Detroit Metro Opens New Cell Phone Lot to Ease Curbs
The new lot at Rogell and Burton drives replaces the existing lot off East Service Drive and opens later this month.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Air Travel
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Detroit Metro Airport will open a new cell phone lot at Rogell Drive and Burton Drive later this month, replacing the current lot off the east Service Drive. The new lot has around 145 parking spaces and sits near the end of the North Terminal, close to I-94.
Why it matters
The lot is intended to improve the customer experience and reduce congestion at the curb, creating a safer environment for people moving through the airport. Airport officials expect greater use of the North Cell Phone Lot for those waiting to pick up passengers.
The new lot provides roughly 145 parking spaces at Rogell Drive and Burton Drive. The South Cell Phone lot near Eureka and Wayne roads will not change, and the replaced lot's capacity was not stated.
The players
Detroit Metro Airport
Detroit Metro Airport is the major commercial airport serving the Detroit metropolitan area, operated by the Wayne County Airport Authority.
The details
Drivers will no longer need to park near the I-94 exit and use the turnaround to reach the Arrivals curb. Officers will keep traffic flowing and curbside space available under a zero-tolerance approach to parking in front of both terminals once North Lot construction is complete.
Timeline
Later this month (November 2026): New cell phone lot opens at Rogell and Burton Drive.
After North Lot construction is complete: Zero-tolerance parking enforcement begins at both terminals.
Travel Outlook
Airports across the country have increasingly relied on dedicated cell phone lots to separate waiting pickup vehicles from terminal curbs as ride-hailing and private pickups grew. Detroit Metro's new lot follows that pattern by relocating the waiting area closer to the North Terminal and I-94 access.
Travelers picking up passengers at Detroit Metro should use the new Rogell and Burton lot rather than waiting near the I-94 exit turnaround. Drivers should expect no parking in front of either terminal after North Lot construction finishes.
The takeaway
Picking up a passenger at Detroit Metro will be easier if you head to the new Rogell and Burton lot instead of circling the terminal. Plan around the zero-tolerance rule so you are not caught parking curbside once construction ends.
What happens next
Zero-tolerance parking enforcement at both terminals begins once North Lot construction is complete.
Further reading
For more on how airports manage departures and arrivals, see our Air Travel coverage.
Live Poll
Do you think the airport's new pickup lot will make pickups easier in your area?
