Sleeping in Detroit Airport
Overview
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport is open 24 hours, and travellers do sleep here during long layovers, overnight connections and early-morning departures. McNamara Terminal generally offers the better overnight options, with a few quieter corners and occasional armrest-free seating, while Evans Terminal can be more challenging due to limited comfortable seating and an overnight security checkpoint closure. Across both terminals, cold temperatures, hard surfaces, bright lighting and noise are the most common sleep complaints.
I got a solid ninety minute nap in. SO grateful!” – Traveller review, September 2024
Can You Sleep in Detroit Airport Overnight?
Yes. Traveller reviews describe overnight stays in both terminals, including repeat stays during 2025.
McNamara Terminal is the easier option if you need to remain airside overnight. At least one McNamara security checkpoint operates 24 hours a day, although individual checkpoints may close.
In Evans Terminal, the security checkpoint generally closes from 10:45 PM to 2:45 AM, with hours occasionally adjusted for late-night flights. If you are already airside, recent traveller experience suggests overnight stays are possible, but if you leave the secure area during the closure, you will need to wait until screening reopens before returning airside.
Comfort is another matter. Most seating has armrests, and several travellers describe DTW as cold overnight. If you expect to sleep on the floor, bring something padded to lie on as well as an extra layer or blanket.
Sleepability Verdict
Sleepability: Tolerable
You can get some sleep at Detroit Airport, particularly if you are already airside in McNamara and know where to look. There are a handful of quieter or more comfortable spots, but widespread armrests, cold temperatures, hard floors and overnight noise make DTW better suited to a few hours of rest than a genuinely comfortable night.
Traveller Reality Check
Based on recent Sleeping in Airports traveller reviews, these are the most frequently reported advantages and drawbacks of sleeping at Detroit Airport.
Sleep Advantages
- Airport open 24 hours
- Some quieter airside areas
- A few armrest-free options
- Carpeted areas available
- 24-hour McNamara security access
Sleep Drawbacks
- Armrests on most seating
- Cold overnight temperatures
- Hard floors
- Bright areas overnight
- Music and announcements
- Evans security closes overnight
Best Places to Sleep
A frequent airport sleeper who stayed at DTW multiple times in 2025 recommends the C1-C7 area as one of the better overnight options. Passenger traffic can be sparse because these gates are not always heavily used, and music and announcements were described as quieter here than in busier parts of the terminal.
Noise: Quieter than busier gate areas
Temperature: Can become cold near the floor
McNamara Terminal, Airside, Concourse A, between Gates A69-A71
A December 2025 traveller found narrow padded benches here that could be used for lying down. This was one of the few areas they found without the armrests that dominate much of McNamara’s seating.
Seating: Narrow padded benches without armrests
Noise: Airport noise can make sleeping difficult
McNamara Terminal, Airside, Concourse A, near Gate A38
Travellers looking for a daytime nap may have better luck around the piano area near A38. A September 2024 traveller found movable cushioned chairs and sofas without fixed armrests and was able to arrange the seating for a comfortable 90-minute nap. The piano may occasionally be played, so this is not necessarily a quiet spot.
Seating: Movable cushioned chairs and sofas
Noise: Piano and terminal activity possible
Temperature: Reported as comfortable
The airport maintains an official Reflection Room near D17. A frequent 2025 traveller found it useful for overnight rest because its doors reduce terminal music and announcements and the room was rarely busy.
Keep in mind that this is a reflection and prayer space, not a designated sleeping room. Be respectful of travellers using it for its intended purpose.
Seating: Limited, with a hard bench reported in earlier reviews
Noise: Quieter than surrounding gate areas
Lighting: More subdued than the main terminal
Evans Terminal, Landside, Baggage Claim
If you arrive after security has closed or need to wait landside for an early flight, baggage claim is one of the more practical places to settle.
A 2023 traveller found the carpeted area behind the information centre quieter and darker than the upper level, particularly after baggage activity slowed. A 2024 traveller also stayed near baggage claim before an early flight but found the area bright, cold and uncomfortable.
Seating: Individual seats rather than sleep-friendly benches
Noise: Quieter once baggage activity subsides
Lighting: Some brighter areas, with darker corners reported
Temperature: Can be cold
A Note About Older DTW Sleep Spots
Be cautious with older tips recommending couches around the B gates. Travellers in 2024 reported that the former couches around B18 and B21 had been removed or replaced with less sleep-friendly seating.
Airport Sleeper Essentials
Cots
Unfortunately, DTW no longer provides cots as a standard practice for overnight strandings. During significant delays or cancellations (e.g., weather events), blankets and pillows may be offered upon request at airline desks, though availability is inconsistent. If this has changed, click here to update the guide.
Food Available Overnight
In McNamara Terminal, Corktown Place operates 24 hours a day and sells snacks, drinks, grab-and-go food and travel essentials.
Overnight options elsewhere in the airport are more limited. If you are staying in Evans Terminal or settling into a quiet area away from the main concessions, buy food and drinks before restaurants close rather than assuming something will be available near your sleeping spot.
Luggage Storage
Detroit Airport does not provide luggage lockers or storage facilities. If you are sleeping in the terminal, keep your bags secured and valuables close to you.
Showers
There are no public shower facilities listed in the passenger terminals. The Westin Detroit Metropolitan Airport, connected to McNamara Terminal, offers a fitness package that includes access to a shower. Contact the hotel for current availability and pricing. For a full list of lounge locations, access requirements and current operating hours, see our Detroit Airport Guide.
Airport Lounges with Sleep Facilities
DTW has several airline lounges, including Delta Sky Clubs in McNamara Terminal and a Lufthansa lounge in Evans Terminal, but they are not confirmed as offering dedicated nap rooms or sleep pods.
For a full list of lounge locations, access requirements and current operating hours, see our Detroit Airport Guide.
Airport Hotels, Sleep Pods & Cabins
If sleeping in the terminal doesn’t sound appealing, the Westin Detroit Metropolitan Airport is the most convenient option. The hotel is directly connected to McNamara Terminal, so you do not need an outdoor transfer to reach it.
- Westin Detroit Metropolitan Airport – Connected to McNamara Terminal, landside.
There are also several hotels near the airport offering courtesy shuttle service. Hotel shuttles operate from the Ground Transportation Centers, so check pickup arrangements directly with your hotel before leaving the terminal. See a list of nearby hotels in our Detroit Airport Guide.
Safety & Security
Several recent travellers who slept or rested at DTW said they felt safe, including travellers using both airside and landside areas. However, petty theft incidents in the crowded landside area of the McNamara Terminal have been reported in the past. Sleeping in any airport can include a certain level of risk, especially when travelling alone. It’s important to take certain precautions to ensure your safety and the security of your valuables. Keep your passport, wallet, phone and other valuables secured against your body or inside a bag you are physically connected to while sleeping. Avoid leaving electronics charging unattended.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Quick Note
Airport conditions change regularly. This guide is based on airport information and traveller reviews, but seating, terminal access, operating hours, security procedures and sleeping conditions can change. Use this guide as a starting point and be prepared for conditions to differ when you arrive.
Help Keep This Guide Current
Have you slept at Detroit Airport recently? Tell us where you slept, what the seating was like, whether you stayed airside or landside, and anything else future travellers should know. Your review helps us keep this guide current.