Portland Airport Transportation
All the information featured on this page was compiled and written by David Enrich, a renowned expert in aviation and airport guides since 1999.
Portland International Airport (PDX) offers several ground transportation options that cover different budgets and travel styles. Below is an overview of each mode plus a comparative table for the most typical trips.
Buses and shuttles
From PDX you can use shared airport shuttles, regional buses, and many hotel shuttles. Shared shuttles usually operate between the airport and downtown Portland, nearby suburbs, or cities such as Vancouver (WA), Beaverton, or Salem, with pick‑up zones signed in the ground‑transportation area on the arrivals level. Typical prices range roughly from 20–40 USD per person for shared rides to downtown or close‑in suburbs, and 30–60+ USD for longer regional routes, often with several intermediate stops.
- Shared shuttles are economical for solo travelers but can take significantly longer due to multiple stops.
Scheduled buses and vans
- Caravan Airport Transportation: +1 541 994 9645
- Central Oregon Breeze: +1 800 847 0157
- Groome Transportation (OES): +1 877.693.3785
Courtesy Shuttles
- Boutique Air: +1 415 314 5439
- Manheim Portland/Auto Auction: +1 503 286 3000
Charter Buses
- Ambassador Transportation: +1 503 422 1982
- Be So Lucky Tours: +1 503 254 0010
- Blue Star Charters & Tours: +1 503 249 1837
- Busliner LLC: +1 425 346 5332
- EcoShuttle: +1 503 200 4753
- Harlow’s Trailways: +1 253 736 6552
- JMI Limousine, Inc.: +1 503 643 6404
- Mid-Columbia Charters: +1 541 276 5621
- MTR Western: +1 503 473 8656
- NW Bus Tours: +1 360 241 1353
- NW Navigator LLC :+1 503 285 3000
- National Luxury Coach LLC: +1 503.336.1196
- Oregon Tour Experts, LLC: +1 503 896 2464
- Valley Retriever Buslines: +1 541 265 2253
- Viewpoint Coachlines, LLC: +1 503 703 6523
- VIP PDX: +1 503 348 3233
Taxis, ride‑hailing, and private transfers
Taxis queue outside the baggage‑claim (lower) level on marked islands; you just follow the “Ground Transportation” and “Taxi” signs after exiting the terminal. A metered taxi to downtown Portland typically costs about 35–50 USD depending on traffic and route, and takes 20–35 minutes. Ride‑hailing services such as Uber and Lyft use signed pick‑up areas in the same general zone, with similar travel times; prices can be around 30–45 USD in normal conditions but may increase with surge pricing. Private transfers and town‑car or limo services can be pre‑booked and usually charge a fixed rate, often about 65–90 USD from PDX to downtown for a sedan or SUV that can carry several passengers.
Taxi Companies
See the available taxi companies at Portland Airport:
- Broadway Cab Company: +1 (503) 227-1234
- Flat Cab: +1 503 970 0033
- PDX Yellow Cab, LLC: +1 503 841 6328
- Radio Cab Company: +1 503 227 1212
Service hours: 24/7.
MAX Red Line light rail and other transit
The MAX Red Line light rail connects PDX directly with central Portland and key districts like the Lloyd District and Beaverton. The station is adjacent to the terminal and parking garage, reached via a short, covered walkway from the baggage‑claim area. Trains usually run every 15 minutes in daytime and every 30 minutes late at night; the ride to downtown takes around 35–40 minutes. A standard adult fare is roughly 2.80–3.00 USD and covers a two‑hour window including transfers to buses and other MAX lines. Local buses connect at various MAX stops if you need to continue beyond the main corridor.
- Buy your ticket at the machines before boarding to avoid fines during ticket inspections.
Schedule
Weekdays: From 4:58 am to 1:43 am.
Saturday and Sunday: From 4:56 am to 1:41 am.
See more information about schedules here.
Trains depart every 15 minutes.
Car rental at PDX
All major U.S. rental companies plus some regional brands operate at or next to the terminal, typically accessed via a short walk or signed shuttle from arrivals. Daily prices fluctuate strongly by season, but as a rough guide you might see 40–70 USD per day for economy cars, 60–90 USD for midsize, and 80–140+ USD for SUVs and minivans. Renting a car is especially useful if you plan to explore outside Portland—such as the Columbia River Gorge, Mount Hood, Willamette Valley wine country, or the Oregon Coast—where public transit is limited.
- Check your credit‑card and personal auto insurance so you know which protections you already have before accepting optional coverages at the counter.
More Info about car rental at Portland Airport
Getting to the airport from the city
From downtown Portland you can reach PDX by MAX Red Line, taxi/ride‑hail, shuttle, or private car. The distance is about 9–12 miles depending on route, so by road it usually takes 20–35 minutes, but rush‑hour traffic on I‑84 or I‑205 can add 15–30 minutes. If you are driving your own car, the airport offers short‑term and long‑term parking garages and surface lots, with daily caps that are typically higher near the terminal and lower in remote lots served by shuttle buses.
- Aim to arrive at the terminal 2 hours before domestic flights and 3 hours before international ones; then choose your mode of transport backward from that time.
Price and time comparison for common routes
Approximate one‑way prices and travel times from PDX to five typical destinations in the Portland area:
These values are approximate but give a realistic sense of how cost, comfort, and travel time compare between public transport, shared shuttles, taxis/ride‑hails, private transfers, and rental cars for the most common destinations around Portland.