Plan Your Visit

FAQs

Health & Safety

These guidelines are subject to change.

• What is the Ford Rouge Factory Tour?
• When is the Ford Rouge Factory Tour open?
• What guest safety protocols are in place when visiting the Factory Tour?
• Are there reduced capacities for the Factory Tour?
• Is The Henry Ford enforcing staff safety procedures at the Ford Rouge Factory Tour?
• Can I drive directly to the Rouge in my own vehicle?
• How early should I arrive at the bus stop?
• Is photography permitted on the tour?
• Are there restaurants at the Ford Rouge Factory Tour?
• Do you need a Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation admission ticket to visit the Ford Rouge Factory Tour?
• How long does it take to see all of the attractions at the Ford Rouge Factory Tour?
• Do you need advance reservations for the Ford Rouge Factory Tour? 
• What do I need to know about accessibility at the Ford Rouge Factory Tour?
• Will I see production on the tour?
• What will I see when final assembly is in production?

What is the Ford Rouge Factory Tour?

The Ford Rouge Factory Tour puts you in the center of one of America's most famous manufacturing complexes.

Your experience includes five stations:

• Legacy Theater, a film experience about the fascinating history of the Ford Rouge complex.
• Manufacturing Innovation Theater, a multisensory film experience about the making of the Ford F-150 pickup.
• Observation Deck Tour, where you can see sustainability in action, including one of the world’s largest living roofs.
• Assembly Walking Plant Tour, which takes you along an elevated walkway to view the final assembly of the F-150.
• Legacy Gallery, which showcases some of the most famous cars manufactured at the Ford Rouge complex, including the historic Ford Model A and Ford Mustang.

When is the Ford Rouge Factory Tour open?

The tour operates Monday-Saturday, 9:20 a.m.-5 p.m.

Tour buses depart from Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation to the Ford Rouge Factory Tour Visitor Center every 20 minutes, 9:20 a.m.-3 p.m. The last bus returns to the museum at 5 p.m.

All guests are required to purchase a timed ticket. See Non-Production Dates.

What guest safety protocols are in place when visiting the Factory Tour?

All guests are required to take a short health screening questionnaire before boarding the bus. On the bus, all guests regardless of their vaccination status are required to wear a mask and maintain social distancing of 6 feet or more between your party and other guests. All unvaccinated guests age 2 and older are required to wear a mask and maintain social distancing of 6 feet or more while in the Ford Rouge Factory Tour Visitor Center and Dearborn Truck Plant.

GENERAL MASK POLICIES

All face masks (whether disposable or reusable) must be made with at least two layers of breathable material, fully cover the nose and mouth and secure/extend under the chin, fit snugly against the side of the face and be worn affixed by ties or straps around the head or behind the ears. Anything other than a traditional face mask worn as described above will not be accepted.* Due to stringent safety guidelines upheld on the factory floor by Ford Motor Company, accommodations inside the plant itself are not possible.

Modified rain gear, hats or masks with flexible clear coverings and/or homemade face shields will not be accepted as a substitution for a face mask. (Wearing face shields and face masks together is permitted.)

*The Henry Ford is committed to accessibility for all guests and remains in compliance with the ADA in the use of face masks. If you or a member of your household has a medical condition or disability that prevents you from wearing a face covering, reasonable accommodations will be made for you. Please email us at accessibility@thehenryford.org in advance of your visit to receive more information.

Are there reduced capacities for the Factory Tour?

Yes, capacity is limited to a maximum of 30 guests for every tour.

Is The Henry Ford enforcing staff safety procedures at the Ford Rouge Factory Tour?

Yes, all staff members of The Henry Ford are required to complete mandatory health screenings before arriving on-site for each shift. Staff who do not pass their screening will not be permitted entry until they are declared fit to work by a licensed medical professional.

All unvaccinated staff are required to wear a face mask, covering their nose and mouth, for the duration of their shift, while also maintaining a social distance of 6 feet or more between guests and other staff.

For more information, view our Return-to-Work Guide for our full COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan.

Can I drive directly to the Rouge in my own vehicle?

No, all guests are required to take a tour bus from Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation.

How early should I arrive at the bus stop?

We recommend arriving at the loading area 5-10 minutes before the scheduled departure.

All Factory Tour buses depart from the circle drive in front of Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation at the time stated on your admission ticket. To ensure that social distancing is kept, all guests will be boarded by a member of The Henry Ford's Guest Services staff.

Is photography permitted on the tour?

Photography and video recording are strictly prohibited in both theaters and the Dearborn Truck Plant. However, photography is permitted in the Legacy Gallery and on the Observation Deck.

Are there restaurants at the Ford Rouge Factory Tour?

There are a few beverage and snack vending machines but no full-scale restaurants. However, guests are encouraged to dine at Plum Market Kitchen at Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation before or after their visit to the Factory Tour.

Do you need a Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation admission ticket to visit the Ford Rouge Factory Tour?

Museum admission is not required to visit the Ford Rouge Factory Tour. However, all Ford Rouge Factory Tour tickets must either be purchased or verified in the museum's Welcome Center. All Factory Tour buses depart from the circle drive in front of Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation at the time stated on your admission ticket.

How long does it take to see all of the attractions at the Ford Rouge Factory Tour?

We recommend a minimum of 90 minutes to visit the Factory Tour.

We also recommend accounting for the time it takes to travel to and from the tour when planning your visit. We suggest that you plan for 30 minutes of total travel time.

Do you need advance reservations for the Ford Rouge Factory Tour?

Because capacity is limited, timed tickets are required. In addition, we highly recommend purchasing advance tickets on our website or by calling our Contact Center at 313.982.6001.

What do I need to know about accessibility at the Ford Rouge Factory Tour?

Visit The Henry Ford's accessibility page to find answers to common questions about accessibility at the Factory Tour.

Will I see production on the tour?

Production varies by vehicle demand, so you may be touring the Dearborn Truck Plant when Ford is not building vehicles. Production hours are inconsistent, and The Henry Ford does not control when trucks are being produced.

While we cannot guarantee that you will see the assembly line in full operation, you will still be able to visit the assembly area when it is temporarily suspended.

Vehicles are not built during daily breaks, shift changes, holidays and the first two weeks of July.

Either way, the tour offers unique experiences, with full walking access above the assembly area. See the Dearborn Truck Plant non-production dates and Ford Rouge Factory Tour closure dates. (Please remember that the assembly area is only one part of this five-part tour; all other parts are unaffected by vehicle production. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.)

What will I see when final assembly is in production?

You will encounter a multisensory experience with heat and noise at more extreme levels as F-150s are in final assembly below you.