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 $4.50, a Park & Ride fare, not the $1.25 charged on local buses and trains.
- The fare is $4.50. Route 500 is charged at METRO's Park & Ride fare, not the $1.25 that covers every local bus route and METRORail line.
- 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 $4.50 answer to a problem that otherwise means a taxi or a ride app.
- Discounted fare is $2.25, 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, from about 5:30am to 8pm.
- 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
- $4.50. Route 500 is charged at the Park & Ride fare. METRO's flat $1.25 fare covers local bus routes, METRORail lines and curb2curb zones, not this route.
- $2.25 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 $4.50.
- 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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