Car Rental Detroit Metro Airport (DTW)

Detroit, the largest city in Michigan, has experienced an impressive resurgence and a revival in recent years. Huge investment has revitalized sections of the city, none more so than Downtown Detroit, which is booming thanks to its history and contemporary attractions.

If you’re eager to head into the city straight from Detroit Metro Airport, take the Interstate 94 which will take you to the centre of the city, around 35km away.

Like most major US cities, traffic can get heavy in the centre of Detroit. When you prefer to park up and explore the streets on foot, there are several lots in Downtown, including on Woodward Avenue, Library Street and Bagley Street. It’s worth planning your journey to avoid peak times in the morning and late afternoon.

If you want to venture outside of the city and experience more of the Michigan way of life, Detroit’s districts await. Heading east, take the M-10 and Interstate 94 west to reach Dearborn. Here, you’ll find the Henry Ford, a collection of three museums, collectively covering 250 acres and boasting an incredible collection of vintage planes, cars and trains.

Take a different route from Downtown Detroit – the M-10 N – and in little over half an hour you’ll be in the pleasant, green suburbs of Oakland. If you’re craving some retail therapy, you’ll find it in abundance here; Oakland has plenty of outlets, mall and boutique stores. If your shopping appetite hasn’t been sated, drive for a further ten miles via Telegraph Road to Great Lakes Crossing Outlets. It’s Michigan’s biggest indoor outlet mall, and also hosts Legoland Discovery Center and Sea Life Michigan Aquarium – all in all, a destination worthy of a day trip in itself.

Speed limits are signposted, and the default limit outside urban and residential is 55mph (88km/h), while most freeways and highways range from 65 to 75mph (104 to 120km/h).

Detroit is a city with a promising future, but also hosts a fascinating past that will enthral and excite visitors. You’ll find a vast metropolis that still wears its scars following years of economic downturn – but Detroit is coming back in a big way. There’s an indomitable spirit about this city, the original capital of Michigan, which becomes clear as you venture around the heart of the city and its diverse districts.

Explore Downtown Detroit

There’s no better place to start your experience than in the centre of Detroit. Head to the Renaissance Center, which provides the iconic image of the city, courtesy of its towering skyscraper structure. These seven connected towers, known collectively as GMRENCEN, dominate the Detroit skyline. The tallest of the group is also the tallest building in the state of Michigan, with 73 stories featuring a number of restaurants, retail stores and a theater.

From there, it’s a short stroll to the city’s celebrated riverfront. No visit to Detroit is truly complete without an amble beside the river. It’s a popular scene for walkers, cyclists and families, all enjoying the ambience and multiple attractions. Rivard Plaza has a volleyball court, while Hart Plaza hosts a number of festivals, headed by the Detroit Jazz Festival every Labor Day weekend.

If you’re heading back into the centre of Detroit with your rental car and need somewhere to park, the Z Lot on Broadway is both practical and intriguing. It’s a 10-storey parking garage with a difference; each level has mural art on display, so, wherever you park, be sure to check out each floor.

Eastern Market

Established in 1841, Eastern Market is inextricably woven into the heart of Detroit life. It’s a vast collection of booths and pop-up stores, spread over a number of blocks and across four acres. Here is the perfect place to sample local produce and dive into one of the many restaurants and eateries within the market. Two of the standouts are Zeff’s Coney Island for breakfast or lunch, and Gather for dinner, where meat sourced from market vendors sizzles over a wood-fired grill.

Vibrant and abstract art adorns many of the buildings in and around this area, reflecting the growing influence of artists and creators. Eastern Market is open year round every Saturday, and on Tuesdays and Sundays from June to September inclusive.

Sample sporting nirvana

If you’re a sports fan, you’ll be in for a real treat. Detroit is one of only a handful of cities in the USA with a team in all four major pro-sports leagues: the NBA (basketball), NFL (American football), MLB (baseball) and NHL (ice hockey). In fact, all four teams are based within the downtown core of the city. Whenever you visit Detroit, you’ve got a decent chance of catching at least one of the teams in action.

Comerica Park is home to baseball’s Detroit Tigers. This huge open-air stadium almost doubles as an amusement park with a large tiger statue outside and a Ferris wheel inside. Ford Field, virtually next door, is where NFL’s Detroit Tigers reside, while the Redwings (NHL) and Pistons (NBA) both play at Little Caesars Arena, off Woodward Avenue.

Grab match tickets and enjoy the quintessential USA sporting experience, heavy on the entertainment and loaded with atmosphere.

Bask in the beauty of Belle Isle Park

Belle Isle Park offers a change of pace and scenery from Downtown Detroit. It’s just a short drive, over the MacArthur Bridge that runs across the Detroit River, and has ample parking available. At approximately 980 acres, it’s the largest city island park in the USA. Open all year round, it really is a beautiful spot, with wide, open green parkland spaces and nature in abundance.

Visit the zoo to see fallow deer and several species of turtle. Belle Isle Aquarium – the oldest in the country – bears a striking arch entranceway from Albert Kahn, the famous Detroit architect. Explore inside and you’ll find 125 species of frogs, fish and other waterlife.

Edgy, eclectic and welcoming, you’ll love this fascinating city. With car rental from Detroit Metro Airport, you can experience the very best it has to offer.