Getting around · Rochester
Getting to and from ROC: taxi, rideshare, transit & the cell-phone lot
The quickest way to Rochester airport is usually a taxi or a rideshare: a metered taxi gets you to Downtown Rochester, 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 ROC 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 ROC — fare and where to find the stand
Typical taxi fare
Metered
to Downtown Rochester
Drive time
8–15 min
4 mi to Downtown Rochester
A taxi is the simplest door-to-door option and needs no app. Fares to Downtown Rochester are on the meter, so the total depends on traffic and your exact address.
Taxis stage 24/7 outside the center terminal entrance; find the Taxi Cab Starter Booth on the lower level. A one-way trip to downtown is about $20, and cabs accept cash or card.
The ROC cell-phone waiting lot
Picking someone up? Wait free at Cell Phone Lot. Off Airport Way to the right as you approach the terminal, marked by feather flags. Wait there until your traveler texts that they're at the curb, then loop in once. Stay with your vehicle at all times; curbside waiting is not allowed and unattended cars may be towed.
Leaving a car for the trip instead of getting dropped off? It's worth checking the lots: compare ROCparking by price & distance.
Where to catch Uber & Lyft at ROC
Uber and Lyft coordinate pickup through the app; arrange the spot with your driver near the terminal.
Dropping off? Drop off at the departures curb on the upper level. Rochesterhas a single terminal, so there's no wrong-curb risk — any door gets you to check-in and security.
Driving to ROC — routes & drive time
ROC sits about 4 miles from Downtown Rochester, a drive of roughly 8–15 minutes via I-390 north to I-490 into downtown Rochester — 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 ROC by train or transit
No rail serves ROC. RTS buses stop at the shelter on the lower-level roadway and run to downtown Rochester; check the route and schedule at the Visitors Information booth.
Hotel and city shuttles to ROC
Several hotels offer courtesy shuttles, and shared-ride vans 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 ROC?
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 ROCparking by price & distance — the closest lot isn't always the one that costs the least.
Accessibility and late-night rides at ROC
RTS buses are lift-equipped and kneel for boarding; accessible taxis can be requested by phone.
Late or overnight arrival? Taxis stage 24/7; RTS buses run limited hours, so check the schedule for late arrivals.
Returning a rental on the way out? Return rental cars at the counters and lot adjacent to baggage claim on the lower level. (We cover where to return a car, not where to book one.)
Pickup zones and curb rules change — we verified ROC'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 BUF (Buffalo), about 55 miles from ROC 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 ROC — check current waits before switching airports.
Before you go ROC
ROC TSA wait times todaySee today's security wait by checkpoint, then time your ride to the airport.Getting-around FAQ ROC
How much is a taxi to or from ROC?
Taxis to Downtown Rochester are metered, so the fare depends on traffic and the exact address. Taxis stage 24/7 outside the center terminal entrance; find the Taxi Cab Starter Booth on the lower level.
Where do you catch Uber and Lyft at ROC?
Uber and Lyft coordinate pickup through the app; arrange the spot with your driver near the terminal. Open the app after you land and follow its pickup pin, not the curb out front.
Where is the ROC cell-phone lot?
Cell Phone Lot — Off Airport Way to the right as you approach the terminal, marked by feather flags. It's free, and you wait there until your traveler texts that they have their bags.
How far is ROC from Downtown Rochester?
ROC is about 4 miles from Downtown Rochester — roughly 8–15 minutes by car depending on traffic, via I-390 north to I-490 into downtown Rochester.
Is there a train from ROC to Downtown Rochester?
Not directly. No rail serves ROC. RTS buses stop at the shelter on the lower-level roadway and run to downtown Rochester; check the route and schedule at the Visitors Information booth.