Getting Around Detroit
Detroit offers several ways for visitors to move around the city, from public transit to ride-hailing services. The choice depends on your destination, budget, and comfort level navigating the city's layout.
Public Transit: The People Mover and Q-Line
Detroit's primary rapid transit system is the People Mover, an automated light rail system serving downtown and nearby areas. The Q-Line streetcar is another rail option, connecting the midtown and new center areas of the city. The Q-Line is directly connected to Detroit's main train station at 11 W Baltimore Ave, making it a convenient link between regional rail arrivals and downtown destinations.
The Bus Network
Several bus systems serve the city and surrounding areas:
- Local service: The city is served by local bus routes that integrate with the People Mover and Q-Line systems
- Regional SMART service: The Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) operates buses connecting Detroit to surrounding suburbs including Dearborn, Pontiac, Troy, and Roseville. SMART also runs the FAST (Frequent Affordable Safe Transit) service, which provides frequent regional bus service along major avenues like Gratiot, Woodward, and Michigan. FAST buses run seven days a week all day on these routes
- Intercity buses: Greyhound, Megabus, FlixBus, and Indian Trails offer longer-distance service to cities like Chicago, Toledo, and destinations across Michigan and the midwest
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are readily available throughout Detroit. Standard cab fares to downtown from Detroit Metropolitan Airport are approximately $45–50, plus a $10 airport fee charged by the airport to all licensed transportation providers. Ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft are also popular options for getting around the city.
Walkability
Downtown Detroit's original business district features a wheel-and-spoke street layout (based on the Washington D.C./L'Enfant design), which can be confusing for visitors due to one-way streets, but this compact area is walkable. Beyond downtown, the city follows a grid pattern with mile roads running east-west and spoke roads (including Woodward Ave, Michigan Ave, Gratiot Ave, and Grand River Ave) radiating outward. Walkability varies depending on your neighborhood; some areas along the river are designed for pedestrian access, while sprawling suburban sections require motorized transport.
Getting from the Airport to Downtown
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) is located in Romulus, approximately 20 minutes west of downtown at the junction of I-275 and I-94. Several options exist for reaching the city:
- Detroit Air Xpress bus: This is the easiest option for downtown travel, offering direct service between the airport's Evans and McNamara terminals and downtown in 30–60 minutes. Tickets cost $6 with advance reservation or $8 at the door
- SMART FAST service: Route #261 Michigan picks up at the McNamara and North terminals every 30–40 minutes on weekdays and every 45–60 minutes on weekends. It makes limited stops in Dearborn, Corktown, and the Rosa Parks Transit Center before ending downtown on Larned. Route #125 Fort also serves the airport but runs only every 60 minutes and takes about 75 minutes to reach downtown, with service to downtown limited to weekdays during peak hours. The fare is $2. These routes are more commonly used by airport workers than tourists, so familiarize yourself with the schedule and route map before attempting to use them
- Taxi: Standard cab fares to downtown are $45–50, plus a $10 airport fee
- Ride-hailing: Uber and Lyft services are available at the airport
- Car rental: Rental cars are available at the airport
- Airport shuttle: Shuttle services are available by reservation (call +1 313 759-7741, 9 AM–9 PM); rates to downtown are $49 plus a $10 airport fee
Arriving by Train
Detroit's main train station is located at 11 W Baltimore Ave in the Midtown and New Center area at Woodward. The station is served by Amtrak and connected to the Q-Line streetcar, which provides access to the People Mover system downtown. Amtrak's Wolverine Service operates several times daily between Chicago and Pontiac, with stops in major Michigan cities including Ann Arbor, Kalamazoo, and Battle Creek, as well as Detroit and Dearborn. Travel time from Ann Arbor is approximately one hour and from Chicago is 5–6 hours.
Crossing from Canada
Detroit has two vehicle crossings to Canada. The Ambassador Bridge connects from Huron Church Road in Canada and can experience wait times of around 30 minutes due to truck traffic; tolls are approximately US$10 per passenger car. The Detroit-Windsor Tunnel connects downtown Windsor to downtown Detroit; tolls are approximately US$9 per passenger car. Both crossings are frequently congested. Pedestrians and cyclists cannot use these crossings. Travelers crossing the US-Canada border must present a passport, passport card, enhanced driver's license, or trusted traveler card.