More than 40,000 classic cars will cruise 16 miles of Woodward Avenue on Saturday, Aug. 15, and Rochester Hills residents can reach the nearest viewing spots in neighboring Bloomfield Hills and Bloomfield Township.
The 31st annual Woodward Dream Cruise, billed as the world's largest one-day celebration of classic car culture, runs from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. through nine Oakland County communities stretching from Ferndale in the south to downtown Pontiac in the north. Admission is free.
Oakland County Government announced the event on X, directing residents to woodwarddreamcruise.com for route maps and transit details.
How to get there
The official route does not pass through Rochester Hills, but Bloomfield Hills and Bloomfield Township sit at the northern end of the cruise corridor. Municipal parking is available in Birmingham's downtown parking decks, Royal Oak's municipal lots and Pontiac's downtown structures.
Drivers who aren't cruising should avoid Woodward entirely. The Detroit Free Press recommends Coolidge Highway, Telegraph Road, the Chrysler Freeway or the Lodge Freeway as alternates.
SMART offers a free shuttle bus along the entire route from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday. Riders can board at any red SMART or FAST bus stop on Woodward between Ferndale and Pontiac. Buses are air-conditioned, wheelchair accessible and equipped with bike racks. The shuttle stops two hours before the event ends at 9 p.m., so late-evening spectators will need their own ride home.
What to bring
Spectator guides recommend folding chairs or a blanket, water and snacks, sunscreen, comfortable walking shoes and hearing protection for children. Engines get loud. Bring cash for food vendors.
Saturday highlights along the route
The event schedule includes:
- Birmingham Cruise Event: 9 a.m.–5 p.m. on South Old Woodward from Maple to Lincoln, with classic car displays, sponsor exhibits and food vendors.
- Mustang Alley and Bronco Corral (Ferndale): 10 a.m.–6 p.m., with Ford showcasing the all-new Bronco Filson SUV.
- Royal Oak Car Show in the Park: 10 a.m.–7 p.m. at Memorial Park, with vendors and a food court.
- WXYZ-TV Channel 7: Live broadcast all day, plus a Dream Cruise TV special at 7 p.m.
The event is alcohol-free and family-oriented, with police from each community patrolling on foot, horseback and by vehicle.
A little history
Nelson House and a group of Ferndale volunteers launched the first Dream Cruise in August 1995 as a fundraiser to build a soccer field. They expected about 25,000 people. Nearly 250,000 showed up. Three decades later, the event draws close to one million spectators and vehicles from every era and brand, including customs, one-offs and TV and movie cars.
