Getting around · Portland · PWM
Getting to and from PWM: taxi, rideshare, transit & the cell-phone lot
The quickest way to Portland · PWM airport is usually a taxi or a rideshare: a metered taxi gets you to Downtown Portland, 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 PWM 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 PWM — fare and where to find the stand
Typical taxi fare
Metered
to Downtown Portland
Drive time
8–15 min
3 mi to Downtown Portland
A taxi is the simplest door-to-door option and needs no app. Fares to Downtown Portland are on the meter, so the total depends on traffic and your exact address.
Taxis stage on the arrivals curb from the first to the last flights of the day. Call 207-879-1903 for taxi information.
The PWM cell-phone waiting lot
Picking someone up? Wait free at Cell Phone Lot. Behind the parking garage, a short drive from the terminal. Wait there until your traveler texts that they're at the curb, then loop in once. Wait with your vehicle; rideshare drivers use marked spaces in the same lot to receive requests.
Leaving a car for the trip instead of getting dropped off? It's worth checking the lots: compare PWMparking by price & distance.
Where to catch Uber & Lyft at PWM
Uber and Lyft can drop off at the departures level and pick up as directed in the app; drivers stage in the marked rideshare spaces in the Cell Phone Lot.
Dropping off? Drop off on the departures level curb alongside taxis. Portland · PWMhas a single terminal, so there's no wrong-curb risk — any door gets you to check-in and security.
Driving to PWM — routes & drive time
PWM sits about 3 miles from Downtown Portland, a drive of roughly 8–15 minutes via I-295 north to downtown Portland; the jetport sits just off Congress Street — 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 PWM by train or transit
No rail serves the jetport. METRO Route 5 links the terminal with downtown Portland (Elm Street) in about 25 minutes, with connections toward the Maine Mall.
Fare: $2 one-way.
Hotel and city shuttles to PWM
Many area hotels run courtesy shuttles, and shared-ride vans also serve the terminal. 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 PWM?
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 PWMparking by price & distance — the closest lot isn't always the one that costs the least.
Accessibility and late-night rides at PWM
METRO buses are lift-equipped and kneel for boarding; accessible taxis can be requested by phone.
Late or overnight arrival? The terminal is open around flights; METRO Route 5 runs limited hours, so check the schedule for late arrivals.
Returning a rental on the way out? Return rental cars at the on-site facility adjacent to the terminal garage. (We cover where to return a car, not where to book one.)
Pickup zones and curb rules change — we verified PWM'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 MHT (Manchester), about 75 miles from PWM 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 PWM — check current waits before switching airports.
Before you go PWM
PWM TSA wait times todaySee today's security wait by checkpoint, then time your ride to the airport.Getting-around FAQ PWM
How much is a taxi to or from PWM?
Taxis to Downtown Portland are metered, so the fare depends on traffic and the exact address. Taxis stage on the arrivals curb from the first to the last flights of the day.
Where do you catch Uber and Lyft at PWM?
Uber and Lyft can drop off at the departures level and pick up as directed in the app; drivers stage in the marked rideshare spaces in the Cell Phone Lot. Open the app after you land and follow its pickup pin, not the curb out front.
Where is the PWM cell-phone lot?
Cell Phone Lot — Behind the parking garage, a short drive from the terminal. It's free, and you wait there until your traveler texts that they have their bags.
How far is PWM from Downtown Portland?
PWM is about 3 miles from Downtown Portland — roughly 8–15 minutes by car depending on traffic, via I-295 north to downtown Portland; the jetport sits just off Congress Street.
Is there a train from PWM to Downtown Portland?
Not directly. No rail serves the jetport. METRO Route 5 links the terminal with downtown Portland (Elm Street) in about 25 minutes, with connections toward the Maine Mall.