Midwest - Getting Around Detroit?

If I visit Detroit next weekend for the World Series, how easy is it to get around the city? With no car, do I need to stay downtown? Or can I stay in Southfield or Dearborn or Windsor (Ontario) and get into the city easily (and cost effectively) with no hassle?

If I visit Detroit next weekend for the World Series, how easy is it to get around the city? With no car, do I need to stay downtown? Or can I stay in Southfield or Dearborn or Windsor (Ontario) and get into the city easily (and cost effectively) with no hassle?Bus service in the Motor City is relatively limited (especially away from commute times, and the travel times from the Western suburbs (and from DTW itself) are lengthy (and that's not even addressing safety and night service availability issues).

I was once staying at a DTW hotel on a free day, and because my co-worker took the rental car, I decided to ride the SMART #125 bus into the center city to have lunch. It was a very long trek, through some rather bleak industial areas. And this was on a weekday late morning-afternoon in September.

I understand that hotel rooms near Comerica will be in high demand, but to me, an outlying hotel only makes sense with a car.

But if you're determined, here's one hypotetical example, chosen at random - you could always stay in Dearborn (at say, the Hyatt Regency or the Ritz-Carlton in Fairlane Center) and ride the DDOT # 37 bus down Michigan Avenue to the center city (and you'd even pass right by the old Tiger Stadium, at the corner of Michigan Ave. and Trumbull):


http://www.detroitmi.gov/ddot/pdf/37MichiganSS.pdf


Again, all of this is theoretical, as I've only use the bus in Detroit that one time. Any comments as to suitability, safety, etc, should come from a local.


General sites:

Detroit DOT:

http://www.detroitmi.gov/ddot/index.html



SMART

http://www.smartbus.org

Bus service in the Motor City is relatively limited (especially away from commute times, and the travel times from the Western suburbs (and from DTW itself) are lengthy (and that's not even addressing safety and night service availability issues).


Bus service isn't just limited around here, it SUCKS! The SMART buses run about once an hour during the day, and staying here in Southfield means taking two buses to get downtown.

If not staying downtown, you really do need a rental car. If you don't want that, Windsor may be feasible as there is a shuttle through the tunnel, and then you can take the People Mover from the riverfront up to the stadium area. Otherwise, bite the bullet and pay for a room near the ball park.

I haven't heard anything yet, but sometimes for big events like this shuttles will run from certain suburban locations to get people downtown. Of course, you probably need a car to get to the shuttle departure location....

I was browsing hotel sites this morning and it looks like things are pretty well booked for the next two weekends downtown. All four games at Comerica Park will be on the weekend. Windsor did have availability. They do run shuttles from Windsor to the stadium for the games, but I have never used it. You can also take a cab, but you have to pay the $5 tunnel fee both ways.

I was at the game Saturday night and the stadium area, greektown and everywhere else was packed. The lot that normally charges me $5 was up to $20, so a cab may not be that much more expensive.

If you are not Downtown or in Windsor, I would recommend the rental car.

I actually ended up booking lodging (right before the Tigers clinched) at the Inn on Ferry Street, a bed & breakfast located a couple miles from Comerica, with a free shuttle anywhere within a 5 mile radius. Trip Advisor reviews seem to be pretty good, and I got a good rate.

Was very lucky this morning, and able to get a single seat to Game 1 on Saturday night (no luck with Game 2, but just as well, as WS tix are not cheap!) :) I easily changed my air travel to return on Sunday instead of Monday AM (with no fare difference, just a change fee).

I have a rental car reservation for the day ($30), because I figure it will be cheaper than taking a cab to and from the airport - is that logic on point?

I am psyched - I've been dying to cross Comerica off the list of parks I need to visit, and the Tigers have been a blast to watch since Game 2 of the ALDS. I hope the Mets dispose of the Cards and I get a good pitching matchup for Game 1! :)

Thanks for all the advice! :)

If I visit Detroit next weekend for the World Series, how easy is it to get around the city? With no car, do I need to stay downtown? Or can I stay in Southfield or Dearborn or Windsor (Ontario) and get into the city easily (and cost effectively) with no hassle?

NO --

Detroit has the worst mass transit in the world ....

There are a few hotels in the downtown area-- Hilton Garden Inn, Courtyard by Marriot, and Marriot at the Ren Cen -- and all of these are within walking distance of the stadium.

Otherwise, a car is essential.

Ann Arbor is a different story -- but we only have the number two or three college football team in the country -- and that status will change after the Ohio State game in a few weeks..

Bob H

Yes, a car would be your best bet to get downtown. Your hotel is also near the Detroit Institute of Arts, so that could be something to do if you have non baseball time. The hotel may be able to shuttle you to Comerica, but it will be insane around the park. There are also traffic restrictions during games, so they can't get right up to the park. I would recommend having them drop you on Woodward near the Hockeytown Cafe which is right across the street. From there you can get to several places for food or drink. The Town Pump is directly behind Hockeytown. State Bar is just down the street. Cheli's Chili is around the corner (Kid Rock played there after the ALCS clincher - no wonder the line to get in was two blocks long). The Elwood is behind the scoreboard in left field - right next to Ford Field too. Keep heading south to Campus Maritus, Greektown and many more places.

Getting back your best bet might be a taxi, especially if you explore farther south. Should be a cheap ride, but again - might be tough to get one.

Getting into these places will be another issue with the crowds that will be down there. I'm saving my allowance to shoot for game six tickets if it could be a clincher. I was lucky enough to get standing room for the last ALCS from ticketmaster the morning before the game. It is very possible I will be sitting at the Detroiter Bar watching it though.

I'm saving my allowance to shoot for game six tickets if it could be a clincher. I was lucky enough to get standing room for the last ALCS from ticketmaster the morning before the game.

That's great that you got tix from TM before the ALCS. . .maybe I should've kept my original reservations in the hopes that I'd be able to score a single to Game 2. I would not bet on the World Series going more than 4-5 games regardless of which National League team wins tonight, unless the Tigers that got swept by KC to end the regular season show up. :)

Thanks so much for the recommendations. . .my flight gets in early Saturday AM, I'm probably going to go from the airport to the gym, then go check in at my hotel. One thing I wanted to do to pass the time was take a tour of Comerica and/or Tiger Stadium, but it appears neither offer tours? Very sad, as I'd love to see Tiger Stadium before it gets the wrecking ball next year. How early have they been opening the gates for the playoffs? At Fenway 2 years ago, gates opened 2 hours prior to game time (vs. 1.5 in the regular season). While I'll definitely be rooting for the Tigers no matter which NL team makes it, I'd love to get there when the gates open and try to get Pedro's autograph (should the Mets advance).

One last question - are Tigers fans a nice crowd (i.e. I often travel to baseball stadiums to see games, usually following the Sox around, and have never had a problem wearing my Red Sox hat anywhere except NY) - can I wear my Sox hat in Detroit (being that the Sox are not remotely involved in this, I'd assume it wouldn't be a problem and all I'd get would be some offhand comments about how too bad the Red Sox didn't make the playoffs, since there isn't any real bad blood between the two franchises)?

Tigers fans are great. I wear my (actual) Sox stuff to Detroit / Chicago matchups at Comerica and never had a problem. I wouldn't wear it if the Sox weren't palying, but that's just my personal preference. For sold-out games like these, the atmosphere around the park is like a big, happy party.

Detroit has the worst mass transit in the world .... There are a few hotels in the downtown area-- Hilton Garden Inn, Courtyard by Marriott, and Marriott at the Ren Cen -- and all of these are within walking distance of the stadium. Otherwise, a car is essential... Agreed! Some friends and I converged on Detroit in June to catch a Red Sox-Tigers series, and I was stunned to discover that there is no airporter-type bus or limo service from DTW to downtown. You ride that bumpy, slow city bus through bleak industrial areas, take an expensive taxi, rent a car, or walk. DTW must be the worst major airport in the States in this regard.

We Pricelined into the Courtyard by Marriott for $50 or so and it was just fine, but the neighborhood is more or less deserted. I doubt you'll be able to get into those few downtown hotels on World Series game days at any price.

Go Tigers, BTW - we owe them a great debt for eliminating the Yankees.

Detroit has an intact downtown, and a somewhat intact midtown nearby, surrounded by a vast area (the old city neighborhoods) that is largely abandoned. Further out lie the suburbs. So unless you are in a downtown hotel, you have a long distance to leapfrog the city neighborhoods to get to a suburban hotel.

Ann Arbor is a different story -- but we only have the number two or three college football team in the country -- and that status will change after the Ohio State game in a few weeks..
Bob H

Yeah, then you'll have the number five or six team in the country!

Back on topic:
I've stayed in Windsor and taken the bus over for a football game. It was inexpensive and quite easy.

I don't know of any tours you can take of old Tiger Stadium, but check with Preservation Wayne. They do tours of Detroit landmarks and architecture, and may be able to direct you somewhere for Tiger Stadium.

http://www.preservationwayne.org/index.php

Comerica Park opens one or two hours before game time, but lots of people get there long before that to tailgate or hit a neighborhood bar.

No problem wearing you Sox stuff in Detroit - fans are pretty easy going. I was at a Tigers/White Sox game in Chicago and we got a ton of grief, but only from one guy who kept screaming at us "Tigers Suck". If only I could talk to him now...

I'm not sure how early you can get in the park, but if you are there early there is alot to see outside the park. Walk the entire perimiter, check out the giant tiger out front, see if you can get into Ford Field next door - another beautiful stadium. I'm watching the local news now and people are already appearing outside the park at 8:00 am.

Also not sure about getting inside Tiger stadium. You could see the outside, and stop for a burger at Nemo's down Michigan Ave. It's probably the most historic Tigers bar in the world. Get there early, it will be packed.

Have a great time.

Thanks to everyone for the advice - just got back this AM, and while the game wasn't the best (at least from the Tigers' perspective), I had a great time and was thrilled to be able to get to a WS game at Comerica (which is an amazing ballpark!). Detroit was also much nicer than I expected - renting a car was a good decision, and I found it fairly easy to get around. :)