Portland International Airport (PDX) (2024)

Travelersnamed Portland International Airport (PDX) the best airport in the United States in Travel + Leisure’s survey in 2021, as well as every year from 2013–2019. Why do they love PDX? An easy light rail connection to downtown, free Wi-Fi, great local food and drink (including microbrews, craft spirits and even food carts), and tax-free shopping without markups are just a few of the reasons. That’s not to mention the superior guest experience travelers report having whenever they pass through the Portland airport.

Air Service

Portland International Airport (PDX) is currently served by more than 15 international and domestic airlines offering about 500 scheduled passenger arrivals and departures daily. More than 60 U.S. cities offer nonstop flights to Portland, including Atlanta, Orlando, New York, Boston and Chicago. Internationally, you can fly direct to PDX from Amsterdam, Calgary, Frankfurt, Guadalajara, London, Puerto Vallarta, Toronto and Vancouver, British Columbia. PDX offers more than 60 nonstop flights to cities near and far, including international destinations.

Getting to and From the Airport

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

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 Portland International Airport and downtown takes about 45 minutes.
• As of 2023, an adult ticket costs $2.50 (the youth and “Honored Citizen” fares are $1.25).Get the latest ticket and pricing information on the TriMet website.
• You can roll your luggage on board.
• The first train of the day arrives at PDX at 4:50 a.m. The last train departs PDX at 12:30 a.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 the airport’s map for more detail.
• For complete schedules and more information, visit the Red Line page on the TriMet website.

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Credit: Port of Portland

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Credit: Diego Diaz

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Credit: Nick Mendez, nickmendez.com

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Credit: Port of Portland

Taxicabs

On average, the taxi fare from the airport to downtown Portland as of 2023 is about $50 before gratuity (note that this can vary widely depending on traffic and time of day). 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.

Car- and Ride-Share Services

Uber and Lyft both offer drop-off and pick-up services at Portland International Airport. The fares are calculated based on a number of factors, including distance, time, base rate and vehicle option. Both ride-share services offer fare estimator tools on their websites and mobile apps.

Shuttles

When you leave the airport, you will find the shuttles at the bottom entrance of the terminal (outside the baggage claim area) on the other side of the second strip (“Island 2”) near the parking garage. Many airport hotels offer free services.

Shopping at PDX

PDX offers travelers tax-free shopping from some of Portland’s most beloved brands. You can find classically northwest outdoor gear from Columbia Sportswear, iconic wool blankets and clothing from Pendleton, and uniquely Oregon souvenirs from Made In Oregon or the Timberline store. You can also take home some local coffee from Good Coffee or local spirits from Westward Whiskey.