Getting around · Indianapolis
Getting to and from IND: taxi, rideshare, transit & the cell-phone lot
The quickest way to Indianapolis airport is usually a taxi or a rideshare: a metered taxi gets you to Downtown Indianapolis, and Uber & Lyft pick up in a marked pickup zone. Picking someone up instead? Wait free at the Cell Phone 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 IND TSA wait times today before you decide when to leave.
- Terminal
- 1
- Checkpoints
- 2
- PreCheck
- Yes
- CLEAR
- Yes
- Global Entry
- On site
- Wait data
- Predicted
Taxis from IND — fare and where to find the stand
Typical taxi fare
Metered
to Downtown Indianapolis
Drive time
15–20 min
7 mi to Downtown Indianapolis
A taxi is the simplest door-to-door option and needs no app. Fares to Downtown Indianapolis are on the meter, so the total depends on traffic and your exact address.
Find the Taxi Station at the curb on the lower level, just outside Baggage Claim. Press the green call button to call a cab. There is a $15 minimum charge for all fares leaving the airport, no matter how short the trip. Tip your driver.
The IND cell-phone waiting lot
Picking someone up? Wait free at Cell Phone Lot. On airport property near the terminal entrance road, off South Service Road. Wait there until your traveler texts that they're at the curb, then loop in once. After you arrive at IND, follow the signs for the Cell Phone Lot. Wait there for free, then drive to the terminal once your passenger is at the curb.
Leaving a car for the trip instead of getting dropped off? It's worth checking the lots: compare INDparking by price & distance.
Where to catch Uber & Lyft at IND
Uber and Lyft run 24/7. For pickups, go to the Ground Transportation Center on the first floor of the Terminal Garage. For drop-offs, you are dropped at the main terminal.
Dropping off? Drop-offs happen at the main terminal building. Pickups are at the Ground Transportation Center in the garage, not the curb. Indianapolishas a single terminal, so there's no wrong-curb risk — any door gets you to check-in and security.
Driving to IND — routes & drive time
IND sits about 7 miles from Downtown Indianapolis, a drive of roughly 15–20 minutes via Take I-70 east to reach downtown. The I-465 loop ties in for other parts of the metro — 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 IND by train or transit
There is no train. IndyGo bus Route 8 (Washington) links the airport with downtown along Washington Street. It is the cheapest ride but slower than a cab.
Fare: $2.75 for a 2-hour pass, or $6 for a Day Pass. Pay with cash or the IndyGo app.
Hotel and city shuttles to IND
Many hotels within 5 miles of IND run free courtesy shuttles. The Economy Lot also has a free parking shuttle that runs 24/7 every 5 to 7 minutes. 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 IND?
The rule of thumb: a round-trip ride is one fixed cost, while parking adds up by the day. For a quick 1–2 day trip, parking usually costs less; for a longer trip, a round-trip taxi or rideshare often comes out ahead.
Want the exact trade-off for your dates? compare INDparking by price & distance — the closest lot isn't always the one that costs the least.
Accessibility and late-night rides at IND
Elevators and escalators reach every level, and the Ground Transportation Center is step-free. IndyGo buses are wheelchair accessible.
Late or overnight arrival? Taxis and rideshare are available any hour. IndyGo bus service is limited late at night, so check the schedule.
Returning a rental on the way out? Return rental cars to the Ground Transportation Center on the first floor of the Terminal Garage. (We cover where to return a car, not where to book one.)
Recently changed: Mileage and drive time are typical estimates and vary with traffic. Pickup zones and curb rules change — we verified IND's ground-transport details as of June 27, 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 CVG (Cincinnati), about 98 miles from IND 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 IND — check current waits before switching airports.
Before you go IND
IND TSA wait times todaySee today's security wait by checkpoint, then time your ride to the airport.Getting-around FAQ IND
How much is a taxi to or from IND?
Taxis to Downtown Indianapolis are metered, so the fare depends on traffic and the exact address. Find the Taxi Station at the curb on the lower level, just outside Baggage Claim. Press the green call button to call a cab.
Where do you catch Uber and Lyft at IND?
Uber and Lyft run 24/7. For pickups, go to the Ground Transportation Center on the first floor of the Terminal Garage. For drop-offs, you are dropped at the main terminal. Open the app after you land and follow its pickup pin, not the curb out front.
Where is the IND cell-phone lot?
Cell Phone Lot — On airport property near the terminal entrance road, off South Service Road. It's free, and you wait there until your traveler texts that they have their bags.
How far is IND from Downtown Indianapolis?
IND is about 7 miles from Downtown Indianapolis — roughly 15–20 minutes by car depending on traffic, via Take I-70 east to reach downtown. The I-465 loop ties in for other parts of the metro.
Is there a train from IND to Downtown Indianapolis?
Not directly. There is no train. IndyGo bus Route 8 (Washington) links the airport with downtown along Washington Street. It is the cheapest ride but slower than a cab.