Southgate Michigan Hotels & Motels

When should you visit Southgate, MI?

The best time of year to visit Southgate is summer, which has an average temperature of 70 degrees throughout June and July. This is when Southgate holds its annual Heritage Days festival, featuring outdoor music, arts, and parades. It's also a great time to take advantage of the town's acres and acres of public activity spaces. But unsurprisingly, this is also when hotel prices — and crowds — hit their peak. Nonetheless, located a bit outside of the high-price crush of Detroit, good deals are still to be had in Southgate.

Southgate is on the same latitude as Chicago and Buffalo (and not far from Toronto), so naturally, its winters can be cold, ranging from the mid-20s to right above 10 degrees. But if you're brave and well-insulated, winter happens to be a great time to get a steal on a hotel room. It's also the time to enjoy the town's Winter Wonderland, a multi-day assortment of skating exhibitions, rides on Santa's Christmas Express train, and a (wisely) indoor holiday crafts show.

This, of course, leaves the spring and fall for those who like their outdoors brisk, with temperatures hovering around the 50s and low 60s. Still, this Michigan town is all about the ice any time of year. You can take part in games of "Drop-In Hockey" at local rinks in June, and a local school's famous ice show is presented every year for April.

What hotels in Southgate, MI offer the best discounts?

Comfort Suites Southgate has been described by visitors as appreciating veterans, and this trait extends to its long list of military and government discounts, as well as discounts for seniors and AAA members. The suites also offer a lot for your money: in-room microwaves, refrigerators, a business center, and no extra charge for children 18 and under who stay in their parents' or guardians' rooms.

Holiday Inn Southgate also offers decent discounts to government, military, senior citizens, and AAA members, and it packs a lot of punch for the price. It features an arcade/game room, an outdoor garden area, and a pool and hot tub. And for those who can't get enough bubbles, there are also a number of Jacuzzi king suites available.

Where are the best hotels for value in Southgate, Michigan?

For a solid mix of location, comfort, and affordability, you might try the Hampton Inn Detroit Southgate. In this stately and stylish building, you will find tastefully appointed rooms with plush beds. For a little more money, you can also elect to get your room upgraded to a larger room with a whirlpool. The Hampton also offers multiple conveniences like an on-site fitness center, multimedia-equipped conference rooms, and a 24-hour food-to-go mini-store.

Another overall winner is the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Southgate Detroit Area. Part of Holiday Inn Express' new Formula Blue program, this haven of bright colors and eclectic design is a pleasure to the eyes. It also aims to make travel as convenient as possible. Breakfast is complimentary and comes in a choice of breakfast buffet, hot breakfast, or continental. Also of note are the gigantic heated indoor pool, on-site fitness, and 24-hour DIY laundry facilities for guests.

What are the best things to do in Southgate, MI?

No trip to Southgate would be complete without a visit to nearby Dearborn's Henry Ford Museum. It's the only museum where you can see President John F. Kennedy's limousine, the Rosa Parks bus, and a reproduction of the Wright Brothers' bicycle shop — all under one roof! Another historic must-do is the original headquarters of Motown Records, which is nicknamed Hitsville, USA. The Detroit Institute of Art is another worthwhile landmark to check out. Founded in 1885, the Institute is housed in a beautifully preserved mansion and packed with ancient, classical, and modern works from artists both local and global.

But probably the biggest attraction of Southgate is outdoor space. Starting with a park allotment of 36 acres in 1949, Southgate has expanded its recreational areas to 75 acres, including nine parks and numerous baseball diamonds, softball fields, and golf courses. Unsurprisingly, the area is also strong in all ice-based activities. Southgate Ice Arena boasts two sheets of ice, and opportunities are offered throughout the year for drop-in hockey and public skating. Southgate also offers in-line hockey games and multiple venues for casual visitors to learn ice skating or see some master practitioners show off their moves.

Other outdoors-oriented public events beckon as well. Southgate Shopping Center's sweeping Market Center Park is a popular spot where locals gather to see live music concerts, browse at farmers' markets, and take in outdoor movie screenings. Southgate Executive Golf Course is a great 18-hole course to hit a bucket of balls on and then grab a bite at the Clubhouse. Every June. Southgate rolls out its signature public event: Heritage Days. The multi-day event features live marquee bands from around the world, carnival rides, fireworks, a Taste of the Town food festival, a classic car exhibition, and arts and crafts shows.

Being just 6 miles from Detroit, a Southgate visitor has his or her pick of Detroit sports events, from watching Tigers baseball at Tiger Stadium to catching Red Wings hockey at the Little Caesar's Arena. Numerous casinos — from the MGM Grand to the MotorCity Casino to the popular and atmospheric Greektown — offer day and night "play" of a different kind.

Even when the chilly weather sends you indoors, Downriver Family YMCA — the largest Y in the entire metro Detroit area — is a palatial smorgasbord of sport, offering a gleaming modern fitness center, basketball courts, indoor track, and a jaw-dropping indoor-outdoor pool area with a seasonally available splash park for the kids. Another exciting activity is to take in a show put on by one of Southgate's two professional theater troupes: The Open Book Theater and the Southgate Community Players.

For a city in a cold climate, Southgate spends an awful lot of time outdoors and is ready to share all the fun with visitors. The good news is that there are also plenty of hotel options for staying in or near Southgate, MI, that will definitely keep you warm without burning your budget.