DETROIT – The 2024 NFL Draft is expected to bring thousands of people to Detroit who may have never experienced the Great Lakes State.
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If there’s one thing people know about Michigan, it’s that we’re the birthplace of the modern automobile. Detroit. The Motor City. The D. Motown -- We’re known for our cars. It’s kind of wild that there are so many street closures during the event due to how car-centric our infrastructure is. That being said, for those looking to get around Detroit for the NFL Draft this week, you should be ready for a lot of cars. While we have public transportation, it can come up short for those who may be familiar with MARTA, the T, CTA or other bus and light rail systems.
Rest assured, city officials have plans in place to make sure it’s as easy as possible for fans to attend events.
Related: What time does the NFL draft open each day in Downtown Detroit?
Bus services
If you aren’t staying in Detroit proper and are coming in from one of our neighboring suburbs, you can drive, or you can get into town using SMART Buses. One-way fares will be $2 per adult, $1 per child and $0.50 for seniors and people with disabilities. These buses will be coming from all over Metro Detroit with lines running from the following Park & Ride locations:
- Great Lakes Crossing | 4000 Baldwin Road, Auburn Hills
- Lakeside Mall | 14000 Lakeside Circle, Sterling Heights
- Clemens Farmers Market | 141 North River Road, Mount Clemens
- Sterling Heights Meijer | 36000 Van Dyke Ave., Sterling Heights
- Troy Civic Center Park and Ride lot | 520 W. Big Beaver Road, Troy
- Oakland Community College Orchard Ridge Campus | 27055 Orchard Lake Road, Farmington Hills
- Southfield Civic Center bus terminal | 24350 Civic Center Drive, Soutfield
- Westland Police Department | 36701 Ford Road, Warren
- Fairlane Town Center | 18900 Michigan Ave., Dearborn
- Lincoln Park Community Center | 3525 Dix Hwy., Lincoln Park
- Southgate Meijer | 16300 Fort Street, Southgate
More information on routes can be found on SMART’s official website.
Once you’ve made it into the city and you still are jonesing for more buses, we have DDOT. The Detroit Department of Transportation buses will operate their normal schedules, but modified due to the road closures.
DDOT buses have dozens of routes, stops and stations all over the city. You can see the full bus schedule here.
Through the Dart Pass, riders can pay for a specific amount of time that allows unlimited rides on DDOT and SMART buses, while a DDOT Pass allows unlimited rides on only DDOT buses. For most people coming into the city, the Dart Pass makes the most sense as they offer day passes and allow access to SMART buses.
Passes are reduced for seniors and people with disabilities.
| Pass | Full price | Reduced price |
|---|---|---|
| Dart Pass -- 4 hours | $2 | $0.50 |
| Dart Pass -- 24 hours | $5 | $2 |
| Dart Pass -- 7 days | $22 | $10 |
| Dart Pass -- 31 days | $70 | $29 |
| DDOT Pass -- 7 days | $17 | $8 |
| DDOT Pass -- 31 days | $50 | $17 |
More information on DDOT fares can be found on the City of Detroit website.
The QLine
It’s not all buses! Look, we’re trying and we’re making an effort and it opened in 2017, so it’s pretty new to us too, OK? The QLine is a streetcar system that runs 3.3 miles down Woodward Avenue. It connects Downtown, Midtown and New Center neighborhoods. It’s modern and clean and has 12 stops, giving access to museums, venues, restaurants and more.
Considering all the street closures, this is likely your best option to get into Downtown Detroit. For the 2024 NFL Draft, the QLine will operate for free with increased frequency. There will be $5 parking at the New Center Garage, the Cass Garage, the John R Lot and Wayne State University Lot 12. All four of these lots are either located directly on Woodward Avenue or within a block of the QLine route.
The QLine will be free during the NFL Draft.
The People Mover
No, I’m not kidding. It’s called the People Mover. Yes. Seriously. Stop laughing. It’s not that silly of a name.
The Detroit People Mover is an elevated rail system that will run 24 hours throughout the entire NFL Draft starting at 7 a.m. Thursday, April 25.
Out of all the public transportation options available, this one actually seems to be the best option for getting around in the areas the NFL Draft events are being held. Since it’s an elevated 3-mile loop, it doesn’t impact the roads below. Its 13 stations provide access to restaurants, hotels and NFL Draft event locations, including Grand Circus Park, the Financial District and Cadillac Center.
It will also be free during the NFL Draft. You can find more information -- including a full map and schedule -- on the Detroit People Mover on its official website.
Stop laughing, it’s a reasonable name.
More in-depth transportation information can be found on the City of Detroit’s official website.
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