Airport Name
Detroit Metropolitan Airport
Airport Location
The airport is located 20 miles southwest of Detroit.
Terminals
3
IATA Code
DTW
Telephone
(734) 247-7678
Airport Overview
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) handles most of the flights in and out of Michigan, as it is the busiest airport in the state. It’s an easy drive from downtown Detroit as it is situated 16 miles southwest of the city, in the suburb of Romulus. It is also only 47 miles from Toledo, in the neighboring state of Ohio.
To say that Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport is big might be considered something of an understatement. The two terminals have close to 150 boarding gates in total, and the Edward H. McNamara Terminal has a one-mile long terminal, making it the second-longest terminal building in the world. Passengers using the airport can rest assured that with a terminal this big, the airport houses plenty of shopping opportunities and some good leg-stretching space (although moving walkways are available for those with travel fatigue).
Cheap flights to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport are generally easy to find because the airport is a hub for both Delta and Spirit Airlines. There are many flights to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport from places such as Toronto, Paris, Amsterdam and Frankfurt; as well as Atlanta, Orlando and New York.
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport is an airport that makes traveling easy. It has a great range of facilities, and a wide selection of airlines offering regular Detroit flights. Also, despite its size, the airport is easy to navigate.
Terminal Transfer
The North Terminal is connected to the McNamara Terminal via a free shuttle service that runs every 15 to 20 minutes. Within the terminals, there are moving walkways to assist passengers when moving from one side of the terminal to the other.
Getting into Town
Taxis: Taxis at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport can be found as you exit the arrivals section of both terminals. The main companies available at the airport are Metro Cars, a luxury sedan service (tel: (800) 456 1701), and Metro Cab (tel: (734) 997 6500). The trip into the city center takes between 20 and 30 minutes, depending on traffic.
Bus: Detroit’s local buses are known as SMART buses. The airport bus station is located on the lower level of the North Terminal, on the outer roadway. It’s easy to find, as it is clearly labeled ‘Ground Transportation Offices’. SMART buses connect to various parts of Detroit, and all the bus routes can be found on the SMART website. Route 125 travels to downtown Detroit. On Saturdays, and particularly on Sundays, the buses tend to operate far less frequently, with buses leaving once every 90 to 120 minutes depending on the time of day. A bus to downtown Detroit generally takes about 45 minutes, or more if traffic is bad.
Car Parking
With more than 19,000 parking bays available, passengers needing to park at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport shouldn’t have a problem finding a spot. The parking areas closest to the terminals are the Big Blue Deck and the McNamara Terminal Parking Structure, which are covered; and the uncovered Yellow and Green parking lots, which are slightly further away from the terminals, and cater for those with long-stay parking needs. A free shuttle service connects all the parking lots with both the McNamara Terminal and the North Terminal.
The McNamara Terminal Parking Structure is right next to the McNamara Terminal, and passengers can easily walk to the terminal via a covered walkway. The Big Blue Deck is within easy walking distance of the North Terminal, and there is a free shuttle service to the McNamara Terminal as well.
The cheapest parking is the Green Lot, followed by the Yellow Lot. Within the McNamara Parking Garage, passengers can choose between long-term, short-term and valet options.
Passengers may also use the Blue Deck Parking Garage for long-term parking or short-term parking.
The parking area shuttle-buses are blue and white, and the pick-up areas within the parking garages are well signposted. There is no free parking for pick-ups and drop-offs, but there are two cell phone lots on the north and south sides of the terminals. Drivers can park in the cell phone lots while they wait for their passenger to arrive, and then drive to the doors outside the arrivals section and quickly load up a passenger before driving off.
Information Desks
The airport’s main information desk is located in the baggage reclaim area of the North Terminal. Although there are no other information desks available, there are numerous information display boards throughout both terminals, and the staff at all the restaurants and shops are generally informed, approachable and helpful.
Airport Facilities
Money and communications: Currency exchange facilities, as well as ATMs and banks, are widely available in both terminals of the airport. There are also a number of payphones available, throughout the terminals.
Luggage: The Airport’s Lost and Found Office deals with all items lost within the terminals and concourses. Passengers who have lost items at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport can contact the airport’s lost and found center through their website, and have their lost item ‘FedExed’ to them.
Conference and business: Conference and business facilities at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport are provided by the Westin Hotel (tel: (734) 942 6500), which is located in the McNamara Terminal. The hotel has a full range of conference facilities, including catering and audio-visual equipment, and even a video-conferencing service. Business lounges at the airport offer workstations, photocopying, faxing and local telephone services.
Shopping: The size of Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport should give passengers some indication of the great range of shops and shopping opportunities available at the airport. Whether you’re after a holiday read from Borders Books; an accessory for your iPod, phone or camera from Airport Wireless and Gadgets to Go; a newspaper, jewelry, gifts or health and beauty products, there really does seem to be something for everyone at Detroit Metropolitan. Popular stores such as Brookstone, Sports Illustrated, Gayles Chocolates, USA Today Travelzone and the Henry Ford Gift Shop can all be found at the airport. The McNamara Terminal has more of a selection of shops, but the North Terminal is the only terminal with a duty-free shop.
Food and drink: If airline food is not your thing, then having a quick snack or a sit-down meal at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport offers up a good range of dining options. You could grab a quick coffee at Starbucks, or a falafel and pitta meal at the Mediterranean Grill. Other popular food options include Japanese food at Musasi or Sora; a sub at Quizno’s; a taco from Taco Bell; Jose Cuervo Tequila or a glass of wine from Vino Volo Wine Room, and a Guinness at Thee Irish Pub. Fast food outlets include McDonald’s, Wendy’s, PB&J, Mrs Field’s Cookies, Caribou Coffee and Burger King. As far as food and drink are concerned, there is definitely something for everyone at Detroit Metropolitan Airport.
Other facilities: Vending machines, baby-changing facilities, shoeshine services and assistance for passengers with disabilities are all readily available at the airport. The McNamara Terminal boasts seven kids’ play areas, making it a great airport for parents traveling with young ones.
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi is available throughout the airport. The service provider at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport is Boingo. Passengers who want to use this service will need to register with Boingo, either through the Boingo website beforehand, or at the airport, when your browser will be directed to a sign-up page.
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