A Driver’s Guide to Detroit

As Motor City, Detroit is a hub for all things cars and driving. It is the home of most leading American car companies and is considered to be the birthplace of the automotive industry in the U.S. You can find factories for General Motors, Ford, and Fiat Chrysler to name a few. Naturally because of its connection to American car history, driving in Detroit may look a little different than in other places. This is not to say they drive on the opposite side of the road in Detroit, but some nuanced aspects of driving may look different here.

To make it easy for you, here is a guide to explain driving in Detroit!

Navigating Rush Hour

Rush hour in Detroit is definitely a nightmare. There is no real escape from it, as it bleeds into every highway and every street. It is never helped by the often harsh weather of Michigan as well. The most common highways, Interstate 75 and Interstate 94, are the worst with rush hour, so if you want to avoid the worst aspects of rush hour, we suggest skipping those highways. Rush hour tends to be a bit longer here, averaging from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Lowest Parking Prices Around

One exceptionally good aspect of Detroit parking that other cities lack is inexpensive parking options. In some major cities, you can expect to spend at least $20 for parking, sometimes going as high as $80 depending on the location. In Detroit, parking ranges anywhere from $2 to $5 on average. These prices are for parking lots, garages, anything really. That price covers you for the whole day, something nearly unheard of elsewhere.

Dealing with Michigan Weather

Michigan is known for its harsh weather, especially in the winter. Detroit gets lots of snow and deals with icy roads covered in wintery slush. Many people who drive in Detroit in the winter will invest in winter/snow tires to make driving a bit easier. There is city-wide snow removal for major roads, but it can still be very hard to drive on the icy roads. If you are not familiar with driving in snowy places, the biggest thing to know is to make sure you never park on designated snow removal routes. Parking is prohibited on these roads when they are marked as designated routes and driving through is extremely difficult.