There are two main airports in Houston, George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and Houston Hobby (HOU). When flying in and out of Houston it is important to confirm which airport you are flying out of. These airports are not located near each other, and going to the wrong airport may make you miss your flight.
Public Transportation:
Public transportation is completely inadequate in Houston. Visiting Houston without a car can be very difficult. There is no train or light rail to the airport. The tram at the airport only goes between terminals and does not provide access to outside of the airport.
The main way to use public transportation to get from the airport into Houston is on a direct bus called Metro 500 Downtown Direct. There are some limited other options for buses to the airport, but they are very slow and probably don’t go where you want to go.
METRO 500 Downtown Direct Bus
Metro 500 costs $4.50 per ride, and can be paid either with exact change when you get on the bus or can be paid on the metro app.
Metro 500 is a bus that connects from IAH to the George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston. The bus runs directly between the airport and the center and does not make any other stops.
The bus departs every thirty minutes from Terminal C and the ride takes about 30 to 45 minutes, depending on traffic. There is plenty of room on the bus for luggage.
The bus stop downtown is in a parking garage at George R. Brown Convention center. The stop does not have any facilities such as restrooms and there are no kiosks for buying snacks for your ride or getting change. The bus stop at the convention center is hard to find, keep an eye out for signage. There are however a number of restaurants and hotels in the area, as well as close access to the light rail system.
The bus is the cheapest method of getting to the airport. If you are staying anywhere near the convention center it is a great option.
Light Rail
The light rail does not connect directly to the airport. If you are staying somewhere accessible to the light rail, you can use the light rail to get between your hotel and the bus stop for the Metro 500 bus located at the convention center.
The light rail is a tram system that runs through a limited amount of Houston, but does connect many of the places that are most interesting for tourists. Hotels located near NRG Stadium, the Texas Medical Center, or near Discovery Green might be accessible by light rail.
Taxis and Rideshares
Taxis
The airport has a traditional taxi stand, where you can get a taxi to where you are staying. You should not be approached by a taxi driver inside of the airport, and only get into a taxi at the taxi stand.
Rideshares
Most people use a ride share service. The main two services used in Houston are Uber and Lyft. They are both booked through their respective apps. Compare prices between the apps before booking, sometimes there can be a significant difference between the two.
I have had to pay up to $70+ tip when taking an Uber at rush hour from the airport to downtown. Off-times can be much cheaper.
Companies such as Didi and Cabify do not exist in Houston.
Rental Cars
Most major rental companies have a booth at the airport. If you are going to be renting a car for your stay, rent from the airport.
The rental booths are located in the Rental Car Center near the airport. They are accessed by a free shuttle that runs 24 hours a day from all of the terminals. There are a lot of different rental companies available. I have never rented a car from the Houston airport, but when renting a car in Houston I usually go with Enterprise.
If you have a Costco membership you may be able to get discounts or free upgrades on your car rental.
Limo and Car Services
There are many limousine companies that offer car services to IAH. One well known company is Sam’s Limousine which also has charter busses available for large groups.