Traveling via plane is fun — jet-setting over beautiful blue waters or rolling hills, taking in cloud formations, and landing in a completely different location in a matter of hours is unlike anything else. The whole navigating the airport part? Less exciting, and sometimes pretty stressful. To help make your time at Portland International Airport as smooth as possible, we’ve created a guide that covers everything from gates and parking to details on some of the airport’s nonstop flights.
What to know
- TSA | According to the PDX website, travelers should arrive at the airport two hours before a domestic flight during the busy early morning hours, or three hours before an international flight. Use this handy tool to check security wait times.
- Map it out | If you’re like us and need to completely visualize a place before you step foot inside, these maps of the entire airport will be your saving grace.
- Food and drink | From Southern comfort food at Screen Door to craft beer at Deschutes Brewery, Portland International Airport is home to a plethora of acclaimed eatery outposts. We put together a list of restaurants and where to find them within the airport.
- Reminder | By May 7, 2025, you will need a REAL ID (or another acceptable form of identification, like a valid passport) to board commercial flights in the US.
- Flight status | While we recommend staying updated via your respective airline, you can also check the airport’s dashboard for your flight status in a pinch.
You can park your car in PDX’s Economy lot for $15/day — the seventh day is free.
Photo by @_cr.visuals_
Parking, shuttles, and rideshare
Not everyone has a bestie who will drop everything to pick them up from their 3 a.m. landing. Each lot and garage costs $4 an hour; beyond that, the price per day is as listed:
- Short-term parking | $30/day
- Long-term lot | $24/day
- Economy lot | $15/day
Because Portland International Airport only has one main terminal, all of these parking options are either within walking or shuttle distance of TSA and your gate.
Hate the thought of driving yourself? Try out a shuttle, rideshare, or taxi service that will take you to and from the terminal. These services are suggested by PDX:
- Broadway Cab Company | Taxi | Taxis can be found on the lower roadway, outside of baggage claim, closest to the parking garage
- TriMet MAX | Light rail | Red Line trains depart every 15 minutes at the south end of the ticket lobby
- Caravan Airport Transportation | Buses and vans | Shuttles can be found on the lower roadway, outside of baggage claim
The rideshare pick-up/drop-off location is at the Transportation Plaza inside Level 1 of the short-term parking garage.
Nonstop flights
PDX offers 70 nonstop flights — 59 domestic, plus 11 international flights to six countries.
Bonus: Get lower fares by signing up for Going. You’ll get emailed when flights are 40-90% cheaper than usual. Get a two-week free trial of the Premium plan, which lets you set custom destination flight alerts (score).
Pro tip: Remember that flight times and schedules will often change — you should rely on your respective airline for exact timing and to stay updated on any changes.
- Boise BOI | Alaska Airlines | Daily
- Burbank BUR | Alaska Airlines | Daily
- Reno RNO | Alaska Airlines | Daily
- Redmond RDM | Alaska Airlines | Flight dates vary
- Vancouver YVR | Air Canada | Daily
Gates
Here are seven gates with popular stores and lounges nearby:
- Gate E8 | Nearby services: Calliope, Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Tillamook
- Gate C8 | Nearby services: Columbia Sportswear, Made In Oregon, Rich’s Cigar Store
- Gate C13 | Nearby services: Hollywood Theatre
- Gate C5 | Nearby services: Alaska Airlines Alaska Lounge, Jackson Shine Co.
- Gate C16 | Nearby services: Pendleton
- Gate E3 | Nearby services: Delta Air Lines Delta Sky Club, Tender Loving Empire
- Gate E1 | Nearby services: United Airlines United Club
Smile, it’s Stumptown.
Photo by @tyler.hamilton
Food and drink
PDX is a hub of eateries with dozens of restaurants, bars, and coffee shops for fliers to visit before or between flights, like:
- Bambuza Vietnam Kitchen | Concourse C + E | Menu highlights: Banh mi sandwiches, vermicelli bowls + pho
- Portland Coffee Roasters | Concourse C | Menu highlights: Full coffee menu and bags of whole beans
- The Country Cat | Pre-security | Menu highlights: Southern comfort food, breakfast items, and grab-and-go pastries, salads + sandwiches
- Hopworks Urban Brewery | Concourse E | Menu highlights: Local draft beers, cocktails, burgers, salads, pizzas, and starters
PDX Next
If you’ve been to Portland International Airport recently, you’ve likely seen construction on its new main terminal — complete with a 9-acre Douglas fir ceiling, 49 skylights, trees that recreate “a walk through the forest.” It’s all part of a $2 billion investment to improve and grow PDX, which already expanded Concourse E, updated Concourse B, and consolidated the ground transit system.
This multi-phase development is expected to be completed in December 2025, but Phase 1 will land on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024.
Once Phase 1 opens, travelers can expect improvements and new features, including:
- New check-in counters reoriented into four “islands”
- A streamlined security process
- New exhibits showcasing local artists
- Pre-security stadium seating, a mezzanine restaurant, and new restrooms
- The ability to get to all four concourses post-security
Two new video walls will display a 24-hour art installation with Oregon-inspired landscapes that change according to the time of day, the weather, and how many people are traveling through PDX.
Photo via Port of Portland
This phase will welcome 14 local restaurants, shops, and kiosks to PDX by the fall of 2024, found both pre- and post-security. Retailers include local favorites like Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Loyal Legion, and Powell’s Books, in addition to larger brands like Pendleton and Columbia.
The renovation also brings back an old favorite — PDX’s beloved teal carpet will return to parts of the airport.
With Phase 1’s completion, PDX will immediately start working on Phase 2, meaning construction walls will remain in the main terminal until both phases are open. The ongoing construction allows for fewer flight reductions and delays, but means travelers may face detours.
PDX recommends allotting extra time for your travels, and your experience may look different during construction thanks to relocated bathrooms and longer detours to access Concourses B and E. Arriving passengers will also need to follow temporary, rerouted exit lanes.
Phase 2 will add more exits and escalators to baggage claim, additional all-user restrooms, new mosaic art, and waiting areas. It will also bring the total number of new retailers to 24, with shops opening through early 2026.
