How to get around downtown Detroit for the auto show
DETROIT (FOX 2) - The North American International Auto Show is back in Detroit for its final time in the winter months.
If you're up for one last wintry venture to see the cars, we've got recommendations for you from everything from the transportation to the evening's activities.
First off, fortunately you don't need to do too much planning ahead of time to go to the auto show. If you've been before, you know the drill. But if not, the show is open to the public from Jan. 19-27. You can get tickets online beforehand or right at the door. Tickets are $14 for adults, $7 for seniors and $7 for children. Kids 6 and under are free.
The show is open until 10 p.m. every day except the last day, Jan. 27, when it closes at 7 p.m. You can get into the show up to one hour before it closes.
Next step: getting there. Driving yourself, Ubering, riding the Q-Line; there's probably more choices now than you even realize.
The easiest option, of course, is to just hitch a ride downtown with Uber or Lyft.
If you drive yourself, the most convenient parking will be at Cobo Center, but there are other (and likely cheaper) options, too. You can get a downtown Detroit parking map from NAIAS online here.
If it's crummy outside and you're not down for the walk, the Detroit People Mover and the QLINE are great options to spend minimal time outdoors.
The People Mover will be the warmest option; it takes you right into Cobo Center. If you're planning on eating out or hanging out downtown afterwards, a good People Mover station to park near would be the Cadillac Station. It's just a few minutes' walk from Campus Martius.
The QLINE is still fairly new downtown and a great winter-friendly option, too.
The QLINE runs along Wooward, while the People Mover makes more of a loop around the downtown area. The QLINE stop that will get you closest to Cobo is the last stop, on Congress. It'll be about a five minute walk from there to Cobo.
You can see all the People Mover stops here, and all the QLINE stops here. People Mover rides are $0.75 each, and QLINE passes start at $1.50 for a three-hour timeframe.
Another option to get around downtown if you're driving yourself is the e-scooters. Download the Bird or Lime apps ahead of time to learn more.
SMART also has three FAST bus routes along Gratiot, Woodward and Michigan that can get you downtown for just a couple bucks. DDOT also has more than a dozen bus routes in the downtown area. You can map out the most convenient bus route for you online here.
Planning is also highly recommended for your dinner/evening destinations downtown after the show.
Detroit is thriving with new bars and restaurants, many even new and different than what you probably saw last year. Places will likely be packed, so having a gameplan is ideal (as is having a reservation, if you can snag one still).
We checked in with Candice Simmons of J'adore Detroit for her recommendations, which you can read more about here.