MATBUS Route 13 hits Hector International roughly every hour
Route 13 is the only MATBUS line serving Hector International Airport’s Terminal 1, and it runs as a standard local bus, not an express or shuttle. Service typically follows regular MATBUS operating days, so expect weekday and Saturday runs tied to the normal city schedule, with reduced or no service on Sundays and major holidays. You pay standard MATBUS local fare on Route 13, the same as on routes through downtown Fargo or Moorhead.
This is a curbside pickup, not a door-to-door transfer: MATBUS Route 13 stops at the airport on its regular loop that also covers parts of Fargo and possibly connects to downtown transit centers. You board at the signed MATBUS stop outside Terminal 1, then ride in with regular passengers paying the posted local fare. Because it’s a city bus, luggage space is limited to what fits at your seat or in your lap, and drivers follow fixed-stop rules rather than hotel-style drop-offs.
Plan for at least 60 minutes between your scheduled airport pickup on Route 13 and check-in cutoff times at Hector International, especially for airlines like Allegiant and Delta that close bag drop 45 minutes before departure. On arrival, build similar buffer time if your flight lands close to the end of the MATBUS operating day. If your flight lands after the last Route 13 trip listed on the daily MATBUS timetable, there is no backup bus; at that point you’re into taxi or app-ride pricing instead of the standard MATBUS local fare.
Step-by-step from Hector International Airport (FAR) on MATBUS Route 13
- 1. After landing at Terminal 1, follow signs to the main arrivals curb and look for the MATBUS Route 13 stop sign near the public bus area.
- 2. Check the posted MATBUS Route 13 timetable sign or use the MATBUS website/app to confirm the next departure time that lists “Hector International Airport” as a stop.
- 3. Have exact cash for the local MATBUS fare ready, or use any accepted pass or transfer that works on other Fargo-Moorhead MATBUS routes.
- 4. When the Route 13 bus pulls up, confirm “Route 13” on the front headsign, then board through the front door and pay the standard local fare at the farebox.
- 5. Keep bags near you, since Route 13 uses standard city buses without separate luggage racks like some airport coaches.
- 6. Ride Route 13 to your target stop, which may include downtown Fargo or another MATBUS transfer point listed on the printed schedule.
- 7. If you need to switch to another MATBUS route, step off at the signed transfer location identified on the Route 13 map, then board your next bus using the same fare rules or transfer policy printed on your ticket or pass.
One practical tip: check the exact MATBUS Route 13 schedule for your flight day before you book a ticket, so your arrival or departure at Hector International lines up with at least one bus within 60 minutes.