Getting around · Medford
Getting to and from MFR: taxi, rideshare, transit & the cell-phone lot
The quickest way to Medford airport is usually a taxi or a rideshare: a metered taxi gets you to Downtown Medford, 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 MFR TSA wait times today before you decide when to leave.
- Terminal
- 1
- Checkpoint
- 1
- PreCheck
- Yes
- CLEAR
- No
- Global Entry
- Off site
- Wait data
- Predicted
Taxis from MFR — fare and where to find the stand
Typical taxi fare
Metered
to Downtown Medford
Drive time
8–12 min
3 mi to Downtown Medford
A taxi is the simplest door-to-door option and needs no app. Fares to Downtown Medford are on the meter, so the total depends on traffic and your exact address.
Curbside outside the terminal. Local cabs include Yellow Cab of Medford (541-772-6288) and Checker Cab (541-664-8294); fares are metered, so confirm before you ride.
The MFR cell-phone waiting lot
Picking someone up? Wait free at the cell-phone waiting lot. A cell-phone waiting area is available near the terminal for drivers meeting arrivals. Wait there until your traveler texts that they're at the curb, then loop in once. Wait with your vehicle and pull to the curb only when your party is ready.
Leaving a car for the trip instead of getting dropped off? It's worth checking the lots: compare MFRparking by price & distance.
Where to catch Uber & Lyft at MFR
Uber and Lyft pick up in the marked area just outside the terminal building.
Dropping off? Drop off departing passengers at the terminal curb. Medfordhas a single terminal, so there's no wrong-curb risk — any door gets you to check-in and security.
Driving to MFR — routes & drive time
MFR sits about 3 miles from Downtown Medford, a drive of roughly 8–12 minutes via Biddle Road to OR-62 (Crater Lake Highway) or I-5 into downtown Medford — 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 MFR by train or transit
No rail serves the airport, but RVTD Route 61 connects the terminal with downtown Medford; check the schedule as service is daytime and limited on weekends.
Fare: About $2-3 for an RVTD one-way fare.
Hotel and city shuttles to MFR
Cascade Airport Shuttle (541-488-1998) and Rogue Valley Shuttle serve Ashland and the wider Rogue Valley; some hotels also run courtesy vans. 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 MFR?
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 MFRparking by price & distance — the closest lot isn't always the one that costs the least.
Accessibility and late-night rides at MFR
RVTD buses are lift-equipped; arrange accessible taxis or vans in advance.
Late or overnight arrival? Taxis and rideshare run late; RVTD buses run limited daytime hours, so plan for early or late flights.
Returning a rental on the way out? Return rental cars at the lot adjacent to the terminal. (We cover where to return a car, not where to book one.)
Pickup zones and curb rules change — we verified MFR's ground-transport details as of July 1, 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 EUG (Eugene), about 122 miles from MFR 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 MFR — check current waits before switching airports.
Before you go MFR
MFR TSA wait times todaySee today's security wait by checkpoint, then time your ride to the airport.Getting-around FAQ MFR
How much is a taxi to or from MFR?
Taxis to Downtown Medford are metered, so the fare depends on traffic and the exact address. Curbside outside the terminal.
Where do you catch Uber and Lyft at MFR?
Uber and Lyft pick up in the marked area just outside the terminal building. Open the app after you land and follow its pickup pin, not the curb out front.
Where is the MFR cell-phone lot?
A cell-phone waiting area is available near the terminal for drivers meeting arrivals. It's free, and you wait there until your traveler texts that they have their bags.
How far is MFR from Downtown Medford?
MFR is about 3 miles from Downtown Medford — roughly 8–12 minutes by car depending on traffic, via Biddle Road to OR-62 (Crater Lake Highway) or I-5 into downtown Medford.
Is there a train from MFR to Downtown Medford?
Not directly. No rail serves the airport, but RVTD Route 61 connects the terminal with downtown Medford; check the schedule as service is daytime and limited on weekends.