Overnight trips start at $2.80 on TriMet’s 272 PDX Night Bus
When the MAX Red Line shuts down overnight, TriMet Line 272 steps in with limited late-night and early-morning runs between PDX Terminal T and Parkrose/Sumner Transit Center. The standard Adult fare is $2.80, covering up to 2½ hours on TriMet buses, MAX, and streetcar once you tap your Hop card or contactless payment at the airport stop.
Line 272 stops right outside the PDX terminal area, then runs to Parkrose/Sumner Transit Center on NE Sandy Blvd, usually in under 15–20 minutes. From Parkrose/Sumner you can connect to other TriMet routes or, when it’s running again, hop on the MAX Red Line toward downtown Portland.
This is not a high-frequency option: the official TriMet timetable shows only a handful of 272 trips during the overnight window, often spaced by an hour or more. Check the current schedule on trimet.org before you bank on it for a 2 a.m. flight shift or a 4 a.m. departure.
Cost stays flat at $2.80 per ride within the TriMet system, so 272 is usually the cheapest way to get from PDX to East Portland during those hours when MAX is off and rideshare prices surge. The same $2.80 fare from the airport also covers your transfer at Parkrose/Sumner if you tap again within the 2½‑hour window.
Line 272 only runs between PDX and Parkrose/Sumner; it never goes downtown itself. If you’re heading toward Pioneer Courthouse Square or the Pearl, you’ll need to connect to a MAX Red Line or another bus route from Parkrose/Sumner once morning service kicks back in.
Watch out for the gaps: the schedule has specific overnight departure times listed by hour and minute, and missing one can add 60 minutes of curb time. Build the buffer and aim to be at the airport stop at least 10 minutes before the time shown on the TriMet Line 272 timetable.
Pro tip: buy or load a Hop card before your trip, or use contactless pay on your phone, so you’re not trying to sort out fares at 1:40 a.m. as the 272 PDX Night Bus pulls up.