Bush Intercontinental (IAH) to downtown Houston
Route 500 Downtown Direct connects Bush Terminal E with downtown Houston and carries on to Hobby Airport, every 30 minutes. The fare is $1.25, the same as every other METRO bus and train.
- The fare is $1.25. Houston charges the same on every local bus route and every METRORail line, airport included.
- Route 500 Downtown Direct is the airport bus, calling at Bush IAH Terminal E, the Downtown Transit Center and Hobby Airport.
- It runs every 30 minutes, Monday to Friday and at weekends alike.
- One bus links both Houston airports. If you are connecting between Bush and Hobby on separate tickets, this is a $1.25 answer to a problem that usually costs $70.
- Discounted fare is $0.60, half the standard.
- A virtual RideMETRO Fare Card is free; the physical card costs $2.
- Ten paid rides earn one free, through METRO's 1-for-10 loyalty programme.
- Board at Terminal E. Bush's terminals are connected airside by the Skyway and landside by the Subway train, so allow time if you land elsewhere.
The bus
- Route 500, Downtown Direct, is a limited-stop service between George Bush Intercontinental and downtown Houston, and it continues south to William P. Hobby Airport.
- Every 30 minutes, seven days a week.
- It stops at Bush IAH Terminal E, at the Downtown Transit Center and at several downtown streets, including San Jacinto at Rusk, St Joseph Parkway at Main and Travis at Dallas.
- Wi-Fi is free on board and the vehicles are accessible.
What it costs
- $1.25. METRO charges a single flat fare across all local bus routes, all METRORail lines and its curb2curb zones, and does not add an airport premium.
- $0.60 on the discounted fare.
- The card is optional. A virtual RideMETRO Fare Card costs nothing; a physical one is $2. Either earns the 1-for-10 loyalty ride.
- Ten rides get you an eleventh free, which two airport journeys plus a week of city travel will comfortably reach.
Connecting between Bush and Hobby
- Houston's two commercial airports are 30 miles apart and split between airlines, so a connection between them is a real journey.
- Route 500 does it in one vehicle, through downtown, for $1.25.
- It is slow. This is a bus in Houston traffic, not an express link, so allow generously if you are catching a flight rather than going to bed.
Getting to the stop
- The bus uses Terminal E. Bush has five terminals; the Skyway connects them airside and the Subway train connects them landside.
- If you land at Terminal A, B, C or D, take the Subway to E before looking for the bus stop.
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