International Participants
International participants traveling to the United States to attend the Summer Program should review the International Participants page for clarification about visas and other required travel documentation.
About Ann Arbor 
The City of Ann Arbor has a population of about 114,000, almost a third of whom are between the ages of 25 and 44. The average high temperature in July is 79 degrees. The Ann Arbor landscape consists of arboretums and industrial parks, specialty shops, bike paths, and parks. Ann Arbor is located 25 miles from the Detroit/Metro International airport, less than one hour from Detroit, and less than five hours from Chicago and Lake Michigan. More information on Ann Arbor is available at the Ann Arbor Area Visitors’ Bureau Web site.
Housing and Lodging
Summer Institute participants are responsible for securing their own housing, although Summer Institute staff will help in any way we can. Many participants reside in University operated facilities, while others obtain housing through privately owned apartments and cooperatives. It is strongly recommended that participants arrange for housing prior to their arrival in Ann Arbor. Several events in Ann Arbor during the summer greatly restrict the availability of short-term housing during June and July. July is especially busy due to the Ann Arbor Art Fairs. Participants may be able to find housing by checking both University Housing and Non-University Housing as listed below.
Airport Transportation
Ann Arbor is 25 miles from Detroit Metropolitan International Airport (DTW) via I-94. The most affordable transportation option to and from DTW is Michigan Flyer, a public charter bus that stops in Ann Arbor at the Blake Transit Center downtown (about a 5-minute walk from the University of Michigan campus). Other transportation options include Metro Cars, the Ann Arbor Metro Airport Shuttle and taxi service. For information and rates, see the University of Michigan Campus Information Center or the Metro Airport Web site.
Parking and Bus Travel
Parking on Central Campus at the University of Michigan is extremely limited, and especially difficult during Art Fair, held the third week of July. The City of Ann Arbor maintains numerous public lots, structures, and parking meters. Parking is usually purchased by the hour, but a limited number of monthly parking permits are available. For more information about the Ann Arbor parking system, call Republic Parking at 734-761-7235. Parking fees, maximum hours of use, and enforcement hours are posted at pay machines in these lots, which accept currency, coin, and credit cards.
On-Campus
U-M Buses. The University of Michigan operates its own line of buses that anyone can ride free of charge. Blue U-M buses have “University of Michigan” written in large letters on the side, and run between Central, South, Medical and North Campuses. Blue buses and smaller white U-M buses also run between the various buildings of the U-M Health System (including the East Ann Arbor Health Center) and stop at nearby parking lots For a list of routes and schedules, refer to U-M Parking and Transportation Services.
Public Transportation
Bus Service. The Ann Arbor Transit Authority (AATA) operates a bus system that services the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti area. University of Michigan students, faculty and staff can ride the buses for free by swiping a valid MCard (University of Michigan ID). For those students who do not have a yellow MCard, the cost is $1.50 for a fixed rate.
The AATA operates two transit centers: Blake Transit Center in downtown Ann Arbor on Fourth Avenue between William and Liberty, and the Ypsilanti Transit Center, located on Pearl Street at Adams Street. Most Ann Arbor routes originate at the Blake Transit Center at 15 minutes after and 15 minutes to each hour. For more information about routes and schedules, refer to the “Ride Guide” available at the transit centers, on the AATA buses, at the U-M International Center, or at the AATA web site listed above.
Taxis. Taxis are a convenient but more expensive way to get around Ann Arbor. More information is available on the Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitors Bureau website. Yellow Cab is one commonly used taxi company. It is usually necessary to telephone for a taxi, but you can often find taxis waiting on State Street outside of the Michigan Union.
Transportation Beyond Ann Arbor
Bus
Greyhound buses service Ann Arbor from locations around the U.S. and Canada. The Greyhound station is located at 325 Depot Street (the Amtrak Station).
Megabus
Megabus is a low-cost bus service with routes connecting Ann Arbor with Toledo, OH and Chicago. Buses arrive and depart from the University of Michigan commuter lot at 2678 S. State Street.
Train
Amtrak operates three daily eastbound trains (to Detroit) and three daily westbound trains (to Chicago) that depart from the train station at 325 Depot Street. Amtrak also offers an evening bus to Toledo to meet an overnight train to the east coast.