Sun Metro’s Route 50 is your link from ELP to the El Paso Streetcar
The El Paso Streetcar itself does not reach El Paso International Airport, but Sun Metro’s Route 50 bus runs from the airport to downtown, where you can transfer to the streetcar. Buses stop outside baggage claim near the terminal loop serving Terminals A and B, and the ride downtown usually takes around 25–35 minutes depending on traffic.
The El Paso Streetcar runs in a 4.8-mile loop around downtown and the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), with 27 stops marked along the route. You’ll catch it after you get off Route 50 near downtown transfer points like the Glory Road Transit Center or other signed stops along Kansas Street or Stanton Street.
Sun Metro local fares, including Route 50 from the airport, start around $1.50 for a single ride as of 2024, with day passes typically under $4. Pay on board with exact cash or use Sun Metro fare media sold at transit centers like the downtown Transfer Center at Santa Fe Street. Kids, seniors, and some students often qualify for reduced fares, but you need valid ID when paying or showing a reduced pass.
The El Paso Streetcar usually runs most days with service focused on afternoons and evenings, with some daytime service on weekends and special events near Southwest University Park and UTEP. Headways can be 15–30 minutes, so if your flight lands after 22:00, check the current streetcar timetable before banking on a tram ride.
To connect from ELP, board Route 50 at the airport stop signed for Sun Metro, ride to downtown, then walk a block or two to the nearest streetcar stop like Franklin Avenue & Stanton Street, marked with streetcar signage and shelter. Total airport-to-streetcar time, including transfer, usually lands between 40 and 60 minutes if connections line up.
Step-by-step from ELP to the El Paso Streetcar
- 1. Exit baggage claim at Terminals A or B and follow signs to the Sun Metro stop on the terminal drive.
- 2. Buy or prepare exact cash for a Route 50 fare (about $1.50 as of 2024).
- 3. Board Route 50 toward downtown and stay on for roughly 25–35 minutes.
- 4. Get off at a downtown stop that’s close to the streetcar, such as near Kansas Street or the downtown Transfer Center (ask the driver if unsure).
- 5. Walk to the nearest signed El Paso Streetcar stop, like Franklin Ave & Stanton St or Oregon St stops on the loop.
- 6. Buy your fare or confirm current streetcar payment options, then board the next streetcar serving downtown and UTEP.
Practical tip: if your arrival into ELP is after 20:30, check both Route 50 and El Paso Streetcar hours online before leaving the terminal so you’re not stuck downtown waiting for a late-evening tram that’s already done for the night.