Transportation Around Charlotte
Charlotte is accessible via both driving and an international airport, and there are some great options to travel around the city while you’re here
Transportation Around The City
Charlotte, referred to as ‘Queen City’, is the largest city in the state of North Carolina. We’re located on the southern border of North Carolina and with Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) as one of the largest airports in the US located in eastern Charlotte, it is an easy location to travel to from any other state. Locally we have numerous options to get around from ride-sharing, transit, and rail to help you when travelling.
Charlotte Rail Lines
North Carolina’s first light rail line connects South Charlotte to Center City, then continues on to NoDa and The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Monday through Friday, the line is available every 7.5 minutes during rush hour and every 15 minutes during non-peak hours. Saturday and Sunday service operates every 20 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes during late-night hours for $2.20 each way. You can purchase passes from your smartphone with the CATSPass app.
This free streetcar system runs east to west from downtown Charlotte to Elizabeth. The Gold Line runs every 15 to 20 minutes from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 6 a.m. to midnight on Friday, 8 a.m. to midnight on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.
Charlotte Vehicle Transportation
The CATS bus system mostly operates from 5 a.m. to 2 a.m. on weekdays, 6 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. on Saturdays and 6:30 a.m. to midnight on Sundays. It costs $2.20 each way for local routes; $3 each way for express routes; $4.40 each way for regional express routes with children 5 and under riding free; seniors and youth grades K-12 ride for half fare with a transit ID, Medicare card, or valid school ID.
This hybrid-electric bus is an easy way to get from Charlotte Douglas International Airport to Center City, with stops in central locations. It runs every 20 minutes on weekdays and every 30 minutes on nights and weekends. It currently costs $2.20 each way.
Call Charlotte taxi companies like Crown Cab, Royal Cab and Yellow Cab Co. to hop from place to place with ease. Charlotte Douglas International Airport offers a flat fee ($25) to and from Uptown. Otherwise, average cab fares start at $2.50 and increase by $0.50 every ⅕ mile.
Companies like Uber and Lyft, which use smartphone apps to match passengers with nearby independent drivers, operate throughout the Charlotte region. Drop-off and pick-up spots are based on your location, except at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, where the designated ride-sharing meeting area is on the arrivals/baggage claim level outside zone E.
Charlotte Bicycle Transportation
Hundreds of bike-sharing options are scattered throughout the city. Charlotte B-cycle has more than 20 bike docks, where you can swipe your credit card to rent a bike in 30-minute increments. Four dockless bike-sharing companies—LimeBike, Mobike, Spin and Ofo—offer riders the option to pick up and leave their bikes in whatever legal spot they like. (The wheels lock when no one is using them.) Download the companies’ smartphone apps to rent the bikes.