Detroit is an ideal road trip location for anyone across Michigan and the Midwest. The city is just a couple of hours from West Michigan and Northern Michigan, and just a few hours from most of the Midwest cities!
Travel + Leisure even named Detroit one of the 50 best places to travel in 2025, so it’s a perfect time to visit the Motor City.
If you’re planning to come to Detroit for a road trip – either by yourself or with your family, here are some places you should see.
Before digging into our road trip guide, we encourage you to check out our Visit Detroit digital passes. These passes will help you save at a variety of different restaurants, museums, breweries and more.
The Explore Detroit pass features discounts at several museums and other studios; the Detroit Pizza Pass will get you discounts at several pizza spots in metro Detroit; the Dining in the D pass also gets you discounts at restaurants around Detroit; and the Detroit Culture Pass gets you discounts at several aquariums and Detroit culture spots.
Places to stay
There are plenty of hotels in Downtown Detroit and in the tri-county area for you to stay at on your road trip to Detroit.
In Detroit, you can check out the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center, the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton in Downtown Detroit, the Westin Book Cadillac, The Siren Hotel, the Shinola Hotel, the Detroit Foundation Hotel and many more.
In Wayne County, there are many hotels. The Henry is in Dearborn; The Dearborn Inn is a restored hotel near The Henry Ford; Saint John’s Resort in Plymouth; the Courtyard by Marriott in Livonia and more.
For Oakland County, you can check out The Daxton Hotel or The Townsend in Birmingham, Hotel Royal Oak, the Royal Park Hotel in Rochester or the Somerset Inn in Troy.
In Macomb County, there is the Cambria Hotel in Shelby Township, a Courtyard by Marriott in Warren or the Hyatt Placein Utica.
Be sure to check out our guide to hotels in Detroit and beyond here.
Where To Eat
Planning to include restaurants that are welcome to everyone in Detroit.
Avalon Cafe and Bakery
Right in the heart of Downtown Detroit, Avalon serves up fresh coffee, plus bread, rolls, pastries, sandwiches and more.
Buddy’s Pizza
Buddy’s is the original Detroit-style pizza, serving up pizza in the city since the 1940s. They have locations all around metro Detroit, and with our Detroit Pizza Pass, you can get 10% off.
Detroit Shipping Co.
In Midtown, Detroit Shipping Company is a food hall that was built by old shipping containers. They have five different food stands offering a variety of food for everyone. There’s also a full bar and a coffee and ice cream shop.
The famous Detroit coney dog
On top of Detroit-style pizza, the city is known for its coney dogs. It’s a hot dog on a steamed bun with chili, mustard and chopped raw onions. There are plenty of places around the area to get one, but the two in Downtown Detroit that have a rivalry are Lafayette Coney Island and American Coney Island, located right next to each other.
Grand Trunk Pub
Grand Trunk Pub is located in the former ticket station for the Grand Trunk Railway. The historic bar offers a variety of food for brunch, all the way through dinner. Much of their food also includes Michigan ingredients.
Hudson Cafe
Right along Woodward Ave., Hudson Cafe is one of the best places for brunch in Detroit. Its name is an homage to the iconic Hudson’s department store which was right across the street. Whether you want savory or sweet, Hudson Cafe has whatever you’re looking for.
Slow’s Bar BQ
Slow’s is an award-winning BBQ restaurant with a main restaurant in Corktown and a to-go spot in Midtown Detroit. No matter what type of BBQ you’re looking for, Slow’s has it.
Sweetwater Tavern
Looking for wings in Detroit? That’s where Sweetwater Tavern comes in. They’ve been named among the best chicken wings in the country with signature sauces. The wings are marinated 24 hours and have great flavor with not too much heat.
Where To Shop
We have an entire page dedicated to shopping in metro Detroit, which you can find here! There are also some really great shops throughout the area, some of which you can find below.
City Bird
Located in the Cass Corridor in Midtown Detroit, City Bird offers fun Detroit-themed clothing and goods. They have fun cards to give, different candles, glassware, t-shirts, jewelry and much more.
All Things Marketplace
All Things Marketplace is a shop from Jennyfer Crawford with the goal to make it simple to shop for small business goods. They offer a variety of Detroit-themed goods and apparel, and also host events throughout the year showcasing small metro Detroit businesses.
Well Done Goods
Well Done Goods is in Eastern Market and offers printed clothing with fun Detroit themes, plus home decor, fragrance, bath and body, jewelry and more.
Ink Detroit
Ink Detroit in Hazel Park also pops up often in Eastern Market. The shop has incredible Detroit-themed clothing that include odes to the city, the sports team and more.
Not Sorry Goods
Not Sorry Goods is a “sustainable lifestyle retailer that features eco-friendly apparel, upcycled + reworked vintage, lifestyle accessories, home + gift” and much more. They’re located in Ferndale and they have a Detroit collection with hats, shirts, sweatshirts, socks, candles and more.
Made in the Mitten
About 15 minutes north of Detroit in Downtown Royal Oak, the Made in the Mitten is a Michigan artisan market that sells goods and clothing related to Detroit and the entire state of Michigan.
Rust Belt Market
Rust Belt Market in Ferndale is a gathering of more than two dozen independent small businesses that are set up inside the market. You can find whatever you’re looking for there. The market also has a full bar and event space for weddings.
Somerset Collection
Located in Troy, Somerset Collection is an upscale, luxury mall about 20 minutes north of Downtown Detroit. The mall has nearly 200 stores, some that include Detroit-themed goods, all the way up to luxury items like Louis Vuitton.
Must-see museums
Detroit Institute of Arts
In 2024, the DIA was named the best art museum in the country by USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, and there’s no question why. It houses more than 65,000 pieces of art dating back to the earliest civilizations in the world.
Some of the iconic pieces include a Vincent Van Gogh self portrait, “The Window” by Henri Matisse, paintings from Monet and more.
The most iconic piece is Rivera Court, where the Detroit Industry Murals are located. It’s a collection of frescoes painted by Diego Rivera focusing on the industries of Detroit. The Detroit Culture Pass gets buy-one-get-one admission.
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
The Wright is named after Dr. Charles H. Wright, who wanted to create a place for African American history and culture. He opened the International Afro-American Museum in January 1966. Now, the museum is 125,000 square feet in Midtown.
The museum is focused on preserving African American culture, and there are dozens of permanent and visiting exhibits with hundreds of programs, including one on the Tuskegee Airmen, the ring of genealogy and more. You can also get discounted admission with our Explore Detroit pass.
The Henry Ford and Greenfield Village
One of the most well-known museums in Michigan, The Henry Ford showcases American History going back centuries with some incredible artifacts that you can see up close. With more than a dozen exhibitions on display, there is plenty to choose from.
Major artifacts you can see include presidential limousines like John F. Kennedy’s limo, the bus Rosa Parks was riding in, the chair Abraham Lincoln was sitting in when he was shot, and one of the largest steam locomotives in the world.
Right next to The Henry Ford is Greenfield Village, a sprawling historical village with historical homes and buildings. There, you can go inside some of them, and also ride in a Ford Model T!
Our Explore Detroit pass will get you buy one venue, get a second venue at 50% off.
Detroit Historical Museum
The Detroit Historical Museum is part of an area with several museums, including the DIA, the Wright and the science center. The museum chronicles the life and times of the Detroit region, and has plenty of exhibitions.
Inside, you’ll learn all about Detroit, and on the bottom level, you can go back in time and walk through the streets of old Detroit to see what the city used to look like back in the day. The Detroit Culture Pass gets you 20% off admission.
Motown Museum
Known as Hitsville USA, the museum is the home of the world-famous Studio A for Motown Records. It’s the place where Marvin Gaye, The Temptations and more recorded.
The museum is also undergoing a massive expansion that is set to open in the summer of 2026, which will include a 40,000 square-foot space with interactive exhibits, a theater and more.
Arab American National Museum
Right in Downtown Dearborn, the Arab American National Museum is the only museum in America dedicated to Arab American contributions.
Exhibitions at the museum cover the Arab world and the history of Arab Americans, and show off their history and culture and work in the United States.
Michigan Science Center
Right near the other museums, MiSci is a STEM engagement hub that focuses on science, and also has an IMAX Dome, a 4D theater, a planetarium and an 8,700 square foot exhibit hall with more than 200 hands-on exhibits. You can get buy-one-get-one-free admission with our Explore Detroit pass.
Michigan Central Station
While it isn’t a museum per se, Michigan Central Station is an iconic building in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood. Ford Motor Company purchased the station in 2018 and spent nearly $1 billion restoring it over six years before it opened in June 2024. A hotel is coming to the station, there are some shops, and there are events throughout the summer. See more of the history behind Michigan Central Station here.
Kid-friendly spots
Detroit Zoo
In Royal Oak, about 15 minutes north of Downtown Detroit, the Detroit Zoo is home to more than 2,000 animals of more than 200 species.
There have been several animal births at the zoo over the past couple of years, and major animals include lions, tigers, wolves, polar bears and more. You can also walk with kangaroos through the Outback.
Soon, the zoo will open Discovery Trails, which will include new animal habitats, hands-on encounters, play areas and more spanning seven acres.
Belle Isle Aquarium
The Belle Isle Aquarium was voted one of the most beautiful aquariums in America and is also the oldest aquarium in North America. It opened in 1904 and was designed by legendary architect Albert Kahn.
The aquarium features a variety of fish and displays, and includes the only known collection of all seven species of gar in North America. The Detroit Culture Pass gets you 10% off a purchase at the gift shop.
DNR Outdoor Adventure Center
Located along the Detroit Riverfront, the DNR Outdoor Adventure Center showcases the best of Michigan’s outdoors – only inside.
Inside, you can walk behind a waterfall, step into a fishing boat, hop on a snowmobile and much more. You can get BOGO admission with our Explore Detroit pass.
Tree Runner Adventure Park
TreeRunner has two locations in metro Detroit – one in Rochester and one in West Bloomfield.
The aerial adventure park will take you into the trees for a ropes course and zip line, and is ranked metro Detroit’s No. 1 adventure park.
Full Throttle Adrenaline Park
There are two Full Throttle locations in metro Detroit – in Novi and in Sterling Heights. The spaces have go-karting, SIM racing, axe throwing, a rage room and more.
C.J. Barrymore’s
Located about 40 minutes northeast of Detroit, C.J. Barrymore’s is a massive space that has indoor and outdoor spaces with 20 attractions. Inside, you’ll find an arcade, a dark ride, the hammered drop, bowling, laser tag and bumper cars.
Outside, there are several go-kart tracks, a drop tower, a roller coaster, bumper boats, mini golf, zipline, spin coaster and more.
PEPPA PIG World of Play Michigan
Located inside Great Lakes Crossing, Peppa Pig World of Play is an indoor play attraction for preschool kids and their families. It has 14 different themed areas from Peppa Pig. With our Explore Detroit pass, you can get 25% off tickets.
Spend some time outdoors
Huron-Clinton Metroparks
There are 13 parks that are part of the Huron-Clinton Metroparks system. Spanning 25,000 acres in metro Detroit, they are open 365 days a year. There, people can hike, bike, swim at the lake, boat, golf, explore a waterpark and much more.
Be sure to check out our guide to the Huron-Clinton Metroparks here.
Belle Isle
Belle Isle is a state park in Michigan, located on the Detroit River in the City of Detroit. The 982-acre park is home to anything you want to do outside – whether it’s running, biking, swimming or relaxing on the beach.
It also features an aquarium, a conservatory, the Dossin Great Lakes Museum, a beautiful fountain and more. You can get discounted admission at the Dossin with our Detroit Culture Pass.
You can spend a day exploring the park and still be left wanting more!
Detroit Riverfront
The Detroit Riverwalk has been named the best riverfront in the U.S. multiple times, and for good reason. The riverfront features the Detroit east riverfront, the Dequindre Cut, the Dennis W. Archer Greenway and the Southwest Greenway. It spans miles around Downtown Detroit, and includes many parks with places to have fun and plenty of things to do.
Later in 2025, the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park will open along the riverfront, a 22-acre park that will feature a water garden, play garden, basketball courts and more.
Eastern Market
One of the best markets in the country, Eastern Market is open year-round, but really spreads its wings during the summer. With several outdoor sheds, there are plenty of places to get fresh fruit and vegetables and a mix of other food and goods. There are also plenty of restaurants and shops in the Eastern Market neighborhood for you to explore!
Biking
There are plenty of places to bike across metro Detroit, whether you’re riding on Belle Isle or checking out one of the many trails in the suburbs. Those trails include the Paint Creek Trail, Clinton River, the Poly Ann Trail and the Macomb Orchard Trail. Don’t want to bring your bike? Check out Wheelhouse Detroit for bike rental! You can get $5 on a bicycle tour with our Explore Detroit pass.
Golfing
There are more than 650 golf courses across Michigan and dozens are located all around metro Detroit. If you’re looking to bring your clubs with you on a visit, there are some incredible courses throughout. Here’s our guide to golfing in metro Detroit.
Cool down on the river
Check out our guide to getting out on the water in metro Detroit here. There are also plenty of other spots to enjoy the water in the summer!
Belle Isle Beach
We’ve talked about Belle Isle, but the beach is a great place to hang out by the water or jump in and swim if you’d like! You get great views of Downtown Detroit and the MacArthur Bridge from the beach.
Wayne County Family Aquatic Center
Located near Chandler Park on Detroit’s east side, the aquatic center is 22,000 square feet of space for water fun. It has two 23-foot water slides, “Splish-Splash Land” splash pad and a wave pool. There are also swim lessons for those who want to learn.
Red Oaks Waterpark
Located about 20 minutes north of Detroit in Madison Heights, Red Oaks has a wave-action pool, a triple-flume waterside, a river ride and a splash pad with 52 interactive water features.
Kayaking in metro Detroit
There are plenty of places to kayak throughout metro Detroit. There is the Detroit River and Detroit’s hidden canals, kayak rental from Detroit Outpost or Detroit River Sports, Simple Aventures at the Metroparks, and many more spots. Check out our guide to being on the water to see more.
Boat tours
There are several boat tours in Downtown Detroit where you can get out on the river. The Detroit Princess Riverboat is an iconic boat that has several decks and does dinner cruises; Diamond Jack’s does sightseeing tours along the Detroit River; the Infinity & Ovation yachts offer fun summer cruises; and Detroit Cycle Boat is a pedal pub-style boat you can take out on the water. You can get a discounted Detroit Princess souvenir photo with our Explore Detroit pass.
Major events
Detroit Tigers games
The Detroit Tigers are one of the best teams in baseball and Comerica Park is a fantastic place to see a game. With 81 games at home throughout the season, you can catch a Tigers game from late March/early April through late September/early October. Check out our gameday guide for the Tigers here.
Detroit City FC games
Detroit City FC games are great for families at a fair price. The team plays in Hamtramck and is in the USL Championship, the second tier in American professional soccer. You can catch a DCFC game any time from March through October. See our guide to attending a DCFC match here.
Movement Festival
Detroit is techno city, and Movement is one of the longest-running electronic musical festivals in the country. It takes place on Memorial Day weekend in Hart Plaza,
Detroit Jazz Festival
The Detroit Jazz Festival is an iconic summer festival in Detroit. The free event has been going on for decades with several stages. It takes place Labor Day weekend all around Downtown Detroit.
Arts, Beats and Eats
Taking place on Labor Day Weekend, Arts, Beats and Eats is in Downtown Royal Oak with hundreds of artists, restaurants serving up delicious food and live music from some of the biggest names around the country.
Detroit Grand Prix
Want to see speeds around 200 mph on the streets of Detroit? Check out the Detroit Grand Prix, which takes place the weekend after Memorial Day in Downtown Detroit. The NTT IndyCar Series and several other racing series take to the 1.7-mile course that runs along Jefferson Ave. and other streets along the Detroit Riverfront. About half of the track is free to the public.
Rocket Classic
Some of the biggest names in the PGA Tour come to Detroit every summer for the Rocket Classic at the historic Detroit Golf Club. Over four days, golf fans from around the state and the country can take a road trip to Detroit and watch the tournament.
Michigan Renaissance Festival
The Michigan Renaissance Festival takes place in August and September about an hour away from Detroit. You’ll be taken back in time to the 16th century at HollyGrove village with music, pubs, restaurants, artisans and more.
