Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) is connected to Cleveland and the surrounding region by a layered network of ground transportation. The right choice depends on how many people are traveling, how much luggage you have, what time of day it is, and whether your destination is downtown or the suburbs.
Uber & Lyft
Uber and Lyft pick up on Level 1 of the Smart Park Garage. Surcharge $4.00.
On-airport facility
On-airport rental cars are in the Smart Park Garage and the Brown Lot.
Rail & bus to Cleveland
RTA Red Line stops directly at the airport inside the Terminal. Downtown Cleveland is 25 minutes for $2.50.
Hotel & intercity
Hopkins Airport Shuttle and several hotel courtesy shuttles use the Ground Transportation curb.
Rideshare (Uber and Lyft) at CLE
Uber and Lyft pick up on Level 1 of the Smart Park Garage. Surcharge $4.00.
Surge pricing is common during weather delays and immediately after large arrival banks. If your phone shows surge pricing of 1.8x or higher, the rental-car shuttle for a same-day return is often a faster total-cost path than waiting for surge to drop.
Rental cars
On-airport rental cars are in the Smart Park Garage and the Brown Lot. Loyalty members of National (Emerald Club), Hertz (Gold Plus Rewards), Avis (Preferred), and Enterprise (Plus) usually skip the counter entirely. National's choose-any-car-on-the-aisle model is the fastest path through the facility for travelers who do not need a specific vehicle class.
Public transit to and from CLE
RTA Red Line stops directly at the airport inside the Terminal. Downtown Cleveland is 25 minutes for $2.50. For more on US airport transit options, see the ground transport overview.
Hotel and parking shuttles
Hopkins Airport Shuttle and several hotel courtesy shuttles use the Ground Transportation curb. Free shuttles run on each operator's own loop, typically every 10 to 20 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes overnight. If you do not see your hotel's shuttle, call the front desk before assuming you have missed it — schedules vary on weekends and holidays.
Cell phone waiting area
If somebody is picking you up in a private vehicle, ask them to wait at the cell phone waiting lot until you have your luggage and are at the curb. Pulling to the arrivals curb early at CLE forces the driver into the recirculation loop, which can add 15 to 25 minutes on a busy day.
Accessibility
All ground transportation options at CLE are required to provide equivalent service for travelers with disabilities. Accessible taxis are dispatched on request from the taxi stand. Public transit is wheelchair accessible. Hotel shuttles are required to provide wheelchair accommodation — call the hotel ahead to confirm a lift-equipped vehicle is on your departure-window schedule.
Parking is the alternative
If you are driving yourself, see the CLE parking guide for on-site garages, off-site lots, and a comparison of every published rate.