How early should I get to PDX?
Portland International Airport, Portland, OR · Checked Oct 24, 2026
The short answer
Arrive two hours before your domestic flight during the busy early-morning hours; first-time visitors since the new terminal opened should allow extra time to find their way
Arrive three hours before all departing international flights
Those are blanket rules. Your real number depends on your terminal, the time of day, traffic from your door, and whether you have PreCheck or a bag. Leave By works out your exact leave time.
Source: flypdx.com
Security lines at PDX
PDX does not publish average waits on its tips page. It names early morning as the busy time and says check-in lines may be long in the early morning and at lunchtime. Live wait times for both checkpoints are shown on the flypdx.com home page.
Busiest times: Early morning, Lunchtime (check-in lines).
Nationally, TSA checkpoints are busiest from 5 to 7 AM local time. See TSA's hourly numbers and the busiest days to fly.
TSA PreCheck: PreCheck lanes at both checkpoints open at 4 a.m. and close at about 4 p.m. daily. Evening flyers should expect standard lanes only. After 10 p.m. only the D/E checkpoint is open.
CLEAR: Available at this airport (see terminals below for which checkpoints).
Touchless ID: Alaska announced in June 2025 that it was bringing TSA PreCheck Touchless ID to PDX for Mileage Plan members 18+ who add a KTN and passport details on alaskaair.com. Which PDX checkpoints offer it was not confirmed.
Terminals and checkpoints
Main Terminal (Concourses B, C, D, E)
Alaska, Horizon, Southwest, Delta, United, American, JetBlue, Air Canada, Allegiant, Boutique Air, British Airways, Condor, Frontier, Hawaiian, Icelandair, KLM, Sun Country, Volaris, WestJet
- PDX says you can reach all gates from either checkpoint, but you save time by using the checkpoint that matches your gate
- Alaska and Horizon use Concourse B (Port of Portland, 2021). Southwest moved to Concourse E in 2020, joining Delta and United on the north side; Alaska, American and JetBlue were on the south side (The Points Guy, 2020). Many gates are common-use, so check the monitors for your gate.
- The new main terminal opened in phases from August 2024 and was declared complete on June 30, 2026
- Express Lanes are usually open at the busiest departure times for eligible travelers (some airline elite status, First or Business Class, and Portland-Seattle flyers at B/C)
Between terminals: One terminal with two security wings: B/C to the south and D/E to the north. The post-security concourse connector has reopened, so you can walk between the wings after screening. Some older guides still say it is closed.
Terminals are connected after security, so you can walk between them without re-screening.
Getting to PDX
Rideshare and taxi: Drivers drop off on the departures level. Uber, Lyft and Wingz pickups are inside Level 1 of the Short-Term Parking garage at the Transportation Plaza; columns are marked by company.
Transit: TriMet MAX Red Line stops at the terminal near baggage claim. TriMet says the ride to downtown takes about 40 minutes, trains run about every 15 minutes most of the day, and the adult fare is $2.80 for 2.5 hours (Dec 2025).
Driving and parking: Take I-205 to the Airport Way West exit and follow Airport Way to the terminal. PDX says to allow 30-45 minutes from downtown. Parking is first-come, first-served: Short-Term $30/day, Long-Term $24/day, Economy $15/day (free shuttle about every 7-9 minutes), Valet $45/day. The free cell phone waiting area off NE Airport Way and NE 82nd Ave allows up to 30 minutes. Curbside is for active loading only.
Construction and changes in 2026
- Baggage claim renovation (new ceiling, lighting and restrooms) continues in sections into 2027, with some baggage claim areas closed; follow posted signs
- The main terminal project (PDX Next) was declared complete on June 30, 2026, so the ticket lobby and pre-security layout differ from before 2024
Checking a bag
Alaska: check-in cutoff is 50 minutes before domestic departure, with or without bags (AP, May 2025). Southwest: bags 45 minutes before domestic departure, check-in 30 minutes. Delta: bags 45 minutes before domestic departure, check-in 30 minutes without bags. United and American: 45 minutes for check-in and bags on most domestic flights.
PDX tips first-timers miss
- Use the checkpoint that matches your gate: B/C for B and C gates, D/E for D and E gates
- The B/C checkpoint closes 10 p.m.-3 a.m.; for overnight and very early flights use D/E, which is open 24 hours
- PreCheck lanes close at about 4 p.m., so afternoon and evening PreCheck members will go through standard lanes
- Parking cannot be reserved; Valet ($45/day) is never full if the garages are tight
- Get your boarding pass before you go to security; both checkpoints scan mobile boarding passes
Leaving for PDX?
Pick your flight and where you're starting. Leave By checks live traffic, security lines and your terminal, and tells you the minute to walk out the door.
Free. No account.
Questions travelers ask
How early should I get to Portland airport?
PDX advises two hours before a domestic flight during the busy early-morning hours and three hours before an international flight.
Which PDX security checkpoint should I use?
Use the one that matches your gate: B/C for B and C gates, D/E for D and E gates. The concourse connector lets you reach any gate after screening, but the matching checkpoint is quicker.
Is PDX security open 24 hours?
Only the D/E checkpoint is open 24 hours. The B/C checkpoint is closed from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m.
When is TSA PreCheck open at PDX?
PreCheck lanes at both checkpoints open at 4 a.m. and close at about 4 p.m. daily.
Sources
- PDX - Travel Tips
- PDX - Construction
- PDX - Home page (checkpoint wait times)
- PDX - Airline Information
- PDX - Parking
- PDX - Ground Transportation
- PDX - App-based Rideshares
- PDX - Public Transit (TriMet)
- PDX - Directions
- Port of Portland - New Concourse B for Alaska Airlines (Dec 8, 2021)
- KATU - PDX says its main terminal project is complete (Jul 7, 2026)
- The Points Guy - Southwest moves to new PDX Concourse E (Jul 15, 2020)
- TriMet Rider Insider - How to take MAX to and from PDX (Dec 12, 2025)
- CLEAR - CLEAR launches lanes at Portland International Airport (Feb 7, 2025)
- The Bulkhead Seat - Alaska bringing TSA PreCheck Touchless ID to LAX, PDX and SEA (Jun 22, 2025)
- Southwest - When to Arrive for Your Flight
- Delta - U.S. Domestic Check-In Requirements
- AP via MyNorthwest - United narrows check-in window; airline comparison (May 27, 2025)
Airport conditions change. Always follow your airline's check-in and bag-drop deadlines.