Cleveland Airport Transportation Guide

Taking the Red Line and Other Practical Tips

One option worth knowing in detail is the RTA Red Line rapid transit train, which runs from a station connected to the terminal at Cleveland Hopkins straight to Tower City Center in downtown Cleveland. For many travellers it is the simplest and cheapest way into the city. You avoid road traffic entirely, and the trip usually takes around half an hour. Tower City sits on Public Square, so many downtown hotels, the riverfront and the Warehouse District are within walking distance or a short connection away. The Red Line also stops at neighbourhoods such as Ohio City and West 25th Street, which are handy if you are staying on the near west side.

Fares, payment methods and service hours change from time to time, so check the RTA's official information before you travel. Trains run less often late at night and early in the morning. If your flight lands at an awkward hour, a taxi or rideshare may be the more reliable choice.

Choosing the right option for your trip

• Travelling light and heading downtown: the Red Line is hard to beat for cost and predictability.
• Planning day trips: a rental car makes sense if you want to explore Lake Erie shoreline towns, the Cuyahoga Valley or wineries east of the city, which are difficult to reach by transit.
• Arriving in a group or with lots of luggage: splitting a taxi or rideshare often works out well and saves dragging bags through stations.
• Winter arrivals: Northeast Ohio weather can slow roads considerably, so allow extra time if you are driving or being picked up.

Rideshare pickups use a designated area rather than the kerb directly outside arrivals, so follow the airport signage and your app's instructions. If someone is collecting you, ask them to wait in the cell phone lot until you have your bags. That keeps traffic moving and saves them circling the terminal.

Once you are settled, browse our destination guides for ideas around the city and the wider Midwest, or see our travel guides for packing lists and day-trip itineraries that start right here in Cleveland.