By car
The most popular way of getting to Detroit is by car. The area has many parking garages and is easy to access from the freeways, parking prices aren't bad.
If coming from the south: take I-75 North toward Detroit and exit at Exit 49 to M-10. Exit on the left toward M-10/Lodge Freeway/Civic Center. Take the M-10 South exit toward the Civic Center and then merge onto the Lodge Freeway/M-10 South. The Lodge Freeway/M-10 becomes Jefferson Avenue. Finally, turn left onto Woodward Avenue, and you will be in Downtown.
If coming from the west: take I-96 East and take the I-75 North/M-10 exit on the left toward Flint/Civic Center. Continue to the M-10/Lodge Freeway exit toward Rosa Parks Boulevard/Civic Center and then exit on the left toward M-10/Lodge Freeway/Civic Center. Take the M-10 South exit toward the Civic Center and then merge onto John C Lodge Fwy/M-10 South. The Lodge Freeway/M-10 becomes Jefferson Avenue. Finally, turn left onto Woodward Avenue, and you will be in Downtown.
If coming from the north: take I-75 South and continue onto I-375 South/Chrysler Fwy via Exit 51C on the left toward the Civic Center. Turn left onto Jefferson Avenue. E and turn right onto Woodward Avenue, and you will be in Downtown.
If coming from the east: take I-94 West and merge onto I-75 South/Chrysler Freeway via Exit 261A toward Toledo. Continue onto I-375 South/Chrysler Freeway via Exit 51C on the left toward the Civic Center. Turn left onto Jefferson Ave. E and turn right onto Woodward Avenue, and you will be in Downtown.
By bus
Detroit is often overlooked as having no transit system, when in reality it has two bus systems and a Downtown People Mover. The Rosa Parks Transit Center is the central hub of the Detroit Department of Transportation DDOT. Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transit SMART buses also serve the transit center. Look up bus times at transit.google.com
After arriving at the transit center, hop on the people mover by walking either south to the Michigan Ave Station or north to the Times Square Station. The people mover is the easiest way of getting around Downtown.
The first segment of a light-rail system is planned for Woodward Ave. Downtown stations have not yet been configured, but they should soon be announced. Construction may begin as early as this summer 2010.