Getting In, Getting Around Southfield

Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) operates local and regional bus transit.

The major thoroughfares in the city include the John C. Lodge Freeway (M-10), which is among the first urban to suburban highways constructed in the United States. The city also contains Interstate 696 (I-696), Southfield freeway (M-39), and US-24/Telegraph Rd. Today, The city contains several freeway interchanges connecting local roads to the freeways. Most prominently, "The Lodge" connects downtown Detroit to "The Mixing Bowl," the sprawling interchange of I-696, US-24/Telegraph Rd, the Lodge, Northwestern Highway, Lahser Road, and Franklin Road, all of which are located in Southfield. Most major streets adhere to a north-south/east-west orientation, forming a grid of major streets spaced one mile apart from each other. The major east-west streets are 8 Mile Road (which forms the southern boundary of the city), 9 Mile Road (which is split by the Southfield Freeway), 10 Mile Road, 11 Mile Road (which is split by the Lodge), and 12 Mile Road. Major north-south streets are Telegraph Road, Lahser Road, Evergreen Road, Southfield Road (the northern extention of the Southfield Freeway) and Greenfield Road (which forms the eastern boundary of the city).

Automobiles are virtually a necessity for travel in the Detroit area. Public transportation is practically non-existent when compared to other metropolitan areas of similar size. Detroit suburbs spread over a large area, and getting around may prove to be difficult without a car. Nonetheless, an extensive highway system and ample parking make the region one of the most auto-friendly in North America.

Detroit Metro Airport (DTW) is the largest airport in the area and it's located in Romulus, about 20 minutes west of the city, at the junction between I-275 and I-94. It is a Northwest hub and features the recently opened McNamara Terminal.