Plan Your Visit

FRIB is where researchers from all career stages and backgrounds come together to make discoveries that change the world. They study the properties and fundamental interactions of rare isotopes and nuclear astrophysics and their significance on medicine, homeland security, and industry. Visit our facility to get a glimpse of the far-reaching impacts of these scientific discoveries.
Address
Facility for Rare Isotope Beams
Michigan State University
640 South Shaw Lane
East Lansing, MI 48824
Map
Below is a map showing FRIB on MSU’s campus. Visit the Campus Map page on the MSU website for additional views of campus.
Below is a map showing the FRIB entrances, nearby parking locations, and campus dining information (click to expand). The public entrance is along the curved-glass section at the northwest corner of the FRIB building, next to the Chemistry building.
Parking
Outside visitors arriving by car should park in the “pay by the plate” parking areas of the following MSU parking ramps:
- Shaw parking ramp (MSU Ramp 1), north of FRIB directly across Shaw Lane. The “pay by plate” area is on the lower level of the ramp (below ground level).
- Wharton Center parking ramp (MSU Ramp 3), east of FRIB and accessible from Shaw Lane. Visitors can park anywhere in the Wharton ramp to use the “pay by plate” system.
When parking:
- Do not park in any spaces that have a “leased” sign on the space.
- After parking, make note of the vehicle’s license plate number. (You will be asked for your license plate number and the date/time you need parking. Note: It is OK to say you will be parking for the entire day.)
- Locate a pay station
- Note: You can’t pay from the parking app. You must visit a pay station.
- In the Shaw ramp, the pay station is on the southeast side of the ramp, on the ground level as you exit toward FRIB.
- In the Wharton ramp, pay stations are located on level 2 (at the walkway from the ramp to the Wharton Center) and on level 1 (near all pedestrian exits).
- Do not use the “pay by plate” sections of either ramp from 2-6 a.m. (7 days a week).
- Visitors may park in the employee parking section of both ramps (no pass required) on:
- Weekdays (Monday – Friday): 6 p.m. to 7 a.m.
- Weekends: 6 p.m. on Friday to 7 a.m. on Mondays
When arriving by bus:
- The bus may stop in front of the FRIB Laboratory along Shaw Lane to release passengers. Note: Visitors must enter at the public entrance marked on the map.
- MSU requests that buses park in Commuter Lot 89-1 at the corner of Farm Lane and Mt. Hope Avenue.
Hotels
There are a number of area hotels within a short distance from the FRIB Laboratory. FRIB has arranged with several hotels to provide rooms at reduced rates. Visit the hotel websites listed below for additional information. See the map below to see where the hotels are located in proximity to FRIB.
- Candlewood Suites (3545 Forest Road, Lansing, (517) 351-8181, distance to the laboratory – 2.9 miles)
- Special rates for FRIB visitors: $75 for Studio Suites, and $105 for a one bedroom. If staying more than 29 nights, ask about an even further reduced rate
- Graduate East Lansing (133 Evergreen Avenue, East Lansing, (517) 348-0900, distance to the laboratory – 1.2 miles)
- Special rates for FRIB visitors: Use special code (SMART) for its lowest offers. Hotel is pet-friendly and charges a $35 pet fee per night.
- Hyatt House Lansing East – University Area (3150 E. Michigan Ave, Lansing, (517) 337-2626, distance to the laboratory – 2.9 miles)
- Blanket MSU rate of $134, which lowers the longer the stay
- Please contact the sales office at (517) 246-4908 for more personalized assistance
- Hyatt Place (2401 Showtime Drive, Lansing, (517) 679-7600, distance to the laboratory – 5.7 miles)
- Special rates for FRIB visitors: $103 per night (code – FRIB)
- Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center (219 S. Harrison Road, East Lansing,
(800) 875-5090 for reservations, or (517) 432-4000 for main line, distance to the laboratory – 1.3 miles)- Special rates for FRIB visitors: $51.50 for a standard room (double, queen, king)
- Marriott East Lansing (300 M.A.C. Avenue, East Lansing, (517) 337-4440, distance to the laboratory – 1.1 miles)
- Special rates for FRIB visitors: $179 per night with the FRIB rate code
- Quality Inn (3121 East Grand River, Lansing, (517) 351-1440, distance to the laboratory – 3.9 miles)
- Special rates for FRIB visitors: Special rate of 42-percent less than the best available rate per room using the FRIB rate code
- Residence Inn (2841 Hannah Boulevard, East Lansing, (517) 657-2875 or (800) 627-7468, distance to the laboratory – 1.3 miles)
- Special rates for FRIB visitors: $103 per night with the FRIB rate code (based on availability – if not available, the regular MSU rates are guaranteed)
- Staybridge Suites (3553 Meridian Crossings Drive, Okemos, (517) 347-3044, distance to the laboratory – 5.6 miles)
- Special rates for FRIB visitors: $109 for studio rooms
- TownePlace Suites by Marriott (2855 Hannah Boulevard, East Lansing, (517) 203-1000, distance to the laboratory – 1.3 miles)
- Special rates for FRIB visitors: $103 for studio suites
- Several other hotels are available in East Lansing or the nearby town of Okemos; search travel websites such as Travelocity for more information.
On-campus accommodations for FRIB users
Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center (219 S. Harrison Road, East Lansing, (800) 875-5090 or (517) 432-4000, distance to the laboratory – 1.3 miles) offers users and visitors the special rate of $54.00 per night for a standard room (double, queen, king). Kellogg is located on campus and is within walking distance of the laboratory. Reservations can be made on the hotel website using the promo code FRIB. Overnight parking is available in the attached ramp for the rate of $15.00 per night.
Visiting-scholar rooms in Owen Hall (735 E Shaw Lane, Michigan State University, (517) 355-5068, distance to the laboratory – 0.2 miles; approximately a 2-minute walk) are dormitory-style rooms. The charge for dorm rooms at Owen Hall is $87 per night for VIP apartments and $52 per night for a single room. Each room is a single room with one bathroom.
- To reserve a visiting-scholar room in Owen Hall, please complete a reservation form and email the completed form to Geoff Parkerson.
- This document contains detailed information about the visiting-scholar rooms in Owen Hall.
- This document contains detailed information about the VIP rooms in Owen Hall.
Please contact the Manager for User Relations if you need assistance with your travel or lodging arrangements.
Airports
The Lansing Capital City Airport (LAN) is serviced by five airlines. Rental cars and taxis are available for the approximately 20-minute trip to FRIB.
Wayne County Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) is serviced by all major airlines. Rental cars, the MichiganFlyer coach service, and limousine service are available for the 90- to 120-minute trip to FRIB.
The MichiganFlyer offers reliable motorcoach connections between East Lansing and the Detroit Metropolitan Airport at affordable rates. The cost of a round-trip from DTW to East Lansing is $54 (with an advanced purchase) for one adult. The bus generally runs 12 to 14 round trips per day between the hours of 4 a.m. and 11 p.m. WiFi is available on all routes.
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids (GRR) and the Bishop International Airport (FNT) in Flint sometimes offer lower rates and are within 60-minute driving distances.
Directions from Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW):
- Exit airport toward freeways
- Merge onto I-94 W
- Take I-94 W to I-275 N (exit 194)
- Take I-275 N to I-96 W
- Take I-96 W (toward Lansing) to I-496/US-127 N (exit 106)
- Take US-127 N (3.2 miles) to Trowbridge Road (exit 9)
- Drive east on Trowbridge Road (0.5 miles) to Harrison Road and turn left (north)
- Turn right (east) on Shaw Lane (1 mile) to FRIB
Directions from Lansing’s Capital Region International Airport (LAN):
- Exit airport by heading west on East Circle Drive toward West Commerce Road (0.2 miles)
- Continue onto West Commerce Road
- Turn right onto Capitol City Boulevard
- Turn right onto Grand River Avenue
- Turn left onto North Waverly Road (3.4 miles)
- Slight right to merge onto I-496 E (5 miles)
- Take I-496 E to Trowbridge Road (exit 9)
- Drive east (0.5 miles) on Trowbridge Road to Harrison Road
- Turn left (north) on Harrison Road (0.4 miles)
- Turn right (east) on Shaw Lane (1 mile) to FRIB
Greater Lansing area
FRIB is located on the Michigan State University campus, which sits between Lansing (Michigan's capital city) and East Lansing. The Greater Lansing area is comprised of Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties in Michigan and has a population of more than 470,000 residents. For more information about the area (including events, hotels, restaurants, and attractions), visit the Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau website at lansing.org.
Discover the inner workings of FRIB with a guided tour and learn about what happens (and why) in a rare isotope facility.
Learn how to request access to the FRIB Laboratory via the FRIB Scientific User Portal.