Detroit Airport Car Rental

Parking in Detroit

• Detroit has an on-street parking system in Downtown, Midtown, Corktown and along Michigan Avenue, Vernor and Livernois. Parking is split into different zones and you can pay with coins or card at the kiosk, on the curb or via a smartphone. Spaces are enforced from 7am to 10pm, Monday to Saturday.
• McNamara Parking Garage and the Big Blue Deck offer long and short-term parking at Detroit Airport. Shuttles are available between them and the Ground Transportation Center at both terminals.
• Downtown parking is available at many lots and garages, with more than 2,000 spaces at One Detroit Center Garage (48226) and room for nearly 1,000 vehicles at Financial District Garage (48226).

Traffic in Detroit

Rush hour starts around 6am in Detroit and can last until 10am on weekdays. Later in the day, expect traffic to increase from 3pm until around 7pm – as schools close and work finishes. Plan your journeys around these times for a more pleasant driving experience in Motor City.

How to get from Detroit Airport to Downtown

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport is around 20 miles and a 25-minute drive from Downtown, depending on traffic:

1. Head east down Lucas Drive, then turn left up Middlebelt Road.
2. Join I-94 and follow it east for just more than 16 miles.
3. Take Exit 215A and merge onto M-10 S, staying on it for around 2.5 miles.
4. Leave at Exit 1B and join W Larned Street.
5. Turn left down Woodward Avenue and arrive at Cadillac Square in the heart of downtown Detroit.

Roads and freeways

Main routes in Detroit

• Interstate 75 (I-75) passes through central Detroit, heading north to Flint and the Canadian border, while it reaches all the way to Miami in the south.
• Interstate 94 (I-94) runs from Montana, through Chicago and out to Detroit.
• Interstate 96 (I-96) originates in central Detroit and runs for 192 miles west – ending at Muskegon County Airport.

Detroit to Grand Rapids

The 158-mile journey west to Grand Rapids takes around two-and-a-half hours. Leave Detroit and west and stay on the I-96 for most of the drive, passing Lansing.

Things to do in Detroit

Ford Piquette Avenue Plant

Henry Ford and his company may have outgrown their first factory, but you can still visit the restored building (MI 48202), which was the birthplace of the Ford Model T in 1908. Step inside the secret experimental room where the ‘car of the century’ was invented, learn about the early auto industry, and admire other classic vehicles from the era.

Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA)

The DIA (MI 48202) is revered across the world as it possesses a huge array of fine art in its 100 galleries. Discover works by Monet, Picasso, van Gogh and Matisse, alongside Egyptian statues and medieval suits of armor. The Rivera Court is the star though, featuring paintings by Mexican artist Diego Rivera, done in situ on a visit in 1932. It’s open until 10pm on Fridays and hosts free concerts.

Detroit Jazz Festival

Music and motors make Detroit swing. Every year since 1980, the city has held a free international jazz festival across Labor Day weekend in early September. Venues across Motor City host an eclectic mix of jazz musicians and groups from around the world during the festival, celebrating the city’s rich musical heritage.

Downtown sports

Detroit is the only city in the US where you can watch all four big sports at three fantastic arenas Downtown:

• Comerica Park (48201) – Base of the Detroit Tigers baseball team.
• Ford Field (48226) – Backing onto Comerica Park, this is home to the Detroit Lions NFL team.
• Little Caesars Arena (48201) – Shared by the Detroit Red Wings NHL team and the Detroit Pistons NBA team.

Best Detroit restaurants

London Chop House

For more than 80 years, this elegant downtown steakhouse has been serving up delicious steaks, chops and seafood to locals and visitors – a sure sign of its quality. Wood-paneled walls and leather-seated booths complete the classy dining atmosphere.

Cork and Gabel

Fusing German, Italian and Irish food in a transformed historical building at the heart of Corktown, Cork and Gabel instantly stands out in a competitive area for restaurants. Lamb Bolognese, schnitzel BLT, Italian shepherd’s pie and more make up an eclectic and appetizing menu.

Rose’s Fine Food

Located in the Marina District, Rose’s Fine Food focuses on filling, traditional fare and a welcoming ambience. Pancakes and pastries are ideal for breakfast, sausage sandwiches make a hearty lunch and the China cups perfect for afternoon tea.

Where to stay in Detroit

Detroit Foundation Hotel

Originally a fire station in the 1920s, today the boutique Detroit Foundation Hotel (MI 48226) has around 100 rooms. Many of its original features remain and add character – including its redbrick facade and even some fire poles. Modern furnishings and design in the rooms adds a contemporary feel to the place.

The Siren Hotel

Also dating back to the 1920s, this former Wurlitzer musical instrument store is today a chic hotel, just off Grand Circus in Downtown. The Siren Hotel’s (MI 48226) interior is decked out in a vintage style, including antique furniture across the rooms and a Murano glass chandelier in the Candy Bar.

Shinola Hotel