Transit Guide: 2022 Woodward Dream Cruise
I’ve been a regular attendee of the Dream Cruise since it began but parking is always an expensive problem. In 2016 the thought occurred to me that the SMART bus would be a great way to connect visitors from nearby mall parking lots to the cruise but no one was promoting it at the time. Then in 2018 I heard that SMART would be running free shuttles on Woodward so I had to try it!
The Woodward Dream Cruise is the preeminent Detroit area celebration of car culture but not everyone has an old car to drive or display. Thousands who attend this annual event walk up and down sections of Woodward Avenue admiring parked cars, watch the cars drive by, visit manufacturer displays, explore local cities, shop for souvenirs and patronize bars and restaurants. Parking close to Woodward can be really expensive and unless you plan to walk for miles, you may only experience a small portion of the event. Forget trying to hail an Uber these days. Who knows how long it would take them to reach you. That’s where the SMART Bus comes in.
My Experience
In 2018, my wife dropped my toddler and I off at Hilton & 9 Mile, the beginning of Mustang Alley. We walked all the way to Woodward and caught the free SMART Bus shuttle in front of Como’s. It’s a slow ride in the cruise lane but its nice because it was air conditioned and I needed a break after walking a mile with a child. We hopped off at 11 Mile and walked another mile taking in the cars and the crowds. At 12 Mile we got back on the shuttle and rode to 13 Mile. We walked through Veteran’s park and stopped for a break in the shady park. We then walked to 13 and Coolidge and caught a Woodward bus on detour for just $2. It traveled back through downtown Royal Oak and we exited at 9 and Hilton, where we began. From there we walked to Detroit Fleat where my wife picked us back up. We’ll do the same this year but we may try to get up to Pontiac this time!
How We Did It
Keep an eye out for the free SMART shuttle buses along Woodward between 8 Mile and Pontiac. You can catch a FREE ride from any regular SMART & FAST bus stop which allows you to expand the range of how far you can explore. You can also catch a ride back back to where you started after walking around all day! Shuttle buses run from 9am to 7pm on Saturday, August 20th.
Woodward Local & FAST Woodward Buses
Want to get to other areas of the cruise faster? Take advantage of SMART’s Woodward Local and FAST Woodward buses. They normally run up and down Woodward but will be on Detour during the cruise. Rather than getting bogged down in the cruise, these buses bypass the traffic jam & can take you to some of the cruise’s hottest spots like Ferndale, Royal Oak and Pontiac. No need to spend a ton of money on parking when you can spend just $2 per adult, $0.50 per child (6–18) or $0.50 per senior/disabled. A regular bus far is now good for 4 hours of unlimited rides so don’t lose your pass. No cash? Pay with the DART App just like paying for a parking space on your phone. So where can you park and ride from?
See the map below for the official Detour for FAST & Local Woodward bus routes. According to SMART you may board or exit a bus along the detour at a safe location or existing SMART bus stop. If you have any questions, please call Customer Service at (866) 962–5515. First time bus rider? Download TransitApp.
Official Park & Rides:
- Troy Civic Center Park & Ride Lot is an officially sanctioned Park & Ride lot for SMART buses. Park for free and take the bus south to 13 & Coolidge, 8 Mile & Woodward or north to downtown Pontiac.
- Pay to park at Downtown Royal Oak Parking Structures and any of the buses will get you from the Royal Oak Transit Center to Ferndale, 13 & Coolidge, Troy or downtown Pontiac. Buses run late and every 30–40 minutes.
These recommendations are not official park & ride locations so be mindful of where you park. Despite their large parking lots, not all businesses approve of using their lots to park & ride.
- Park at the Somerset Collection (Behind Neiman Marcus) for free and take the bus south to 13 & Coolidge, 8 Mile & Woodward or north to downtown Pontiac. Buses run late and every 30–40 minutes but may be delayed during the cruise.
CROSSTOWN BUSES
In addition to the Woodward buses, SMART runs crosstown buses on 9 Mile, 10/11 Mile, 12 Mile, 13/14 Mile and 15 Mile roads. Follow this link or check out the app for schedule times. Many will be on detour as well because downtowns along Woodward will have their own car shows.
These recommendations are not official park & ride locations so be mindful of where you park. Despite their large parking lots, not all businesses approve of using their lots to park & ride.
- Park at Oakland Mall and ride bus #760–13/14 Mile to 13 & Woodward. (Buses arrive and depart at J.C. Penny east entrance). Last bus back to the mall is at 7:56pm from 13 Mile & Coolidge.
- Park at Oakland Mall and ride bus #780–15 Mile to Maple & Woodward. (Buses arrive and depart at J.C. Penny east entrance). Last bus back to the mall is at 9:50pm from Maple & Woodward.
MoGo at the Dream Cruise
MoGo is Metro Detroit’s home grown bike share system. You can unlock a bike and start riding with a per minute charge or get a pass that is good for 60 minute trips. Bikes are available in SE Oakland County for rides between stations making them a great way to get from transit stops or from city to city. See map below.
