Getting around · Houston · United States
Getting around Houston
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Houston covers a huge area and is designed around cars and freeways. METRORail and buses work well along the Main Street corridor from downtown through Midtown and the Museum District to the medical centre, but most visitors combine light rail with ride-hailing or a rental car. Yes for most trips: Space Center Houston, Galveston, Chinatown and many restaurants are hard to reach without one.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Tram
- Airports
- IAH, HOU
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
- Travel pass
- METRO Q Card
Ways to get around
Tram
METRORail's Red Line runs along Main Street from downtown through Midtown, the Museum District and the Texas Medical Center to NRG Park. The Green and Purple lines serve the East End and the Third Ward universities.
Tap a METRO Q Card or buy tickets in the METRO app before boarding; there are no conductors selling tickets.
Bus
METRO buses cover the whole city, including express routes to both airports, but journeys between neighbourhoods can be slow.
Ride-hailing
Uber and Lyft are the practical way to reach Montrose, the Heights, Chinatown and the Galleria from the rail line.
Car
A rental car is the most flexible option for Space Center Houston, Galveston and food trips. Expect heavy traffic at rush hour and toll roads around the city.
Never drive into flooded underpasses during heavy rain; water rises quickly.
Cycling
Houston BCycle bike share has stations in the Inner Loop, and the Buffalo Bayou, Heights and Hermann Park trails are pleasant for cycling.
Tickets and passes
METRO Q Card
A reloadable fare card for METRORail and buses with free transfers within a set time window.
From the airport
George Bush Intercontinental (IAH), the main international airport, is about 37 km north of downtown, 35–50 minutes by car. William P. Hobby (HOU), about 15 km south-east, handles mostly domestic and some Latin American flights and is 20–30 minutes by car. METRO buses link both airports with downtown for a low fare but take around an hour.
Do you need a car?
Yes for most trips: Space Center Houston, Galveston, Chinatown and many restaurants are hard to reach without one. A short museum-focused stay can work with METRORail and ride-hailing.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Galveston | About 1 hour by car | Car via I-45 |
| Kemah Boardwalk | About 40 minutes by car | Car |
| Brazos Bend State Park | About 1 hour by car | Car |
| Brenham and Washington-on-the-Brazos | About 1 hour 30 minutes by car | Car via US 290 |
| Huntsville State Park | About 1 hour 15 minutes by car | Car via I-45 |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Houston?
Yes for most trips: Space Center Houston, Galveston, Chinatown and many restaurants are hard to reach without one. A short museum-focused stay can work with METRORail and ride-hailing.
+How do you get from the airport to Houston?
George Bush Intercontinental (IAH), the main international airport, is about 37 km north of downtown, 35–50 minutes by car. William P. Hobby (HOU), about 15 km south-east, handles mostly domestic and some Latin American flights and is 20–30 minutes by car. METRO buses link both airports with downtown for a low fare but take around an hour.
+What is the best way to get around Houston?
Tram: METRORail's Red Line runs along Main Street from downtown through Midtown, the Museum District and the Texas Medical Center to NRG Park. The Green and Purple lines serve the East End and the Third Ward universities.