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Transit, bikes & flights

Buses, the Greenbelt, bike share, BOI and intercity buses

By J&H Digital Services LLCChecked Oct 23, 202616 sources

In short

Valley Regional Transit runs 18 bus routes, mostly in Boise and Garden City, for $1.50 a ride. Only 0.3% of metro workers commute by transit, so most newcomers still need a car. For bikes, the 46-mile Greenbelt is the backbone, and Lime e-bikes have replaced the old Boise GreenBike. Boise Airport (BOI) has 30 nonstop destinations on 8 airlines. There is no passenger train; intercity buses stop at the airport and on Orchard Street.

Bus fare: $1.50 a ride, $2.50 day pass, $42 for 31 days
Bike share: Lime e-bikes in Boise, $1 to unlock + $0.39 a minute
Airport: 30 nonstop destinations, 8 airlines
Airport parking: $12 a day economy to $24 a day main garage
Train: None since 1997

How do I get around the valley without a car?

Valley Regional Transit (ValleyRide buses)

Public bus

Best for: Downtown Boise, Boise State, and corridors like State St, Fairview and Overland

Address: Main Street Station, 777 W Main St, Boise, ID 83702
Phone: (208) 345-7433
Hours: Main Street Station Mon to Fri 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Sat 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Cheap: $1.50 a ride; kids 5 and under free with a paying rider
Pay with the Umo app or Umo card, with fare capping
Route 40 express links Caldwell and Boise

Only 18 fixed routes, most in Boise
Service cuts in Nampa and Meridian since Oct. 1, 2026
Few riders: 0.3% of metro commuters

Caldwell transit center: Happy Day Transit Center, 5907 W Cleveland Blvd, Caldwell.

Website ↗CallDirections

VRT On-Demand (Route 150)

Book-a-ride shared van, now with Lyft

Best for: Caldwell residents going around town or to CWI and the hospitals in Nampa

Phone: (208) 345-7433

Standard $1.50 fare
If a shared ride does not fit, you may be offered a Lyft trip for $2

No longer runs within Nampa, except to CWI, St. Luke's and Saint Alphonsus

Website ↗Call

Lime e-bikes and e-scooters

Shared micromobility, City of Boise's only partner since July 2023

Best for: Short trips downtown, to Boise State and along the Greenbelt

$1 to unlock plus $0.39 a minute; passes and Lime Prime available
Lime Access discount for low-income riders
50% off rides that start in equity zones

Boise city limits only
Capped at 12 mph on the Greenbelt and 10 mph downtown from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Downtown and Boise State trips must end at a parking pin

Boise GreenBike shut down in 2020, and VRT's Vall-eBike pilot later ended too.

Website ↗

Boise River Greenbelt

Riverside path for walking and biking

Best for: Bike commuting between Eagle, Garden City, downtown Boise and Boise State

About 46 miles from State St in Eagle to Lucky Peak
Mostly paved and off-street

Busy on summer weekends
Class 3 e-bikes (28 mph) are not allowed

The City of Boise manages 29 miles of it.

Website ↗

Uber and Lyft

Rideshare

Best for: Airport trips and nights out

At BOI, pick up on the upper curb, east end, at the shelters marked Rideshare Pick-Up Area.

Website ↗

How much is the bus?

Fare	Standard	Reduced	Route 40 regional
Single ride	$1.50	$0.75	$4.50
All-day pass	$2.50	$1.25	$7.50
31-day pass	$42	$21	$90
One-year pass	$282	$282	$594

Reduced fares are for ages 6 to 18, 65 and over, people with disabilities and Medicare cardholders. In summer 2026, riders under 18 rode free in Boise with a Youth Ride Free pass (May 1 to Aug. 31). Cash is accepted on board but fareboxes give change cards, not coins. Source: Valley Regional Transit: Fares and passes

How do I fly or travel long distance?

Boise Airport (BOI)

Commercial airport

Best for: Nonstops across the West plus Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Minneapolis and, from June 2027, Nashville

30 nonstop destinations on Alaska, Allegiant, American, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, Sun Country and United
Record 5.2 million passengers in 2025
Close to downtown Boise

No nonstops to the Northeast or Florida
Several routes are seasonal only

New for winter 2026-27: Santa Rosa (from Nov. 2) and Honolulu (from Dec. 17) on Alaska.

Website ↗

Greyhound and FlixBus

Intercity bus

Best for: Budget trips to Portland, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Spokane and Denver

Address: Boise (Chevron), 123 N Orchard St, Boise, ID 83706; also Boise Airport, 3201 Airport Way
Phone: (800) 231-2222

No station building: the Orchard St bus boards in a gas station parking lot
Check your ticket for the current stop

Website ↗CallDirections

Northwestern Stage Lines

Intercity bus, part of Salt Lake Express

Best for: Trips north to McCall, Lewiston and Spokane, and west to Portland

Address: Boise Airport stop, 3201 Airport Way
Phone: 1-800-366-6975

Salt Lake Express bought Boise-Winnemucca Stages and Northwestern Stage Lines in 2022.

Website ↗CallDirections

Amtrak

Passenger rail

No service: the Pioneer route through Boise ended in 1997

Federal planners listed a restored Portland to Salt Lake City route in 2025, but there is no funding or start date.

Website ↗

How much is Boise Airport parking?

Lot	Per day	Per hour
Economy Lot (free shuttle about every 15 min)	$12	$3
Long-term surface lot	$18	$3
East Garage	$21	$3
Main Garage	$24	$3
Short-term	$33	$3
Curbside valet	$28
Cell phone lot, 2950 S Curtis Rd	Free	Free

Economy Lot is at Victory and Orchard (5600 W Victory Rd). Reserved spaces in the garages cost an extra fee. The airport suggests arriving 2 hours before your flight if you park. Source: Boise Airport: Parking rates

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Sources (16) · Checked Oct 23, 2026

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