Houston, United States

Getting around Houston

How to travel around Houston — 5 options, what they cost, and which booking apps fix the fare before you go.

Last updated 2026-08-09

1. METRORail

Three light rail lines linking downtown, the Museum District and the medical centre.

Cost: USD 1.25

2. Rented car

Effectively necessary; Houston is vast and low-density.

3. Uber and Lyft

Widely used, particularly for the airports.

Watch outUnofficial drivers touting at the airports at several times the licensed rate.

4. Cycling on the bayou trails

A growing network along the waterways, separated from traffic.

5. Flooding, planned around

Houston floods; check the forecast, and never drive into standing water.

Booking apps in United States

Agreeing the fare in an app before you travel removes the argument at the end of the journey, which is where most transport scams happen. Links go to each app's official page — lookalike apps are themselves a scam.

Uber

Nationwide ride-hailing with the fare shown before booking.

Coverage: Nationwide, including airport pickup zones.
Why it helps: Avoids the unofficial drivers who tout inside airport terminals at several times the licensed rate.

Lyft

The main US alternative to Uber, often cheaper on the same route.

Coverage: Nationwide.
Why it helps: Fare is agreed in the app before the trip, and the route is recorded — which removes the refused meter, the tampered meter and the fixed 'foreigner price' in one move.

Transit

Real-time transit planning across most US city networks.

Coverage: Most metropolitan areas.

Amtrak

Official booking for the national intercity rail network.

Coverage: Nationwide corridors.