William P. Hobby Airport is about a 27-minute drive from Sterling Inn and Suites at Reliant and Medical Center Houston, in Houston’s Reliant and Medical Center area. For a william p hobby airport shuttle, METRO buses run from the airport to downtown, while taxis and rideshare apps are also ground-transport options.
- Airport code: HOU
- Location: approximately 11 miles southeast of downtown Houston
- Airport bus departures: Hobby Transit Center, just north of each baggage-claim exit door
- METRO Bus 500: nonstop to downtown; one-way fare is $4.50
How far is Hobby Airport from the hotel area?
Hobby Airport is about a 27-minute drive from Sterling Inn, making it the closest of the airports with supplied drive times for the hotel. The airport sits approximately 11 miles southeast of downtown Houston, so a bus into downtown does not take you directly to the Reliant and Medical Center area.
Hobby is one of several airports serving Houston. From Sterling Inn, George Bush Intercontinental Airport is about a 42-minute drive, while Sugar Land Regional Airport and Ellington Airport are each about a 36-minute drive. These are drive times from the hotel, not estimates of the time required for an airport transfer.
Driving, taxi and rideshare options
Driving, taxi and rideshare are the direct ground-transport options for Hobby Airport. If you choose one of these, plan your pickup or parking at the airport rather than assuming a METRO bus continues directly to the hotel area.
The airport identifies taxi service and rideshare apps as ground-transportation options. Parking choices include the Red and Blue Garages, EcoPark self-parking and valet, and a Cell Phone Lot. Check the Houston Airport System’s official site before you go for current ground-transport and parking details.
What public transport goes from Hobby Airport to Houston?
METRO buses connect Hobby Airport with downtown Houston, but the supplied route details do not establish a direct bus journey to the Reliant and Medical Center area. Check the onward connection before you set out, especially if you plan to use public transport for the whole trip.
Bus 500 Downtown Direct provides a nonstop airport-to-downtown route. Its one-way fare is $4.50, and METRO says it leaves every 15–30 minutes during regular operating hours. Bus 40 also runs between Hobby and downtown; its one-way fare is $1.25, and the trip to downtown can take one hour.
Public METRO buses pick up and drop off at Curb Zone 3, outside the Baggage Claim/Arrivals Level. METRO says local bus fares can be paid with cash in the fare box at the front of the vehicle; it gives no change, and cash payment does not include free transfers.
METRO also describes fare cards and eligible free transfers, but fares and payment rules can change, so check METRO’s official site before you go.
Where do airport shuttles and buses pick up?
For METRO buses, go to the Hobby Transit Center just north of each baggage-claim exit door. The airport identifies Curb Zone 3 outside the Baggage Claim/Arrivals Level as the public-bus pickup and drop-off point.
Courtesy shuttles also pick up at Curb Zone 3. Follow the “Ground Transportation” signs marked “Buses/Shuttles.” Off-airport parking shuttles use Curb Zones 3 and 4. If you need a hotel shuttle, the airport says you can make a request using phones and Interactive Visitor Kiosks in Baggage Claim; this does not confirm a particular hotel’s shuttle service.
Choosing the best option for your arrival
Choose based on whether you want a direct airport pickup or are comfortable travelling through downtown and checking an onward connection. A taxi or rideshare app avoids the bus route to downtown; Bus 500 offers a nonstop trip there, while Bus 40 is another airport-to-downtown option with a longer stated journey.
If you are considering METRO for more of your Houston trip, review how Houston METRO works from the Reliant and Medical Center area before settling on an airport-to-hotel plan. For either bus, verify current service and fares with METRO and the airport before travelling.
FAQs
Where is William P. Hobby Airport located?
Hobby Airport is approximately 11 miles southeast of downtown Houston and is identified by the airport code HOU.
Does a METRO bus run from Hobby Airport to downtown Houston?
Yes. Bus 500 Downtown Direct runs nonstop between Hobby Airport and downtown. Bus 40 also connects the airport with downtown.
Where do you catch a public bus at Hobby Airport?
METRO buses depart from the Hobby Transit Center, just north of each baggage-claim exit door. The airport identifies Curb Zone 3 outside Baggage Claim/Arrivals Level for public-bus pickups and drop-offs.
Can you request a hotel shuttle at the airport?
The airport says hotel-shuttle requests can be made using phones and Interactive Visitor Kiosks in Baggage Claim. Confirm directly with your hotel whether it operates a shuttle.