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The Michigan Marching Band in formation on the field of a packed Michigan Stadium, stands full of fans in maize

The marching band at halftime of the Rutgers game, October 2017. Photo: Shonebrooks, CC0

Big Ten · Ann Arbor, Michigan

Where to stay for a Michigan game Hotels near Michigan Stadium, by time to the gate

Checked against 10 sources on November 10, 2026 · Editorial team · How we check

Stay downtown if you can get a room: it is a 24–31 minute walk. If not, the Briarwood hotels by I-94 are 5–6 minutes away, and Novi is next.

Downtown Ann Arbor, north of the stadium, has the only hotels you can easily walk from: 24–31 minutes. South State Street and the Briarwood group by I-94 are a 4–6 minute drive with no traffic, and TheRide's FootballRide shuttle serves many hotels for $1.50 each way. When Ann Arbor is full, Novi is 37–40 minutes away; Ypsilanti is 15 minutes and Detroit 54.

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Hotels in Downtown Ann Arbor →See the 2027 weekends

Stadium
Michigan Stadium, 107,600 seats [7]
Public parking
2026: U-M Golf Course $65, Brown Lot $40 a game, cashless [3]
Lots
Open at 7 a.m. for a day game, noon for a night game [3]
Shuttle
FootballRide, $1.50 each way, from two hours before kickoff [5]
Gates
Open about two hours before kickoff [4]

Michigan weekends by the numbers

  • 0.9stadium seats for every resident of Ann Arbor: 107,600 seats (capacity) [7] against 122,233 residents [8]
  • 24 minwalk from the closest hotel, the Residence Inn Ann Arbor Downtown, to the stadium (1.1 mi) [9]
  • 5hotels we list within a 40 minute walk of the stadium [9]
  • 54 mindrive, with no traffic, from the furthest overflow town fans use when Ann Arbor is full [9]

Michigan's 2027 home weekends, rated

Both non-conference home dates are set (Michigan plays at Texas on 4 September). The Big Ten set the four conference home opponents and has not published their dates. [2] Hardest so far: Ohio State (Very hard). How we rate weekends.

Michigan Stadium at night from the lower stands, the far side full of fans in maize during a game
The Western Michigan game, 5 September 2026. Photo: BenjaminSmithChef, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Michigan 2027 home games and how hard rooms will be
DateOpponentRoomsWhyBook
Sat, Aug 28, 2027Buffalo
Non-conference
BusyNon-conference, no billed weekend
Season opener, moved up from 4 September. [2]
Rooms Fri–Sun →
Sat, Sep 11, 2027Eastern Michigan
Non-conference
BusyNon-conference, no billed weekend [2]Rooms Fri–Sun →
Date not yet setIllinois
Big Ten
HardConference game [2]Rooms →
Date not yet setOhio State
Big Ten
Very hardConference game · Visiting fans travel [2]Rooms →
Date not yet setOregon
Big Ten
HardConference game [2]Rooms →
Date not yet setRutgers
Big Ten
HardConference game [2]Rooms →

Kickoff times may not be set until a few weeks before the game. Book Friday and Saturday nights, and check the time before you travel.

Hotels closest to Michigan Stadium

Of the 11 hotels we list, the closest is the Residence Inn Ann Arbor Downtown at 120 West Huron Street: a 24 minute walk (1.1 mi) to the stadium. 5 are within a 40 minute walk. Times are routed on OpenStreetMap from each hotel to the stadium with no traffic [9]; on game day the drive takes longer and the lots fill early.

Hotels near Michigan Stadium, closest first, with walk and drive times
HotelAreaOn footBy carGame-day bus
Residence Inn Ann Arbor Downtown
120 West Huron Street, Ann Arbor
Downtown Ann Arbor24 min · 1.1 mi4 min · 1.1 miNone listed
AC Hotel Ann Arbor Downtown
310 East Huron Street, Ann Arbor
Downtown Ann Arbor26 min · 1.2 mi4 min · 1.2 miNone listed
Bell Tower Hotel
300 South Thayer Street, Ann Arbor
Downtown Ann Arbor29 min · 1.4 mi5 min · 1.6 miNone listed
Graduate by Hilton Ann Arbor
615 East Huron Street, Ann Arbor
Downtown Ann Arbor31 min · 1.4 mi5 min · 1.6 miNone listed
Homewood Suites by Hilton Ann Arbor
2457 South State Street, Ann Arbor
South State Street33 min · 1.6 mi4 min · 1.7 miNone listed
Hilton Garden Inn Ann Arbor
1401 Briarwood Circle, Ann Arbor
Briarwood45 min · 2.1 mi5 min · 2.1 miNone listed
Courtyard Ann Arbor
3205 Boardwalk Drive, Ann Arbor
Briarwood50 min · 2.4 mi6 min · 2.5 miNone listed
Sheraton Ann Arbor Hotel
3200 Boardwalk Street, Ann Arbor
Briarwood51 min · 2.4 mi6 min · 2.6 miNone listed
Staybridge Suites Detroit - Novi
27000 Providence Parkway, Novi, Novi
NoviDrive37 min · 25.2 miNone listed
Hyatt Place Detroit/Novi
46080 Grand River Avenue, Novi, Novi
NoviDrive38 min · 25.4 miNone listed
Residence Inn Detroit Novi
27477 Cabaret Drive, Novi, Novi
NoviDrive40 min · 26.7 miNone listed

Where to stay in Ann Arbor, by area

3 km10 km25 kmMichigan StadiumBrighton27 min driveNovi37 min driveDetroit54 min driveDowntown Ann Arbor24 min walkSouth State Street33 min walkYpsilanti15 min driveBriarwood5 min drive
  1. Briarwood 5 min drive
  2. Ypsilanti 15 min drive
  3. Downtown Ann Arbor 24 min walk
  4. Brighton 27 min drive
  5. South State Street 33 min walk
  6. Novi 37 min drive
  7. Detroit 54 min drive
Walk to the gatesShort drive or shuttleOverflow townsPositions are to scale in direction; distance is compressed. Times are routed with no traffic.

Walk to the gates

Downtown Ann Arbor

Walk to the gatesNightlifeCar-free

Main Street, State Street and the campus edge, north of the stadium, with most of Ann Arbor's restaurants. A 24–31 minute walk, the only hotels we list that you can easily walk from.

  • 24 min Walk from the Residence Inn Downtown to the stadium (1.1 mi) [9]
  • 31 min Walk from the Graduate (1.4 mi) [9]

Hotels here

Hotels in Downtown Ann Arbor →

A short drive or shuttle

Briarwood and I-94 (State Street exit)

DriversGroupsEasy from I-94

The biggest group of hotels in Ann Arbor, around Briarwood Mall and Boardwalk Drive at the I-94 State Street exit. A 5–6 minute drive with no traffic.

  • 5 min Drive from the Hilton Garden Inn, no traffic (2.1 mi) [9]
  • 6 min Drive from the Sheraton, no traffic (2.6 mi) [9]

Hotels here

Hotels in Briarwood →

When the town is full

Novi

OverflowMore choice

A suburb north-east on I-96 with dozens of chain hotels. 37–40 minutes from the stadium with no traffic, the first place with real choice when Ann Arbor is full.

  • 37 min Drive from Novi, no traffic (25.2 mi) [9]

Hotels here

Hotels in Novi →

Ypsilanti, Brighton and Detroit

Big weekendsMore choice

Ypsilanti is 15 minutes east and Brighton 27 minutes north; Detroit is 54 minutes away.

  • 15 min Ypsilanti, no traffic (7.6 mi) [9]
  • 27 min Brighton, no traffic (19.6 mi) [9]
  • 54 min Downtown Detroit, no traffic (44.6 mi) [9]
Hotels in Ypsilanti, Brighton →

Booking rules: when rooms open and what big weekends cost

Parking prices in 2026

On game day in 2026 the U-M Golf Course cost $65 and the Brown Lot at the Varsity Tennis Center $40, both cashless; an RV space in the Brown Lot cost $200. Donor lots are sold by priority points to season ticket holders. [3]

Downtown is the walkable base

Of the hotels we list, only the downtown hotels (24–31 minutes) and the Homewood Suites on South State Street (33) are a walk from Michigan Stadium. Everything else is a drive or a FootballRide shuttle. [9]

Clear the lots after the game

Destination Ann Arbor tells visiting fans that cars and RVs must leave the lots within two hours after the game, or they will be towed. [6]

Coming as a group or a family? Houses and apartments in and around Ann Arbor are on Vrbo: vacation rentals in Ann Arbor →

What we saw in the 2026 season

Our own readings of Booking.com search results: two nights, two adults, prices before taxes, one reading on one day. A record of last season, not a forecast for 2027, and not used in the rating.

  • 11 days before the UCLA game (Saturday 21 November), Booking.com showed 31 places with rooms in Ann Arbor for the nights of 20–22 November, at a median of $718 for two nights. In Novi, the overflow town, the same nights showed 15 places at a median of $222. [1]
  • For a weekend with no home game, 4–6 December 2026, Booking.com showed 55 places with rooms in Ann Arbor, at a median of $444 for two nights. [1]

Live hotel prices around Michigan Stadium

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Game day at Michigan Stadium: parking, traffic and buses

Lot times

Athletics lots open at 7 a.m. for a day game and at noon for a night game; Pioneer High School's lot opens at 6 a.m. or 11 a.m. Sales are cashless. [3]

FootballRide shuttle

TheRide's FootballRide runs between hotels, parking sites and the stadium about every 20 minutes from two hours before kickoff, $1.50 each way; the last shuttle leaves 30 minutes before kickoff. It drops off near Gate 2 by Crisler Arena and returns for about an hour after the game. [5]

After the game

West and downtown shuttles board on Stadium Boulevard between Gates 2 and 4; north, east and south shuttles board east of Gate 2, between Stadium Way and Kipke Drive. [5]

A night game timeline

For the 7:30 p.m. Western Michigan game in September 2026, select lots opened at noon and gates at 5:30 p.m. At the U-M Golf Course, State Street was open for parking and Main Street was closed. [4]

Gates

Destination Ann Arbor's guide for visiting fans says gates open two hours before kickoff. [6]

Accessible parking

With a state disability placard, accessible spaces are in the Green Lot at the U-M Golf Course ($65 on game day in 2026) and the Triangle Lot south-east of Crisler Center ($60). Both are cashless and open at 7 a.m. for a day game. [3]

Before kickoff

On a game day the Michigan Marching Band rehearses at Elbel Field in the early afternoon, and fans line up outside Crisler Center to greet the team as it walks to the stadium. For the September 2026 night game the rehearsal was at 1:30 p.m. [4]

Getting back after the game

FootballRide runs for about an hour after the game from Stadium Boulevard. From downtown you can walk back in 24–31 minutes. [5]

Getting to Ann Arbor

Driving

Ann Arbor sits on I-94, with US 23 on its east side. Detroit is 54 minutes east with no traffic. [9]

From the airport

Detroit Metro Airport is 35 minutes from the stadium with no traffic. [9]

From Ypsilanti and Brighton

Ypsilanti, east along I-94, is 15 minutes from the stadium with no traffic, and Brighton, north up US 23, 27 minutes: both are options when Ann Arbor's own hotels are full. [9]

Flying in

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW) is 35 minutes' drive from the stadium with no traffic (26.0 mi). [9]

Travel news for the 2027 season

  • Michigan moved Buffalo to 28 August 2027 (season opener), the Texas trip to 4 September and Eastern Michigan to 11 September. [2]

Michigan game weekends: questions fans ask

What is the closest hotel to Michigan Stadium?

Of the hotels we list, the Residence Inn Ann Arbor Downtown at 120 West Huron Street, a 24 minute walk (1.1 miles). The AC Hotel is 26 minutes on foot. [9]

Where should I stay if Ann Arbor is sold out?

Novi first, with dozens of hotels 37–40 minutes away. Ypsilanti is 15 minutes away and Brighton 27. [9]

When are Michigan's 2027 home games?

Buffalo on 28 August and Eastern Michigan on 11 September. Illinois, Ohio State, Oregon and Rutgers also come to Michigan Stadium; the Big Ten has not published their dates. [2]

How much is parking at a Michigan game?

In 2026, $65 at the U-M Golf Course and $40 in the Brown Lot on game day, cashless. RV spaces in the Brown Lot were $200. [3]

Is there a shuttle to Michigan Stadium?

Yes. TheRide's FootballRide runs from hotels and parking sites about every 20 minutes from two hours before kickoff, $1.50 each way. [5]

How far is Michigan Stadium from Detroit airport?

35 minutes by car with no traffic. [9]

Where is accessible parking for a Michigan game?

In the Green Lot at the U-M Golf Course and the Triangle Lot south-east of Crisler Center, with a state disability placard; $65 and $60 in 2026. [3]

When do lots open on a Michigan game day?

At 7 a.m. for a day game and at noon for a night game. Pioneer High School's lot opens earlier, at 6 a.m. or 11 a.m. [3]

Where does the FootballRide shuttle drop off and pick up?

It drops off near Gate 2, next to Crisler Arena. After the game, West and Downtown shuttles board on Stadium Boulevard between Gates 2 and 4, and North, East and South shuttles east of Gate 2, between Stadium Way and Kipke Drive. [5]

When does the last shuttle leave for the game?

FootballRide's last pre-game shuttle leaves its boarding area 30 minutes before kickoff, so plan to board earlier. [5]

Sources

  1. Our reading of Booking.com search results (two nights, two adults, before taxes): searches for Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States on booking.com, for the nights given with each reading, FootballStay (10 November 2026). Checked November 10, 2026.
  2. Future Michigan Football Schedules, University of Michigan Athletics (updated 3 September 2026). Checked November 10, 2026.
  3. U-M Football Parking Inventory for 2026 Season, University of Michigan Athletics. Checked November 10, 2026.
  4. Michigan Football Gameday: Western Michigan, University of Michigan Athletics (5 September 2026). Checked November 10, 2026.
  5. Take TheRide's Football Shuttle to 2026 UofM Home Football Games, TheRide, Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (12 August 2026). Checked November 10, 2026.
  6. Welcome Oregon Ducks, Destination Ann Arbor (November 2024). Checked November 10, 2026.
  7. Michigan Stadium, Wikipedia. Checked November 10, 2026.
  8. City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2025 (Vintage 2025), U.S. Census Bureau. Checked November 10, 2026.
  9. Routed walk and drive times (OSRM on OpenStreetMap, no traffic), FOSSGIS routing.openstreetmap.de. Checked November 10, 2026.
  10. Hotel positions and addresses, OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Checked November 10, 2026.

Photos

Photos are openly licensed, resized and cropped for this page. None shows a hotel we list or implies endorsement.

Walk and drive times are routed on OpenStreetMap with no traffic; game-day traffic adds to them. Found something out of date? Tell us and we fix it with a dated correction.

FootballStay is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by the NFL, the NCAA, any conference, university or team. Team and stadium names are used only to describe where games are played.

Keep planning

The season planner: every home weekend we cover, by how hard rooms will be. Every college football team we cover, ranked by stadium seats per resident. How we rate weekends.