Transportation

Getting to and from the airport

The airport is located 9 miles (14.5 km) northeast of downtown Portland and is conveniently connected to the city center via MAX light rail train.

Light rail

The MAX light rail Red Line is the easiest way to travel to and from the airport. Here are some quick facts:

• The trip between the airport and downtown Portland takes about 38 minutes.
• An adult ticket costs $2.50 (Youth $1.25, Honored Citizen $1). MAX ticket machines return change in coins, so small bills are recommended.
• You can roll your luggage on board.
• The first train of the day arrives at PDX at 4:45 a.m. The last train departs PDX at 11:50 p.m.
• The MAX station and ticket machines are located on the lower level, next to the south baggage claim area (turn right at the base of the escalator). View airport map.

For complete schedules and more information, visit www.trimet.org/schedules/maxredline.htm.

How to ride MAX

1. You must have a validated ticket, bus transfer receipt or pass before boarding MAX. Ticket machines and validators are located at the station. There are no fare boxes onboard MAX. Before boarding, buy your ticket from a ticket machine or with the mobile ticketing app — or validate your previously purchased ticket in the validator located near the ticket machine. A validated ticket is your proof of payment, good for two hours on MAX, busses and the Portland Streetcar. (Full-day tickets are also available.) Keep your ticket until you have completed your trip. Note: MAX ticket machines return change in coins, so small bills are recommended. If you have a TriMet pass or bus transfer receipt, just board MAX and have a seat. (Check the expiration time at the top of your transfer; you may board until that time.)
2. Signs at the station indicate where to wait and when the next train is due. Signs on the front of each train identify the line (Blue, Green, Red or Yellow) and destination.
3. MAX stops at every station, so you don’t need to signal the operator to get on or off. The station name is announced before each stop and appears on a reader board overhead.

Taxicabs

The average taxi fare from the airport to downtown is approximately $35 before gratuity. Radio Cab offers a discount with coupons available on their website. The one-way trip takes 20-40 minutes. You can find taxis waiting in the center section of the airport terminal’s lower roadway outside of baggage claim; to get back to the airport from the city center, you can order a cab through the city’s main operators or from a hotel with a dedicated taxi stand.

Shuttles

The Downtown Airport Express by Blue Star runs every 30 minutes and costs $14 one-way and $24 round-trip to downtown and Lloyd Center/Convention Center hotels. Other shuttle services are available, and many airport hotels provide free shuttles. When leaving the airport, you can find the Downtown Airport Express and other hotel shuttle buses on the terminal’s lower roadway (outside of baggage claim) on the far side of Island #2, closer to the parking garage.