metal and glass canopy over airport entrance lit up at night metal and glass canopy over airport entrance lit up at night
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A canopy protects the roadway at the PDX airport from the elements.

Portland International Airport (PDX)

Travelers love PDX for its convenience, amenities and great local food and drink.

3 min read Northeast Portland

Know Before You Go

COVID-19 Update: Portland International Airport requires face coverings and asks that people picking up passengers wait outside the terminal. Find the latest information for travelers at flypdx.com/TravelSafe.

Travelers named Portland International Airport (PDX) the best airport in the United States in Travel + Leisure’s survey 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.

You can fly nonstop to PDX from nearly 60 cities, including Amsterdam, Tokyo, New York and Washington, D.C.

Air Service

Portland International Airport is currently served by 13 international and domestic airlines offering more than 500 scheduled passenger arrivals and departures daily. Sixty 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, Reykjavik, Tokyo, Toronto and Vancouver, British Columbia.

More About PDX

Getting Around
people in line at a food cart in the Portland Airport

Food Carts at PDX

Hungry travelers can now enjoy Portland’s famous street food at local food carts stationed at the Portland International Airport (PDX).

book display at Powell\'s City of Books

Shop Local at PDX

Browse Portland brands like Nike, Pendleton, Columbia and Powell’s without leaving the airport.

people sitting and strolling outside Cascade Station

Cascade Station Shopping Center

Minutes from PDX on the light rail line, Cascade Station houses Oregon’s only IKEA and dozens of other big-brand favorites.

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 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 Portland Airport and downtown takes about 38 minutes.
  • An adult ticket costs $2.50 (Youth / Honored Citizen $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 4:45 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 the Red Line page on the TriMet website.

MAX Light Rail

Portland's efficient light rail system connects the metro area and downtown core. Learn how to ride and where to go on MAX.

Take Max to PDX

Taxicabs

The average taxi fare from the airport to downtown is approximately $35 before gratuity. 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 the 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.

Learn More About PDX

Why is PDX the best airport?

Although the Indianapolis International Airport took the top spot in 2020 in Travel + Leisure‘s survey, PDX was the reigning World’s Best Domestic Airports champion from 2013-2019. Some of the things that earned PDX this recognition include friendly guest interactions, free Wi-Fi, great local food and drink, and tax-free shopping without markups.

Why is Portland referred to as PDX?

The city of Portland is nicknamed “PDX” after the International Air Transport Association airport code for the Portland International Airport, which is PDX.  

What is the easiest way to get to and from PDX?

There are a number of ways to get to and from the Portland Airport. The most popular is the MAX light rail, which has a station in the airport’s lower level. The Red Line takes riders from the airport to downtown in approximately 38 minutes. Other options include taxicabs, ride-share services and shuttles.

How do I get from Union Station to PDX?

One of the easiest ways to travel to and from Union Station to PDX is using the MAX light rail. If going from the airport, simply take the Red Line to any stop between Gateway and the Rose Garden, where you can get off and transfer to the Green Line. The Green Line will take you the rest of the way. To get from Union Station to PDX, take this same trip in reverse, going from the Green Line to the Red Line.

Car- and Ride-Share Services

Uber and Lyft both offer drop-off and pick-up services at the Portland 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.

Transportation

Elsewhere Online

FlyPDX

Portland International Airport

TriMet

Take the train to the plane