$2 bus to the 44th St/Washington PHX Sky Train stop
Route 44 Tatum-Washington runs along 44th St/Tatum and drops you at the 44th St/Washington PHX Sky Train station, so you skip going downtown and still reach Terminals 3 and 4 for $2. It never enters the airport, but the free PHX Sky Train from 44th St/Washington runs 24/7 straight to both terminals.
A single ride on Route 44 costs $2 and an all‑day Valley Metro pass is $4 as of 2024, so roundtrip airport access from north‑central Phoenix can be covered on one $4 pass. You pay at the farebox on board or use a pass bought in advance at a light rail station or retail outlet.
The key stop for flyers is labeled “44th St/Washington” in the Valley Metro book, which lines up directly with the Sky Train station across Washington Street. Buses pull into bays on the east side of 44th St, then you walk a short signed path to the Sky Train entrance and ride about 5 minutes to Terminal 3 or around 7 minutes to Terminal 4.
Service on Route 44 is reasonably frequent in the daytime, with typical weekday headways in the 15–20 minute range on the trunk section, but it thins to around 30 minutes or more at night and on Sundays. Regulars say that for very late flights after about 10 p.m., they often default to Uber or Lyft from 44th St instead of hoping the 44 lines up with their schedule.
From areas like 44th & Thomas or the Paradise Valley stretch of Tatum, riders report paying $2 on Route 44 instead of $25 or more for a rideshare straight to the terminal. The tradeoff is time: the bus winds through neighborhoods, and heavy traffic on 44th St can add 10–15 minutes compared with a direct car trip.
Peak‑hour buses can be crowded because Route 44 also carries commuters who are nowhere near PHX, so finding space for a 26" roller can be awkward. Try to board closer to the start of the route on Tatum if you have larger bags, or aim for off‑peak windows like 10 a.m.–2 p.m. when seats free up.
What regulars do: they watch Route 44 in the Valley Metro app, leave home to hit the stop 3–5 minutes before the live arrival time, then ride straight to 44th St/Washington and transfer immediately to the Sky Train. If they live within 2–3 miles, some just bike or grab a short $8–$10 Uber to 44th St/Washington and skip the bus on days with 30‑minute headways.
Step-by-step to PHX from north-central Phoenix
- 1. Check Route 44 times in the Valley Metro app; aim for a bus that reaches 44th St/Washington at least 60–75 minutes before boarding time for domestic flights from Terminal 3 or 4.
- 2. Walk to your nearest Route 44 stop on Tatum or 44th St; common hotel clusters sit around 44th St & Thomas and 44th St & McDowell.
- 3. Board Route 44 toward “44th St/Washington,” pay $2 cash fare or tap your $4 all‑day pass at the validator by the driver.
- 4. Ride until the signed “44th St/Washington” stop, then follow the signs about 2–3 minutes on foot to the PHX Sky Train station.
- 5. Take the free Sky Train: about 5 minutes to Terminal 3 and around 7 minutes to Terminal 4; stay on until your terminal is announced.
- 6. On the return, reverse the process and remember your $4 all‑day pass still covers Route 44 if you are traveling the same calendar day.
One practical tip: on departure day, build in one extra Route 44 headway, so if buses run every 20 minutes, plan as if you might miss one and still catch your flight.