Detroit Bus Schedule: Routes, Times & Stops

Detroit bus schedule rider guide

Find Detroit Bus Routes, Times, Stops & Live Arrivals

Detroit bus schedule searches can involve two different systems: DDOT, which operates Detroit’s main city bus network, and SMART, which connects Detroit with communities across Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties.

Use this guide to identify the correct operator first, then find the route, official timetable, stop, fare, transfer point, live bus location, and same-day service alert without opening multiple confusing transit pages.

DDOT Routes SMART Routes Detroit Bus Fares Live Bus Tracker

DETROIT ROUTE FINDER

4 Woodward DDOT

6 Gratiot DDOT

9 Jefferson DDOT

261 FAST Michigan SMART

461 FAST Woodward SMART

ROUTE → DIRECTION → STOP → SCHEDULE → LIVE ARRIVAL

Main city operator DDOT

Regional operator SMART

Main downtown hub Rosa Parks Transit Center

North Detroit hub Jason Hargrove Transit Center

Information checked October 2, 2026

Quick answer

Which Detroit Bus Schedule Should You Use?

Use DDOT for most trips within Detroit, including many routes that also reach Highland Park, Hamtramck, and nearby suburban destinations. Use SMART when traveling between Detroit and the wider suburban region or when using FAST corridors such as Michigan, Woodward, and Gratiot.

Use DDOT when: You are traveling primarily within Detroit or using one of the city’s numbered routes such as 1 Vernor, 2 Michigan, 3 Grand River, 4 Woodward, 6 Gratiot, 7 Seven Mile, 9 Jefferson, or 17 Eight Mile.

Use SMART when: You need regional travel to suburban destinations, Detroit Metro Airport, Dearborn, Pontiac, Troy, Macomb County, Oakland County, or major suburban transfer points.

Do not identify the bus by street name alone. Detroit has corridors where both DDOT and SMART operate. Check the route number, agency logo, destination sign, and stop before boarding.

Detroit Bus Schedule Guide

DDOT Routes SMART Regional Bus Bus Times Stops & Transfers Fares & Passes Live Tracker Service Alerts Accessibility Transit Centers Airport Travel Detroit Map FAQs

DDOT route directory

Detroit DDOT Bus Routes

DDOT’s official bus schedule directory provides an overview, stop list, online schedule, and downloadable timetable for individual routes. The current route directory includes the routes below.

Route	Name	Best use
1	Vernor	Southwest Detroit / Vernor corridor
2	Michigan	Michigan Avenue corridor
3	Grand River	Grand River corridor
4	Woodward	Downtown, Midtown, Woodward, State Fair
5	Van Dyke/Lafayette	East-side / Van Dyke corridor
6	Gratiot	Gratiot corridor
7	Seven Mile	Seven Mile crosstown travel
8	Warren	Warren Avenue corridor
9	Jefferson	Jefferson corridor and east side
10	Greenfield	Greenfield north-south service
11	Clairmount	Central Detroit local travel
12	Conant	Conant corridor
13	Conner	East-side local service
15	Chicago/Davison	Chicago/Davison corridor
16	Dexter	Dexter corridor
17	Eight Mile	Eight Mile corridor
18	Fenkell	Fenkell corridor
19	Fort	Fort Street / southwest corridor
23	Hamilton	Hamilton / John R area
27	Joy	Joy Road corridor
29	Linwood	Linwood corridor
30	Livernois	Livernois corridor
31	Mack	Mack Avenue corridor
32	McNichols	McNichols crosstown service
38	Plymouth	Plymouth Road corridor
39	Puritan	Puritan corridor
40	Russell	Russell Street corridor
41	Schaefer	Schaefer corridor
42	Mid-City Loop	Mid-city local connections
43	Schoolcraft	Schoolcraft corridor
46	Southfield	Southfield corridor
47	Tireman	Tireman corridor
52	Chene	Chene corridor
54	Wyoming	Wyoming corridor
60	Evergreen	Evergreen corridor
67	Cadillac/Harper	Cadillac / Harper corridor
68	Chalmers	Chalmers / east Detroit

How to get the exact timetable: open the DDOT bus schedule directory, choose the route, then use the route’s “Bus Stops,” “Online Schedule,” or downloadable timetable. Do not assume every route has the same weekday, Saturday, Sunday, or holiday pattern.

Official DDOT Schedules DDOT System Map

How Detroit bus times work

First Bus, Last Bus & Frequency

Detroit does not have one citywide first or last bus time. Each route, direction, terminal, day of week, and stop can have a different service span. A terminal departure is also not the same as the arrival time at a stop farther along the route.

Weekday Usually has the most service and may include additional peak-period trips. Always check the individual route timetable.

Saturday Some routes have different headways or shorter service spans than weekdays.

Sunday / holiday Service can differ again. SMART notes that its routes use Sunday scheduling on certain holidays such as Labor Day.

Choose route

Example: DDOT 4 Woodward.

Choose day

Weekday, Saturday, Sunday, or holiday.

Pick direction

Northbound, southbound, eastbound, westbound, or destination.

Find stop

Use the timepoint closest to your boarding stop.

Check live

Recheck predicted arrival before leaving.

Practical arrival rule: arrive about 5–10 minutes before the scheduled time. Use extra time for major transit centers, unfamiliar stops, transfers, events, bad weather, or infrequent service.

Regional service

SMART Bus Routes Serving Detroit

SMART is the regional suburban transit system. Many SMART routes connect into Detroit, and its FAST limited-stop corridors are especially useful for trips between downtown Detroit and major suburban destinations.

261

FAST Michigan

Links downtown Detroit with the Michigan Avenue corridor, Dearborn, and Detroit Metro Airport terminals.

Corridor: Michigan Avenue Airport: DTW service Type: Limited stop Operator: SMART

Current alert check: SMART listed a Route 261 FAST Michigan utility-crossing detour beginning October 1, 2026, until further notice. Check the bulletin before travel.

461/462

FAST Woodward

Connects downtown Detroit and Woodward Avenue with destinations including Ferndale, Royal Oak, Birmingham, Troy, Pontiac, and Great Lakes Crossing areas depending on route.

Corridor: Woodward Type: FAST limited stop Detroit access: Downtown / Midtown Operator: SMART

Rider tip: downtown boarding stops for the outbound trip may differ from the stop where you arrived. Check the bus display and stop sign.

561

FAST Gratiot

Provides regional limited-stop travel along Gratiot with access between downtown Detroit and communities to the northeast.

Corridor: Gratiot Type: FAST Downtown: Yes Operator: SMART

Current stop notice: SMART listed a temporary relocation of the northbound Gratiot stop near 11 Mile through October 12, 2026.

500

Mound / Hamtramck

Route 500 launched September 7, 2026 and connects downtown Detroit and the Detroit Medical Center area through Hamtramck to Bel Air Center near Eight Mile and Van Dyke.

Mon–Sat: About 6 AM–11 PM Sunday: About 8 AM–5 PM Frequency: About hourly at launch Operator: SMART

The route was introduced as Route 500 instead of the earlier proposed Route 100 number.

SMART Schedules SMART FAST Routes

Fare & payment guide

Detroit Bus Fares & DART Passes

DDOT and SMART participate in the regional DART pass program, but fare products and eligibility rules differ. Verify the fare before boarding because transit agencies can change prices or pass rules.

4-Hour DART Pass $2 Full fare

Provides regional travel on eligible DDOT and SMART fixed-route service during the pass period. Reduced fare is listed at $0.50.

24-Hour DART Pass $5 Full fare

Unlimited eligible regional rides during the 24-hour period. Reduced fare is listed at $2.

7-Day DART Pass $22 Regional full fare

Valid for eligible DDOT and SMART travel. Reduced fare is listed at $10.

31-Day DART Pass $70 Regional full fare

Regional monthly option. Reduced fare is listed at $29.

SMART Single Ride $2 Fixed-route adult fare

SMART lists a $2 adult fixed-route single trip. Reduced fixed-route fare is $0.50 for eligible riders.

Students on SMART Free Eligible fixed-route students

Beginning May 4, 2026, SMART says K-12, college, and university students ride fixed route free with valid student ID.

Reduced fares: DDOT lists reduced fare eligibility for seniors age 65+, people with disabilities, Medicare cardholders, and qualifying students. SMART also has its own reduced-fare rules. Carry the required identification.

DDOT Fare Information SMART Fare Information

Stops & transfer points

Important Detroit Bus Stops and Transfer Areas

The best stop depends on your route and direction, but several Detroit locations act as important transfer points. Always check the exact stop or bay because downtown routes may use different streets for inbound and outbound service.

1Rosa Parks 2Downtown 3Midtown 4New Center 5State Fair 68 Mile 7Suburbs

Rosa Parks Transit Center Major downtown DDOT transfer hub at Michigan Avenue and Cass Avenue.

Jason Hargrove Transit Center Major transfer facility at 1121 W. Eight Mile Road on the former State Fairgrounds.

Downtown Detroit Multiple DDOT and SMART routes serve downtown streets. Boarding location may differ by direction.

Bel Air Center Important northeast transfer point used by DDOT and SMART routes, including Route 500.

Real-time arrivals

How to Track a Detroit Bus Live

Scheduled time is the planned timetable. Live arrival is a prediction based on real-time bus information. Traffic, road construction, detours, weather, incidents, vehicle problems, and other delays can change the predicted arrival.

Identify operator

DDOT or SMART.

Choose route

Select the route number.

Pick direction

Match the destination sign.

Select stop

Use stop name or stop number.

Recheck

Confirm the arrival shortly before leaving.

DDOT text-message tracker: DDOT states that riders can text DDOT + the bus stop number to 41411 to receive expected arrival information.

DDOT Bus Tracker DDOT provides a web/mobile tracker with bus locations and predicted arrivals. During reroutes, predictions may be less accurate.

SMART Bus Tracker SMART also provides real-time bus tracking. Check route-specific service bulletins alongside the tracker.

Open DDOT Bus Tracker Open SMART Tracker

Current service check

Detroit Bus Alerts Checked October 2, 2026

Detroit bus service can change because of construction, events, stop relocation, road closures, or special service changes. Always recheck on your actual travel day.

DDOT downtown DDOT’s main page currently notes that northbound Cass between Lafayette and Michigan is closed, causing downtown detours for affected eastbound routes.

SMART Route 261 SMART listed a FAST Michigan utility-crossing detour beginning October 1, 2026, until further notice.

SMART Routes 560 / 561 SMART listed a northbound Gratiot stop relocation near 11 Mile Road through October 12, 2026.

Do not treat this alert snapshot as permanent. Open the official DDOT Route Updates page and SMART Service Bulletins immediately before traveling.

DDOT Route Updates SMART Service Bulletins

Accessible transportation

Detroit Bus Accessibility & Paratransit

DDOT fixed route DDOT states that its buses and routes are ADA accessible.

Accessible schedules DDOT says schedules can be requested in Braille and accessible formats, with multilingual schedule options also available.

SMART fixed route SMART states that its fixed-route buses are wheelchair accessible and equipped with bike racks.

Detroit Paratransit Eligible riders unable to use regular fixed-route service may qualify for DDOT ADA Paratransit.

Detroit Paratransit service area: DDOT describes complementary paratransit coverage as locations up to three-quarters of a mile from a DDOT fixed-route bus stop for eligible riders. The listed one-way paratransit fare is $2.50.

DDOT Accessibility Detroit Paratransit

Transit centers

Major Detroit Bus Hubs

Rosa Parks Transit Center

Located at Michigan Avenue and Cass Avenue in downtown Detroit. It is one of DDOT’s principal transfer hubs and also houses DDOT fare services.

Address: 360 Michigan Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226.

Jason Hargrove Transit Center

Located on the former State Fairgrounds at 1121 W. Eight Mile Road. DDOT states the indoor space is open 24 hours and pass-purchase kiosks are available around the clock.

This hub is useful for north Detroit connections and transfers near Woodward and Eight Mile.

Airport connection

Detroit Bus to Detroit Metro Airport

For regional public-transit travel to Detroit Metro Airport, SMART FAST Michigan Route 261 serves the Michigan Avenue corridor and airport terminals. Check the current SMART timetable before departing because running times and stop patterns can change.

Start downtown

Find the correct FAST Michigan boarding stop.

Route 261

Verify westbound airport service.

Check terminal

Confirm Evans or McNamara stop information.

Allow buffer

Add time for road traffic and airport walking.

Return trip

Check the last downtown-bound bus before flying.

Detroit map

Rosa Parks Transit Center Map

Rosa Parks Transit Center is a useful orientation point for many downtown DDOT trips. Use the map to navigate to the facility, then confirm the exact route bay or nearby stop using the official DDOT schedule or tracker.

Do not assume every downtown route boards inside the same bay.
Check inbound versus outbound direction.
Look at the bus destination sign before boarding.
For SMART routes, the downtown stop may be on a nearby street rather than inside the DDOT transit center.

Local rider tips

Practical Detroit Bus Tips

Check both systems A SMART route may be faster for a regional corridor even when a DDOT route serves a similar street.

Watch downtown stop direction FAST and DDOT buses may use different streets or different stops for inbound and outbound service.

Plan the return trip early The last usable return bus may be much earlier than the final departure from the opposite terminal.

Use stop numbers A stop number improves accuracy when checking DDOT Bus Tracker by text or online.

Events affect downtown Stadium events, parades, road work, and festivals can temporarily change downtown routing.

Regional transfers DART passes can simplify qualifying DDOT-to-SMART transfers compared with buying separate passes.

Official sources

Detroit Bus Schedule Official Links

DDOT Bus Schedules

Route directory with route overview, stops, online schedules, and downloadable timetables.

Open DDOT Schedules

DDOT System Map

Use the official map to identify major corridors, transfer points, and route connections.

Open System Map

DDOT Bus Tracker

Check bus location and predicted arrival information.

Open Tracker

DDOT Route Updates

Check same-day reroutes, closed streets, and temporary service changes.

Open Route Updates

DDOT Fares

Current DART, DDOT-only, reduced fare, and eligibility information.

Open Fare Information

SMART Schedules

Regional route schedules for metro Detroit and suburban destinations.

Open SMART Schedules

SMART FAST

FAST Michigan, Woodward, and Gratiot regional limited-stop service information.

Open FAST Routes

SMART Service Bulletins

Check current construction, detours, temporary stops, and route-specific notices.

Open SMART Alerts

FAQs

Detroit Bus Schedule FAQs

Where can I find the official Detroit bus schedule?

Use the Detroit Department of Transportation bus schedule directory for DDOT routes. For suburban and regional service, use SMART’s official schedule system.

What bus system operates in Detroit?

DDOT is Detroit’s main city bus operator. SMART provides regional routes connecting Detroit with destinations in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties.

How do I find my DDOT bus time?

Select your route on the DDOT schedule page, choose the correct service day and direction, then find the timepoint nearest your stop. Recheck DDOT Bus Tracker before leaving.

How can I track a Detroit bus live?

DDOT provides DDOT Bus Tracker online and by mobile app. Riders can also text DDOT plus the stop number to 41411 for expected arrival information. SMART provides its own real-time tracker.

How much does a Detroit bus cost?

Regional DART passes include a $2 four-hour full-fare pass and $5 24-hour full-fare pass. SMART’s adult fixed-route single-trip fare is $2. Check the current official fare pages before travel.

Can I use one pass on DDOT and SMART?

Eligible DART regional passes are designed for use on both DDOT and SMART fixed-route services during the pass validity period.

Does Detroit have bus service to the airport?

SMART FAST Michigan Route 261 serves Detroit Metro Airport and connects with downtown Detroit via the Michigan Avenue corridor.

What are the main Detroit bus transit centers?

Rosa Parks Transit Center is a major downtown DDOT hub. Jason Hargrove Transit Center at Eight Mile and Woodward is another major transfer facility in north Detroit.

Are Detroit buses wheelchair accessible?

DDOT states that its fixed-route buses and routes are ADA accessible. SMART states that its fixed-route buses are wheelchair accessible. Specialized paratransit services are also available for eligible riders.

How early should I arrive at a Detroit bus stop?

Arrive about 5–10 minutes before the scheduled time. Allow more time at transit centers, for transfers, during major events, or when service is infrequent.