Credit: Cristina Wood
Experienced travelers know that DTW is a gem in the airport scene. It's easy to navigate, parking is super simple, and the best part is that their advanced scanners mean you don't have to take all your tech out of your bag. This is a huge time saver, especially when you're traveling with a big group or with kids. Just put your carry-ons on the conveyor belt — the scanner takes care of everything, so you don't have to unpack and repack your stuff.
This also means getting through airport security takes less time than at many other airports, and you'd be hard-pressed to find a long line at DTW security. Plus, the airport is clean and recently renovated, so the whole experience is smooth and enjoyable. Many of therestaurants feature Michigan-grown products, so you get an authentic taste of Michigan when you stop at DTW.
Another highlight of the airport is the artwork you'll find throughout the terminals. Pieces are supplied by the Detroit Institute of Arts, so strolling through the airport gives you a little taste of wandering through the DIA itself.
You'll also want to check out the Tunnel of Light and Music, an experience in itself. This 700-foot corridor connects Concourse A with Concourses B and C in McNamara Terminal. The ceiling and walls are filled with LED lights that create an immersive light show as you move through the tunnel. Glass sculptures on the walls resemble flowing patterns, and soft music — sometimes even Motown tracks — plays in the background. It's a hot spot on Instagram and a unique experience within DTW. For guests sensitive to light and sound, there's a button at the bottom of each escalator that allows you to pause the show for five minutes so you can travel through the tunnel without the lights and sound.
Park & Stay Hotels
Many area hotels also offer a stay-and-park feature. Several hotels offer deals where you can stay the night before your trip, park your car at the hotel at no extra cost for the entirety of your trip, and take a shuttle to the airport (with pickup when you return). These hotels include:
1. Wingate by Wyndham Detroit Metro Airport
2. Quality Inn and Suites Detroit Metro Airport
3. Clarion Hotel Detroit Metro Airport
4. Howard Johnson Detroit Metro Airport
5. Radisson by Choice Detroit Metro Airport
6. Fairfield Inn and Suites Detroit Metro Airport
7. Holiday Inn Detroit Metro Airport
8. Holiday Inn Express Detroit Metro Airport
9. America's Best Value Inn
10. Comfort Inn Metro Airport
11. Baymont by Wyndham Detroit Metro Airport Romulus
12. Magnuson Hotel Detroit Airport
13. Wyndham Garden Romulus Detroit Metro Airport
14. SpringHill Suites Detroit Metro Airport Romulus
15. American Inn and Suites Detroit Metropolitan Airport
16. La Quinta Inn and Suites by Wyndham Detroit Metro Airport
17. Hampton Inn Detroit Belleville Airport Area
18. Holiday Inn Express and Suites Belleville Airport Area
19. Baymont by Wyndham Belleville Airport Area
20. TownePlace Suites by Marriott Detroit Belleville
Dining Options - McNamara Terminal
Sit-Down Restaurants
1. Andiamo — Sit-down Italian restaurant. Offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus beer, martinis, and cocktails.
2. Cat Cora's Taproom — Dishes and cocktails inspired by Iron Chef Cat Cora, made with fresh and organic ingredients.
3. Cask & Craft Local Spirits + Bites — Detroit's craft beverage scene showcased with partners Valentine Distilling Company and Detroit City Distillery. Features craft cocktails, beer, spirits, and local ingredient-driven fare.
4. Embers Lounge — Michigan wines and craft brews, plus American favorites like fries, wings, and burgers.
5. Gordon Biersch — Scratch-made German and American food, including burgers, fries, salads, and sandwiches.
6. Vinovolo — Upscale wine bar offering small plates.
7. Longhorn Steakhouse — Sit-down steakhouse chain restaurant.
8. Max & Erma's — Sit-down casual American dining.
9. P.F. Chang's — Sit-down Chinese and Asian fusion restaurant.
10. Sora Japanese Sushi Bar — Sit-down sushi and Japanese dishes.
Quick Bites / Grab-and-Go
1. Coffee Beanery — Coffee, tea, desserts, baked goods, and pastries.
2. Coca-Cola 24/7 Vending — Drinks are available around the clock.
3. Corridor Kitchen — American favorites: burgers, pastas, pizzas, and fries — grab-and-go style.
4. Detroit Street Lunchbox — Grab-and-go with seating featuring cold beverages, gourmet sandwiches, and salads.
5. Eastern Market Shop — Inspired by Detroit's Eastern Market, offers sandwiches, drinks, chips, and snacks.
6. Grobbels Gourmet Deli — Famous for corned beef. Offers deli sandwiches, American fare, and grab-and-go options.
7. Harvest & Grounds — Michigan-sourced coffee (Great Lakes Roasting Company) and Avalon International Breads, with coffee, tea, pastries, sandwiches, and grab-and-go items.
8. Zabot Pizza — Fun pizza vending machine with hot, fresh pizza ready in under five minutes, plus desserts like chocolate chip cookies.
9. The Shed Bar — More Michigan craft brews and domestic beers.
10. Subway — Quick bites with seating.
11. Starbucks — Coffee, tea, pastries, and grab-and-go with seating.
12. Qdoba — Quick service Mexican food with seating.
13. Potbelly — Quick service sandwiches and soups with seating.
14. McDonald's — Quick service with seating.
15. Leo's Coney Island — Quick service with seating, serving local favorites.
Freedom Center
The Freedom Center is a complimentary hospitality lounge for active military members, veterans, and their dependents. Hosted by the Michigan Armed Forces, it offers a comfortable space to relax while traveling through DTW.
Shopping and Other Things To Do — McNamara Terminal
Shopping Options
1. Brighton Collectibles — Handbags, watches, jewelry.
2. Brooks Brothers — Clothing and accessories.
3. Brookstone — Functional and distinctive travel products, including luggage and neck pillows.
4. Better Plus — Vending machine with pharmaceuticals and personal items you might need on the go.
5. CNBC Newsroom Smart Shop — Books, snacks, and travel essentials.
6. Court Town Place — Travel accessories and products specific to Michigan. Named after the Corktown neighborhood, the city's oldest and most iconic neighborhood. Features Michigan-made goods and unique handcrafted gifts.
7. Creative Kidstuff — Toy shop with fun items for kids.
8. Detroit! — Specialty store with products celebrating Detroit and southeast Michigan culture.
9. DTW Essentials — Drinks, snacks, and travel accessories.
10. Estee Lauder Beauty Boutique — Beauty products from well-known brands.
11. Forbes Newsstand — Grab-and-go items and travel necessities.
12. Green — Natural living store with repurposed apparel and accessories and organic snacks.
13. Imagine Michigan — Unique souvenirs, jewelry, and art that celebrate Detroit's rich history and culture.
14. iStore Electronics & iStore Express — Electronics vending machine and Apple reseller.
15. Michigan Sports — Apparel and gifts for all of Michigan's sports teams.
16. PGA Tour Shop — Golf apparel and accessories.
17. Pinkberry — Fresh and frozen yogurt (should also be listed in the food section).
18. Sound Balance — Electronic accessories and devices for travelers.
19. Therabody — Recovery tools and wellness products available via vending machine.
20. World Duty-Free Store — Duty-free liquor, chocolates, and other duty-free items.
21. Z Market and Mills Pharmacy — Quick grab-and-go items and pharmacy items.
22. Time Newsstand — Convenience items, magazines, books, and newspapers.
23. The Economist — Global brand store with souvenir books, gifts, snacks, and grab-and-go items.
Other Things To Do / Amenities
1. ATM — Available after security.
2. Bose Electronics Vending Machine — Electronics available on the go.
3. The Relax Spa — Full-body massages, massage loungers, and signature chair massages (starting at 15 minutes) — a great way to refresh while traveling.
4. Bottle Filling Stations — Available for refilling water bottles.
5. Kid's Play Area — Includes a giant chess set.
6. Lavazza Coffee — Coffee and beverages are available.
7. Coca-Cola Vending Machines — Quick drinks are available throughout the terminal.
8. Minute Suites — Five clean and sanitized private suites are available for napping, relaxing, working, or showering before a flight.
9. Nursing Room — Designated space for nursing mothers and children.
10. Religious Reflection Room — A quiet space for reflection or prayer.
11. Service Animal and Pet Relief Area — Designated area for pets and service animals.
12. Shoeshine Service — Available for travelers.
Dining Options — Evans Terminal
Sit-Down and Bar Options
1. Air Margaritaville — Drinks and food with some sit-down dining options.
2. Anita's Kitchen Lebanese Café — Southeast Michigan's premier Middle Eastern restaurant. Offers vegan, vegetarian, halal, dairy-free, and soy-free options. The menu includes a bar, wraps, salads, and sandwiches with Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flavors.
3. Atwater Brewery — A Detroit favorite. German and American pub fare with handcrafted beers, wines, and cocktails.
4. Jolly Pumpkin Brewing — Detroit's own local brewery. Features award-winning craft beers with appetizers, pizza, burgers, sandwiches, and soups.
5. Outback Steakhouse — National chain sit-down steakhouse.
Quick Bites / Grab-and-Go
1. Brioche Dorée — French-inspired bakery café with grab-and-go sandwiches, soups, and baked goods.
2. Chick-fil-A — Quick service chicken and sandwich spot.
3. Common Grace — Quick dining option with coffee and light fare.
4. Detroit Street Café with Zingerman's Coffee — Detroit-inspired café offering Zingerman's coffee, pastries, and tea.
5. MOD Pizza — Made-to-order artisan-style pizza with organic dough, cooked in stone ovens. Quick service option.
6. National Coney Island — American fare with Coney dogs and other Detroit classics.
7. Pei Wei Asian Kitchen — Quick service Asian fare.
8. Quix Chocolate — Luxury chocolates, travel snacks, and specialty sweets made in Michigan.
9. Starbucks — Coffee, tea, and grab-and-go pastries.
10. McDonald's — Quick service with seating.
Freedom Center
Evans Terminal also features a Freedom Center — a complimentary hospitality lounge for active military members, veterans, and their families.
Shopping and Other Things To Do — Evans Terminal
Shopping Options
1. CNBC News Shop — Snacks, souvenirs, newspapers, and magazines.
2. CNBC Smart Shop — Travel accessories, snacks, and souvenirs.
3. Detroit Marketplace — Apparel, travel gear, souvenirs, and Detroit-themed items.
4. Explore Afar — Items from the Detroit region and international products that meet travelers' needs.
5. Fly Girls — Beauty bar vending machine offering lashes, press-on nails, lip glosses, accessories, and more.
6. Privilege — Marketplace with creative and innovative items.
7. Rebel Nell — Handmade jewelry crafted from fallen Detroit graffiti — a great spot for something uniquely Detroit.
8. The Detroit News — Gifts, souvenirs, and travel essentials.
9. World Duty-Free — Duty-free chocolates, liquor, and other items.
Other Conveniences
1. ATM — Available for traveler use.
2. Kid's Play Area — Play space for young travelers.
3. Michigan Lottery Shop — Lottery products available.
4. Religious Reflection Room — Quiet space for reflection or prayer.
5. Pet Relief Area — Designated space for service animals and pets.
Layover Ideas
If you have a short layover, it's the perfect time to wander around the terminal and sample different craft beers, wines, and locally inspired foods — like a Michigan salad featuring the renowned Michigan cherries. You can also take some time to stroll around and enjoy the artwork throughout the airport or visit the McNamara Light Tunnel.
If you have a longer layover, there are so many things to do in Detroit. If you want to hit some of the city's hotspots and see the most famous parts of Detroit, you'll want to visit The Henry Ford to learn about the innovation that changed the world.
You'll also want to visit Hitsville, U.S.A., at the Motown Museum, Hamtramck Disneyland, and Eastern Market. You could catch a game for the Tigers, Pistons, or Red Wings or visit one of Detroit's casinos — Hollywood Casino at Greektown, MotorCity Casino, or MGM Grand Detroit.
And don't miss standing along the river and looking south — at the only Canadian city that is south of a major American city. From there, you can look across at Windsor or even take a quick trip into Windsor for the day.
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