Guide To The Woodward Dream Cruise
The Deets
Time: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18 The cruise place along a 16 mile stretch of the legendary Woodward avenue through eight host communities including Berkely, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township, Ferndale, Huntington Woods, Pleasant Ridge, Pontiac and Royal Oak, in Southeast Michigan. The Woodward Dream Cruise enters its 18th year in 2012 is powered by presenting sponsor Chevrolet. The Woodward Dream Cruise is the world's largest one-day celebrations of classic car culture that attracts over 1 million visitors, and 40,000 muscle cars, street rods, custom, collector, and special interest vehicles. Every city has its own roster of events, with the fun kicking off Friday night in Berkley, Ferndale and Bloomfield Township, and continuing early Saturday with the first Dream Cruise 5K fun run, with on-site registration beginning at 6 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, at 12 Mile and Woodward in Royal Oak. Get a complete schedule of events here.
Parking
The Woodward Dream Cruise is a spectacular event to drive-in or witness, public parking is available at or near the Cruise Route. This is complicated as the cruise runs through many communities can be both ample and scarce, depending on where you're at.
Berkely- There are no public parking areas near Woodward, parking is allowed on the side streets adjoining Woodward but it might be wise to try and get there early as those spots will likely be filled and difficult to find open ones. Overnight parking is not allowed on city streets. Click here for more information.
Birmingham- All Dream Cruise activities are within walking distance of the city's five parking decks, where the first two hours of parking are free. Click here for more information.
Bloomfield Township- Spectator parking near the car show is at 36700 Woodward for $5.
Ferndale- In Ferndale, the following metered lots are public: West Nine Mile at Planavon; Woodward at West Troy; Woodward at Withington (West), Woodward at East Breckenridge. Click here more information.
Huntington Woods- Parking areas on Woodward have been leased by car clubs and reserved for city resident's activities. Spectator parking is the same as for Berkley and Pleasant Ridge.
Pontiac- Public Parking is in the Phoenix Plaza Structure in the downtown. City surface lots will be open in the downtown. Click here for more information.
Royal Oak- Parking is available at public lots and three parking decks in the downtown but you must walk one-half mile to Woodward. For details, see www.ci.royal-oak.mi.us.
For cruise in shoes, parking will start at 6 A.M., Memorial Park 13 mile and Coolidge $5, Shrine Elementary shuttle from 12 mile and Woodward $5, Upton Park (west of Coolidge on Massoit) Free shuttle starting at 6 A.M., starting at 7 AM parking at Memorial Park is $10. Gunn Dyer Park Hampton and Hunter just south of Normandy $10, the free shuttle from Upton will run from 6 AM till 10 PM.
Requirements
There are no fees to drive in the Woodward Dream Cruise or to watch the cruise. Anyone can participate although those not driving a classic car are asked to stay out of the two right or curb lanes. The usual rules of the road apply and open consumption of alcohol is not allowed in public areas. In your own house? Fine. In a fenced restaurant patio along the route? Sure. In a lawn chair alongside the road? No.
Merchandise
Everything from dash plaques to wall calendars, die cast classic cars, hats, lapel pins, hats, tank tops and T-shirts are available for purchase at the official Woodward Dream Cruise online store HERE. That means you can buy things ranging in price from $5 to $25. Best yet? All proceeds from merchandise sales go to local charities.
Lodging
If you're looking for an easy way to avoid taking a cab home or just want to enjoy every possible second of the cruise without a commute time, there are 13 hotels visitors can stay at in metro Detroit that are listed as official hotels of the Woodward Dream Cruise. If you stay at any one of these hotels you receive a discount and help donate to the greater southeast Michigan area. Courtyard by Marriot Farmington Hills 31525 West 12 Mile Road, Farmington Hills; 248-553-0000 Fairfield Inn Detroit/Troy Marriott 32800 Stephenson Hwy Madison Heights; 248-588-3388 Marvin's Garden Inn 27650 Northwestern Highway Southfield; 248-353-6777 Fairfield Inn By Marriott Detroit/Warren/Sterling Heights 7454 Convention Blvd. Warren; 586-939-1700 Comfort Inn at Greenfield Village 20061 Michigan Avenue Dearborn; 313-436-9600 Embassy Suites Detroit–Livonia/Novi 19525 Victor Pkwy Livonia; 734-462-6000; Marriott Detroit-Troy 200 W.Big Beaver Rd .Troy; 248-680-9797 ComfortSuites–Southfield 24977 Northwestern Highway Southfield; 248-357-9990 Embassy Suites Detroit–Southfield 28100 Franklin Road Southfield; detroitsouthfield.embassysuites.com Courtyard by Marriott Southfield 27027 Northwestern Highway Southfield; 248-358-1222 Holiday Inn Express & Suites Southfield–Detroit 25100 Northwestern Highway Southfield; Marriot Detroit Southfield 27033 Northwestern Highway Southfield.
