Ann Arbor
Discover Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor — often abbreviated as AA or A — is a picturesque city surrounding the University of Michigan. It has a strong bent toward the arts, and an attractive and pedestrian-friendly downtown. Visitors enjoy the city's wonderful sidewalk cafe dining, unique shops, lots of bookstores, and abundant cultural opportunities. Ann Arbor is in Michigan 35 miles (56 km) north of the Ohio border and 45 miles (72 km) west of Detroit, near where the furthest exurban fringes give way to country and small towns. In 2019, the city had a population of about 120,000 people, and thousands of visitors come to town for football games and various festivals.
What to Experience in Ann Arbor
Taste of Ann Arbor...
For a relatively small Great Lakes town, Ann Arbor has a large variety of cheap (and sometimes quirky) eateries (thanks in part to the large student population) such as pizza restaurants, quick Chinese food and lots of sandwich and wrap shops downtown. You'll also notice hot dog and tamale carts on many street corners, particularly in the summer, selling basic fare starting at $1 with complimentary toppings. As alternative to restaurants the regional supermarket Busch's have good salads and sushi. One thing you won't see much of, however, at least on campus and in the downtown area, are popular nationwide fast-food chains. The impression is that Ann Arbor is proud enough of its small independent restaurants that it has no need for mass-produced french fries (although with rental costs rising in the downtown area, many local restaurants — and shops — are being ousted in favor of wealthier small chains, like Bruegger's and Great Wraps). For the more refined palate, there's no shortage of fine dining. Between Ann Arbor's vibrant cultural life and its sizeable international population, there seems to be considerable demand for the fancy and the exotic. There are certainly a few restaurants in town that can empty your wallet singlehandedly, but don't let their reputations scare you away: at even the priciest restaurants, there are dishes that you can order for a more modest fee, if you just want to sample the atmosphere.
Festivals & Events
Experience the vibrant festivals and cultural celebrations of Ann Arbor.
It's been said that Ann Arbor has more bookstores per capita than any other town in the US – certainly a walking tour of downtown will take you past quite a few, although the number is beginning to slowly dwindle. The flagship Borders bookstore was here from 1971 until it closed in 2011. For a relatively small Great Lakes town, Ann Arbor has a large variety of cheap (and sometimes quirky) eateries (thanks in part to the large student population) such as pizza restaurants, quick Chinese food and lots of sandwich and wrap shops downtown. You'll also notice hot dog and tamale carts on many street corners, particularly in the summer, selling basic fare starting at $1 with complimentary toppings. As alternative to restaurants the regional supermarket Busch's have good salads and sushi. One thing you won't see much of, however, at least on campus and in the downtown area, are popular nationwide fast-food chains.
Climate
Like most of Michigan, summers can be hot and humid. In July and early-August it can hit high into the 90s with high humidity. Typical average heat indices in the summer are around 85 °F (29 °C) during the day and 64 °F (18 °C) at night, but heat indices occasionally hit 99 °F (37 °C) with 73 °F (23 °C) overnight lows. Winters are fairly normal for the lower Great Lakes region, which enjoys 4 seasons. It starts to be chilly in late October and it begins to warm up again in mid-March (but the occasional early April snowfall is not unheard of!) Average winter temperatures are generally in the range of 30 °F (−1 °C) and in January temps can dip below 20 °F (−7 °C), or even lower if it's windy. Ann Arbor is bounded by I-94 (between Detroit and Jackson) on the south and west, US-23 (between Flint and Toledo, Ohio) on the east, and M-14 (which leads to Detroit's western suburbs and I-96) on the north.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsAnn Arbor is bounded by I-94 (between Detroit and Jackson) on the south and west, US-23 (between Flint and Toledo, Ohio) on the east, and M-14 (which leads to Detroit's western suburbs and I-96) on the north. From Toledo and other points south of Ann Arbor, take US-23 north; from Detroit, the airport, and points east, take I-94 west (or I-96 west to M-14 west); from Chicago and points west, take I-94 east; from the north, take US-23 south. There is ample paid parking downtown, but very little is on the curb (most is in parking garages). An option is to use the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (AATA) park and ride lots, which lie on the outskirts of Ann Arbor. There are five such lots with free parking around the city, and bus service to each. The nearest major airport is Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), about 25 minutes away....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Downtown Ann Arbor is not large, so it's easy to get around just by walking. In fact, free parking is almost nonexistent, especially when the town is full of students, so you'll probably prefer to walk anyway. Occasionally you'll find an unused parking meter; you'll have to feed it money between 8AM-6PM on weekdays and Saturdays, otherwise they're free. There are parking lots and buildings scattered around downtown; they're free on Sundays, otherwise you can generally expect to pay 80 cents to $1 per hour. Ann Arbor has several reliable 24-hour taxicab companies. You can't hail a cab from the sidewalk, although there are certain spots in town where they often hang out waiting for passengers, notably in front of the Michigan Union on State Street, and the Federal Building on Liberty Street.
Where to Stay
There are four main hotel districts in Ann Arbor: near campus; in the southern part of town, where State Street meets I-94 (including Boardwalk St, Briarwood Cir and Victors Way); in the southeastern part of town, near the intersection of Washtenaw Rd and US-23 (including Carpenter Rd); and in the northeastern part of town, by the intersection of Plymouth Rd and US-23 (including Green Rd). There are also a few in the northwestern part of town, near the intersection of Jackson Ave and I-94. Accommodations tend to be the most expensive in the campus area, so unless you're here for a conference or business trip that's being paid for, you'll probably want to look further out. Hotels in the campus area are within easy walking distance of downtown Ann Arbor and most of the attractions. The southeastern area is served by two AATA bus lines, route 4 (along Washtenaw) and route 22 (along Carpenter), and the northwestern area is along route 9.
Money & Budget
It's been said that Ann Arbor has more bookstores per capita than any other town in the US – certainly a walking tour of downtown will take you past quite a few, although the number is beginning to slowly dwindle. The flagship Borders bookstore was here from 1971 until it closed in 2011. For a relatively small Great Lakes town, Ann Arbor has a large variety of cheap (and sometimes quirky) eateries (thanks in part to the large student population) such as pizza restaurants, quick Chinese food and lots of sandwich and wrap shops downtown. You'll also notice hot dog and tamale carts on many street corners, particularly in the summer, selling basic fare starting at $1 with complimentary toppings. As alternative to restaurants the regional supermarket Busch's have good salads and sushi.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Ann Arbor is generally a very safe town, though the usual rules about common sense (being aware of your surroundings after dark and knowing where you are going) apply here as they would anywhere. The only really common crimes in town are those that you find in any other university town. Theft is the biggie, as many university students who leave their bags unattended in the library or those who fail to lock their bikes can tell you. There's also the occasional mugging or sexual assault, but these tend to occur after dark, so if you're not wandering the streets at 2AM, you probably don't have anything to worry about. Having said that, wandering the streets at 2AM in downtown Ann Arbor is generally quite safe and not at all frightening; there are usually enough students out partying or hanging out with friends until the wee hours that you won't feel like a lone target, or like you're in a dangerous crowd.
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Ann Arbor
Michigan Theater and State Theater in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Downtown Ann Arbor, Michigan. Liberty and State Street.
Law quad dining hall, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Early autumn morning along the banks of the Huron River.
The greatest place on earth… The Big House… Michigan Stadium.
an american flag flying in the sky over a park
a city street at night
Fall collection
Ann Arbor, Michigan snowstorm. State Theater. Michigan Theater. Liberty Street.
people walking on sidewalk near wall with graffiti during daytime
Michigan Theater and State Theater in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Downtown Ann Arbor, Michigan. Liberty and State Street.
Law quad dining hall, Ann Arbor, Michigan.