<p>Son is an only child, and his only cousin on my husband’s child is a student at UMich. He would love to spend time with her while he is up there. He’s under the impression it would not be a difficult trip. But there are rivers and lakes and Great Lakes up there, so don’t know how easy the trip is. He likes to fly, but also likes the train, and if driving is doable, there’s that, but if he can let someone do the “driving”, he’d prefer that. Thanks for any input!</p>
<p>Well… I make that trip all the time, I live in the Twin Cities and my parents live about 30 minutes west of Ann Arbor. Options:
- Drive around Chicago. Shortest route, takes between 9 and 12 hours depending on road construction and weather.
- Drive through the UP. Longer, really a 2 day trip, but more scenic.
- Fly to Detroit and get some kind of shuttle (SuperShuttle) to Ann Arbor. Southwest has pretty good fares to Detroit.
- I have never taken the train, it would go through Chicago if he did. My brother came up here once on the train, but he stopped in Chicago for business for a few days.
- He could look for a ride on the “ride boards” at U of MN. I did this once from Ann Arbor to the Twin Cities when I was in college (we got lost, don’t ask…).<br>
- There is a ferry across Lake Michigan, but you have to get to and from the end points, and the timing is not very convenient – they leave early or late, and you have to be there with enough lead time that it doesn’t really shave much if any time off.</p>
<p>So… they are in the same region of the country, but it isn’t super convenient. Lake Michigan is in the way… Too bad his cousin is not at U of Wisconsin. :)</p>
<p>Minneapolis to Ann Arbor by car would involve just the interstate. The major problem will be driving around or through the Chicago area. It would be a simple flight from Minneapolis to the Detroit airport which is actually outside of that city and relatively close to Ann Arbor. If he is over 25 he could rent a car, or if the cousin has access to a car he could pick him up. </p>
<p>btw- in Minneapolis there is a pedestrian bridge for U of MN students across the Mississippi- it’s that small up there. He would go southeast past Madison, WI then south through Rockford, IL easily to Chicago. He would skirt Lake Michigan to the south. His best bet is to take the bypass route- tollway- and then east through Indiana/Ohio until he goes north to Ann Arbor. Rolling countryside. I have driven those distances alone but if he can be with someone it will help with driver fatigue. Tons of traffic around Chicago- I’m a “left lane driver”. Within 10 mph of the speed limit in WI, go with the flow around Chicago (it may technically be 55 mph but 75 or 35 actual depending on traffic). In Chicago WBBM is an am radio station with weather and traffic “on the eights”, useful in deciding any alternate routes.</p>
<p>Depending what time of year he wants to visit…driving could be a real mess with weather - I vote for flying - Ann Arbor is not far at all from DTW. </p>
<p>Shuttle bus service from the airport to points in Ann Arbor is very reasonable, quick and reliable. Need to make reservations ahead of time.</p>
<p>I’ve driven the Ann Arbor to Minnesota route many a time (mom’s only family is in MN). It’s not a bad drive through Chicago but I would NOT recommend it for the middle of winter. </p>
<p>Flying MN to Lansing can actually be pretty cheap, though probably not around Thanksgiving time. Flying to DTW and then taking the shuttle is by far the best option. </p>
<p>What shuttle do we take from the airport to Ann Arbor? Is it SuperShuttle or any other option y’all can recommend? I do hope we can do this. I’ve never been to Michigan, always wanted to go, though not in winter, but happy to get a few days with family I rarely get to see. I’m hoping son does get an invite from new Minnesota friends, though, as I really do want him to start putting down roots there.</p>
<p>The ferry is not practical for his trip. Time of year definitely matters. Driving through the UP is very boring- useful for heading to points in Canada and well north of Ann Arbor- or if he really wants to see Green Bay and its football history. There are places with no cell phone coverage as well. Definitely not a solo trip. From December to March flying is the more reliable choice. It’s a nonstop flight so no getting stuck en route.</p>
<p>There is a MichiganFlyer bus that goes from the campus to the airport and back 13 times a day at around $15 a ticket. Very reasonable. You can check it out at <a href=“http://www.michiganflyer.com”>www.michiganflyer.com</a> </p>
<p>I don’t agree that the UP drive is boring, I like it. But it is longer, and not very practical unless he has a reasonably long break. Wouldn’t want to do that in the winter, either.</p>
<p>The trip through the UP is very pretty. I wouldn’t make that trip over thanksgiving. It’s deer hunting gun season and will be pretty busy. </p>
<p>Honestly thanksgiving traffic is very busy, I know it sounds crazy but with all the holiday traffic and hunters the roads are busy. </p>
<p>The ferry only runs in the summer, it doesn’t run at thanksgiving. </p>
<p>My S went to school in the UP. He did not have snow any of the 5 years he traveled downstate. It can happen, but it’s a little early. If your S decides to drive, he can decide which way to go based on the weather. But my suggestion is if you can swing it and the times work out, fly. So much easier for thanksgiving. </p>