BlaakLane.com books Detroit airport car service from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) at a fixed fare shown before you confirm. Choose the McNamara or Evans terminal, enter a destination such as downtown Detroit, Dearborn, Ann Arbor or Troy, and pick a vehicle class. The flight is tracked, pickup is at the commercial ground transportation area, and a vetted Michigan affiliate named on your confirmation drives.
Booking your DTW transfer
Enter Detroit Metropolitan Airport in the booker on this page or on book, with the airline and flight number. Add the destination: a hotel near Campus Martius, an automotive engineering centre in Dearborn or Auburn Hills, the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, an office in Southfield or Troy, or a house in Grosse Pointe or Bloomfield Hills. Pick your class and the booker prices the whole trip once, in full. Construction on I-94 or a slow Lodge Freeway does not change it.
The reservations and dispatch desk in Toronto works 24/7 and assigns each confirmed trip to a vetted Detroit operator from the LimousineWorldwide.Directory network, contracted to the BlaakLane.com written standard. On the confirmation you will see the operator, the chauffeur and the vehicle.
McNamara Terminal or Evans Terminal?
Detroit Metro has two terminals on opposite sides of the airfield.
- McNamara Terminal is Delta's hub and also serves Delta's partner airlines. Its Concourse A is nearly a mile long, with an ExpressTram along its length, and Concourses B and C sit alongside. Most international flights arrive here.
- Evans Terminal serves the other airlines, including Southwest, American, United, Spirit and several international carriers, and has its own customs facility.
The terminals are linked by a shuttle bus landside. Your airline determines the terminal, and dispatch routes the chauffeur from the flight number.
The pickup point
At both terminals, the standard pickup is curbside at the commercial ground transportation area for limousines and pre-arranged cars, signposted from baggage claim. At McNamara that area is part of the ground transportation centre beside the parking structure; at Evans it is on the commercial lane outside the baggage hall. The chauffeur messages you the exact door once you land, so you are not searching the lanes in winter weather.
An inside meet and greet, with the chauffeur holding a name board at baggage claim, is available as an add-on. Add-ons are only available in selected locations; the booker shows availability for your arrival.
Customs and included waiting
International passengers clear US Customs and Border Protection at the McNamara international arrivals facility or at Evans. Expect 30 to 70 minutes from touchdown to the curb; the afternoon bank of European and Asian arrivals at McNamara is the busiest period. Global Entry and Mobile Passport Control are accepted.
The first 60 minutes after an international landing are included, and the first 30 minutes after a domestic landing. The chauffeur can wait longer in 15-minute blocks.
Drive times from Detroit Metro
DTW is in Romulus, about 20 miles southwest of downtown Detroit, and conveniently placed for Dearborn and Ann Arbor.
| Destination | Typical drive | Route |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Detroit and Campus Martius | 25-35 min | I-94 east and M-10 |
| Huntington Place convention centre | 25-35 min | I-94 and M-10 (Lodge) |
| Dearborn | 15-20 min | I-94 east |
| Ann Arbor and University of Michigan | 25-35 min | I-94 west |
| Novi and Farmington Hills | 25-35 min | I-275 north |
| Southfield | 30-40 min | I-94 and M-10 or I-696 |
| Troy and Auburn Hills | 35-50 min | I-275 and I-696 or I-75 |
| Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills | 35-50 min | I-275 and M-5 or Telegraph |
| Grosse Pointe | 40-50 min | I-94 east |
| Windsor, Ontario | 35-50 min plus border time | I-94, then the Ambassador Bridge or tunnel |
| Toledo, Ohio | 45-60 min | I-75 south |
Michigan roads see heavy seasonal construction from spring to autumn, and winter storms can slow the freeways; the Michigan Department of Transportation posts closures.
Crossing into Canada
Windsor is a short drive from DTW across the Ambassador Bridge or through the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel. Every passenger needs a passport or a NEXUS card, and Canadian border rules from the Canada Border Services Agency apply at the crossing. Enter the Windsor address in the booker; border waiting is not included in drive-time estimates. Our Windsor, Ontario page covers the city, and Toronto Pearson is the other main airport for that side of the border.
Is there a train from DTW?
No rail line serves the airport. SMART's FAST Michigan bus runs between the terminals and downtown Detroit, and the D2A2 coach links Detroit and Ann Arbor, though not from the airport. SMART publishes routes. Amtrak's Wolverine service stops at Dearborn and Detroit's New Center, reachable by car. For most arrivals with luggage, a pre-booked car is the direct option.
Driving in and around Detroit
Metro Detroit is built for the car, and there is little congestion charging or restricted zoning to worry about, but distances are long and the freeway network is always under some construction in summer. I-94, I-275 and I-696 carry most airport traffic. Michigan uses "Michigan left" turns on many boulevards, where drivers pass the intersection and make a U-turn, which is why a route can look indirect on a map. Winter lake-effect snow is lighter here than on the west side of the state, but freezing rain can make morning drives slow; local chauffeurs drive on all-season or winter tyres and adjust timings accordingly.
Picking the right class
| Trip | Vehicle class | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Supplier engineer to a Dearborn test centre | Standard Sedan | 2 passengers, 2 bags |
| Two executives to a downtown headquarters | Luxury Executive Sedan | 2 / 2 |
| Visiting chairman to Bloomfield Hills | Executive First Class Sedan (Maybach) | 2 / 2 |
| Family with ski gear heading north | Standard Black SUV | 6 / 6 |
| Delegation with luggage to Auburn Hills | Executive Black SUV | 6 / 6 |
| Wedding party to a Grosse Pointe venue | Luxury Stretch Limo | 8 passengers |
| Engineering team to a proving ground | Sprinter Van | 12 passengers, 12 small bags |
| Fans to a Lions game at Ford Field | Party Bus | 14 passengers |
| Seven executives, carry-on only, to Ann Arbor | Sprinter Luxury Jet Van | 7 passengers |
See the fleet for full specifications. Hourly hire needs a three-hour minimum and works well for a day moving between Dearborn, Southfield and Troy.
The automotive calendar and events
Much of DTW's business traffic is automotive: carmakers, suppliers and technology firms around Dearborn, Auburn Hills, Warren and the Ann Arbor corridor. The Detroit Auto Show at Huntington Place is usually in January, the Detroit Grand Prix runs downtown usually in late May or early June, and University of Michigan football fills Ann Arbor on autumn Saturdays. Visit Detroit lists conventions and events. Groups and supplier visits are handled through corporate car service and corporate accounts, and larger movements through group transportation, planned by a coordinator and confirmed in writing.
Fare and cancellation policy
The fixed fare covers the vehicle, chauffeur, route and included waiting. Child seats are free on request. See rates for planning ranges. Cancelling more than 72 hours before pickup costs nothing; within 72 hours, 10%; within 48 hours, 50%; within 24 hours or for a no-show, 100%.
Departures and other airports
From downtown Detroit, allow two hours before a domestic flight and two and a half hours before an international one, and more from Troy or Birmingham at rush hour. The McNamara checkpoints handle heavy Delta banks in the morning and late afternoon, so an early start pays off on those departures. Be sure of your terminal: McNamara and Evans are far apart by road. We also cover Toronto Pearson, Chicago O'Hare and Minneapolis-St Paul, and our Detroit chauffeur service page covers the city.
