Getting to Houston

• by Air

  Houston has the fourth-largest airport system in the U.S. and the sixth largest in the world. The city's three airports - Bush Intercontinental, Hobby, and Ellington Field - service 200 cities worldwide. Wi-Fi Internet service is available at both Bush Intercontinental and Houston Hobby in most airport public areas, including gates, restaurants, ticketing and baggage claim.

  • Houston Airport System - http://www.fly2houston.com/
  • George Bush Intercontinental Airport - http://www.fly2houston.com/iah
  • William P. Hobby Airport - http://www.fly2houston.com/hobbyHome
  • Ellington Field - http://www.fly2houston.com/EllingtonHome

  Upon arrival to Houston, the options for getting downtown are numerous.

  • METRO - http://www.ridemetro.org/

    METRO's bus system offers express service from Bush and Hobby Airports to downtown Houston and several business districts within the city.

  • Taxi Cabs

    Houston boasts the second largest taxicab fleet in the country, with more than 1,400 vehicles in operation.

  • Airport Shuttles

     |----------------------------------------------------|
     |         Express SHUTTLE USA (713) 523-8888         |
     |----------------------------------------------------|
     | from |       to       | Price |        Times       |
     |----------------------------------------------------|
     | IAH  | Downtown       |   $23 | 6:45 am - 11:30 pm |
     | HOU  | Downtown       |   $18 | 6:30 am - 11:30 pm |
     | IAH  | Medical Center |   $24 | 7:00 am - 11:30 pm |
     | HOU  | Medical Center |   $19 | 7:00 am -  6:30 pm |
     |----------------------------------------------------|
     |        Texans Super Shuttle (713) 781-6660         |
     |----------------------------------------------------|
     | IAH  | Downtown       |   $22 |  5 a.m.-midnight   |
     | HOU  | Downtown       |   $17 |  5 a.m.-midnight   |
     | IAH  | Medical Center |   $23 |  5 a.m.-midnight   |
     | HOU  | Medical Center |   $18 |  5 a.m.-midnight   |
     |----------------------------------------------------|

  • Rental Cars

    The full range of car-rental companies offer vehicles in various price ranges, with the consolidated rental car facility at Bush Intercontinental Airport boasting ultra-convenient access to rental cars.

• by Car

  Both I-45 and I-10 feed into Houston. I-45 runs from Houston to the Dallas/Fort Worth area which is fed into by I-35, I-30, and I-20. From Dallas/Fort Worth, travelers can take I-45 into Houston. [http://maps.google.com/maps]

• by Train or Bus

  Amtrak (http://www.amtrak.com) services Houston (HOS) via the Sunset Limited route extending from Los Angeles to Orlando. If you'd rather take the bus, Greyhound (http://www.greyhound.com/) might be what you need.

Once You're Here

Easy to get around, Houston offers an excellent light rail and city bus system in the Metropolitan Transit Authority and the second largest taxicab fleet in the country.

• The consolidated rental car facility at Bush Intercontinental Airport boasts ultra-convenient access to rental cars.

• A variety of airport shuttles and limousines are available.

• Houston's METRO bus system features a $1 one-way local fare, so visitors can easily get around the city without having to worry about navigating the freeways or mapping out directions to their destination.

• The METRORail system offers convenient, accessible service within the heart of the city between downtown Houston and Reliant Park, including the Museum District and Texas Medical Center.

METRO

Whether a passenger chooses to ride the bus, rail or both, they will be able to get on board using METRO's standard fare items.

• METRORail Ticket - $1

  Rail tickets can be purchased using cash, credit, debit, or tokens.

• 7-, 30-, and 365-day passes

  These passes allow you to ride unlimited METRORail and bus services until the pass expires.

• Stored Value Card

  Passengers with Stored Value Cards may use them on all METRO buses but should get a free transfer or buy a day pass for use on METRORail. These cards give you more rides for your money:

   |----------------------------------------------------|
   | Cost ($)  |    15 |    25 |    50 |    75 |    100 |
   |----------------------------------------------------|
   | Value ($) | 18.75 | 31.50 | 64.00 | 97.50 | 132.00 |
   |----------------------------------------------------|

• Tokens

  These can be used to purchase Local fares on the bus and METRORail tickets from the TVMs.

• Cash

  Currency can be used to purchase both bus and rail fare. It is deposited into the fare box on board the bus.

• Day Passes

  A $2 Day Pass is valid for up to 24 hours of unlimited rides using either METRORail and/or Local bus service.

METRORail Fares, one way

 |-------------------------------------------------|
 | Fare Type:    |  Adult  | Discount |   Youth    |
 |               |         |          | (age 5-11) |
 |-------------------------------------------------|
 | Cash:         |    $  1 |   $  .40 |     $  .25 |
 |-------------------------------------------------|
 | Day Pass:     |    $  2 |   $  .80 |     $  .50 | 
 |-------------------------------------------------|
 | 7 Day Pass:   |    $  9 |   $ 4.50 |     $ 2.70 |
 |-------------------------------------------------|
 | 30 Day Pass:  |    $ 35 |   $15.00 |     $ 9.00 |
 |-------------------------------------------------|
 | 365 Day Pass: |    $315 |   $52.00 |     $52.00 |
 |-------------------------------------------------|
 | 10 Tokens($8) | 1 Token |        - |          - |
 |-------------------------------------------------|

METROLift Pass

All METRO buses and trains are 100% accessible for people with disabilities and feature lifts, ramps and enlarged destination signs. For those who cannot use our accessible buses or trains, METRO offers METROLift, a curb-to-curb, shared ride service using vans and sedans. METROLift eligibility requires physician approval and an in-person evaluation conducted at METRO. For more information, call 713-225-0119.

Express, Park & Ride Service

This service falls into four zones, with fares based on the distance a bus must travel from a Park & Ride lot to its final destination. Zone 1 includes lots within a distance of up to 11 miles and all Express routes. Zone 2 lots are from 11 up to 16 miles; Zone 3 lots are from 16 up to 21 miles; and Zone 4 lots are 21 miles or greater.

With eight Express and 25 Park & Ride bus routes, METRO can get you to work and home again quickly and reliably for as little as $1.50 one-way! You may use your 30-Day Pass, 365-Day Pass, Stored Value Card or cash.

Express, Park & Ride Fares, one way **

 |-------------------------------------------------|
 |Adult        | Zone 1 | Zone 2 | Zone 3 | Zone 4 |
 |-------------------------------------------------|
 |Cash         |  $1.50 |  $2.50 |  $3.00 |  $3.50 |
 |-------------------------------------------------|
 |30-Day Pass  |  $  50 |  $  78 |  $  94 |  $ 110 |
 |-------------------------------------------------|
 |365-Day Pass |  $ 459 |  $ 702 |  $ 846 |  $ 990 |
 |-------------------------------------------------|

**During peak hours, 5 - 9 a.m. and 3 - 7 p.m.; non-peak fare for all services is $1

Trolley Service

In the Texas Medical Center (TMC), the fare is $1 one-way and may be paid with exact change (bill or coins), any METRO time-activated pass, a valid Stored Value Card, a TMC pass, tokens or a valid transfer. Trolleys cannot issue transfers.