Oakland

Upscale. Cultured. Fun.

The tree-lined suburbs of Oakland are a 20-to-40-minute drive north of downtown Detroit. Here, we appreciate the simple and chic. The unique cafe scene. A good meal. The outdoors. Shopping or a show.

From the lively downtowns (Ferndale, Royal Oak, Rochester and Birmingham) to the Detroit Zoo, there’s plenty of fun and friends in the Oakland.

Get to Know Oakland

The Ultimate Guide to Thrift Shopping in Metro Detroit

Thrift shopping is a fun, environmentally-conscious, dynamic shopping experience. Whether you’re looking for an exciting outfit for yourself, gently-used clothes for your kids, or vintage furniture and decor…

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11 Oakland County Cider Mills to Visit this Fall

Have your best fall ever with a trip to your favorite cider mill or apple orchard.

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Oakland County Brew Weekend

Metro Detroit is the perfect place to cultivate some of the best beers in the country.

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M1 Concourse

M1 Concourse is an 87-acre auto enthusiasts playground featuring the world's largest private garage community with a 1.5 mile performance track. Our facility is the ultimate automotive experiential…

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Events

Shopping

Retail options are plentiful in Oakland, with outlets featuring name brands and unbeatable prices right alongside upscale malls offering chic high-end designer collections. Posh downtowns? Oakland has several, with cozy streets and one-of-a-kind boutiques.

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Food & Drink

In Oakland, steakhouses abound, sushi is a staple, and date night options are plentiful.

Here, cocktails are craft, beers are brewed on-site, and the menus and atmospheres are often eclectic.

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Places to Stay

Oakland blends lots of green spaces with sprawling shopping, trendy downtowns, entertainment, sports and industry. Hotels follow in the same vein with lots of value options, plus super chic and trendy addresses.

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Transportation

Find everything you need to get where you’re going around Oakland County and beyond with transportation services in the Detroit metro area.

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Find everything you’re looking for at these metro Detroit malls

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Things To Do

Oakland’s trendiest downtown hot spots such as Ferndale and Royal Oak amp things up with live music, billiards, comedic entertainment and more. There’s also family-friendly options and endless exciting adventures to be had.

Discover Oakland

Neighborhood Stories

Things You Should Know

Do you still have questions about Oakland? We’ve got you covered!

What is the population of Oakland?

As of 2020, the population of Oakland County is 1,274,395.

How far is Downtown Detroit from Oakland?

Detroit is about 45 miles from Clarkston, 33 miles from Auburn Hills and Novi, 28 miles from Rochester Hills, 24 miles from Troy, and 15 miles from Southfield and Royal Oak.

What major interstate highways run through Oakland County?

I-75 is the main north–south highway in the region, serving Flint, Pontiac, Troy, and Detroit. I-96 runs northwest–southeast through Oakland County and (as the Jeffries Freeway) has its eastern terminus in downtown Detroit. I-275 runs north–south from I-75 in the south to the junction of I-96 and I-696 in the north, providing a bypass through the western suburbs of Detroit. I-696 (Walter P. Reuther Freeway) runs east–west from the junction of I-96 and I-275, providing a route through the northern suburbs of Detroit. Taken together, I-275 and I-696 form a semicircle around Detroit.

Macomb

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