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
Ingham County has had 8 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for biologicals.
- 2024-02-08: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Flood)
- 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)
- 2004-06-30: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Capital Region International Airport (LAN) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 10 miles away.
- Haslett 3 mi north, about 5 min by car
- East Lansing 4 mi northwest, about 7 min by car
- Lansing 7 mi west, about 12 min by car
- Holt 8 mi southwest, about 12 min by car
- Howell 25 mi east, about 41 min by car
- Jackson 32 mi south, about 52 min by car
- Fenton 36 mi east, about 58 min by car
- Ionia 38 mi northwest, about 1 h by car
- Flint 43 mi northeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Ann Arbor 46 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
- Rite Aid Drug Store - Okemos - Michigan (52882325238), Tony Webster, CC BY-SA 2.0
- James Smiley House Okemos, kennethaw88, CC BY 4.0
- Schuler Books - Meridian Mall - Okemos - Michigan (52881880801), Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0
- Bed Bath and Beyond Store - Shopping Center in Okemos Michigan (52881826686), Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0
- Red Cedar River in Okemos, Ian (Wiki Ed), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Grave of Russell James Harvey (1922–2019) at Glendale Cemetery, Okemos, MI, Nick Number, CC BY 4.0
- Grave of George Julius Perles (1934–2020) at Glendale Cemetery, Okemos, MI, Nick Number, CC BY 4.0
- Alonzo Proctor Toll House Okemos, kennethaw88, CC BY 4.0
- Michigan Dental Association building Okemos, kennethaw88, CC BY 4.0
- MSU Broad Art Museum exterior 1, Dj1997, CC BY-SA 3.0
- University Reformed Church East Lansing, kennethaw88, CC BY 4.0
- Central School East Lansing MI, Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- ISS060-E-3511 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- Craticula 191860045, Patrick Hanly, CC BY 4.0
- Syndemis afflictana, Patrick Hanly, CC BY 4.0
- Idaea dimidiata 80961559, Patrick Hanly, CC BY 4.0
- Pilosella aurantiaca 133159247, Patrick Hanly, CC BY 4.0
- Caloneis amphisbaena 239371051, Patrick Hanly, CC BY 4.0
- TI-83 Premium CE Edition Python, SweetCanadianMullet, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Three point lighting back, SweetCanadianMullet, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Three point lighting front, SweetCanadianMullet, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Haslett High School, kennethaw88, CC BY 4.0
- Clytus ruricola 208034108, Patrick Hanly, CC BY 4.0
- TI-83 Premium CE, SweetCanadianMullet, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Calycina citrina 250108584, Patrick Hanly, CC BY 4.0
- In November 2020, a glare on the Red Cedar River, Eastgate Park, Meridian Township-7286, Tim Kiser, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Glacial landform along the Red Cedar River, viewed from Eastgate Park, Meridian Township, Michigan, 2020-11-07-7279, Tim Kiser, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Red Cedar River in Eastgate Park, Meridian Township, Michigan, 2020-11-07-7298, Tim Kiser, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Red Cedar River in Eastgate Park, Meridian Township, Michigan, 2020-11-07-7304, Tim Kiser, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Red Cedar River in Eastgate Park, Meridian Township, Michigan, 2020-11-07-7308, Tim Kiser, CC BY-SA 4.0
- A small wetland in the wooded floodplain of the Red Cedar River, Meridian Township, Michigan, 2020-11-07-7272, TimK MSI, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Behind the scenes in recording a TV show (32027279326), Joe Ross from Lansing, Michigan, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Woodland in Eastgate Park in Meridian Township, Michigan, 2020-11-07-7312, Tim Kiser, CC BY-SA 4.0
- A woodland in Eastgate Park in Meridian Township, Michigan, 2020-11-07-7265, Tim Kiser, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Red Cedar River in Eastgate Park, Meridian Township, Michigan, 2020-11-07-7317, Tim Kiser, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Red Cedar River in Eastgate Park in Meridian Township, Michigan, 2020-11-07-7315, Tim Kiser, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Red Cedar River in Eastgate Park, Meridian Township, Michigan, 2020-11-07-7320, Tim Kiser, CC BY-SA 4.0
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