Security lines
LYVR shows live security wait times for each checkpoint, grouped by terminal, refreshed every couple of minutes.
Detroit Metro Wayne County Airport
Lounges, security and customs waits, and what a connection at DTW actually involves. LYVR plans the whole layover, with real walk times on the indoor map.
Updated October 2026 · Sources
Yes, if you're arriving from another country. Every international arrival at DTW clears passport control and customs, collects and rechecks checked bags, and goes back through TSA security before a connecting flight, even a domestic one. The exception is a flight that was precleared before departure, such as from Canada, Ireland or Abu Dhabi. Domestic-to-domestic connections stay airside.
Open the Airports tab in LYVR and pick DTW.
LYVR shows live security wait times for each checkpoint, grouped by terminal, refreshed every couple of minutes.
LYVR shows the average customs wait for the current hour over the latest week, for US citizens and visitors, from US Customs and Border Protection's own data. LYVR only shows the checks your connection actually crosses.
Every checkpoint on your connection becomes a step in the layover plan, so the time to spare already allows for the lines.
0 open with a credit card, 1 with Priority Pass or DragonPass, 2 with airline elite status. Rules and hours change, so check with the lounge before you go.
Priority Pass venues that aren't lounges. LYVR's Explore tab adds every restaurant, bar and shop near your gate, with walk times.
| Venue | Type | Where | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minute Suites | Sleep suites | McNamara Terminal, near gate A66 | 24 hrs daily |
| Be Relax Spa | Spa | McNamara Terminal, near gate A46 | Daily 7am-9pm |
Save your flights and LYVR finds the connection at DTW on its own, then times every part of it.
Deplaning, every walk on the indoor map, the checkpoints your connection passes and when the doors close. What's left is yours to plan.

Add your cards and memberships once. Every lounge at DTW shows whether you're in.

Around walls, up escalators, onto the train between terminals and through security on the way.

Getting out, the ride each way, security on the way back and a cushion, checked against your passport. Then a day, planned.

Yes, if you're arriving from another country. Every international arrival at DTW clears passport control and customs, collects and rechecks checked bags, and goes back through TSA security before a connecting flight, even a domestic one. The exception is a flight that was precleared before departure, such as from Canada, Ireland or Abu Dhabi. Domestic-to-domestic connections stay airside.
LYVR shows live security wait times for each checkpoint, grouped by terminal, refreshed every couple of minutes.
LYVR shows the average customs wait for the current hour over the latest week, for US citizens and visitors, from US Customs and Border Protection's own data.
LYVR lists 2 lounges at DTW, 1 of them on Priority Pass. Which ones you can get into depends on your ticket, airline status, credit card or a lounge membership. Each lounge on this page lists what gets you in, and LYVR checks it against your own profile.
Yes, at 2 lounges: Lufthansa Business Lounge (Lufthansa Frequent Traveller and up, Star Alliance Gold); Delta Sky Club (SkyTeam Elite Plus). Status entry needs a same-day departing flight on that airline or its alliance, and some tiers only count on international flights.
It depends on your terminals, whether you re-clear security or customs, and how far the gates are apart. LYVR adds up deplaning, every walk on the indoor map, any checkpoints your connection passes and the boarding door time, then shows exactly how much time you have to spare.
For a domestic connection on one ticket, usually yes. Arriving at DTW from another country, no: you clear passport control and customs, collect and recheck checked bags and go back through TSA security, so plan on 2.5 to 3 hours, unless your flight was precleared before departure. If a delay makes you miss a connection on one ticket, the airline rebooks you. LYVR works out your exact time to spare for your own two gates.
With an hour or two, eat near your gate and walk the terminal. With more, DTW's 2 lounges (1 on Priority Pass) have quiet seats, food and often showers, and there are sleep suites and spas you can use with Priority Pass. LYVR's Explore tab lists every restaurant, bar and shop near your gate with the walk time, so you only see what fits in your layover.
Yes, if you have time. Arriving from abroad, you've already cleared US immigration and customs at DTW, so leaving only adds the trip into Detroit and back and TSA security on the return. As a rule of thumb, it's worth it with about 4 hours on a domestic layover and 6 on an international one. LYVR checks the ride each way and how much time you'd really have in Detroit.
Free, in your browser. LYVR finds the layover, times every walk and fills the gap.
Plan my layover →Lounges from Priority Pass's and DragonPass's directories, the card networks' lounge lists (American Express, Capital One, Chase, Mastercard), each operator's own booking or waitlist page, and the Wikivoyage article on Detroit Metro Wayne County Airport (CC BY-SA). Who gets in is worked out with the same rules the LYVR app uses for your saved cards, memberships and airline status. Wait times come from the airport's or TSA's own data, US Customs and Border Protection. Terminal times are LYVR's curated estimates. Compiled October 2026; details change, so confirm with the airport, airline or lounge before you travel. LYVR isn't affiliated with Detroit Metro Wayne County Airport.