Grass Roots, Revered Pavement, World Stage
Did you know that the Woodward Dream Cruise actually started as a small fundraiser to raise money for a soccer field in Ferndale, Michigan?In August 1995, Nelson House and a group of volunteers looked to relive and recreate the nostalgic heydays of the 50s and 60s, when youth, music and Motor City steel roamed Woodward Avenue, America’s first highway. That year, 250,000 people participated—nearly ten times the number expected. The rest, as they say, is history.
Drivin’ from Drive-In to Drive-In
Today, the Woodward Dream Cruise is the world’s largest one-day automotive event, drawing over 1 million people and 40,000 classic cars each year from around the globe—from as far away as Australia and Japan. Cruisers from all across North America, including Canada and Mexico, caravan to Metro Detroit to participate in what has become, for many, an annual rite of summer.Ted’s, Totem Pole and The Varsity, Hollywood, Wigwam and Suzie Q’s, and, of course, Big Boy. These old-time drive-ins and restaurants that dotted Woodward Avenue were the places to see and be seen during an era remembered perhaps most famously by Hollywood in American Graffiti and Happy Days. These locations were the turnarounds, stopping points, and social hangouts for the cruisers of the era.
Directions & Parking
Woodward Dream Cruise Parking: The official Woodward Avenue Dream Cruise route is a 16-mile radius, running through nine participating municipalities (Berkley, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township, Ferndale, Huntington Woods, Royal Oak, Pleasant Ridge, Pontiac) in the County of Oakland, located in southeast Michigan (metropolitan Detroit area).
Click here for Woodward Dream Cruise Events and Route Map
The following information is provided to better assist you with finding parking accommodations.
Municipal Parking Locations
City of Birmingham: All activities are within walking distance of the city’s downtown parking decks.
City of Ferndale: The municipal parking lots are surrounding downtown Ferndale, near Woodward Avenue & Nine Mile Rd.
City of Pontiac: Municipal parking lots and parking structures are located in surrounding downtown Pontiac.
City of Royal Oak: Guest parking is available at municipal parking lots and within walking distance from Woodward.
- Royal Oak Golf Center: Corner of Coolidge and West 13 Mile Rd.
- Gunn Dyer Park: South of Normandy between Coolidge and Woodward.
- Upton Park: South of West 14 mile Rd and Coolidge.
Woodward Dream Cruise Parking Information: A helpful source for parking locations during the Woodward Dream Cruise, including other events, links, and more.
Smart Shuttle Service
Join us on Saturday, August 17, 2024, for a stress-free ride to the Woodward Dream Cruise with SMART-WDC’s Free Shuttle Bus Service! Enjoy the iconic event from a SMART perspective as you travel in comfort on our air-conditioned buses. Forget the hassle of parking, gas, and driving – we’ve got it all covered!
Accessibility and Convenience: All our shuttles are wheelchair accessible and equipped with bike racks, ensuring everyone can join in the fun.
Experience the Woodward Dream Cruise with SMART and cruise through the nine communities along the 16-mile stretch of Woodward Avenue in style and comfort!
Cruise in Shoes
The annual Cruise In Shoes 5K Fun Run/Walk, is on Saturday, August 17, 2024, the morning of the Woodward Dream Cruise.
Cruise In Shoes will begin at 7:30 am on Yorba Linda Blvd, continue with a rare opportunity to run on historic Woodward Avenue, wind through several Royal Oak neighborhood streets, and finish at Shrine High School.
To participate in Cruise In Shoes, please pre-register online at www.CruiseinShoes.com/registration or sign up on the day of the event at Royal Oak Shrine High School.
Online Store
COMING SOON!! The 2024 Official Woodward Dream Cruise Merchandise!!
To purchase official merchandise online: Click here!
We will have multiple tent stations from Ferndale to Pontiac for purchasing official Woodward Dream Cruise merchandise, before, during, and after the event:
- Ferndale City Hall, 300 East 9 Mile Rd, Downtown Ferndale. (JULY and AUGUST: Mon – Thurs, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm)
- Nine Mile Rd, east of Woodward Avenue, Ferndale. (August 16 & 17)
- Pleasant Ridge City Hall, 23925 Woodward Ave, west of Woodward, south of I-696. (August 17)
- Corner of West 12 Mile Rd @ Woodward, Berkley. (August 16 & 17)
- Westborn Market – 27659 Woodward Ave, Berkley. (August 17)
- Zoe’s Restaurant – 25994 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak. (August 16 & 17)
- Sherwin Williams – 27958 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak. (August 16 & 17)
- CVS Pharmacy, 30900 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak. (August 16 & 17)
- Gus’s World Famous Hot & Spicy Fried Chicken, 31105 Woodward Ave, Royal Oak (August 16 & 17)
- Kinkos – 33100 Woodward Ave, Birmingham. (August 17)
- West Maple Mile Rd, north corner of Woodward, 35075 Woodward Ave, Birmingham. (August 16, 17 & 18)
- Birmingham Cruise, Downtown Birmingham, Old Woodward Avenue – multi-locations (August 17)
The above list is subject to change without notice.
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