Getting Around, Detroit Travel, Transport and Car Rental

(Detroit, Michigan - MI, USA)

Detroit, the Motor City, is built for cars and hence the public transport system and travel network is not among the best in the USA. Luckily, taxis are plentiful in Detroit and easy to flag down on the street or order by telephone.

The downtown city area of Detroit is home to the 'People Mover' that runs for five kilometers along an elevated track and a SMART bus system that provides transportation to the outlying suburbs.

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) / Arriving by Air

Located 18 miles / 29 km southwest of downtown Detroit, Metropolitan Wayne County Airport is the primary regional air center with connections to many major US and European cities. Regular shuttle buses travel between the airport and central Detroit and can be arranged at the terminals. For further information, please refer to the Detroit Airport page.

Detroit Airports Guide

Car Rental

There is no better place to hire a car than the Motor City itself. Detroit's focus on motor vehicles means that its public transport system is not as efficient as in many other parts of the USA. Added to this, it is a sprawling city with a multitude of outlying suburbs and attractions, making it difficult to travel without a vehicle. Luckily, driving is easy in Detroit, with highways passing in and out of the city and plenty of signposting and ample parking. Major highways provide travel into Detroit include I-75 from the south (Toledo) and north (Flint), I-94 from the west (Chicago) and route 401 from the east (Toronto).

Renting a car can be a convenient way to travel around the Detroit area, with some firms offering discounts for rentals when booked online. Detroit offers some of the cheapest car rental options in the whole of America and major car rental companies in the Detroit area include Avis, Budget, Hertz and Thrifty.

Book your Detroit Car Rental here.

Buses and Coaches

D-DOT buses serve the central city area and surrounding suburbs, although they are not always reliable. A SMART bus service travels to the Detroit Zoo, Henry Ford Museum and other outlying attractions, while Greyhound buses connect Detroit to over 40 cities throughout Michigan and other Midwest states.

Trains

Amtrak's Chicago bound train service stops in the suburb of Ann Arbor, just a short drive from Detroit central, and also stops in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek before it terminates in Chicago. Trains regularly travel to nearby Dearborn, from Amtrak's train station at Woodward Avenue.

Trams

A light rail system known as 'The People Mover' runs for 3 miles / 5 km on an elevated track around central Detroit, taking in some of the downtown districts more pleasant sites.

Taxis

Taxis are abundant in Detroit and easy to hail on the street or order by telephone. Relatively inexpensive, taxis provide one of the most convenient ways to travel around downtown Detroit.