Getting around · Richmond
Getting to and from RIC: taxi, rideshare, transit & the cell-phone lot
The quickest way to Richmond airport is usually a taxi or a rideshare: a metered taxi gets you to Downtown Richmond, 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 RIC TSA wait times today before you decide when to leave.
- Terminal
- 1
- Checkpoints
- 2
- PreCheck
- Yes
- CLEAR
- No
- Global Entry
- On site
- Wait data
- Predicted
Taxis from RIC — fare and where to find the stand
Typical taxi fare
Metered
to Downtown Richmond
Drive time
12–20 min
7 mi to Downtown Richmond
A taxi is the simplest door-to-door option and needs no app. Fares to Downtown Richmond are on the meter, so the total depends on traffic and your exact address.
Taxis wait at the center of the lower-level curb, adjacent to the parking garages. A one-way trip to downtown runs about $40 plus fees; Airport Taxi 804-233-4444.
The RIC cell-phone waiting lot
Picking someone up? Wait free at Cell Phone Waiting Lot. Less than a minute from the terminal. 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 once your passenger is at baggage claim.
Leaving a car for the trip instead of getting dropped off? It's worth checking the lots: compare RICparking by price & distance.
Where to catch Uber & Lyft at RIC
Uber and Lyft pick up on the lower level near baggage claim; a second pickup point on the upper ticketing level is often less congested.
Dropping off? Drop off on the upper departures deck. Richmondhas a single terminal, so there's no wrong-curb risk — any door gets you to check-in and security.
Driving to RIC — routes & drive time
RIC sits about 7 miles from Downtown Richmond, a drive of roughly 12–20 minutes via I-64 west to downtown Richmond — 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 RIC by train or transit
No rail serves RIC. GRTC Routes 7A and 7B run from the upper departures deck to the Downtown Transfer Station about every 15 minutes, fare-free.
Fare: Free under GRTC's zero-fare policy.
Hotel and city shuttles to RIC
Rental, hotel, and shared-ride shuttles operate from the Ground Transportation Center, and many area hotels offer courtesy pickup. 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 RIC?
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 RICparking by price & distance — the closest lot isn't always the one that costs the least.
Accessibility and late-night rides at RIC
GRTC buses are lift-equipped, and accessible vans can be requested from taxi and car-service operators.
Late or overnight arrival? Rideshare and taxis operate around flights; GRTC bus service runs limited hours, so check the schedule late at night.
Returning a rental on the way out? Nine rental agencies are on-site at the lower-level terminal entrance; return vehicles there. (We cover where to return a car, not where to book one.)
Recently changed: GRTC has kept its zero-fare bus service in place, so Routes 7A and 7B remain free. Pickup zones and curb rules change — we verified RIC'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 ORF (Norfolk), about 75 miles from RIC 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 RIC — check current waits before switching airports.
Before you go RIC
RIC TSA wait times todaySee today's security wait by checkpoint, then time your ride to the airport.Getting-around FAQ RIC
How much is a taxi to or from RIC?
Taxis to Downtown Richmond are metered, so the fare depends on traffic and the exact address. Taxis wait at the center of the lower-level curb, adjacent to the parking garages.
Where do you catch Uber and Lyft at RIC?
Uber and Lyft pick up on the lower level near baggage claim; a second pickup point on the upper ticketing level is often less congested. Open the app after you land and follow its pickup pin, not the curb out front.
Where is the RIC cell-phone lot?
Cell Phone Waiting Lot — Less than a minute from the terminal. It's free, and you wait there until your traveler texts that they have their bags.
How far is RIC from Downtown Richmond?
RIC is about 7 miles from Downtown Richmond — roughly 12–20 minutes by car depending on traffic, via I-64 west to downtown Richmond.
Is there a train from RIC to Downtown Richmond?
Not directly. No rail serves RIC. GRTC Routes 7A and 7B run from the upper departures deck to the Downtown Transfer Station about every 15 minutes, fare-free.