Overview
Bay City is a city in Central Michigan. A former lumbering/mill town that was incorporated in 1865, it was at one time the home of the celebrity Madonna, which is commemorated in a mural downtown.
5 sights · 4 things to do · 1 places to eat · 1 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Bay City
Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum
An intriguing naval museum given that it is housed in a former US destroyer.
State Theatre
Hell's Half Mile Film & Music Festival
Bay City Fireworks Festival
Things That Go Bump In The Night Film Festival
Delta College Planetarium & Learning Center
146-seat, interactive, Digistar 6 theater. Observation deck with panoramic view of downtown Bay City and Saginaw River. Astronomy programs for enthusiasts of all ages.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 84°F; winter lows dip to about 16°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jun and May. (climate data from nearby Ann Arbor)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- MBS MBS International Airport, Freeland — 11 mi away. Directions
- FNT Bishop International Airport, Flint — 44 mi away. Directions
- GRR Gerald R. Ford International Airport, Grand Rapids — 96 mi away (major hub). Directions
Bay City is accessible from I-75 / US-23 and US-10 highways.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Bay City State Park, Delta College Planetarium & Learning Center, Historical Museum Of Bay County
- Lunch Fusion 1 Cafe
- Afternoon Hell's Half Mile Film & Music Festival, Things That Go Bump In The Night Film Festival
Day 2
- Morning Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum, State Theatre
- Afternoon Center Avenue Homes, Bay City Fireworks Festival
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By car
Bay City is accessible from I-75 / US-23 and US-10 highways.
By bus
Bay City is served by Greyhound Bus Lines through Indian Trails.
By plane
See
- The four bascule-type drawbridges over the Saginaw River that bisects the town along with the historic downtown area.
Do
The Riverwalk located along the Saginaw river. Features artwork, gardens, softball fields and a children's playground.
Do Center Avenue Homes
Center Avenue consists of a long string of classic and historic homes built by some of the elite lumber barons who helped settle the area. Each home is different and seems to have been constructed to "out-do" its neighbor. Look for tower rooms, sprawling three and four story homes with wings off the main structure.
Do Things That Go Bump In The Night Film Festival
Eat
Drink
Visit Bay City's Midland Street for a wide variety of pubs, bars and clubs set in with local shops and restaurants. The area is part of the historic down town of West Bay City.
Sleep
Nearby
Saginaw
City / town · 34 listings · 12 mi away
Midland
City / town · 17 listings · 18 mi away
Frankenmuth
City / town · 15 listings · 20 mi away
St. Louis
City / town · 13 listings · 38 mi away
Alma
City / town · 22 listings · 41 mi away
Flint
City / town · 30 listings · 42 mi away
Ithaca
City / town · 22 listings · 42 mi away
Swartz Creek
City / town · 31 listings · 44 mi away
My experience
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