Travelers love Portland International Airport (PDX) for its local food and drink, tax-free shopping, complimentary Wi-Fi and more.

Credit: Diego Diaz

Portland International Airport (PDX)

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

Updated Nov. 30, 2023 3 min read Northeast Portland

Travelers named 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.

Know Before You Go

The airport is undergoing a major renovation that won’t be fully completed until 2025. See the website for more information and note that you may encounter modified routes and construction in progress.

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.

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.

Learn More About PDX

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

There are several ways to get to and from Portland’s airport. The most popular is the MAX Light Rail, which has a station on 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.

If you’re trying to get to the PDX airport from outside of Portland, you can connect to Portland’s Trimet system through other transit agencies or hire an Oregon shuttle service.

How do I get from Union Station to PDX?

One of the easiest ways to travel to and from Union Station is the MAX Light Rail. If going from the airport, take the Red Line to any stop between the Gateway/NE 99th Transit Center and the Rose Quarter Transit Center, 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.

Why is PDX one of the most popular airports?

Although other airports have taken the number one spot in Travel + Leisure’s survey just recently, PDX won top honors in 2021 and was the reigning World’s Best Domestic Airports champion from 2013–2019. (Even when it doesn’t win, it’s almost always in the top five.) Some of the things that regularly earn 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.

Airport Hotels

Stay near PDX and you'll be close to lots of other things, too.

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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.

a metal and glass canopy over an airport entrance with flowers blooming in the foreground — A canopy protects the roadway at Portland International Airport (PDX) from the elements.

travelers out of focus walk through an airport concourse over green carpet — Travelers love Portland International Airport (PDX) for its local food and drink, tax-free shopping, complimentary Wi-Fi and more.

a plane takes off through clear blue skies with a snowy mountain in the distance and a control tower in the foreground — On a clear day, planes taking off from Portland International Airport (PDX) can enjoy stunning views of Mount Hood.

travelers walk past a small movie theater located within an airport — This outpost of Portland’s historic nonprofit movie theater, the Hollywood Theatre, is a free-to-all, 22-seat microcinema located in Concourse C at Portland International Airport.

early sunrise over an airport concourse and empty streets to arrivals and departures — Travelers love Portland International Airport (PDX) for its local food and drink, tax-free shopping, complimentary Wi-Fi and more.

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.

Shop Local at PDX

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

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.

Plan, Transportation