Metered rides start right outside Door 3
Expect Airport Taxi sedans lined up on the arrivals curb outside Door 3 at Terminal 1, usually within a 1–5 minute wait once you walk out. Service runs 24/7, so even the 01:15 and 05:30 bank of flights find cars on the stand. This is the simplest “walk out and go” option at Richmond International Airport (RIC) if you don’t want to mess with apps or shuttles.
Fares run on a meter, with a typical run from RIC to downtown Richmond coming in around 10–15 minutes drive time depending on I‑64 traffic. Many airport taxis in Richmond still accept both credit cards and cash, but ask before you load your bags in the trunk. If you’re heading farther out, like Short Pump or Midlothian, expect the ride to stretch to 25–40 minutes and price accordingly.
Pickup is always landside at Terminal 1, not upstairs by departures. After you clear baggage claim on the lower level, look for the ground transportation signs and follow them to the main curb where the taxis queue in a single file line. There’s usually an airport dispatcher on duty during daytime hours, roughly 06:00–22:00, helping match riders to cabs and keeping the line moving in order.
There’s no advance booking requirement and no shared-ride scheme with Airport Taxi; each car takes a single party. That works well if you’re a family with three suitcases and two car seats trying to reach a hotel on Broad Street by 21:00. Drivers are generally familiar with local points like Virginia Commonwealth University, the State Capitol, and Fort Gregg-Adams, so you can just give the landmark name instead of a full address if you’re in a rush.
Tip: before you pull away from the Terminal 1 curb, ask the driver for a rough fare estimate to your address and confirm card payment; it avoids an awkward conversation 18 miles later in a dark hotel parking lot.