How much is a METRO ride in Houston?
Local bus and light-rail fares are just $1.25 each way. We also have discounted fares for students, seniors and veterans. There are many ways to pay: METRO Q® Fare Card - this reloadable card is used like a debit card.
Rail tickets can be purchased using cash or a credit or debit card at any METRO Ticket Vending Machine (TVM). A one-way ticket costs just $1.25.
Here are your options for getting around: METRO is Houston's public transportation system. Light Rail: The Metro Light Rail spans 7 miles from Downtown to Reliant Stadium. The rail passes through midtown, Hermann Park, Museum District, Rice University, Medical Center and Reliant Park.
Fares: Rides on local buses are $1.25, with free transfers up to three hours in either direction if you pay using one of the Q card or Day Pass options.
Cash. Riders are welcome to pay with cash; however, exact change is required, and operators cannot make change. Transfers are only available when using the METRO Q® Fare Card or METRO Day Pass.
But you don't have to get behind the wheel to get around. Houston is home to more options for transit than ever, with a reimagined bus network and a bustling light rail system that connects downtown to some of the best neighborhoods for visitors.
METRO offers a Free Fares to the following: Children ages five and under ride METRO for free and must be accompanied by an adult.
Houston's public transit is awful and needs to be fixed. While the Metro Rail system and bus routes in place provided rides for millions of people annually pre-pandemic, it is very limited in terms of accessibility.
IAH to downtown Houston: METRO Bus 102 serves the airport and surrounding vicinity with multiple stops and continues to the METRO station downtown. The fare is $1.25 (cash only; the driver does not make change). Transit time to downtown runs 50 to 90 minutes.
How much money will you need for your trip to Houston? You should plan to spend around $210 per day on your vacation in Houston, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. Past travelers have spent, on average, $28 on meals for one day and $58 on local transportation.
Is Uber or taxi cheaper in Houston?
Popularity for the services has skyrocketed over the past year as prices for Uber and Lyft are usually less expensive than cabs. Local 2 Investigates tested Uber's prices for two trips against those of a taxi cab. All cabs in Houston must charge the same rate.
- Downtown Houston. The central business hub for the whole region, Downtown Houston is peppered with skyscrapers and hotels, though there's actually little to see in terms of major sights. ...
- Montrose. ...
- Museum District. ...
- EaDo/East End. ...
- Third Ward. ...
- Bay Area Houston.

Contact METRO STAR at 713-224-RIDE (7433) or toll free at 1-888-606- RIDE (7433).
- Online Store.
- Ticket Vending Machines.
- GoPass Mobile Ticket App.
- Dart Transit Store.
Generally speaking it is safe but the bigger question is where you want to go. Public transport in Houston is very poor. It is okay within certain parts of Houston like downtown, the Galleria Area and Medical Center but pretty bad if you have to go elsewhere.
Metrorail | Cost to Ride |
---|---|
Peak Fare* | $2.25 - $6.00 |
Off-Peak Fare* | $2.00 - $3.85 |
Weekend Metrorail one-way fare | $2.00 |
Weekend Senior/Disabled Flat Fare | $1.00 |
- Get to your station.
- Pay with TAP.
- Board the Train.
- Enjoy the Ride.
- Exit the Train.
About Houston
METRORail hours of operation are 4:30 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, 4:30 a.m. to 2:20 a.m. Friday, 5:30 a.m. to 2:20 a.m. Saturday, and 5:30 a.m. to 11:40 a.m. Sunday.
Fifty percent of the neighborhoods in Houston are not walkable,” Kinder Institute Director Bill Fulton told the Houston Chronicle last year. “You've got to start somewhere. There's clearly a demand for this type of living, even in Houston and even in this climate.”
The historic Market Square area of downtown remains one of the most walkable areas in Houston Walkable Places have a diversity of uses and are interesting places to be.
How do I spend a day in downtown Houston?
- Visit The Menil Collection. ...
- Stroll, bike or paddle through Buffalo Bayou Park. ...
- Stop by The Beer Can House. ...
- Grab lunch at Finn Hall. ...
- Explore the Downtown Aquarium. ...
- Check out the sights and sounds of Discovery Green. ...
- Eat dinner at Guard & Grace. ...
- Enjoy drinks at Georgia James Tavern.
The Houston Street station is a local station on the IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. Located at West Houston and Varick Streets in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, it is served by the 1 train at all times and by the 2 train during late nights.
...
METRORail | |
---|---|
Number of stations | 39 |
Daily ridership | 36,300 (weekdays, Q2 2022) |
Annual ridership | 8,977,300 (2021) |
Chief executive | Tom Lambert |
Enjoy FREE parking
On-street parking in downtown is FREE Monday-Saturday from 6 pm-7 am and all day Sunday.
Local buses primarily operate within the city. Service varies depending on the route, but most routes operate seven days a week and nearly 24 hours a day.