# IAH — Houston (George Bush Intercontinental)

> IAH (George Bush Intercontinental) is the main international airport serving Houston, United States. Source: https://www.airportexit.com/airports/iah-houston

## At a glance

- **Best exit method:** Uber/Lyft from the designated lots
- **Typical fare:** $35–$55 to downtown
- **Journey time:** 30–50 min
- **Pickup point:** Terminal-specific rideshare lots
- **Key warning:** Ignore curbside 'private car' offers
- **Fare reality (IAH → Downtown Houston):** expected $4.50–$55 · concerning $80+ · likely scam $100+ unmarked car
- **Overall risk:** medium — Far from downtown and limited transit. Rideshare is the default; taxis use flat zones.
- **Last updated:** May 2026 (high confidence)

## Ways out of IAH, ranked

1. **Uber / Lyft** _(recommended)_ — cost $35–$55, journey 30–50 min, wait 5–10 min, payment App Payment.
   - Pros: Fixed price
   - Cons: Surge at peak
2. **Taxi (flat zone)** — cost $55 to downtown, journey 30–50 min, wait 0–10 min, payment Card & Cash.
   - Pros: Posted flat zone
   - Cons: Pricier than rideshare
3. **METRO 102 Express** — cost $4.50, journey 45–60 min, wait Every 30 min, payment Card & Cash.
   - Pros: Cheapest
   - Cons: Limited schedule
4. **SuperShuttle** — cost $28–$40, journey 60+ min, wait Varies, payment Card.
   - Pros: Cheap
   - Cons: Multiple stops

## First 30 minutes after landing at IAH

1. Clear baggage and follow rideshare signs
2. Each terminal has a dedicated rideshare lot
3. Taxi rank at curbside — flat zones posted
4. METRO 102 Express bus to downtown ($4.50)
5. Plan 30–60 min to downtown

## Common scams at IAH

- **Curbside 'limo'** (medium risk): Driver offers a $100 flat-rate to downtown. _How to avoid:_ Use rideshare or the official taxi zone.
- **Off-meter / off-zone fare** (medium risk): Taxi ignores the flat-zone rate and demands more. _How to avoid:_ Insist on the posted zone fare or get out.

## Payment warnings at IAH

- Taxis accept cards by ordinance
- METRO Q card or cash exact change on bus

## Arrival checklist for IAH

- Rideshare from designated lot
- Flat zone to downtown $55
- Ignore curbside touts

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Canonical URL: https://www.airportexit.com/airports/iah-houston
Source: Airport Exit (https://www.airportexit.com)
Last updated: May 2026

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