Michigan Roadside Attractions: Stand in Three States at the Tri State Marker

Michigan Roadside Attractions is a periodic feature on Travel the Mitten that will explore the many interesting things that can be found on the highways, byways and back roads of Michigan, ranging from the interesting to the unusual.

Many people have heard of the famous Four Corners Monument in the Southwest where you can stand in four states (Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah) at the same time. Few people know that Michigan has its own version of this where you can stand in three states (Michigan, Indiana, Ohio) at the same time. The Tri State Marker lets visitors know they have found this unique and unassuming location in the southwest corner of Hillsdale County.

It takes a little bit of back road driving to reach the marker, with the nearest city being Hillsdale (a half hour drive northeast). You’ll know you’re in the right place when you see the marker that reads:

130 FEET SOUTH IS THE POINT
WHERE INDIANA, MICHIGAN, AND
OHIO MEET. THIS MARKER
WAS ERECTED BY HILLSDALE
COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
– 1977 -

We followed a tractor to this site and the local man on it was nice enough to inform us that the point itself was in the middle of the road and marked as an “M.” It was pretty fun to be able to say we were standing in three states at once! It’s pretty quiet here and the views in all directions are fields and dirt roads.

To get to the Tri State Marker from Hillsdale: head south on S. Hillsdale Rd. for 14 miles, then head west on W. Territorial Rd. Follow this road for eight miles then head south on Mead Rd. Follow Mead Rd. for one mile then head west on County Rd. S. When you reach the T intersection at the end of County Rd. S head north for about a quarter mile and the monument will be on your right. We pulled up the Tri State Marker on Google Maps and it got us there without any issues.