Budget/Backpacker Travel Guide: Detroit

Accommodation

$25-60 per night

Hostels with shared rooms, budget motels on outskirts, or shared Airbnb spaces in neighborhoods like Corktown or Midtown

Food & Dining

$15-35 per day

Coney dogs from local spots, food trucks, casual diners, grocery store meals, and happy hour specials

Transportation

$5-20 per day

QLine streetcar, DDOT city buses, walking, and occasional rideshare for longer distances

Activities

$10-40 per day

Free riverfront walks, Hart Plaza events, some museum visits, self-guided neighborhood tours, and occasional paid attractions

Use the QLine streetcar for free transportation through downtown and Midtown corridor instead of rideshare (typically 80-90% savings)

Eat at neighborhood spots in areas like Eastern Market or Southwest Detroit rather than downtown tourist areas (usually 40-60% cheaper)

Visit museums on community days or free admission times (can save $15-25 per attraction)

Book accommodations outside immediate downtown core in areas like Corktown or New Center (typically 30-50% less expensive)

Take advantage of happy hour specials at local breweries and restaurants (usually 25-40% off food and drinks)

Walk or bike between nearby attractions in downtown area rather than taking rideshare for short distances

Shop for snacks and drinks at grocery stores instead of convenience stores near attractions (typically 50-70% cheaper)

Only eating in downtown tourist areas instead of exploring neighborhood dining scenes (can cost 100-150% more)

Taking rideshare for every trip instead of using public transit or walking reasonable distances (typically 300-500% more expensive)

Booking last-minute accommodations during major events like auto show or sports playoffs (can be 200-400% higher than advance booking)

Paying for parking at every venue instead of using public lots or transit to centralized areas (can add $20-40 per day unnecessarily)