Ann Arbor travel guide

Ann Arbor, United States

By the Travel Wiki editorial team

Ann Arbor

Introduction

Ann Arbor is the seat of Washtenaw County in Michigan, and it anchors the surrounding area as its administrative center. The city is one of the larger urban centers in the state, so you'll find the amenities of a substantial city within the broader southeastern Michigan landscape.

Before you go

Ann Arbor revolves around the University of Michigan, whose campus intermingles with downtown, so the core is walkable and day buses link the campuses with the central business district. Beyond the city limits, bus routes are lacking except in the direction of Ypsilanti, so plan on a car or bike unless you have several hours to spare. On some autumn Saturdays, getting around is difficult as crowds pour in for university football games.

Summers are hot and humid, with July and early August sometimes climbing high into the 90s, while winters are typical of the lower Great Lakes and can be brutal if you are not used to extreme cold — cold enough that touching metal without gloves can give you an ice burn. The city is generally very safe, but as in any university town, theft is the common crime, so lock your bike and keep your bags with you; alcohol violations such as drinking from an open container on the street are vigorously policed. For official information, the Ann Arbor Convention and Visitors Bureau is on W Huron St.

Getting there

Ann Arbor sits at the junction of several major highways: I-94 runs along the south and west between Detroit and Jackson, US-23 along the east between Flint and Toledo, and M-14 to the north toward Detroit's western suburbs and I-96. From Detroit and the airport, take I-94 west (or I-96 west to M-14 west); from Toledo and points south, US-23 north; from Chicago and points west, I-94 east; and from the north, US-23 south. Downtown parking is plentiful but paid, and most of it is in garages rather than at the curb. The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority runs five park-and-ride lots with free parking on the city's outskirts, each with bus service into town.

The nearest major airport is Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, about 25 minutes away. The Michigan Flyer coach is the best way to reach downtown, dropping you at the Blake Transit Center, and several shuttle services offer pre-booked trips to any location in Ann Arbor and the surrounding areas, with the per-person cost dropping as your group grows; Uber also runs between the airport and Ann Arbor. AirRide, operated by the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority, is a fixed-route bus with advance reservations required that serves the Blake Transit Center. Ann Arbor's own small 24-hour airport, at State Street and Ellsworth Road, handles business, corporate, public and private flights, air ambulance service, flight instruction and charters. By train, Amtrak's Wolverine Service calls at the Ann Arbor station on Depot Street several times daily between Pontiac and Chicago, with stops including Detroit, Dearborn, Jackson and Kalamazoo; the station is within walking distance of downtown, just beyond Kerrytown, and bus route 1 and taxis are also available there. Amtrak thruway buses connect to Toledo for onward travel east. Greyhound operates from the Amtrak station, and Indian Trails runs from the Blake Transit Center to St. Ignace via Jackson, Lansing, Mt. Pleasant, Gaylord, Petoskey and Mackinaw City. D2A2 provides express bus service between Ann Arbor and Detroit.

Getting around

Downtown Ann Arbor is compact, so walking is the easiest way to get around — and often the most practical, since free parking is almost nonexistent, especially when the town is full of students. In summer the city closes several downtown streets to cars from Thursday evening until Monday morning, creating a pedestrian mall where restaurants spill onto the sidewalks and part of the street. If you do drive, expect to pay by the hour at the downtown lots and parking buildings, which are free on Sundays; on-street meters are rare, and where you find one you'll need to feed it on weekdays and Saturdays during business hours. A useful alternative is to leave the car in one of the park-and-ride lots on the city's outskirts, which offer free parking and bus service into town.

Local buses are run by the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority, known as TheRide, serving the city and downtown Ypsilanti; the downtown circulator, the Link, is free to ride, and University of Michigan faculty, staff and students ride regular routes free. The university also runs its own free bus system connecting the North, Central and South campuses on weekday and weekend schedules year-round, with a few holiday exceptions. You can't hail a taxi from the sidewalk, though cabs often wait in front of the Michigan Union on State Street and the Federal Building on Liberty Street; Uber and Lyft both have a large presence and are often cheaper, especially off-peak. For longer trips, the Amtrak station on Depot Street is within walking distance of downtown just beyond Kerrytown, with local bus route 1 into the centre and taxis usually waiting outside.

Where to stay

Ann Arbor's hotels cluster in a handful of areas, and where you stay shapes how you get around. The campus area puts you within easy walking distance of downtown and most of the attractions, but it's also where accommodations tend to be the most expensive—worth it mainly if you're in town for a conference or a business trip someone else is paying for. Otherwise, look further out: the southern part of town where State Street meets I-94 (including Boardwalk St, Briarwood Cir and Victors Way), the southeastern area near Washtenaw Rd and US-23 (including Carpenter Rd), the northeastern area by Plymouth Rd and US-23 (including Green Rd), and a few properties in the northwest near Jackson Ave and I-94.

Bus links vary by district. The southeastern area is served by AATA routes 4 and 22, the northwestern area by route 9, and route 2 runs along part of Plymouth Rd, while the commuter 36 stops at Wolverine Tower, a short walk from the hotels along State and Boardwalk. The southern and northeastern clusters aren't as well linked, so if you're staying outside downtown, plan on using your car. Choices range from budget motels and extended-stay properties with full kitchens to mid-range chains with pools and fitness centers, plus a small cluster of bed and breakfasts—among them an English gothic inn on Washtenaw Ave and a converted 1875 house on the West Side, about a 20-minute walk from campus. For a splurge, the campus area offers a small European-style inn and a larger hotel with passes to the Central Campus Recreation Building gymnasium.

Food & drink

For a relatively small Great Lakes town, Ann Arbor has a large variety of cheap and sometimes quirky eateries, thanks in part to its large student population. Downtown you'll find plenty of pizza restaurants, quick Chinese food, and lots of sandwich and wrap shops. In summer, hot dog and tamale carts appear on many street corners, selling basic fare with complimentary toppings. As an alternative to restaurants, the regional supermarket Busch's has good salads and sushi. One thing you won't see much of on campus and downtown are nationwide fast-food chains — the city seems proud enough of its small independent restaurants that it has no need for mass-produced french fries, though rising downtown rents are ousting many local restaurants and shops in favor of wealthier small chains.

For a more refined palate, there's no shortage of fine dining, fed by the city's cultural life and sizeable international population. Even at the priciest restaurants, you can order dishes for a more modest fee if you just want to sample the atmosphere. During warmer weather, check out the eateries on Main Street offering outdoor sidewalk dining — a popular choice for locals who have just suffered through six months of winter. If you're after an Ann Arbor specialty, look for the fragel, a raisin bagel deep-fried and rolled in cinnamon sugar that seems to have originated here; once available all over town, they're now only found at Bagel Fragel on Washtenaw Ave. Budget options include Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger for customizable burgers and fries, the Fleetwood Diner (open around the clock, with many vegetarian options and its Hippie Hash), Jerusalem Garden for cheap, tasty falafel, Le Dog's rotating homemade soups, and Mama Satto for sushi popular with students. For something sweet, Michigan Creamery serves ice cream, and Sweetwaters Coffee and Tea offers exotic teas and intricate coffees.

What to see and do

Start downtown, where most of the shops and restaurants line State, Liberty and Main streets, turning more upscale as you near Main; students tend to gather along South University. A few blocks north, Kerrytown's historic district of remodeled old homes makes for pleasant browsing. Cinema is a local institution: the restored Michigan Theater, a 1928 picture house with two organs (one a vintage 1927 pipe organ often played before shows), screens independent and foreign films alongside classic and silent-film screenings, and its main auditorium hosts musical and comedy acts. The art-deco State Theater, from 1942, works in tandem with it and picks up films that have finished their run at the Michigan. For live music, The Ark on South Main is an intimate nonprofit club that leans toward folk and rock.

Much of the sightseeing is on campus. The Diag is the heart of Central Campus, a quadrangle of key buildings where you'll find a brick courtyard with a brass M — legend says stepping on it in your first semester dooms your first exam. South of campus, the Law School Quadrangle is renowned for its serene Gothic architecture; its cathedral-like reading room, with stained-glass windows in the colors of universities worldwide, is open to visitors, and locals often call the Quad the most beautiful part of town. On North Campus, the Lurie Tower houses a working carillon and opens to visitors when the bells are played, with two floors reachable by elevator. Outdoors, Nichols Arboretum offers hilly woodland along the Huron River, a peony garden and quiet away from traffic; Matthaei Botanical Gardens has display gardens, a conservatory of tropical plants and nature trails, and hosts a popular spring plant sale. East of town at Domino's Farms you'll find a large art gallery and a petting farm with animals from around the world. Keep an eye out downtown, too, for public art: the spinning black Cube, Maya Lin's Wave Field, the alley mural off East Liberty, and the miniature fairy doors near ground level.

When to go

Ann Arbor has four distinct seasons, so when you visit shapes what you pack and how you plan your days. Summers are hot and humid, with July and early August sometimes climbing high into the 90s and heat indices occasionally near that mark. Expect sticky days and warm nights, and schedule your outdoor time with the heat in mind.

It turns chilly in late October and stays cold through winter, with January dips well below freezing and colder conditions when the wind picks up. Snow and cold are part of the season, so pack for real winter weather. Things begin to warm up again in mid-March, though an occasional early April snowfall is not unheard of — expect a gradual thaw with the chance of late cold snaps.

Three days in Ann Arbor

Day one: Start downtown, where State Street and Huron St give you the feel of the city centre, and use the Ann Arbor Convention and Visitors Bureau as your first stop for orientation. The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority and the Blake Transit Center are your anchors for getting around without a car, and if you arrive by air, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport is linked by AirRide, while the Michigan Flyer and Uber cover the run from Detroit. In the evening, keep to downtown and let the streets around State Street set the pace.

Day two: Head to the University of Michigan and spend the morning on and around campus, then follow State Street south toward Ellsworth Road to see how the city stretches beyond the centre. The Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority buses make this easy. In the afternoon, take the short trip to Ypsilanti in Washtenaw County for a change of scene, and return to Ann Arbor for the evening.

Day three: Use the Wolverine Service from Amtrak at Depot Street if you are continuing toward Detroit or Chicago, or plan a day trip by road toward Jackson, Flint or Toledo. On Saturdays in July and August, summers bring a lively feel to the streets, and the Great Lakes influence keeps the weather warm and humid. If you are flying out, allow time for the run to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport via AirRide or the Michigan Flyer.

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