TriMet’s MAX Red Line to and from the airport is your most affordable and convenient option to bookend your Spring Break adventure
Whether you’re heading somewhere sunny, in search of snow or escaping on a last-minute adventure, TriMet’s MAX Red Line, with front-door service to Portland International Airport, is the most convenient and affordable way to start your spring break.
Portland Public Schools and Oregon public universities will be on break from March 23-27. That’s right around the corner, and we want to encourage everyone with PDX travel plans to go train-to-plane during one of the busiest travel periods of the year. It’s the most affordable and convenient way of getting to and from the airport.
The MAX Red Line offers ample seating space for travelers. On the average train car, there are more than 50 seats and capacity for more than 165 people. During most of the day, Red Line trains arrive every 15 minutes. And best of all, passengers can avoid the hassle and expense of driving, parking or coordinating a taxi or ride-share service during a time when PDX expects more than 800,000 people will be traveling.
MAX Red Line’s airport advantages
Affordability: A one-way MAX ticket costs less than buying a cup of coffee – $2.80 for an adult, or $1.40 for those who qualify for reduced Honored Citizen and Youth fares. Compare that to the cost of parking – $15 a day at the airport’s economy lot – or taking a taxi or rideshare, and the savings become exponential.
Simple planning: Our website, trimet.org, makes trip-planning a breeze. Enter where you’re starting, where you’re going and when – and the Trip Planner will map it out. Need to transfer from a bus or another MAX line? The Trip Planner will provide instructions for reaching a MAX Red Line station.
Luggage space: MAX trains have ample luggage space, making transit a comfortable ride to and from the airport. Please keep luggage within your reach and off seats to keep them available for other riders. Please also keep doors and aisles clear.
Simple, fast & affordable payment
Paying your fare on TriMet is fast and simple, and you have several options.
For adult fare, you can also pay by tapping your contactless debit or credit card, or your mobile wallet like Apple Pay or Google Pay.
For $3, riders without a Hop Fastpass card can purchase one and load it with money at fare card vending machines, located at MAX stations and transit centers. Follow the step-by-step instructions provided on the machine’s screen. Once you have the card loaded, tap it against the green Hop reader as you would a contactless debit or credit card.
The system automatically tracks your fare, ensuring that you never overpay. Our Customer Safety Supervisors know if you’ve paid by using a mobile fare-scanning device equipped with the same technology as the Hop readers. If requested, make sure you provide the same fare payment device that you used to purchase fare.
TriMet also partners with many school districts to distribute free or reduced fare. If your child is a Portland Public School (PPS) District student in grades 9-12, they can use their school ID card to ride TriMet or Portland Streetcar during the school year. Just tap your school ID to the Hop reader before boarding. We also partner with more than a dozen other Portland-area school districts to provide fares for students in grades 9-12. Check out the list of school districts online.
MAX Red Line: Did you know?
While MAX is one of more than a dozen light rail systems nationwide currently providing direct airport connections, did you know the MAX Red Line was the first on the West Coast?
Its history and legacy run deep, making MAX Red Line an important part of the region’s transportation network. Beyond that, it has also acted as a catalyst for economic growth and business development.
When it opened in 2001, the MAX Red Line represented another first – how it came to be. The line was built as part of a unique public-private partnership with Bechtel Enterprises. Through this partnership, 120 acres were opened for private development, which would later become Cascades Station. This partnership kept costs down and helped the project come in under budget.
The original MAX Red Line stretched 5.5 miles, connecting Downtown to the PDX terminal. It was later extended twice. First, in 2003, TriMet extended Red Line service west through the Robertson Tunnel to the Beaverton Transit Center. A second extension, adding 10 stations to Hillsboro Airport/Fairgrounds, opened in 2024 upon completion of the Better Red MAX Reliability and Improvements Project.
Nearly 25 years after first opening, the MAX Red Line has become a top way of getting to and from PDX.
Portland International Airport is TriMet’s second most-traveled MAX station. Nearly 23,500 MAX trips per week either begin or end at PDX.
Travel by train or bus
For travelers looking for ground transportation options this spring break, TriMet can connect you to multiple long-distance services. You can reach Amtrak’s Union Station via a MAX Green, Orange and Yellow Line train, allowing for a “train-to-train” transfer. Several TriMet bus routes, as well as MAX Blue and Red lines, also serve the area around Union Station. Additionally, TriMet bus stops, as well as those served by Portland Streetcar, are located near the Greyhound and FlixBus stops on Northwest Station Way.
Rider assistance
For travelers looking for ground transportation options this spring break, TriMet can connect you to multiple long-distance services. You can reach Amtrak’s Union Station via a MAX Green, Orange and Yellow Line train, allowing for a “train-to-train” transfer. Several TriMet bus routes, as well as MAX Blue and Red lines, also serve the area around Union Station. Additionally, TriMet bus stops, as well as those served by Portland Streetcar, are located near the Greyhound and FlixBus stops on Northwest Station Way.
If you have questions, reach out to TriMet Customer Service by calling 503-238-7433 (RIDE) between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. daily. Real-time arrival information is available 24 hours a day at trimet.org.
If you have a non-urgent security concern, you can also call or text 503-238-7433 (RIDE) to submit a report. TriMet security is available 24 hours a day. For an urgent concern, alert the operator or, in an emergency, text or call 911. You can also visit our website and click on the security icon on the interactive map.
On-Street Customer Service staff and security are stationed at the airport to help answer questions or assist riders. Look for our On-Street Customer Service team members in the green vests and Transit Security Officers in bright yellow-and-black uniforms.