PDX is the designation for Portland International Airport. Amtrack and Greyhound also use “PDX” – some of the time.

Amtrak & Greyhound are Downtown, across the street from each other. They are located on the Portland Transit Mall, inside the Free Rail Zone. Tracks for MAX – Portland’s Light Rail system – cross between them.

Less than $3 Each Way will get you from PDX Airport to Downtown and the Convention Center, on MAX, Portland’s Light Rail system. Follow signs on Baggage Claim Level.

This Slide-Show may help visualize taking MAX from Airport Baggage-Claim into Downtown Portland.

Downtown Portland  is a Free Rail Zone were you may ride all MAX lines and Streetcars for free. The Free Rail Zone extends from Portland State University Through Downtown Portland, across the river to The Rose Quarter, The Oregon Convention Center , and Lloyd Center Mall.

Tri-Met: is the local Light Rail, Heavy Rail, Streetcar and Bus Agency. One ticket on any mode is good for a transfer to another mode during it’s effective time. Absent snow or other natural disaster, these trains do run on time. So do the busses.

A 7-Day pass on TriMet is only $23 ($13 for age 65+). That’s less than most one-way airport shuttles. You can buy passes of all types from a machine at the Airport, or any MAX stop. An all-day or multi-day pass lets you ride bus and rail all over the City of Portland and ‘burbs. You don’t have to show a pass to board, but you do need to show one if asked by a “Fare Inspector” while onboard.

Current Fares
Map: Full System in PDF
Map: City Center and Free Rail Zone
Map: Transit Mall and Free Rail Zone info

Transit System Quirks

• Urban transit systems have quirks that are known to locals, but bedevil travelers. Tri-Met has two. Not so bad, but worth knowing, nevertheless.

Zones

• – when buying a pass for a few hours you can select 2 or 3 zones. Buy all 3 zones unless you want to spend a lot of time figuring out if you could have saved $0.30.

Current Fares

Most bus lines have two “legs.”

• That is, they have a Northern run and a Southern run. Most lines come downtown where you can transfer from one train or bus to another. A bus or train going downtown from the Northern “leg” will drop off passengers downtown then pick up passengers for the Southern “leg.”

• However:

The bus will not change numbers when it crosses through downtown.

• You can think you’re boarding a #42 going North, but end up boarding #42 going South if you’re not careful.

•  Fortunately, the downtown Transit Mall is on one-way streets, one running North, the other South, which will give you a clue to the whole system. You’re expected to know all this, but it’s rarely stated.

Example:

• The #12 Bus shows where this can confuse: Heading North from downtown, it will take you to

The Groto

• botanical garden in Northeast Portland. Heading South, it will take you to the big Barbur Blvd. Transit Center.

Ask any bus driver or bus rider if you feel uncertain.

Taxis:

• In Portland, as with most cities its size, there are taxi stands outside the airport, train station and many hotels. Otherwise you generally call and wait.

• It’s possible to flag an empty passing taxi, but they are rare, even downtown.

Broadway Cab
(#1 Cab Co.)(No website) 503/227-1234

Radio Cab
(#2 Cab Co.)(No website) 503/227-1212

Portland Taxi
503/256-5400

Green Cab
503/234-1414

Uber

Lyft

Town Cars:

Classic Chauffeur
503/238-8880 – 800/245-8880

WFJ Towncar
503/408-8888 – 800/266-1161,

Pacific Cascade Towncar
503/234-2400

AAA Towncar
503/516-2000 – 503/525-0123

Pioneer Executive Towncar
503/731-8783

Eagle Towncar
503/222-2763

Extreme Limousine
503/899-6451 – 360.883.5511

Portland Limousine Company
503/235-2221

Airport Shuttles
Royal Shuttle Airport Service
503/5545-0005

Raja Tours
Airport Shuttle Services
503/524-4386

White Van
Airport Shuttle
503/774-9755

Rent A Car Locations via Google Maps .

• Typically it is much cheaper to rent a car away from the airport. If your hotel is served by MAX this can work out quite well for your pocketbook. The off-airport rental source may even pick you up at your hotel and deliver you a MAX stop, or the airport when you’re all done.

• New car dealerships sometimes have car rental desks where prices are very good.

Broadway Toyota

is one such, and quite near Downtown and the Convention Center.

Bus and Tour Operators

Blue Star Bus
503/249-1837 800/247-2272

Pacific Northwest Sightseeing Tours

Eco Tours of Oregon
503-245-1428

OregonTours.Net

Grayline Tours
888/684-3322

Sea to Summit Tours & Adventures
503-286-9333

America’s Hub World Tours
800-637-3110

WikiTravel

Wine Country Tours and Adventures

Grape Escape Tours

Insiders Wine Tour

Oregon Wine Tours

Pacific Cascade Towncar
503/234-2400