By car is by far the most common way to arrive. Muskegon is about 3 hours from Chicago, 3 hours from Detroit, and 45 minutes from Grand Rapids. US-31 runs along the western Michigan shoreline and provides the main approach from the north and south. From Grand Rapids, US-96 west connects to Muskegon in under an hour.
Muskegon County Airport (MKG) has limited scheduled service — primarily connections to Detroit via small regional airlines. Most air travellers use Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids (GRR), about 65 km east, which has extensive connections and multiple rental car companies.
The Lake Express ferry from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, offers an alternative approach across Lake Michigan. The high-speed catamaran crossing takes about 2.5 hours and carries passengers and vehicles; it runs May through October. For travellers coming from Wisconsin or the western side of the Midwest, this is a genuine option rather than an oddity — it saves 6 hours of driving around the lake. Book well in advance for summer crossings.
There is no meaningful intercity bus or rail service to Muskegon. A car is essential once you arrive.