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Centrally located near the crossroads of US-127 and M-46, the city of Alma is easily accessible from all parts of the state of Michigan by car.
Alma is served by both Greyhound and Indian Trails bus lines with connections to the larger metropolitan areas of Lansing, Grand Rapids, Detroit, and Chicago. There is a local bus service known as Dial-A-Ride Transit (DART) that provides service throughout Alma and neighboring St. Louis.
The Great Lakes Central Railroad and Mid Michigan Railroad bisect Alma, used predominately for freight service. However, special passenger train tours have recently become a summer tourism attraction, transporting riders from as far south as Owosso, north to Mt. Pleasant or Cadillac and back. Often tours temporarily stop at Alma College, allowing riders to explore the Alma College campus and the downtown shopping district.
The Gratiot Community Airport, located 3 miles southwest of Alma, offers flight services to business, individual, and freight customers. The airport features a 5,000 ft east-west primary runway and a 3,200 ft north-south crosswind runway, capable of handling commercial aircraft and small jets. Three Point Aviation manages operations, including flight plans, aircraft maintenance, catering, and self-serve fueling.
The Fred Meijer Heartland Trail, a paved converted railroad line, connects Alma to the hamlets of Elwell and Riverdale to the west. It is expected that the trail will soon be completed between Riverdale and Edmore, which will make the trail one of the midwest's longest uninterrupted paved trails, reaching from Alma to Greenville. Area residents frequently utilize the trail for bicycling, jogging, walking, and inline skating.
The Pine River winds through Alma, connecting many hamlets and cities throughout the region that once depended on the river for industry. The occasionally narrow river is conducive to paddle sports and no-wake motor boating. The Bushwhacker Challenge is a major canoe challenge that takes paddlers up to 150 miles from Alma to Midland and back, connecting with the Chippewa River. A local livery, Pine River Outfitters, offers canoe, kayak, and pontoon rentals for tourists and area residents.