Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) is the main airport that serves Detroit and its nearby metropolitan area. Located in Romulus, Detroit Airport is around 21 miles away from the downtown. With an average passenger traffic of close to 31.5 million yearly, DTW Airport is Michigan’s busiest and biggest airport and one of the busiest in the U.S.
DTW serves as a Delta Air Lines hub and an operating base for Spirit Airlines. If you’re flying out from this airport for the first time, it may get confusing to navigate it. But don’t worry! Our DTW Airport guide will detail everything you need to know about this airport in Michigan.
Detroit Airport History
The beginning
- Wayne County started planning for an airport in its western townships as early as 1927.
- Wayne County Airport opened at the corner of Wick Road and Middlebelt Road in Romulus, Michigan, on September 4, 1930. Thompson Aeronautical Corporation started servicing the airport that year.
- The U.S. Army assumed control of the Wayne County Airport and renamed it Romulus Army Air Field. They built new runways, hangars, and other amenities.
- The U.S. Army announced its plan to release the airport in 1944.
- The airport was renamed as Detroit-Wayne Major Airport in 1947 and underwent expansion.
- In 1956, Pan-Am and British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) operated the first passenger flights to Detroit-Wayne Major Airport.
Expansion
- In 1958, Detroit-Wayne Major Airport was renamed as Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. Also, Terminal 1 opened.
- American Airlines started serving the airport in October 1958. Airlines like Northwest, Delta, and Allegheny followed soon.
- Terminal 2, or the North Terminal, opened in 1966.
- In 1967, the airport management renamed Terminal 1 as L.C. Smith Terminal in honor of Leroy C. Smith, an airport founder. The airport management built the Michael Berry International Terminal in 1974.
- In 1975, Terminal 2 was renamed J.M. Davey Terminal.
- Republic Airlines made DTW its hub in 1984 and expanded it when it merged with Northwest Airlines in 1986. It remained a hub for the airline until its merger with Delta Air Lines.
- In 1996, Northwest Airlines and Wayne County came up with a plan to construct a new Midfield Terminal. The terminal opened in 2002.
Later stages
- The airport management demolished J.M. Davey Terminal in 2005 to build a new North Terminal.
- DTW became a hub for Delta Air Lines in 2009.
- Airlines like British Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic dropped flights operating from this airport due to the Great Recession.
- In December 2014, Royak Jordanian became the first airline to schedule a Boeing 787 Dreamliner to Detroit.
- In April 2022, The North Terminal was renamed the Warren Cleage Evans Terminal.
- WestJet, Sun Country Airlines, Icelandair, and Turkish Airlines started serving DTW in 2023.
Where Is Detroit Airport?
Detroit Airport is located in Detroit, MI 48242.
Detroit Airport Map
The airport has two terminals.
- McNamara
- Evans
Detroit Airport Parking & Transportation
The airport offers lots/garages for long-term and short-term parking. For long-term parking at DTW, you can park in the McNamara Long-Term Parking Garage, Big Blue Deck Long-Term Parking, and Green Lots 1 & 2. For short-term parking, you can park in the McNamara Short-Term Parking Garage and Big Blue Deck Short-Term Parking lot. The McNamara Terminal parking area even offers valet parking services.
However, if you’re looking for the cheapest DTW Airport parking rates, then it is best to reserve parking at an offsite lot nearby. Reserve via GlobalAirportParking.com to ensure guaranteed DTW parking at the lowest rate possible.
How to Get to Detroit Airport
Driving
If you’re driving to the airport, follow these directions.
From Downtown
- Drive on I-75 South and use the exit 48 for I-96 to Lansing.
- Join on I-96 West and then use exit 190A to merge on I-94 to Chicago.
- Keep driving on I-94 till exit 198 to Detroit Airport.
- Merge on Merriman Road for airport access.
Arriving from Ann Arbor
- Drive on South State Street and merge on I-94 East till exit 198.
- Merge on Merriman Road for airport access.
From Toledo
- Drive on I-28 and merge on I-75 North towards exit 20 for I-275 North.
- Keep driving on I-275 North till exit 15 for Eureka Road and later John D. Dingell Drive for airport access.
Public Transit
- Detroit Air Express (DAX): This service connects DTW Airport with Downtown Detroit every day from 3.30 a.m. to 11 p.m. The service operates from the McNamara Terminal on the Departures Level and Evans Terminal at the Ground Transportation Center.
- AirRide: This is a service between DTW Airport and Ann Arbor, operated by the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority.
- SMART: This service offers buses to and from DTW Airport. Route 125 serves the McNamara Terminal, and Routes 125 and 280 serve the Evans Terminal. It also has a high-frequency service named “FAST,” which connects to Downtown Detroit and its suburbs quickly. Route 261 of FAST has stops at both terminals.
AirRide and SMART will pick you up and drop you off at the northern end of the Departures Level for the McNamara Terminal. For Evans Terminal, the AirRide and SMART pickup and dropoff point is in the Ground Transportation Center.
Taxi
Metro Cars and Metro Cab offer easy, on-demand transportation from the airport. For reservations, you can visit the Metro Cars/Metro Cab kiosks in the Ground Transportation Centers at both terminals. Ideally, a taxi from Downtown Detroit to the airport will cost anywhere between $75 and $90.
Rideshares
Uber and Lyft do serve DTW Airport. The rate you pay for the rideshare service varies by the rideshare service, ride type, your boarding point, time of travel, and the traffic conditions.
DTW Airport Amenities
These are some of the amenities you can find at the airport terminals.
- ATM
- Wi-Fi
- Bottle filling station
- Kids play area
- Family restrooms
- Nursing room
- Prayer room
- Pet relief area
- Vending machines
- Shoe Shine
- Airport volunteer station
Hotels near DTW Airport
There is only one hotel located on the airport property – The Westin Detroit Metropolitan Airport. It is located at McNamara Terminal, 2501 Worldgateway Pl. The Westin Hotel has a separate security checkpoint. The following are the hotels near DTW Airport.
| Hotel | Address | Distance from DTW (in miles) |
| Hampton Inn & Suites Detroit/Airport-Romulus | 31700 Smith Rd, Romulus, MI 48174 | 1.9 |
| DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Detroit – Dearborn | 5801 Southfield Fwy, Detroit, MI 48228 | 13 |
| A Victory Inn & Suites | 17729 Telegraph Rd, Detroit, MI 48219 | 16.1 |
| Holiday Inn Detroit Metro Airport, an IHG Hotel | 8400 Merriman Rd, Romulus, MI 48174 | 1.7 |
| Embassy Suites by Hilton Detroit Metro Airport | 8600 Wickham Rd, Romulus, MI 48174 | 1.7 |
| Baymont by Wyndham Detroit Airport/Romulus | 9000 Wickham Rd, Romulus, MI 48174 | 1.8 |
| Detroit Metro Airport Marriott | 30559 Flynn Dr, Romulus, MI 48174 | 1.9 |
| Wyndham Garden Romulus Detroit Metro Airport | 9191 Wickham Rd, Romulus, MI 48174 | 1.9 |
| Hilton Garden Inn Detroit Metro Airport | 31800 Smith Rd, Romulus, MI 48174 | 1.9 |
| Comfort Inn Metro Airport | 31800 Wick Rd, Romulus, MI 48174 | 2.2 |
Detroit Airport Lounges
Currently, there are only three lounges in the airport.
| Lounge | Location |
| Delta Sky Club | Concourse C, McNamara Terminal, near Gate C2 close to A18 Gate, McNamara Terminal near A38 Gate, McNamara Terminal close to A68 Gate, McNamara Terminal |
| Freedom Center | Concourse A, McNamara Terminal |
| Lufthansa Lounge | Close to D6 Gate, Evans Terminal |
Detroit Airport Shops and Stores
These are some shops and restaurants that you can find in both terminals.
McNamara Terminal
- Cat Cora’s Taproom
- Detroit Street Lunchbox
- Papa Joe’s Dining Room
- Potbelly
- The Shed Bar
- Be Relax
- Desigual
- Michigan Sports
- Sound Balance
- Wall Street Journal
Evans Terminal
- Detroit Marketplace
- Frivolous
- Quix Chocolate
- Rebel Nell
- World Duty-Free
- Anita’s Kitchen
- Brioche Doree
- Jolly Pumpkin
- Outback Steakhouse
- Pei Wei
For the complete list of shops and restaurants, visit the official website of DTW Airport.
Accessible Services at DTW Airport
Lost and Found
DTW doesn’t have a dedicated Lost and Found facility. So, you must file a complaint with the concerned department based on where you lost the item.
- TSA security checkpoint: You can file a claim with the TSA Lost & Found if you suspect that you lost the item at a security checkpoint. You can contact the facility at 734-942-3126 or [email protected].
- Aircraft or gate: if you lose any item in a gate area or on an aircraft, you must directly contact the airline.
- Airport property: If you lose any item somewhere else on the airport premises, you must file a claim with the Wayne County Airport Authority (WCAA) Police Department.
TSA PreCheck
The airport security checkpoints have exclusive TSA PreCheck lanes that you can use for faster security clearance. In McNamara Terminal, the security lanes operate from 4:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m., and Evans Terminal security lanes operate from 4:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.
CLEAR
You can also find CLEAR security lanes at both McNamara Terminal checkpoints. If you have a CLEAR membership, you can fly through these check lanes.
Destinations near DTW Airport
These are some popular attractions near Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport.
- Historic Fort Wayne
- Comerica Park
- Motown Museum
- Grand Circus Park
- Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation
- Detroit Riverwalk
- Hamtramck Disneyland
- Cullen Family Carousel
- Milliken State Park Lighthouse
- Dossin Great Lakes Museum
Detroit Airport FAQs
Where is Detroit Wayne County Airport?
DTW Airport is located in Detroit, MI 48242.
Are there lockers at Detroit Metro Airport?
No, currently, Detroit Airport doesn’t have lockers. You must take all the personal items with you to the plane.
Is Detroit a large airport?
Yes, DTW Airport is a large airport covering an area of around 4,850 acres. It is the largest airport in Michigan.
How many terminals does Detroit Airport have?
DTW Airport has two terminals - McNamara and the Warren Cleage Evans Terminals.
Does Detroit Airport have Wi-Fi?
Yes, the airport offers free Wi-Fi in both McNamara and Evans Terminals.
What terminal is Spirit Airlines at Detroit Metro Airport?
Spirit Airlines flies out from the Evans Terminal of Detroit Airport.
