Getting around · Portland · United States
Getting around Portland
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Chrismiceli, CC0
Quick answer
Downtown, the Pearl District and the riverfront are walkable, and TriMet's MAX light rail, streetcar and buses connect them to the east-side neighbourhoods. Portland is also one of the most bike-friendly cities in the US. Not for the city itself, where transit, bikes and walking work well.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Tram
- Airports
- PDX
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
- Travel pass
- Hop Fastpass
Ways to get around
Tram
TriMet's MAX light rail runs five lines, including the Red Line from the airport through downtown to Washington Park and Beaverton; the Portland Streetcar loops through downtown, the Pearl and the Central Eastside.
Tap a Hop card, phone or contactless bank card on the readers; fares cap daily and monthly.
Bus
Frequent TriMet buses run along the main east-side streets, including Hawthorne, Belmont, Division and Alberta.
Cycling
BIKETOWN bike share offers electric bikes around the central city, and dedicated lanes and riverside paths make cycling easy.
Cable car
The Portland Aerial Tram climbs from South Waterfront to the OHSU hospital campus on Marquam Hill, with views of Mount Hood on clear days.
Walking
Short blocks make downtown and the Pearl easy on foot; the Eastbank Esplanade and Tilikum Crossing link the riverbanks for pedestrians.
Car
A car is useful for the Gorge, Mount Hood, the coast and wine country; in the city, metered parking and garages are widely available.
Tickets and passes
Hop Fastpass
TriMet's reloadable fare card, also usable as a virtual card in phone wallets, with daily and monthly fare caps across MAX, buses and the streetcar.
From the airport
Portland International Airport (PDX) is about 15 km northeast of downtown. The MAX Red Line runs from the terminal to downtown in about 35–40 minutes, and taxis or rideshares take about 20–30 minutes. Oregon's lack of sales tax extends to the airport's shops and restaurants.
Do you need a car?
Not for the city itself, where transit, bikes and walking work well. A car is very helpful for the Columbia River Gorge, Mount Hood, the Oregon coast and the Willamette Valley wineries.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia River Gorge and Multnomah Falls | About 40 minutes by car | Car via Interstate 84 or the Historic Columbia River Highway |
| Mount Hood and Timberline Lodge | About 1.5 hours by car | Car via US Route 26 |
| Cannon Beach | About 1.5 hours by car | Car via US Route 26 |
| Willamette Valley wine country | About 45–60 minutes by car | Car or organised wine tour to Dundee and McMinnville |
| Hood River | About 1 hour by car | Car via Interstate 84 |
| Silver Falls State Park | About 1.5 hours by car | Car via Interstate 5 and Silverton |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Portland?
Not for the city itself, where transit, bikes and walking work well. A car is very helpful for the Columbia River Gorge, Mount Hood, the Oregon coast and the Willamette Valley wineries.
+How do you get from the airport to Portland?
Portland International Airport (PDX) is about 15 km northeast of downtown. The MAX Red Line runs from the terminal to downtown in about 35–40 minutes, and taxis or rideshares take about 20–30 minutes. Oregon's lack of sales tax extends to the airport's shops and restaurants.
+What is the best way to get around Portland?
Tram: TriMet's MAX light rail runs five lines, including the Red Line from the airport through downtown to Washington Park and Beaverton; the Portland Streetcar loops through downtown, the Pearl and the Central Eastside.