Ann Arbor, MI Driving Tips
Try to avoid the rush hours by leaving 15 minutes early. A few minutes in the morning or evening can make the difference between a twenty minute commute and one that's almost an hour!
Favorite Driving Memory
While Ann Arbor does have a nice public transit system, it is inconvenient for anyone who does not live within the city limits. Driving a personal vehicle in Ann Arbor can be fairly tedious and nerve wracking, especially in the downtown area during rush hours. Traffic is fairly consistent throughout
... (more)
the day as travelers come from all over the state for medical appointments and to visit the University of Michigan campus. Parking anywhere downtown is a nightmare, and expensive to boot! Parking and traffic flow are considerably more manageable once outside the downtown area.
Favorite Road
Washtenaw and/or Packard
-
These two lane roads flow fairly freely, and are the best ways in and out of town if you are coming from East of Ann Arbor.
Ann Arbor, MI Driving Tips
You have to be mindful of other drivers and pedestrians walking. Other drivers typically do what they want. They sometimes stop in the middle of downtown when parking at a meter is full, or cut you off without warning. Pedestrians have the right-of-way at cross-walks. You need to be mindful so you d
... (more)
on't accidentally hit them.
Favorite Driving Memory
My favorite moment driving was a few years back during winter. It had recently snowed and I was headed back to my apartment with a friend. The shortest route was through main street downtown. During winter the trees in the sidewalks are decorated with lights. The fresh snow on the branches really ca
... (more)
ptured the warm feeling of the holiday season.
Favorite Road
Washtenaw Ave
-
This is probably my favorite road to drive on because it is a main highway that runs through the city. The traffic moves quickly and you can see a lot of scenery in the city while getting to your destination quickly.
Ann Arbor, MI Driving Tips
Avoid game day. Stick to the North, South, East and West streets and avoid diagonals! Virtually half of downtown has one-way streets so be cautious when downtown. Avoid the university streets when school is in session. Because the university is spread throughout the entire city, the students can
... (more)
bring traffic to a stand still in much of the downtown area. Avoid University Dr during school!
Favorite Driving Memory
I believe my favorite, or most memorable, memory about driving in Ann Arbor is driving in the city during Univ of Michigan's home games. This town has such a huge backup during home games that the entire city can virtually be in grid lock for hours! My residence is about 40 miles away and Ann Arbo
... (more)
r is the closest town for us to shop and make appointments in. If it is a Saturday game day, however, you just plain stay home -- no exceptions! I have gotten stuck trying to get around town for a half day just attempting to get through the traffic.
Favorite Road
State Street
-
State St from M12 to downtown Ann Arbor is pretty much wide and direct. It does experience much of the North/South traffic but it seems to move faster than other Ann Arbor streets due to the additional lanes.
