Windsor to Detroit without a car: tunnel bus, walking and biking
You can cross between Windsor and Detroit without driving: by bus through the Detroit–Windsor Tunnel, on foot or by bike over the Gordie Howe International Bridge, or by taxi or intercity bus. Everyone still clears customs, so bring a passport, NEXUS card or enhanced licence (see what ID you need).
The short version
- Tunnel bus: The Linq leaves downtown Windsor (Bruce Avenue at Riverside Drive West) every two hours for downtown Detroit. $17.50 CAD one way, card only.
- Walk or bike: the Gordie Howe Bridge path is free and open 8 AM–8 PM until October 31, then 8 AM–4 PM from November 1. About 45 minutes on foot or 20 by bike, plus customs.
- Not allowed: walking or cycling across the Ambassador Bridge or through the Tunnel.
- Rideshare: Lyft does not cross the border; plan on the bus, a taxi that books cross-border trips, or a shuttle.
Sunday, October 18: the Detroit Free Press Marathon closes the Tunnel to traffic in the morning. The Linq says its regular service resumes at 1 PM that day. See marathon closures.
The tunnel bus (The Linq)
Transit Windsor’s Tunnel Bus ended its regular service in August 2025. Since October 2025 a locally owned private company, The Linq, has run the bus through the Tunnel. As posted on its website on October 10, 2026:
| Board in Windsor | Bruce Avenue at Riverside Drive West (the only Windsor boarding stop) |
|---|---|
| Detroit stops | Washington Boulevard at the Jefferson service road; Cass Avenue at Michigan Avenue; Tunnel Plaza at Mariners’ Church (pickup only, for the trip back) |
| Back in Windsor | Drop-offs at McDougall Street and University Avenue East, and at Bruce Avenue and Riverside Drive West |
| Departures from Bruce Avenue | Every 2 hours: Monday to Thursday 7 AM–9 PM; Friday and Saturday 7 AM–11 PM; Sunday 9 AM–7 PM |
| Timing after departure | Washington about 21 minutes, Cass 29, Mariners’ Church 40, McDougall 50, back at Bruce 54. Customs delays are extra, and the bus cannot wait at Tunnel Plaza. |
| Fare | $17.50 CAD one way, regular or event bus. Debit or credit on board; no booking needed for regular service. |
| Bags | One carry-on and one personal item free; checked bags $5 each |
| ID | Passport, NEXUS card, or enhanced driver’s licence or ID |
Games and concerts: The Linq runs event buses: Route A to Comerica Park and Ford Field, Route B to Little Caesars Arena, the Fox Theatre and The Fillmore. After a game the bus leaves 45 minutes after the final whistle; after a concert the return time is posted on the bus. Upcoming home games are on our game-day page, and the Tunnel line is on the Tunnel page. The Linq does not publish a bike policy, so check before bringing one.
Walking or biking across the Gordie Howe Bridge
The Gordie Howe International Bridge opened to cars on July 27, 2026, and its multi-use path opened to walkers and cyclists in August. It is the only way to cross between Windsor and Detroit on foot or by bike, and it is free.
| Hours | April 1 to October 31: 8 AM–8 PM. November 1 to March 31: 8 AM–4 PM. Access ends one hour before closing and the gates are locked. |
|---|---|
| Windsor entrance | 4389 Sandwich Street |
| Detroit entrance | 6524 W. Jefferson Avenue, across from Historic Fort Wayne |
| Parking | None at either entrance. The bridge authority suggests the Malden Park trailhead in Windsor and Clark Park in Detroit. Both entrances are rideshare drop-off points. |
| Distance and time | 2.5 km (1.5 mi) over the bridge, 3 km (1.8 mi) between the inspection booths: about 45 minutes walking or 20 minutes cycling, plus customs. About a 5% grade, no benches; bring water. |
| Allowed | Walking and running; bicycles, including cargo and folding bikes; pedal-assist e-bikes with no throttle (assist cuts out at 32 km/h); mobility devices |
| Not allowed | Throttle e-bikes, e-scooters, e-skateboards, Segways, hoverboards, one-wheels, skateboards, roller or inline skates, and pets (leashed service animals are allowed) |
| Rules | 20 km/h speed limit; pedestrians have the right of way |
| Customs | A pedestrian and cyclist inspection building at each end: CBP entering the U.S., CBSA entering Canada. Inspection is required even if you turn back partway. |
| Groups | 20 or more people: call the bridge authority first at 1-844-322-1773 |
Path rules and closures for weather are announced by the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority. Pedal-assist e-bikes have been allowed since mid-September 2026; before that, e-bikes were banned.
Can you walk across the Ambassador Bridge or through the Tunnel?
No. The Detroit–Windsor Tunnel prohibits pedestrians and bicycles, and the Ambassador Bridge has no pedestrian or bike access. To cross downtown to downtown without a car, take the tunnel bus; to walk or cycle, use the Gordie Howe Bridge.
Taxis, Uber and Lyft
Lyft says it does not support crossing international borders. Uber publishes no cross-border policy for Windsor–Detroit, so do not rely on a driver being able to take you across. In Windsor, Vets Cab books cross-border trips by phone through its dispatch (519-256-2621); its app quotes do not include border fees or tolls. Rideshare can drop you at either end of the Gordie Howe Bridge path to walk across.
Windsor to Detroit Metro Airport (DTW)
- Shuttle: Robert Q runs an airport bus with a Windsor pickup at the Holiday Inn & Suites near the Ambassador Bridge on Huron Church Road and a stop at DTW. Private Windsor shuttle companies also run DTW trips, priced on request.
- Transit: take The Linq to downtown Detroit, then the DAX airport bus from near 1119 Washington Boulevard. DAX serves both terminals, about 16 trips a day between 3:30 AM and 11 PM, for $6 online or $8 at the door. SMART’s FAST Michigan route also serves both terminals.
- Driving: the Gordie Howe Bridge is the most direct crossing for the airport.
Intercity bus, train and ferry
FlixBus/Greyhound runs about four trips a day from the Windsor International Transit Centre (300 Chatham Street West; board at the FlixBus sign on the west curb of Goyeau Street) to the Detroit bus station at 1001 Howard Street; fares vary, so check FlixBus. There is no cross-border passenger train: VIA Rail stops in Windsor and Amtrak in Detroit, but no service connects them. There is no passenger ferry.
Common questions
Is there a bus from Windsor to Detroit?
Yes. The Linq tunnel bus runs between downtown Windsor and downtown Detroit through the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel every two hours, for $17.50 CAD one way. FlixBus/Greyhound also runs about four trips a day between the Windsor International Transit Centre and the Detroit bus station.
Is the Windsor tunnel bus still running?
Yes, under a new operator. Transit Windsor’s Tunnel Bus ended its regular service in August 2025, and a private company, The Linq, has run the tunnel bus since October 2025.
How much is the tunnel bus?
The Linq charges $17.50 CAD one way, for regular and special-event buses, paid on board by debit or credit card. One carry-on and one personal item ride free; checked bags are $5 each.
Can you walk from Windsor to Detroit?
Yes, but only over the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which has a free multi-use path for pedestrians and cyclists. You cannot walk or bike across the Ambassador Bridge or through the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel.
What are the Gordie Howe Bridge walking path hours?
8 AM to 8 PM from April 1 to October 31, and 8 AM to 4 PM from November 1 to March 31. Access ends one hour before closing and the gates are locked.
Can I take an e-bike or my dog across the Gordie Howe Bridge?
Pedal-assist e-bikes without a throttle are allowed. Pets are not, except leashed service animals. E-scooters, throttle e-bikes, skateboards and skates are also banned.
Can Uber or Lyft take me across the border?
Lyft says it does not support trips across international borders. Uber does not publish a cross-border policy for Windsor-Detroit, so do not count on it. Vets Cab in Windsor books cross-border trips by phone through its dispatch.
How do I get from Windsor to Detroit Metro Airport without a car?
Book an airport shuttle such as Robert Q, which picks up in Windsor and stops at DTW, or take The Linq to downtown Detroit and transfer to the DAX airport bus, which serves both terminals.
Official sources
- The Linq Tunnel Bus: routes, schedules and fares
- Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority: Gordie Howe Bridge multi-use path
- Detroit–Windsor Tunnel FAQs
- Lyft Help: international borders
This guide is independent and not affiliated with any transit or bridge operator. Schedules, fares and rules change; confirm with the operator before you go. Spot something out of date? Tell us.