Allendale is an unincorporated community in Ottawa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 17,579 at the 2010 census. The community is located within Allendale Charter Township and the community is centered at the intersection of M-45 and 68th Ave., which are the only roads which cross the Grand River in the county east of Grand Haven. It is a part of the Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland, Michigan combined statistical area, and is an exurb of Grand Rapids, due to its major commuter routes into the city (M-45 and I-96).

Allendale is best known as being home to the main campus of Grand Valley State University.

Grand Rapids is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland, population of 1,321,557. It is the county seat of Kent County, Michigan, second largest city in Michigan (after Detroit), and the largest city in West Michigan. 

Grand Rapids was the hometown of Gerald Ford, the 38th President of the United States. He, along with his wife, former First Lady Betty Ford, are buried on the grounds of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids.

Selected Hotels:

• Holiday Inn (Grand Rapids)
• Sleep Inn (Allendale)

Selected Restaurants:

• Main St. Pub (Allendale)
• Peppino's (Allendale)
• Pearl Street Grill (Grand Rapids)
• Mojo's Dueling Bar and Grill (Grand Rapids)
• HOP CAT

Tourism Information:

• ArtPrize
• Experience GR

More Information:

• Public Transportation (The Rapid)