How to Get to Pittsburgh from the Airport – Car, Bus or Uber

Drive to Pittsburgh from the Airport

If you are thinking of visiting Pittsburgh with a rental car, Pittsburgh International Airport makes it easy for you!

In late 2025, the airport received a brand new landside terminal with upgraded check-in and arrival amenities. Not only do we love this as locals, but the airport has also vastly improved car rental options. For most rentals, all you have to do is take the escalator down to ground level at baggage claim, follow the signs and covered walkway to the car rental building, grab your keys, and find your car in the attached parking garage. Insofar as you are renting from an on-site agency, it really is a breeze.

As you exit the airport, simply follow the signs towards 376 East / Pittsburgh. The roughly 20-mile drive will have you pass the 70 interchange (continue east on 376 if heading downtown), over Green Tree Hill, and through the Fort Pitt Tunnel before popping out in the heart of Pittsburgh (and with a seriously iconic view).

This drive normally takes about 20 minutes without traffic; however, the hill and tunnel are often prone to backups, especially during rush hour and before sports games, so it can sometimes take 30 minutes or more.

When exiting the tunnel, you get to enjoy some of Pittsburgh's, ahem, fun bridges, and may have to make quick lane changes to make your intended exit. In this specific instance, it is best to be in the correct lane before entering the tunnel to avoid a headache right after the view hits you.

If you are continuing east on 376, such as to Oakland, Squirrel Hill, or beyond, stay in the right lane when entering the tunnel, as this lane will continue on through 376 East along the southern side of downtown along the Monongahela River. There are a few downtown exits here, too, so if you are staying on the southern side of downtown, your GPS may direct you this way as well.

If you are heading to most exits in downtown proper, the North Side, Strip District, or are continuing onto nearby highways like 279, 28, or 65, stay in the left lane before entering the tunnel, and after, you'll pass through downtown and have options to either exit in downtown or cross to the North Shore. Just note you may have additional lane changes that are slightly less dramatic than when exiting the Fort Pitt Tunnel once you are downtown.

• When heading back to the airport, the reverse logic mostly applies. If you are returning down 376, the exit is pretty straightforward. If you are returning via the North Side or nearby highways, you may have a couple of extra lanes to merge into to get into the Fort Pitt Tunnel outbound- so pay attention to the signage.
• Follow 376 West past 70, look for signs for the airport, and follow to the rental car return area. A single gas station is also located near the airport; however, you may have to loop around to reach it as it is not the most convenient relative to the exit.

28X Airport Flyer

Although Pittsburgh does not have a public train to the airport (which we are among the many people who are upset about this), we do have a public bus that will take riders from select stops to/from the airport- The 28X Airport Flyer.

The 28X Airport Flyer runs on roughly 35-minute intervals from the early morning until late evening. Departures from the airport typically begin around 4:30 to 5 am and end around 12:15 to 1:30 am, depending on the day of the week, and city pickups to the airport generally begin at or just after 3 am most days. Those arriving at the airport should head down to the ground floor level after baggage claim and exit Door 9 to reach the bus stop.

The airport bus in Pittsburgh services a limited number of stops, so this one is best suited typically for those who are staying within walking distance of the stop locations in East Liberty, Shadyside, Oakland, Uptown, or Downtown; however, it also makes stops at the West Busway and Robinson Township, too. As such, the bus can be quite slow, and ride times are on the order of 50 to 80 minutes depending on where in the city you're getting on/off at, and, of course, traffic.

The bus typically costs $2.75 per person, one way, and requires exact change when boarding. A single day pass, 7-day pass, and month passes are also available. That said, a ticket vending machine is located near Door 8 to purchase tickets with a credit card, and the Ready2Ride app also issues digital tickets.

• A current schedule is typically available here.
• Additional buses, like the Fullington Auto Bus, Mountain Line Transit Authority Bus, and more have periodic pickups at the airport as well for those who may be traveling to further destinations outside of the city center.

Rideshare Services – Uber, Lyft

Finally, we come to rideshare services, which are one of the most popular ways to reach Pittsburgh without renting a car or taking the somewhat infrequent bus- all while taking you straight to your final destination.

Pittsburgh International Airport has a dedicated rideshare pickup area located on the ground level, much like in the previous options. After picking up your bags at baggage claim, take the escalator down one floor, head out the doors, and follow the signs to the left to reach the rideshare pickup area one lane across the street. Passengers can wait under a covered awning, and dedicated parking spots are available for rideshare vehicles for pickup.

Rideshare prices can vary significantly depending on the time of day, where you're heading, traffic, and, of course, general availability. To reach downtown Pittsburgh, we've recently seen prices as low as $40, with $50 being about average, and late at night, when availability is low, rates can surge to $100 or more one-way. Many rideshare drivers are often waiting nearby, so pickups can be quite quick (we call ours after we have bags in hand at baggage claim), but every so often you may be connected with a driver who is further away from the airport and have a longer wait. We've had pickups arrive in a minute or two, and other times, 15 to 20 minutes or longer.

For those who are budget-conscious, we also recommend checking prices on the major ride-share apps, as we have often found better prices on Lyft than on Uber, though your mileage may vary.

• When heading back to the airport, rideshare drivers will drop you off on the third-floor departure level just a few steps away from the check-in desks unless arranged otherwise.
• For return trips, rideshare vehicles are often readily available throughout the city; however, if you are heading to the airport early in the morning (e.g. 3-6 am), we recommend pre-scheduling a pickup to be safe.

Overall, there are a number of ways to reach the city of Pittsburgh from PIT, and these are just a few of the most popular routes for those who will be picking up a rental car, taking the bus, or hopping in a rideshare service. From there, you'll be on your way to enjoying this great city!

Do you have a favorite way to get to the city from the airport? Or do you wish we had an express train like other cities? Comment below to share!