Travel to Detroit

[OnMedic]

This will be our first time flying out of Detroit, as we usually fly from Kitchener, Toronoto or most commonly, BUF. I travel regularily for business to Windsor via the 401.

However, I decided to mapquest, google map, Yahoo Maps, and google earth Kitchener to DTW and in every instance it takes me via 402 and across at the Bluewater Bridge in Sarnia...?

Is this quicker and/or shorter?

 

[Jeffan1ca]

I would think taking the 401 to Detroit and crossing at the Ambassador bridge would be quicker. That's the way I always go. Even if the border crossing delay was long at Detroit, I would think it still would be faster than Sarnia. Pay close attention to the interstate signs once you cross at Detroit. When you clear customs you're greeted with at least 1/2 dozen or more Interstate signs.I believe to get to the airport you take I75 North, to I96(Jeffries Freeway) and I94W(West Edsel Ford Freeway) to the airport. If you cross at Sarnia, you're immediately on the I94. Maybe that's why all the map sites suggest Sarnia. However, wait to hear what others from the Windsor/Detroit area say.

Border wait times:
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/general/times/menu-e.html

 

[phabric]

When we were planing our trip to Detroit airport, I went on CAA and they showed that Sarnia was faster and easiler. With Sarnia there are less turns to get to the highway than going through Windsor.

 

[OnMedic]

Thanks gang

It shows as 20-25 minutes faster via Sarnia, who knew! So it looks like 6 and one half dozen......

With the time being relatively equal, Sarnia it will be with the more direct drive. Plus, when I travel to Windsor when fininshing up in Sarnia, I usually cut through Michigan so I know the route.

Thanks again!

Steve

 

[zookeeper]

Plus...I don't know what the border crossing times are like at Sarnia, but here in Windsor, if you hit the bridge at the wrong time it can take 40 min. to get through US customs. If you do go through Windsor it's not that difficult to find the right highway. The signs are pretty clear.

 

[mom_rules]

Have you had a chance to check into flights from YKF to DTW? We did this route (just got back on Saturday).
Really slick-just make sure you have a bit of time in between your connections since you have to collect your baggage and go through customs in DTW.

 

[MikeJ]

We almost always cross at Sarnia. Once you get into Michigan the speed limits on I94 are 70mph until you get close to Detroit. From our place in west London to DTW we find the driving time to be 2:15 crossing at Sarnia. Windsor *can* be a little quicker, but usually it's the same or longer. I hate driving that stretch of road between Chatham and Windsor and much prefer the other route.

Of course, YMMV...

- Mike

 

[OnMedic]

Yes, I have flown YKF through DTW in the past, but only on business travel when it is not my wallet flipping the bill. Quite expensive "usually" to leave from YKF, except I have seen fares YKF->MCO in the $355 range lately. It is nice to leave just a few minutes from home and I will be doing it again this winter for our Global lSales Meeting in..... ORLANDO!

 

[mom_rules]

Nice! I love the fact that we don't have to drive to YYZ and all the hassle that entails.

 

[Yzerbear19]

I think they tell you to cross at Sarnia because the Windsor crossing can be very slow due to lots of traffic. There could also be construction. Crossing over at Sarnia is better also because you don't have to deal with the downtown Detroit area which is normally crowded and confusing. And driving on I-94 stinks in the morning and evening. When we left for WDW last time we left from our brother's house in the Detroit area at 5:00 am and ran into traffic jams on 94. Who else is up at 5:00 AM?!? I was shocked. Though I will admit the drive through the thumb is rather boring.

Here is a helpful link: http://www.autoclubgroup.com/michigan/autos/traffic/index.asp
It will help you figure out where the construction is. Right now I don't think there is a lot of construction on I-94 between Detroit and the airport. We just drove from Chicago to Detroit and I think most of the construction was was in the western part of the state. I don't remember any construction either when we were going from my brother's house to Comerica Park. Just watch for traffic jams.

 

[Yzerbear19]

We almost always cross at Sarnia. Once you get into Michigan the speed limits on I94 are 70mph until you get close to Detroit.

I believe its 70 MPH up until just past the junction with M-59 then it reduces down to 65 MPH and then down to 55 MPH closer to Detroit though most people will still be going 70. Though if you hit it at a peak time you won't even be going close to the speed limit since traffic will be moving slow.

 

[Yzerbear19]

Another option for you to take if you come through Sarnia and hit a lot of traffic on I-94, you can take I-94 to 696 to 96 to 275. 275 will hook up with 94 pretty much right at the airport. That route will take you away from actual Detroit. We took that way from my brothers house in 2005 because there was a ton of construction and closures on 94. It worked well.

So if you run into a lot of traffic, go 696->96->275->94.

Safe driving!

 

[misty000200]

Once you cross the bridge in Detroit the signs are clear for I-94 highway to DTW. You do not go through downtown Detroit at all. From the border you are no longer than a half hour drive to the airport. Its very simple and easy. Depending what time of day you are crossing the border there can be delays.

 

[Daddio]

Probably a little late posting this but for future readers, the drive through Sarnia is the quickest by a few minutes, but I always go London > Windsor because US Customs has three times as many lanes and Sarnia at the wrong time can be lined up for miles on the 402 approaching the bridge.

If you go through Windsor, as soon as you pass US customs, there is a set of lights (immediately after the tool booths). Keep to your left as you need to take the first ramp to I96 North which takes you to I94 West (Chicago). The no ramp is about 20 feet after the light so you must keep to the left.

Once on I96, it's only a five minute drive to the I94 (keep in the right lane) and you do not go anywhere near downtown Detroit. Once on the I94, it's only 15 or so minutes to the Airport.

 

[Madsofa]

We always go through Detroit. Once you are through the border it is only about 30 minutes to the airport. Never had any problems going through, always had correct ID ready with travel tickets in hand. Just plan for extra time if you will be at the border at the same time as those folks who commute to the US to work.