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Easiest US airports to get to/from with public transportation

Easiest US airports to get to/from with public transportation

Old Jul 19th, 2014, 06:28 AM
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Easiest US airports to get to/from with public transportation

We have travel benefits via my husband. The kids are finally old enough that I want to start traveling standby with them. Everyone is potty trained and can sit still for a few hours. What are the easiest US airports to land at and take public transportation to hotels and attractions?

Live near Boston. Going to PHL next month.

Thanks!
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Old Jul 19th, 2014, 06:34 AM
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Define "easiest" LOL

Certainly IMO easy to do so from SFO into the city

Washington National into the District and the suburbs (close-in) via Metro

PHL via SEPTA to center city

O'Hare and Midway both into the Loop via public transport

Boston via the T

Obviously there are others
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Old Jul 19th, 2014, 07:01 AM
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Thanks. I know some like CLT are difficult.

With the kids, I just want to jump on a train or subway so I don't have to lug carseats with me.
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Old Jul 19th, 2014, 07:40 AM
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Seattle-Tacoma....Link Light rail from the terminal to the heart of downtown.
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Old Jul 19th, 2014, 07:47 AM
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Doesn't it depend on what you want to do and see? It might be easy because there is nothing else to do.
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Old Jul 19th, 2014, 07:49 AM
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PHX has light rail running from the airport to downtown.

MSP also has light rail running from the airport to downtown Minneapolis, and a separate light rail line from Minneapolis to downtown St. Paul.
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Old Jul 19th, 2014, 07:53 AM
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Why only the US? (Unless it's because this is the US board.) Vancouver, Canada is very easy, and so are many European and Asian airports.

New York airports are all accessible by public transport, but I don't know whether you would call them easy. In any case, from Boston it would probably be easier all round to take the train. I was looking at BWI recently and it had public transport access.
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Old Jul 19th, 2014, 08:05 AM
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In Boston you have to take a bus to the rail station.
Philly is easy with many downtown stops.
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Old Jul 19th, 2014, 08:26 AM
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Cleveland is easy.

My sister tells me that Seattle is easy.

Atlanta is technically easy.
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Old Jul 19th, 2014, 08:44 AM
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JFK to Manhattan is easy via pubic transit. The others aren't - LGA never and I believe the EWR system is under repair at the moment. (But coming from Boston Amtrak to NYC is easier anyway.)

But I would also look at how easy it is to get around the city via pubic transit. Boston, NYC and DC are easy. LA is a horror show unless you drive. So consider how you would get around once you get there as well as to/fro the airport.
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Old Jul 19th, 2014, 08:54 AM
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Chicago was very easy as we took the train straight from the airport to a stop half a block from our hotel in the Loop.

London and Paris also have trains straight from the airport to areas tourists stay and visit.
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Old Jul 19th, 2014, 08:54 AM
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OOps, I see you asked to US airport. Well, once you are comfortable with US travel....
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Old Jul 19th, 2014, 09:31 AM
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Both major airports in Chicago have PT from the airports to downtown or with transfers to just about any spot in the city.

Atlanta has a great PT system from/to the airport as well.
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Old Jul 19th, 2014, 09:36 AM
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Whatever you do, do not drive from the Atlanta airport, it could take as long as your flight.
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Old Jul 19th, 2014, 03:45 PM
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Nothing international yet, still need to get the boys passports.

As for the destination, we would rely 100% on public transportation. As for what to do....you can find fun anywhere. I'm not worried about the what, I just want the easy transportation.

Thanks.
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Old Jul 19th, 2014, 05:15 PM
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Of the airports I've been in, if I am relying 100% on public transportation, these come to mind:

- San Francisco
- Seattle
- Portland
- Washington D.C. (Reagan National)
- Las Vegas (not for kids, and I don't like it either, but it has good airport to "Vegas stuff" access)
- Vancouver (I know you are asking about U.S., but this city has a lot of public transportation)

I honestly don't travel in the U.S. Northeast much so speak of, sorry these are so far away.
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Old Jul 20th, 2014, 09:08 AM
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Salt Lake International is extremely easy. Rarely closed/delayed (unless due to bad weather in other parts of the country). Electric TRAX tains directly from the airport into downtown (15 min ride). Rental car offices just a walk across from the terminal and poof, you are on I-80 to where ever you want to go.
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Old Jul 20th, 2014, 02:16 PM
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You said you are going to PHL next month so you must already know it is easy to get around via train, bus, subway in Phila.
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Old Jul 20th, 2014, 05:08 PM
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Denver is building a light rail system now, to link the airport and downtown. Finally.
Also a huge new hotel and conference center is being built at DEN, with some retail.
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Old Jul 20th, 2014, 05:20 PM
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Well the OP lives near Boston but for others who might be reading there are now THREE very easy ways to get from Logan International Airport to downtown via public transportation. 1) free bus from your terminal to the subway's blue line. Entry to the subway system is $2.65. The blue line has you down town (aquarium stop) in just 2 stops 2) subway's silver line picks up outside every terminal. It is a free bus that loops the terminals, and then enters a dedicated tunnel, ending at the subway's south station stop. Transfer to the subway's red line is free. 3) from outside you terminal there is a bus to the Back Bay. It costs $5 and stops outside the subway's Copley stop and in front of the Hynes auditorium.
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