Royal Oak, Michigan
Royal Oak is a city of 57,950 people in Oakland County, Michigan, founded in 1891.
Why visit Royal Oak
Townapedia lists 51 museums and landmarks, 98 parks and trails, 257 places to eat, 11 places to stay and 7 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Detroit Zoo, Derby Street-Grand Trunk Western Railroad Bridge, B and C Grocery Building and Birwood Wall.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 84°F; January lows average 20°F.
Weather in Royal Oak
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Royal Oak
Royal Oak is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. An inner-ring suburb of Detroit, Royal Oak is located roughly 10 miles (16.1 km) north of downtown Detroit. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 58,211.
From the Wikipedia article Royal Oak, Michigan (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do7
Detroit Zoo
Zoo and aquarium · National Register of Historic Places · 2.1 mi
Zoo in Oakland County, Michigan, US
8450 West 10 Mile Road, Royal Oak
Derby Street-Grand Trunk Western Railroad Bridge
Bridge · National Register of Historic Places · 4.1 mi
Road bridge in Birmingham, United States of America
International Academy of Design & Technology – Detroit
School · 3.5 mi
Education organization in Troy, United States
Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle
Cinema and theater · 1.5 mi
310 South Troy Street, Royal Oak
Royal Oak Music Theater
Cinema and theater · 1.5 mi
318 West 4th Street, Royal Oak
Stagecrafters Baldwin Theatre
Cinema and theater · 1.5 mi
415 South Lafayette Avenue, Royal Oak
Museums and landmarks51
B and C Grocery Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.6 mi
Historic building in Royal Oak, Michigan, USA
Birwood Wall
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.7 mi
Wall in Detroit, Michigan, US
Brooks Farm
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.1 mi
Also known as the William Brooks Farm, historic farmsite in Troy, Michigan, U.S
Caswell House (Troy, Michigan)
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.8 mi
Historic house in Michigan, United States
Grand Trunk Western Railroad Birmingham Depot
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.4 mi
Railway station in Birmingham, the United States of America
Hilzinger Block
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.3 mi
Commercial building located at 106-110 South Main Street in Royal Oak, Michigan
John W. Hunter House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.3 mi
House in Birmingham, United States of America
Michigan State Fair Riding Coliseum, Dairy Cattle Building, and Agricultural Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.8 mi
Group of former buildings at the Michigan State Fairgrounds
Pleasant Ridge East Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.7 mi
Historic district in Michigan, USA
Pleasant Ridge Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.6 mi
Historic district in Michigan, USA
William E. Higginbotham Elementary School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.6 mi
School building in Detroit, Michigan
Lathrup Village Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.2 mi
39 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds98
Halmich Park
Park · 4.1 mi
Park in Macomb County, Michigan, United States of America
86 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes257
24 Seconds
Restaurant · Burger · 1.9 mi
3071 12 Mile Road, Berkley
Mo-Tu 16:00-02:00; We-Sa 11:00-02:00; Su 12:00-24:00
Due Venti
Restaurant · Italian · 1.7 mi
220 South Main Street, Clawson
Tu-Th 17:00-10:00; Fr-Sa 17:00-24:00
Jim Brady's Detroit
Diner · American · 2.0 mi
1214 South Main Street, Royal Oak
Mo-Sa 11:00-22:00; Su 11:00-21:00
Kam's Express
Restaurant · Chinese · 1.8 mi
3018 12 Mile Road, Berkley
Mo off;Tu-Sa 11:00-22:00;Su 13:00-21:00
Motor City Gas
Bar and pub · Pizza · 1.5 mi
325 East 4th Street
We-Th 17:00-22:00; Fr 17:00-23:00; Sa 14:00-23:00; Su 14:00-20:00
The Office Coffee Shop
Cafe · Coffee Shop, Sandwich · 1.5 mi
Airy coffee bar offering free Wi-Fi & cafe fare, plus a co-working space with conference rooms.
402 South Lafayette Avenue, Royal Oak
Mo-Fr 07:00-18:00; Sa 08:00-18:00; Su 09:00-18:00
Tim Hortons
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.9 mi
1230 West 14 Mile Road, Clawson
Mo-We 05:00-20:00; Fr 05:00-20:00; Sa-Su 06:00-20:00
245 more on the map.
History
Royal Oak was named in 1819, during one of the surveying expeditions led by Territorial Governor Lewis Cass. A large oak tree at this small settlement reminded Cass of the story of the Royal Oak, where King Charles II of England, Scotland and Ireland hid to escape capture by the Roundheads after the Battle of Worcester, so he chose that name for the settlement.
Royal Oak was not incorporated as a village until 1891. It was reincorporated a city in 1921.
From the History section of Royal Oak, Michigan on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay11
Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Madison Heights MI
Motel and hotel · 2.3 mi
1331 West 14 Mile Road, Madison Heights
Hampton Inn Detroit/Madison Heights/South Troy
Motel and hotel · 2.3 mi
32420 Stephenson Highway, Madison Heights
Extended Stay America - Detroit - Madison Heights
Motel and hotel · 2.5 mi
32690 Stephenson Highway, Madison Heights
Residence Inn Detroit Troy/Madison Heights
Motel and hotel · 2.4 mi
32680 Stephenson Highway, Madison Heights
Churches and places of worship38
Christ the Good Shepherd Church
Church · Catholic · 2.4 mi
3947 12 Mile Road, Berkley
Clawson United Methodist Church
Church · Methodist · 1.9 mi
205 North Main Street, Clawson
El-Shaddai Missionary Baptist Church
Church · Baptist · 2.6 mi
928 East 10 Mile Road, Ferndale
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Church · Lutheran · 1.7 mi
814 North Campbell Road, Royal Oak
Korean First Central United Methodist Church
Church · Methodist · 2.3 mi
500 West Gardenia Avenue, Madison Heights
Shopping41
Gas and EV charging35
Schools, colleges and libraries75
Huntington Woods Public Library
Library · 1.9 mi
26415 Scotia Road, Huntington Woods
Shrine Catholic High School & Academy
School · 2.0 mi
3500 West 13 Mile Road, Royal Oak
Healthcare22
Get Well Urgent Care Of Madison Heights
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.6 mi
350 East 12 Mile Road, Madison Heights
Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital
Hospital · 2.0 mi
3601 West 13 Mile Road, Royal Oak
Doctors Urgent Care
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.5 mi
29405 Greenfield Road, Southfield
Map of Royal Oak
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 20°F | 1.4 in |
| Feb | 35°F | 21°F | 1.4 in |
| Mar | 45°F | 28°F | 2.0 in |
| Apr | 58°F | 39°F | 2.8 in |
| May | 70°F | 50°F | 3.5 in |
| Jun | 79°F | 60°F | 3.1 in |
| Jul | 84°F | 65°F | 3.2 in |
| Aug | 81°F | 64°F | 3.1 in |
| Sep | 74°F | 56°F | 3.1 in |
| Oct | 61°F | 45°F | 2.3 in |
| Nov | 48°F | 34°F | 2.2 in |
| Dec | 37°F | 26°F | 1.7 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Detroit City Ap (10 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
Oakland County has had 10 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2024-02-08: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2021-07-15: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes (Severe Storm)
- 2020-03-27: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2014-09-25: Severe Storms And Flooding (Flood)
- 2005-09-07: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Coleman A. Young Municipal Airport (DET) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 10 miles away.
- Berkley 2 mi west, about 3 min by car
- Clawson 2 mi north, about 3 min by car
- Madison Heights 3 mi east, about 4 min by car
- Oak Park 3 mi southwest, about 5 min by car
- Ferndale 4 mi south, about 6 min by car
- Birmingham 4 mi northwest, about 7 min by car
- Hazel Park 4 mi southeast, about 7 min by car
- Beverly Hills 5 mi west, about 7 min by car
- Warren 7 mi east, about 11 min by car
- Sterling Heights 8 mi northeast, about 13 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
- Romontage, The New Squeaky at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- National Shrine of the Little Flower, Royal Oak, Michigan - 20201213 - 05, Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
- National Shrine of the Little Flower, Royal Oak, Michigan - 20201213 - 03, Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
- National Shrine of the Little Flower, Royal Oak, Michigan - 20201213 - 04, Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
- National Shrine of the Little Flower, Royal Oak, Michigan - 20201213 - 02, Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
- National Shrine of the Little Flower, Royal Oak, Michigan - 20201213 - 01, Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Royal Oak (Oct2023) (2) 01, Lrgjr72, CC BY 4.0
- Royal Oak (Oct2023) (2) 02, Lrgjr72, CC BY 4.0
- Royal Oak (Oct2023) (2) 03, Lrgjr72, CC BY 4.0
- Downtown Royal Oak (2020), Lrgjr72, CC BY-SA 4.0
- National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica (Royal Oak MI), Lrgjr72, CC BY-SA 4.0
- The Zombies performing at the Royal Oak Music Theatre in Royal Oak, Michigan on October 18, 2023, Stevek64, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Belle & Sebastian Performing at Royal Oak Music Theatre, Souvams, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Royal Oak Music Theatre view from balcony, A sentient pickle, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Royal Oak Farmers Market 0543, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Royal Oak Farmers Market 0542, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 44th District Court Royal Oak Michigan 0538, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Royal Oak Music Theatre marquee, A sentient pickle, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 44th District Court Royal Oak Michigan 0536, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 44th District Court Royal Oak Michigan 0539, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 44th District Court Royal Oak Michigan 0537, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Royal Oak Farmers Market 0533, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Royal Oak Farmers Market 0524, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Royal Oak Farmers Market 0526, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Royal Oak Farmers Market 0523, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Royal Oak Farmers Market 0540, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Royal Oak Farmers Market 0519, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Royal Oak Farmers Market 0529, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Royal Oak Farmers Market 0530, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Royal Oak Farmers Market 0527, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Royal Oak Farmers Market 0521, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Royal Oak Farmers Market 0532, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Royal Oak Farmers Market 0528, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Royal Oak Farmers Market 0522, Paul R. Burley, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Detroit Zoo, WMrapids, CC0
- DerbyStreet-GrandTrunkWesternRailroadBridgeBirminghamMiA, Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- JohnWHunterHouseBirminghamMI, Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Pleasant Ridge East Historic District A, Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- GrandTrunkWesternRailroadBirminghamMIDepot, Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Michigan State Fair Detroit MI, Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0
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