Summary
- Public transport from airports in the Northwest US – Idaho, Oregon and Washington – can save money and reduce environmental impact.
- Research local transit agencies before flying due to changes in bus routes, schedules, and policies.
- Various private transit operators also provide connections to cities and towns from major airports in Northwest US.
As the pilot of a potential series, we here at Simple Flying want to share how you can go to or from an airport via public transportation instead of driving or ride-hailing. The series intends to consider that every passenger walks onto an airplane and walks off, and therefore is a de facto pedestrian. Public transportation can be a convenient way to get to your destination at a reduced cost to your wallet and the planet.
Photo: Joe Kunzler | Simple Flying
However, one should note that because bus routes, schedules, and fare policies can and do change, one should research the local transit agency before landing from the friendly skies to take transit. Additionally, this guide was compiled in early May 2024.
Bellingham International Airport (BLI)
Bellingham International Airport (BLI) is losing Southwest Airlines service in August. Still, BLI will keep her Whatcom Transportation Authority Route 3, which connects downtown Bellingham, BLI, and Cordata Station Park & Ride. Being BLI is a short distance from the US-Canada border, BLI is a connection point for Canadians – and has two private transit operators making stops in Bellair Airporter Shuttle down to Seattle-Tacoma International and Quick Coach Lines connecting Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada with Seattle, Washington.
Boise Airport (BOI)
- Boise Airport is a true transportation hub serving as a base for Alaska Air Group, but also served by Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and Spirit Airlines for starters.
- Several private transit operators and three public transit bus routes to downtown Boise serve as transit connections.
Idaho’s largest airport, Boise Airport (BOI), is serviced not just by its local transit, Valley Regional Transit, providing multiple routes that connect to downtown Boise, but also by several private transit operators. Those operators, such as Salt Lake Express and Sun Valley Express, connect via coach to destinations as far and wide as Burley, Idaho Falls, Jerome, Mountain Home, Pocatello, Rexburg, Sun Valley, Twin Falls, and even West Yellowstone (MT), Salt Lake City (UT), plus Logan (UT).
Friedman Memorial Airport (SUN)
Sun Valley, Idaho’s airport, does have transit from Sun Valley Express and Mountain Rides – the full-service public transportation provider for Blaine County, Idaho, covering Sun Valley, Ketchum, Hailey, Bellevue, and Carey. Mountain Rides advises on its website that on some routes, the driver needs to be asked politely to make an airport drop-off. However, the Hailey Route does make a regular weekday stop.
Portland International Airport (PDX)
- Trimet has a newly renovated light rail station
- Riders share the importance of taking transit to an airport
Portland International Airport’s (PDX’s) only public transportation connection is the Trimet MAX Red Line terminus on the southeast side of PDX, adjacent to Concourse B – used mainly by Horizon Airlines and SkyWest Airlines on contract to Alaska Air Group. So, if you fly in or out of PDX with another airline, expect a walk to the street level entrance. However, the MAX Red Line connects to many restaurants and the extensive Trimet public transit network with low-floor light rail vehicles.
Photo: Joe Kunzler | Simple Flying
Additionally, the MAX station was recently renovated and relaunched. You can listen to actual airport guests explain to KPTV the value of taking transit:
Many charter bus companies serve PDX, but only three scheduled private transit operators are Caravan Airport Transportation, Central Oregon Breeze, and Groome Transportation. However, a ride on the Trimet above MAX will take one downtown to connect to Greyhound and FlixBus.
Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport (PUW)
Pullman Transit offers a special shuttle for $1 per one-way ride connecting to all flights out of the airport. One can review the details here. The shuttle will remain even after PUW’s new terminal has a soft opening on May 22nd.
Rogue Valley International Medford Airport (MFR)
Southern Oregon’s most prominent airport in Medford, home of a restored KC-97 aerial tanker that can be rented out for events at a relatively low cost, has transit service from the Rogue Valley Transportation District’s Route 61. This is good as MFR is a Horizon Air base with additional service from Allegiant, American Airlines, Avelo Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines to connect to places like Burbank, Las Vegas, San Francisco and Salt Lake City.
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
- Connector for 36 airlines connecting to 94 domestic and 33 international destinations
- Public transportation to Seattle and points beyond, like Tacoma and Everett
- Coaches to Eastern Washington and the Puget Sound areas
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) has no less than thirty-six airlines that use SEA to serve 94 nonstop domestic and 33 international destinations, including Canada, Mexico, and multiple Asian nations. As such, SEA also has a Sound Transit Link light rail station, two Sound Transit bus routes in 560 and 574, two King County Metro bus routes in Route 161, and the frequent RapidRide Route A.
However, as Sound Transit Link expands, fewer local bus routes may exist, so plan your local transit trip via SoundTransit.org. One can access the light rail terminal and sky bridge down to bus stops like pictured below via level 4 sky bridges – noting that the light rail terminal is northeast of the airport terminal.
Photo: Joe Kunzler | Simple Flying
For scale, Sound Transit reports that no less than 1,912,075 souls used the Sea-Tac/Airport Link station in 2023 – slightly less than the 2,060,287 that did in 2019. The author has seen airport and airline employees use the station, not just passengers.
There are also private transit operators serving SEA, such as Greyhound and Flixbus, and many airporter companies, such as Bellair Airporter Shuttle, Bremerton-Kitsap Airporter, Island Airporter, Premier Airport Shuttle, Vashon Shuttle, Wenatchee Valley Shuttle plus Whidbey-SeaTac Shuttle. All these private transit operators can take you to a local community – including in Eastern Washington – with a one-seat ride, and the author has used Bellair Airporter Shuttle many times to connect back to his local Skagit community.
Most airporters can be accessed from Level 3 baggage claim, but you should check with your chosen airporter. Additionally, with SEA undergoing so much construction, the below guide is recommended:
Related
How To Navigate Seattle Tacoma International Airport Amidst The SEA Gateway Project
A basic guide looking into how to navigate SEA thru airport construction.
In short, SEA is not just a hub for airlines but also for ground transportation. By using a combination of airline and transit from SEA, one can go to many places in Washington State.
Spokane International Airport (GEG)
- The public transit agency Spokane Transit has a bus route into downtown from the terminal with multiple stops
- Served also by private transit operators
Spokane International Airport (GEG) does have one bus route connecting the international airport with the Spokane Transit network on Route 60. Route 60 has stops at Concourse A and Concourse C to take one directly into downtown Spokane. One can learn more about GEG with the guide below:
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Spokane International Airport: Everything You Need To Know
A complete guide to Spokane International Airport
GEG also has private transit operators for Mountain Shuttle (Kootenay Gateway), MTR Western, Payless Airport Shuttle, Travel Washington Gold Line, and Wheatland Express. These private transit operators allow places like Nelson, British Columbia, and Pullman, Washington, to connect to the most prominent Eastern Washington State airport without driving.
Tri-Cities Airport (PSC)
Washington State’s Tri-Cities Airport (PSC) serves Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland. Ben Franklin Transit has a couple of bus routes about a 10-minute walk from the terminal serving the Tri-Cities. The Grape Line, funded by the State of Washington, connects Walla Walla Regional Airport (ALW) to PSC.
Walla Walla Regional Airport (ALW)
A pair of Valley Transit routes serve Walla Walla Regional Airport (ALW), in Walla Walla, Washington. Valley Transit is running a fare-free pilot until December 31, 2025. A couple of Horizon Air flights service ALW, and Horizon Air is a member of Alaska Air Group.
Yakima Air Terminal-McAllister Field (YKM)
Yakima Air Terminal-McAllister Field, the airport for Yakima, Washington, is served by Yakima Transit’s Routes 7 and 9, which stop close to the terminal. However, the span of service or times the buses are available is such that not all Alaska Air Group flights into the airport are covered.
Bottom line
Public transportation connections are out of almost any significant airport in the Northwest United States. But maybe an airport was missed, so please share in the comments. Also, feel free to share in the comments interest in future guides and ideas for improvements.