Impression 5 Science Center
Voted #1 Best Children's Museum in the United States in 2025 by Newsweek, Impression 5 Science Center, is a hands-on science museum located in downtown Lansing, Michigan. Its history begins in 1972. Worth the trip, Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum is 3.6 mi off.
A museum inside Lansing
Winters are cold
January nights drop to 16°, with about 50" of snow a year. When to go ↓
You can stay in Lansing
Impression 5 Science Center is inside Lansing, which has 12 places to stay, so you won’t need a base farther out. Where to stay ↓
A day trip from Detroit
Detroit is about 77 miles east (straight-line). Where to stay ↓
Best months: May, Jun, Jul, Aug and Sep
May, June, July, August and September are the mild months, with highs of 69–82°. When to go ↓
An airport 4 miles away
Capital Region (LAN) has airline service, about 4 miles from Impression 5 Science Center.
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
Warm months and cold ones
Here is how the weather at Impression 5 Science Center changes month by month.
Impression 5 Science Center
Voted #1 Best Children's Museum in the United States in 2025 by Newsweek, Impression 5 Science Center, is a hands-on science museum located in downtown Lansing, Michigan. Formerly known as the Impression 5 Museum, the center is located in a historic wagon works factory on the Grand River. The name, Impression 5, refers to the five senses. The Impression 5 Science Center has ~3,000 Visitors per week.
- Type
- Museum
- Established
- 1972
Lodging near Impression 5 Science Center
Nearest for a night are Lansing (12) and Delta Township (13).
Compare 8 towns
| Town | From Impression 5 Science Center | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lansing | in town | — | 12 10 hotels · 1 inn or B&B · 1 campground | 113,884 | $129K | D− |
| Delta Township | 6 mi west | 10 min | 13 12 hotels · 1 motel | 33,175 | $253K | — |
| East Lansing | 4 mi east | 5 min | 11 9 hotels · 1 inn or B&B · 1 hostel | 49,355 | $271K | C+ |
| Meridian Township | 7 mi east | 10 min | 10 10 hotels | 44,869 | $331K | C+ |
| DeWitt Township | 6 mi north | 10 min | 9 5 hotels · 3 motels · 1 lodge or cabins | 15,516 | $276K | B |
| Lansing Township | 2 mi west | 5 min | 6 4 hotels · 2 motels | 8,060 | $146K | D− |
| Windsor Township | 9 mi southwest | 15 min | 5 3 hotels · 2 inns & B&Bs | 7,197 | $237K | — |
| Alaiedon Township | 9 mi southeast | 15 min | 5 5 hotels | 2,933 | $291K | — |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Places to add to Impression 5 Science Center
You can reach each of these within 63 miles.
Big draw52 mi Stadium & arenaMichigan Stadium
14 mi MuseumEli and Edythe Broad Art Museum150K visitors a year
42 mi Park & preserveNorth Country Trail
59 mi MuseumGerald R. Ford Presidential Museum
53 mi Park & preserveDomino's Farms
2in town Zoo & aquariumPotter Park Zoo
3in town MuseumR. E. Olds Transportation Museum62 mi MuseumMarvin's Marvelous Mechanical MuseumPhoto credits
Michigan Stadium: Lectrician2, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum: Dj1997, CC BY-SA 3.0 · North Country Trail: Huron-Manistee National Forests, Public domain · Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum: Staff of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, Public domain · Domino's Farms: Dwight Burdette, CC BY 3.0 · Potter Park Zoo: Dj1997, CC BY-SA 3.0 · R. E. Olds Transportation Museum: kennethaw88, CC BY 4.0
Before visiting Impression 5 Science Center
Is Impression 5 Science Center in Lansing?
Yes. It’s inside Lansing, MI.
When is the best time to visit Impression 5 Science Center?
May, June, July, August and September, with highs of 69–82°.
How far is Impression 5 Science Center from Detroit?
About 77 miles east of Detroit, as the crow flies.
What is the closest airport to Impression 5 Science Center?
Capital Region (LAN), about 4 miles away. The nearest big hub is Gerald R. Ford (GRR), about 50 miles.
Where should I stay near Impression 5 Science Center?
Lansing (in town, 12 places to stay), Delta Township (6 mi, 13 places to stay) and East Lansing (4 mi, 11 places to stay).
Tips from people in Lansing
Ask a question, or answer one, in Lansing’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.