Getting around · Boise
Getting to and from BOI: taxi, rideshare, transit & the cell-phone lot
The quickest way to Boise airport is usually a taxi or a rideshare: a taxi runs about $12–$22 to Downtown Boise, and Uber & Lyft pick up in a marked pickup zone. Picking someone up instead? Wait free at the Cell Phone Waiting Lot. Below: every way to and from the airport, what it costs, whether to park or grab a ride, and how to fold the drive into your Leave-By Time so you reach security with room to get through the line. Check BOI TSA wait times today before you decide when to leave.
- Terminal
- 1
- Checkpoint
- 1
- PreCheck
- Yes
- CLEAR
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- Global Entry
- Off site
- Wait data
- Predicted
Taxis from BOI — fare and where to find the stand
Typical taxi fare
~$12–$22
to Downtown Boise
Drive time
10–15 min
3 mi to Downtown Boise
A taxi is the simplest door-to-door option and needs no app. Expect about $12–$22 to Downtown Boise on the meter, before tolls and tip — more in heavy traffic.
Ground level outside baggage claim. Boise City Cab 208-377-3333 and other companies. Metered taxis; ~$12-22 to downtown Boise.
The BOI cell-phone waiting lot
Picking someone up? Wait free at Cell Phone Waiting Lot. On airport property near the terminal entrance; follow airport signage. Wait there until your traveler texts that they're at the curb, then loop in once. Free waiting lot. Driver must remain with vehicle.
Leaving a car for the trip instead of getting dropped off? It's worth checking the lots: compare BOIparking by price & distance.
Where to catch Uber & Lyft at BOI
Uber and Lyft pick up at the lower level baggage claim area; follow TNC/rideshare signage.
Dropping off? Drop off on the upper Departures curb; active loading only. Boisehas a single terminal, so there's no wrong-curb risk — any door gets you to check-in and security.
Driving to BOI — routes & drive time
BOI sits about 3 miles from Downtown Boise, a drive of roughly 10–15 minutes via Airport Way north links the airport to I-84; Vista Avenue and US-20/26 (Chinden Blvd) connect to downtown Boise — closer to the high end at rush hour. That drive time is the first input into your Leave-By Time, so the calculator counts it backward from your flight along with today's security wait and the walk to your gate.
Getting to BOI by train or transit
No rail serves BOI. Valley Regional Transit Route 25 (Airport Connector) runs between the airport and downtown Boise's Intermodal Hub in about 20 minutes for $1.00. Service is limited; check Valley Regional Transit for current schedules.
Fare: $1.00 one-way on Valley Regional Transit.
Hotel and city shuttles to BOI
Hotel courtesy shuttles from the baggage claim level. Several Boise hotels run free airport shuttle service. If a shuttle is part of your plan, add its ride time to your Leave-By Time — it's easy to forget the 15–20 minutes between the curb and the terminal.
Park or ride to BOI?
Here's the math. Parking starts around $7/day, while a round-trip taxi or rideshare to Downtown Boise runs about $34. So a round trip by car comes out ahead once you're away more than about 5 days — for a quick trip, parking usually costs less; for a long one, getting a ride does.
Want the exact trade-off for your dates? compare BOIparking by price & distance — the closest lot isn't always the one that costs the least.
Accessibility and late-night rides at BOI
Valley Regional Transit buses are accessible. Accessible taxis and rideshare available at the curb.
Late or overnight arrival? Valley Regional Transit has limited hours; taxis and rideshare operate around the clock.
Returning a rental on the way out? On-airport consolidated Rental Car facility; follow Rental Car Return signs. (We cover where to return a car, not where to book one.)
Pickup zones and curb rules change — we verified BOI's ground-transport details as of June 29, 2026. Always check the in-app pickup pin and posted signs when you land.
Flying out of a nearby airport instead?
If a fare or a schedule points you elsewhere, the closest airport we cover is PSC (Tri-Cities), about 234 miles from BOI in a straight line. The same math on this page — drive time, ride cost, security wait — decides whether the extra distance is worth it.
Other airports nearby
Straight-line distance from BOI — check current waits before switching airports.
Before you go BOI
BOI TSA wait times todaySee today's security wait by checkpoint, then time your ride to the airport.Getting-around FAQ BOI
How much is a taxi to or from BOI?
A metered taxi to Downtown Boise typically runs about $12–$22, before tolls and tip and more in heavy traffic. Ground level outside baggage claim. Boise City Cab 208-377-3333 and other companies.
Where do you catch Uber and Lyft at BOI?
Uber and Lyft pick up at the lower level baggage claim area; follow TNC/rideshare signage. Open the app after you land and follow its pickup pin, not the curb out front.
Where is the BOI cell-phone lot?
Cell Phone Waiting Lot — On airport property near the terminal entrance; follow airport signage. It's free, and you wait there until your traveler texts that they have their bags.
How far is BOI from Downtown Boise?
BOI is about 3 miles from Downtown Boise — roughly 10–15 minutes by car depending on traffic, via Airport Way north links the airport to I-84; Vista Avenue and US-20/26 (Chinden Blvd) connect to downtown Boise.
Is there a train from BOI to Downtown Boise?
Not directly. No rail serves BOI. Valley Regional Transit Route 25 (Airport Connector) runs between the airport and downtown Boise's Intermodal Hub in about 20 minutes for $1.00. Service is limited; check Valley Regional Transit for current schedules.