Getting Around Phoenix: Transit, Driving and the Airport

Getting around Phoenix from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) is simple: the free PHX Sky Train carries passengers from the terminals to a Valley Metro Rail station at 44th and Washington streets, and from there the light rail runs to downtown Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa. Rideshare, taxis, shuttles and rental cars are also available. Outside the rail corridor, Phoenix is built for driving, so most visitors who want to see the mountain parks, museums and neighborhoods spread across the city end up using a car for at least part of the trip.

This guide covers every real way out of the airport, how Valley Metro fares typically work, what the system does and does not reach, and where parking gets tight. Fares and hours change, so each one below is phrased as typical and should be checked on the official site before a trip.

How do you get from Phoenix Sky Harbor into the city?

There are six realistic ways out of PHX: the Sky Train and light rail, a Valley Metro bus, rideshare, a taxi or shuttle, a rental car, or an intercity bus. The airport's ground transportation pages list all of them.

The PHX Sky Train and light rail

The PHX Sky Train is the airport's free automated train. It typically runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and connects Terminal 3, Terminal 4, the East Economy lot, the 24th Street station, the Rental Car Center and the Valley Metro Rail station at 44th Street and Washington Street.

From 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., the airport says waits average roughly 3.5 to 7 minutes. Overnight, nightly maintenance runs from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., so waits can stretch to 15 minutes or more. The airport also stages buses between the 44th Street station and the terminals during those hours, but its page describes them as running for employees, so travelers should simply allow extra time late at night.

At Terminal 4 the Sky Train platform is on Level 3 with a direct walk to the security checkpoint. At Terminal 3 it is on Level 5. The 44th Street station has Valley Metro ticket machines on Level 2, so there is no need to buy anything before leaving the terminal.

From 44th Street, light rail serves Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa. Valley Metro Rail runs as two lines that meet at a Downtown Hub in Downtown Phoenix: the A Line runs east-west between the Downtown Hub and Gilbert Road/Main Street in Mesa, passing the 44th Street airport station and Tempe, and the B Line runs north-south from Metro Parkway in northwest Phoenix to Baseline Road/Central Avenue in south Phoenix. From the airport, ride the A Line west to reach downtown Phoenix, its sports and concert venues and the Convention Center.

Buses from the airport

PHX lists Valley Metro bus Route 13 at the 24th Street Sky Train station, at the northwest curb near Passenger Pick-Up #9, and Route 44 at the 44th Street station. Both connect to the wider bus network, which is slower than rail but reaches places the train does not.

FlixBus stops at the 44th Street station on the north curb. Greyhound's station is at 2115 E. Buckeye Road, about one mile west of the airport. From Terminal 3 or 4, ride the Sky Train to 24th Street, exit south and follow the signs for the walkway to Greyhound.

Rideshare, taxis and shuttles

Rideshare pickups at PHX run 24 hours a day at Terminal 3, Terminal 4, the 24th Street station and the 44th Street station. Taxis and shuttles are listed on the airport's ground transportation pages. The airport does not publish rideshare or taxi fares, so use the app estimate or ask the driver before departing.

Phoenix Sky Harbor also lists Waymo driverless rides, typically available 24 hours a day at the Terminal 3 and Terminal 4 rideshare curbs and at the 24th Street (south curb) and 44th Street (north curb) Sky Train stations. Book through the Waymo app.

Rental cars

The Phoenix Sky Harbor Rental Car Center, at 1805 E. Sky Harbor Circle South, houses 13 rental companies according to the airport, and it has its own stop on the free Sky Train. Build in time for the train ride and the counter. For a downtown-only trip, skipping the car saves a daily parking bill.

How does Valley Metro work?

Valley Metro is the regional agency that runs buses, light rail, the Tempe Streetcar and paratransit across metro Phoenix, and the City of Phoenix Public Transit Department is its largest member. Phoenix funds and plans its own service inside the regional network.

What do fares typically cost?

Valley Metro's Smart Fare system caps what a rider pays. According to the agency's pricing page, a typical local full-fare ride is $2, and Smart Fare stops charging after about $4 in one day, $20 in a week or $64 in a calendar month. The day runs from 3 a.m. to 2:59 a.m. the next day. Reduced fares are half the full fare, but they need a reduced fare account with Valley Metro. Express and RAPID routes have higher caps.

Riders pay by tapping a Copper fare card or scanning the Valley Metro app on the purple readers each time they board, even after reaching a cap. Valley Metro says children age 5 and under ride free with a fare-paying adult who can supervise them.

Paper tickets still exist for people who do not want the app. A light rail 1-Ride paper pass is typically good for a one-way trip on light rail for two hours after purchase, and a streetcar pass lasts 45 minutes. A 1-Ride paper pass bought at a rail or streetcar machine is not valid on a bus. Fares and caps can change, so check Valley Metro's fare pages before riding.

What does Valley Metro reach, and what does it miss?

Valley Metro covers downtown Phoenix, the Central Avenue corridor, south Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa on rail, and the Tempe Streetcar and the downtown DASH circulator fill in short trips. Visit Phoenix says Valley Metro Rail means visitors staying downtown do not need a car to get around.

Beyond the rail corridor, buses are the main option, with routes on the major grid streets. Most of the city's mountain preserves, garden and museum campuses and North Phoenix neighborhoods sit away from the tracks. For a place like South Mountain or Desert Ridge, plan the trip in Valley Metro's trip planner, compare the bus time to a rideshare or drive, and expect a car to be faster.

Airport-bound paratransit is available too: Valley Metro Dial-A-Ride pickups at PHX are at Terminal 4 on Level 1 (west of Door 2, inner curb) and Terminal 3 on Level 1 (east of Door 8, inner curb). For accessibility help, the airport lists Valley Metro at 602-253-5000.

When do you need a car in Phoenix?

A car is worth having when the plan includes trailheads, spring training ballparks, resorts or several neighborhoods in one day. Phoenix is a wide, grid-based city, and the places that visitors ask about most are spread across it. Arcadia and the Biltmore area are reachable by bus or rideshare but do not sit on the rail line, while the B Line runs along Central Avenue through Uptown.

A car is not needed when the stay is centered on downtown. The Sky Train to light rail route gets a traveler from the terminal to the core, and Roosevelt Row, The Square PHX and the Warehouse District are all close to downtown. One common plan is to ride light rail for the downtown days, then rent a car for a day or two for the mountain parks and day trips.

Driving distances are long. Visit Phoenix lists Sedona at about two hours, Tucson about two hours and Flagstaff about two and a half hours by car, none of which transit covers in a practical way.

Heat matters for any plan. Summer afternoons make a long walk to a bus stop harder, and the weather page is worth a look when deciding between a car and a transit day.

Where is parking hard in Phoenix?

Parking is hardest downtown on game and concert nights, around Chase Field and Mortgage Matchup Center. The City of Phoenix operates about 2,000 parking meters across the downtown, uptown, capitol and Phoenix College areas, typically at $1.50 an hour, with enforcement from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day, including weekends and holidays, and free on-street meter parking overnight from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m., according to its parking meters page. The city also lists several hundred free, unmetered on-street spaces in and near downtown.

The easy fix on game nights is to park near a light rail stop outside the core and ride in, since Mortgage Matchup Center, Chase Field and the Convention Center are all a short walk from downtown Phoenix light rail stations.

At Phoenix Sky Harbor, parking rates change, so check the airport's parking pages before arriving. For pickups, the rideshare curbs at the 24th Street and 44th Street Sky Train stations keep you away from the busier terminal curbs.

How we chose

Every fare, hour and route in this guide comes from Phoenix Sky Harbor, Valley Metro or the City of Phoenix. Where an official page was unclear or did not publish a number, as with airport taxi and rideshare fares, the guide says so instead of guessing. Fares are always phrased as typical.

Airport to downtown Phoenix by train, step by step

1. Follow signs to the PHX Sky Train at Terminal 3 (Level 5) or Terminal 4 (Level 3).
2. Ride to the 44th Street station, which is free.
3. Buy a ticket at the Valley Metro machines on Level 2, or tap a Copper card or the Valley Metro app on the purple reader.
4. Board the westbound A Line toward downtown Phoenix.
5. Check the Valley Metro trip planner for the stop nearest the final destination.
6. Late at night, check the airport website first, since Sky Train maintenance runs from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Last verified: November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

How do you get from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport to downtown Phoenix?

Ride the free PHX Sky Train to the 44th Street station, then transfer to Valley Metro light rail toward downtown Phoenix. Rideshare, taxis and shuttles also serve Terminals 3 and 4.

Is the PHX Sky Train free?

Yes, the PHX Sky Train is free to the public and typically runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Nightly maintenance from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. can mean longer waits.

How much does Valley Metro cost?

A typical local full-fare ride is $2, and Smart Fare stops charging at about $4 per day, $20 per week and $64 per calendar month. Check valleymetro.org for current fares before riding.

Can you visit Phoenix without a car?

Yes, if the stay is centered on downtown, since light rail connects the airport area, downtown, Tempe and Mesa. Mountain preserves and spread-out neighborhoods are easier with a car or rideshare.

Where do rideshare pickups happen at Phoenix Sky Harbor?

Rideshare pickups run 24 hours a day at Terminal 3, Terminal 4, the 24th Street Sky Train station and the 44th Street Sky Train station, according to the airport.