Detroit Metro (DTW) by coach and by city bus
Michigan Flyer-AirRide serves both terminals with published stops and fares. SMART buses serve Romulus, not the terminal kerb.
- Michigan Flyer-AirRide is the airport coach, and it calls at both terminals.
- At McNamara the stop is on Level 3, the Departures Level, just outside and to the left of Door 1, by an "AirRide Route 787" sign on a metal post.
- At Evans it is the Ground Transportation Center, Stall 1: from baggage claim go up two levels to the skywalk, cross, take the left hand lifts down to ground level, out of the doors beside the lift.
- Airport to Ann Arbor is 16 dollars one way, 27 return. Children 2 to 16 with a parent or grandparent are 8 and 13.
- Airport to East Lansing is 35 dollars one way, 60 return.
- Buying from the driver costs 3 to 6 dollars more per person than booking online.
- There is no city bus at the terminal kerb. SMART routes 125, 261 FAST Michigan and 280 serve Romulus, the city the airport sits in, at 2 dollars a ride.
- Do not follow signs to "Ground Transportation Center" at McNamara. That is the wrong building for this coach.
The coach, and the door it waits at
- Michigan Flyer-AirRide runs 14 daily departures linking East Lansing, Whitmore Lake, Ann Arbor and both Detroit Metro terminals.
- At the McNamara Terminal (Delta and its partners Air France, AeroMexico and WestJet) the stop is on the Departures Level, Level 3, outside and to the left of Door 1, marked "International Ticketing/Check-In". Look for the metal post signed "AirRide Route 787".
- Follow signs for "Ticketing/Check-In" or "Public Transit". Do not follow "Bridge to Parking" or "Ground Transportation Center", which lead somewhere else entirely.
- Not every lift goes up to Level 3. Take one that reaches Ticketing/Check-In.
- At the Evans Terminal the coach uses the Ground Transportation Center, Stall 1. From baggage claim go up two levels to the skywalk, or one level with no luggage to collect, cross it, take the lifts on the left down to ground level and go out of the doors next to the lift.
What it costs
- Airport to Ann Arbor: 16 dollars one way, 27 return. A child aged 2 to 16 travelling with a parent or grandparent pays 8 and 13.
- Airport to East Lansing: 35 dollars one way, 60 return, with a child at 12 and 24.
- Whitmore Lake is 25 dollars one way.
- Book online. Tickets bought from the driver do not get the advance purchase discount and cost 3 to 6 dollars more per person, and drivers carry no change.
- A ticket allows two changes of date and time, made online before departure, but the direction is fixed and nothing is refundable.
The city bus, and where it is not
- SMART is the suburban bus operator, and Romulus, the city Detroit Metro sits in, is served by Route 125 Fort St - Eureka Rd, Route 261 FAST Michigan and Route 280 Middlebelt / Beech-Daly.
- A SMART fixed route ride is 2.00 dollars, 0.50 for youth aged 6 to 18 and older adults, and free for students with a valid ID. A 31 day pass is 66 dollars.
- This is not a terminal kerb service in the way the coach is. If you are landing with luggage and no local knowledge, the coach or a taxi is the realistic choice, and the bus is what you use once you know the area.
Two terminals, one airport
- McNamara is Delta's, and it is the one with the tunnel of coloured lights and the ExpressTram.
- Evans handles everyone else. The two are not connected airside, and moving between them means leaving security.
- Check which terminal your airline uses before you plan the ground leg, because the coach stop, the walk and the timings are different at each.
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