St. Louis (Michigan)

St. Louis is a city in Central Michigan, and is the second largest population center of Gratiot County, with 4,494 residents. St. Louis is famous for being the "Geographic Center of Michigan's Lower Peninsula." Its small-town atmosphere is ideal for people who are looking for safe neighborhoods and easy driving, yet its active community organizations still provide a vibrant calendar of events for people who enjoy live music and other forms of entertainment. St. Louis' historic downtown district is located on Business US-127, along the "Old 27 Route."

Get in

By car

Centrally located at the crossroads of US-127 and M-46, St. Louis is easily accessible from all parts of the state of Michigan by car.

By bus

St. Louis is served by a local bus service known as Dial-A-Ride Transit (DART) that provides service throughout St. Louis and neighboring Alma.

By air

Gratiot Community Airport

The Gratiot Community Airport, located 6 miles southwest of St. Louis, offers flight services to business, individual, and freight customers. The airport features a 5,000 ft east-west primary runway and a 3,200 ft north-south crosswind runway, capable of handling commercial aircraft and small jets. Three Point Aviation manages operations, including flight plans, aircraft maintenance, catering, and self-serve fueling.

By bicycle/foot

Residents and visitors can easily get around St. Louis on a bicycle, with its well-maintained sidewalk infrastructure. More ambitious riders can bike into Alma via Michigan Avenue, and connect to the Alma Riverwalk and 8+ mile Fred Meijer Heartland Trail.

By boat

The Pine River winds through St. Louis, connecting many hamlets and cities throughout the region that once depended on the river for industry. The occasionally narrow river is conducive to paddle sports and no-wake motor boating. The Bushwhacker Challenge is a major canoe challenge that takes paddlers up to 150 miles from Alma to Midland and back, connecting with the Chippewa River. A local livery, Pine River Outfitters, offers canoe, kayak, and pontoon rentals for tourists and area residents.

Get around

Dial-A-Ride Transit (DART) provides transportation service throughout St. Louis and neighboring Alma. Extensive sidewalks make St. Louis a very walkable community.

See

• Pine River. 

Do

• Fred Meijer Heartland Trail. 
• Pine River Outfitters Canoe Livery, 1010 Michigan Ave., ☎ [phone]. Offers canoes and pontoons for hourly or daily rental. Launch at Horse Creek, or get transported to/picked up from other spots along the Pine River. 
• Center Stage at the GEM Theater, 205 N. Mill St., ☎ [phone]. 
• Pine River Paintball Games, 3701 W. Pine River Rd.. 

Buy

• Downtown St. Louis Retail Business List. 

Eat

• The Bustle & Grind, 122 N. Mill St., ☎ [phone]. 
• Friendly Tavern, 223 N. Mill St., ☎ [phone]. 
• Frosty Cone, 333 N. Mill St., ☎ [phone]. 
• Main Street Pizza, 123 N. Mill St., ☎ [phone]. 
• McDonald's of St. Louis, 115 W. Washington Ave., ☎ [phone]. 
• River Rock Bar & Grill, 210 N. Mill St., ☎ [phone]. 
• Subway, 102 W. Washington Ave., ☎ [phone]. 
• Tacho's Mexican Food, 701 Michigan Ave., ☎ [phone]. 
• The Shark Shack, 220 W. Washington Ave., ☎ [phone]. 
• Tony's, 518 W. Washington Ave., ☎ [phone]. Home of the Giant Steak Sandwich 

Drink

• Friendly Tavern, 223 N. Mill St., ☎ [phone]. 
• River Rock Bar & Grill, 210 N. Mill St., ☎ [phone]. 

Sleep

• Alma Comfortable Inn, 3110 W. Monroe Rd, ☎ [phone]. 
• Triangle Motel, 131 W. Lincoln Rd., ☎ [phone]. 
• Alma Motel, 1575 Wright Ave., ☎ [phone]. 
• Saravilla Bed & Breakfast, 633 N. State St., ☎ [phone]. 

Connect

• City of St. Louis, ☎ [phone]. 
• Gratiot Area Chamber of Commerce, ☎ [phone]. 
• Greater Gratiot Development, Inc., ☎ [phone]. 

Go next

St. Louis is "on the way" to many larger metropolitan destinations throughout the state. Following US-127 north will lead to Mount Pleasant, and many northern Michigan communities before US-127 becomes I-75 near Grayling. I-75 continues north across the Mackinac Bridge to Michigan's Upper Peninsula, before ending in Sault Ste. Marie, Canada. US-127 will take travelers south to Lansing, Jackson, and all the way to Chattanooga, Tennessee.

M-46 is an east-west highway that reaches from Muskegon on Michigan's West Coast, to Port Sanilac on the East Coast. Saginaw is a major city located 35 miles east of St. Louis on M-46.

Several other larger metropolitan areas can easily be reached from the highways that intersect St. Louis.

Routes through St. Louis

Mackinaw City ← Mount Pleasant ←	N  S	→ Alma → Lansing
Muskegon ← Alma ←	W  E	→ Breckenridge → Saginaw