DTW to Downtown Detroit: Bus, Taxi, Rideshare and DAX Guide

Downtown Detroit is about 23 miles from DTW by road, roughly 33 minutes without traffic. That is a route estimate from OpenStreetMap data, not an airport figure, so add time at rush hour.

The airport lists these ways in: the DAX express bus, SMART and FAST city buses, Metro Cars and Metro Cab taxis, rideshare apps and prearranged cars. The airport lists no train or rail service, and the Amtrak pages for the Detroit and Dearborn stations mention no airport link, so plan on a bus, taxi or rideshare. The FAQ names Metro Cars, Metro Cab and SMART/FAST as the options for downtown.

Prices change, so confirm them with the operator before you pay.

The Detroit Air Xpress (DAX) is a direct bus between the airport and downtown Detroit. DTW lists tickets at $8 at the door or $6 in advance, with discounted fares also available (checked October 10, 2026). It runs every day from 3:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., holidays included. The Regional Transit Authority says it runs nearly hourly, 16 round trips a day. Buses have luggage storage, charging ports and Wi-Fi.

Where to board:

• Evans Terminal: stalls 1 and 2, outdoors beside the elevator. From baggage claim go up two levels to the skywalk, cross it and take the elevators on the left to ground level.
• McNamara Terminal: Departures Level, just outside Door 1, toward the ramp.

In Detroit the stop is near 1119 Washington Boulevard, between Michigan Avenue and State Street. It is a short walk from the Rosa Parks Transit Center, the SMART FAST stops and the Detroit People Mover. Buy tickets at dax-bus.com. Neither the RTA nor dax-bus.com publishes a travel time, so allow for the 23 mile drive, about 33 minutes without traffic. dax-bus.com mentions discounts and frequent rider pass books. The RTA lists discounts for online booking, seniors, people with disabilities, youth, students and frequent riders, and says infants 24 months and younger ride free.

SMART runs the regular city buses from both terminals. Route 125 (Fort Street and Eureka Road) serves Evans and McNamara. Route 280 (Middle Belt South) serves Evans only. FAST Route 261 (Michigan Avenue) is a high frequency, limited stop route that serves both terminals and goes to downtown Detroit and the suburbs.

The airport points to smartbus.org for fares and timetables, and its pages list no fare, frequency or ride time. We could not confirm them on October 10, 2026, because smartbus.org did not load securely. Before you ride, open the FAST 261 and Route 125 timetables on smartbus.org or in a transit app.

Where to board: at Evans, the Ground Transportation Center. At McNamara, the Departures Level near Door 1. Inside the terminal, follow the signs for Public Transit. Confirm your airline's terminal before you board the bus to the airport.

All SMART fixed route buses are accessible, with space for two wheelchairs, and have bike racks.

Michigan Flyer runs coach buses from both terminals to East Lansing, Whitmore Lake and Ann Arbor. AirRide goes to downtown Ann Arbor. Both leave from the same terminal spots as the city buses. You can book 180 days ahead.

Michigan Flyer's fare page lists these prices when you buy online in advance:

• Ann Arbor: $16 one way, $27 round trip, $8 for a child age 2 to 16 one way
• Brighton: $25 one way, $46 round trip
• East Lansing: $35 one way, $60 round trip

Tickets bought from the driver cost $3 to $6 more per person. Fares checked October 10, 2026. Schedules are on michiganflyer.com.

No. The airport lists no train or rail service, and the Amtrak pages for the two nearest stations mention no airport connection. Amtrak's Detroit station is at 11 West Baltimore Avenue in New Center, and the Dearborn station is at 21201 Michigan Avenue. To reach either one from DTW you need a bus, taxi or rideshare first.

The closest thing to rail is the Detroit People Mover in downtown. The DAX stop is a short walk from it, per the Regional Transit Authority.

Metro Cars and Metro Cab serve the airport day and night. You can book ahead or use the Metro Cars and Metro Cab kiosks in the Ground Transportation Center of each terminal.

• McNamara: taxis and luxury sedans dispatch from the middle of the Ground Transportation Center, Level 4.
• Evans: they dispatch from the upper level of the Ground Transportation Center. Follow the signs for Ground Transportation to Level 4.
• Metro Cars: (800) 456-1701
• Metro Cab: (734) 997-6500

Wheelchair accessible vehicles are available on request. DTW does not publish taxi rates or flat fares to downtown. Ask for a quote when you book.

You can meet a rideshare driver only in the airport's designated Rideshare area.

• McNamara: cross the Skybridge, go to the elevators on Level 6 of the Ground Transportation Center and ride down to Level 4.
• Evans: cross the Skybridge, go through the sliding glass doors, then take the elevator or escalator on the right down to Level 1 of the Big Blue Deck.

DTW publishes no rideshare prices. The app shows your fare before you book.

These are road estimates from OpenStreetMap routing, without traffic, not airport figures. Add time for rush hour and events.

• Downtown Detroit: about 23 miles, 33 minutes
• Midtown Detroit: about 21 miles, 30 minutes
• Dearborn: about 13 miles, 23 minutes
• Ann Arbor: about 26 miles, 37 minutes

The airport is reached by I-94 and I-275.

If you booked a car or driver outside the airport's official providers, arrange the meeting spot with them before you land. You can meet in the designated area of baggage claim or the Ground Transportation Center. Only travelers with advance reservations may use these services, and soliciting is prohibited.

Charter and motor coach operators use the Ground Transportation Centers: the south end at McNamara, and stalls 1 to 3, 8 and 9 at Evans. Courtesy shuttles also run to nearby hotels from the Ground Transportation Centers.