We’ve had a fabulous summer. We hung out with friends, made awesome memories and logged many days of beautiful sunshine. Now, we’re getting ready to transition to fall and gear up for another school year. If you’re a student heading to campus or other places, TriMet can get you where you need to go conveniently and without breaking the bank. Here’s a guide for riding TriMet to get to school and other destinations in the Portland area.
The Basics
TriMet provides bus, light rail and commuter rail service in Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties. Our service district covers more than 500 square miles and is one of the most connected transit systems in the county. Whether you’re going to school, work or meeting up with your crew, we’ll get you there.
Why TriMet
Riding TriMet means easy and convenient connections to your destinations. Rolling with us is also good for the environment and helps to reduce carbon emissions while minimizing traffic congestion. It also means more time to do what you want to do, like reading, listening to music or just chilling out while enjoying the ride.
Trip Planning
It’s easy to plan a trip on TriMet, even if you have an early (or late) class. Just go trimet.org and select “Planner” from the menu. Then, you’ll enter your starting (“from”) and ending (“to”) locations, and when you want to depart (or arrive). You can choose travel options if you prefer to ride only on bus or MAX. You can even combine your trip with an e-scooter, Uber or bikeshare. Watch this video to learn more about planning your trip.
Tracking Your Ride
We make it hassle-free to find out when your bus or train is coming. You can visit our website, trimet.org, to get real-time arrival from TriMet’s TransitTracker™. You can also track your ride at MAX stations and bus shelters where digital information displays show the next arrivals. Or, you can text your Stop ID Number to 27299 for an instant text back showing the next arrivals for that stop.
Paying for Your Ride
TriMet’s Youth Fare is for ages 7–17 and students in high school or pursuing a GED. The cost is $1.40 for unlimited rides on buses, MAX, Portland Streetcar and WES Commuter Rail for 2 ½ hours. You’ll never pay more than $2.80 in one day to ride using our Youth Fare.
There are several ways to purchase Youth Fare:
- Pay with cash or coins when boarding a bus.
- Buy and reload Hop cards from the vending machines at MAX and WES stations.
- Buy a Hop card at an authorized retailer.
- Add a virtual Hop card on your phone.
Free and Reduced Fare for Students
We partner with many school districts to distribute free or reduced fare. If you’re a Portland Public School (PPS) District student in grades 9-12, you can use your school ID card to get rides on TriMet, Portland Streetcar and WES Commuter Rail during the school year. Just make sure to tap your school ID to the Hop reader every time you board.
Not a PPS student? No problem! We partner with more than a dozen school districts who receive grant funds to provide TriMet fares for students in grades 9-12. Check out the list of school districts online.
We also offer free summer passes to anyone aged 14-19. You’ll get a paper Hop ticket that’s good for unlimited rides on buses, MAX, WES and Portland Streetcar. We plan to begin offering next year’s summer passes in June 2026. Learn more online.
College students: You may be eligible for TriMet’s reduced fare based on income or a free or discounted transit pass from your college/university. Contact your school’s transportation coordinator for more information.
Beyond the Classroom
TriMet isn’t just for getting to school. We’re your ticket to getting to jobs, extra-curricular activities like sports and clubs, concerts and other destinations. Riding TriMet is a great deal, too. You won’t have to pay for parking or expensive ride sharing costs. And you won’t have to rely on family members to drive you around, either.
Tips
- Don’t run across traffic to catch your bus or train. If you have to run, it’s not your ride.
- Always use the designated pedestrian crossings and look both ways before crossing MAX or WES tracks.
- Arrive early and have your fare ready.
- Tap every time you board. Your tap, not the card itself, is your proof of fare.
- Riding with a bike? Learn more about bringing your bike on board on our website.