$2 bus riders on Buckeye already know Route 13 isn’t for tourists
Route 13 Buckeye is a Valley Metro city bus that runs along Buckeye Rd and Washington St near Phoenix Sky Harbor, but it never enters the terminal loop for Terminals 3 or 4. Cash fare is $2 per single ride or $4 for an all‑day pass, same as the rest of the Valley Metro system. Regulars are mostly airport workers headed to cargo and support facilities on the south side of the airfield, plus ultra‑budget travelers who already live or stay along Buckeye.
Service spans early morning into late evening, but headways stretch to around 30 minutes or worse nights and Sundays, compared with 12–15 minutes on the light rail. Riders on Buckeye complain about bus bunching and delays, especially in the afternoon peak and during summer monsoon traffic. If you’re trying to catch a specific flight from Terminal 3 or Terminal 4, that kind of variability can wipe out your buffer fast.
Key detail: the closest useful stops for airport access sit along Buckeye Rd and Washington St, and from there you still need the PHX Sky Train. Most people ride Route 13 to 44th St/Washington or to a transfer point near the rail, then hop the free Sky Train to the terminals in about 5 minutes. You’re essentially trading one extra surface bus leg for a $2–$4 fare instead of paying for rideshare or airport parking.
How to use Route 13 Buckeye with PHX
- 1. Check the schedule first. Pull the latest Valley Metro timetable for Route 13 and look at evening and Sunday headways; build in at least one full extra headway (often 30 minutes).
- 2. Board along Buckeye or Washington. Use a signed Route 13 stop on Buckeye Rd or Washington St; pay $2 cash or tap a $4 all‑day pass valid on buses and light rail the same day.
- 3. Ride to the rail/Sky Train connection. Most riders aim for 44th St/Washington, where light rail and Sky Train meet; the Sky Train ride to Terminals 3 and 4 runs 24/7 and takes about 5 minutes.
- 4. Allow walking or shuttle time on the south side. Airport employees getting to cargo or support buildings usually walk or take internal shuttles from their Route 13 stop; posts mention planning 10–15 minutes for this last leg.
- 5. Pad your return to the bus. On the way back from PHX, aim to reach your Route 13 stop at least one full headway earlier than you technically need so a late bus doesn’t strand you.
Watch out for
Complaints from r/phoenix highlight late trips, bus bunching, and awkward transfers if you’re not already on the Buckeye corridor. Visitors staying in downtown or along the rail usually get smoother trips using light rail directly to 44th St/Washington, then Sky Train, and skipping Route 13 entirely. If you still choose Route 13, buy the $4 all‑day pass and treat any on‑time arrival as a bonus, not a guarantee.
One tip: if your flight from Terminal 3 or 4 departs before 10:00 a.m., plan to reach your Buckeye stop at least 90 minutes before check‑in cut‑off so a delayed bus doesn’t turn a cheap ride into a missed flight.